A maritime encounter unfolded as a CCL-Carnival cruise ship intercepted a group of migrants embarking on a perilous open-water journey, prompting a swift response from the crew.
On Saturday, February 24, passengers aboard the Carnival Celebration witnessed a rescue effort by crew members as they came to the aid of a group of migrants.
~20 miles north of Cuba (Havana), the ship's crew spotted the distressed vessel carrying the migrants while en route to PortMiami Florida.
The Captain (Vincenzo Alcaras) made the announcement at 4:28 p.m. Passengers gathered on deck as the ship altered its course to assist the 21 individuals crowded onto the small boat.
Identified by the USCG/Coast Guard as Cubans, these migrants were not ordinary travelers but individuals seeking refuge and a better future amidst the vast expanse of the sea.
Carnival Celebration's crew, trained to handle such situations, swiftly initiated the rescue operation, safely bringing the migrants aboard. Despite taking a few hours, the rescue concluded without any reported injuries.
Upon the arrival of a USCG Cutter at 6:22 p.m., the migrants were transferred into their care, ensuring their well-being and initiating the repatriation process back to Cuba.
Following the rescue operation, the Carnival Celebration continued her journey back to Miami.
The incident occurred at the end of the 7-day roundtrip voyage from homeport Miami (Florida USA) visiting Mexico (Cozumel/Feb 20), Honduras (Isla Roatan's Mahogany Bay/Feb 22), and Mexico (Costa Maya/Feb 23).
For more Carnival Celebration incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.