On Monday, December 16th, Celebrity Reflection, while on a 7-day Caribbean itinerary, conducted a rescue operation ~40 miles (64 km) off Cuba’s northern coast after encountering an emergency distress signal ~11:00 a.m.
The operation commenced when passengers spotted a flare and alerted the crew. Following established emergency protocols, the vessel’s captain ordered a course diversion to investigate and assist. Reports from an onboard crew member indicated that the distressed individual had been forced to abandon a capsized boat and sought refuge in a smaller lifeboat.
Celebrity Reflection launched her rescue craft to retrieve the survivor, though strong winds and rough seas complicated the efforts, extending the operation to over an hour. Once safely transferred aboard, the man, described as “visibly exhausted but conscious,” received immediate medical care from the ship’s medical staff.
Following the successful operation, the Solstice-class Celebrity ship resumed her scheduled itinerary - a 6-day, round-trip Cayman, Mexico Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida). The itinerary started on December 15th and ends on December 21st.
For more Celebrity Reflection incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.