Amazing Rescues at Sea

[AKB]

I receive a free cruise newsletter from vacations to go - The one I received today described 2 amazing rescues at sea.

Ships on the open sea look out for one another, and in August at least two cruise ships were involved in life-saving rescues. On the night of August 21st, sailing in near-zero visibility, the Carnival Holiday was en route to New Orleans from Cozumel when one of the ship’s crew members reported hearing a shout from the darkness. Life boats were lowered and after some time, two adults were pulled from the water. They told their rescuers that their fishing boat had caught fire and capsized, and reported that three others were still missing, including a 10-year-old boy. The search continued and eventually the boy and the others were found alive and brought aboard ship, where they received medical treatment before being transferred to the Mexican Coast Guard. Carnival Captain Orazio D'Aita was quoted as saying, "The emotional reunion between these five passengers is something our team on the Holiday will never forget."

The next day, the Norwegian Sea was en route to Cozumel from Houston when the crew spotted four men in the water. After their rescue, they told an amazing story. The men had departed Roatan, Honduras, on August 8th for a fishing trip. On August 10th, their small boat capsized, and they had survived for 12 days clinging to the partially submerged vessel as it drifted more than 500 nautical miles. During the ordeal, they ate raw fish caught with a shirt and drank rainwater dumped by Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley.

http://www.vacationstogo.com/newsletter.cfm

Has anyone ever heard of other rescues at sea or has Disney been involved in any rescues at sea?

Thanks, Kathy

 

[mmouse37]

Oh yes!!! We were on the Magic back in 2002 on the August 3rd cruise on Semi-Formal night (I remember because we were invited to dine with the Captain that night) we were headed up to Palo for dinner when all this excitement was happening in the Atrium. Everyone was rushing out to Deck 4 and looking over the side of the ship. Of course we looked too. There was a very small rowboat with about 5 men and 1 young boy in it. They were Cuban refugees trying to make it to Florida. The staff told everyone to get back inside but it was a very weird feeling seeing everyone onboard all dressed up for semi-formal night in constrast to these shirtless men bobbing up and down in a tiny rowboat...escaping from whatever. What a sight it must have been for them as well. It really put things in perspective for us.

Well we got to the dinner table with a few other couples and were informed by the staff that the Captain could not make dinner and he apologized but due to the emergency he was needed elsewhere.

The refugees were refusing our help to be picked up but did need water...they had no water for about 24 hours....they were badly dehydrated and hungry but did not want to get picked up. Later we found out DCL was not allowed to pick them up anyway until the Coast Guard gave the OK. We saw crew throwing fruit and bottles of water into the rowboat. About an hour later we saw the Coast Guard come and try to rescue them from the water...they were diving in the water to get away.

Finally the CG was able to pick them up and unfortunately they were going to be brought back to Cuba. We heard that the Magic brought their boat onboard though what happened to that or them after that night I do not know.

It was quite an experience.

MJ

 

[DVC4US]

We had a similar experience as mmouse37. On our cruise in March 2003 we were sailing from Key West to Grand Cayman at about 2:30am we were woken up by strange sounds in the cabin. We went out onto the verandah and noticed the ship had stopped. We noticed a small boat afloat in the sea and figured out the strange noise was the engines cavitating as the Captian put them into reverse. We assumed the individuals in the boat were Cuban refugees and the Magic was not allowed to pick them up. Because the seas were so high the Captian was using the Magic to block the wind while he awaited the Coast Guard, which the Captian had called. We stood on deck and watch the people being transferred from the boat to the CG ship. After this was done, the Magic resumed her schedule.

LeiLani

 

[MCazer]

MMouse37, my family was on that cruise. We have it on videotape. Although I don't remember them jumping in the water.

The small rowboat type boat was tied up against the side and I remember that we were told that they were not permitted to come aboard. The coast guard finally came, and we have it all on tape as they were taken aboard and left.

At what point did they jump in the water? It must have been before we got down to the railing. It was a very exciting night. We kind of wished that they were just given food and water and left there so that they could get a better life in the US.

 

[mmouse37]

I remember the Coast Guard coming and I thought I remember some in the water......the buzz on deck was that they did not want to be resuced so that is why the were trying to get away.....I could have quite possibbly have gotten fact and rumor mixed up!

I have one picture of the boat but it is very fuzzy and dark. It was quite an experience.

MJ