Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Rescues 17 Migrants on Raft The ship was headed for the Bahamas and skipped a planned stop in order to bring the rescued passengers to the U.S. Coast Guard.

By Emily Rella

Getty Images

A cruise ship headed for the Bahamas rescued over a dozen migrants over the weekend after passengers saw a makeshift boat struggling in the sea.

The Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas ship successfully onboarded 17 Cuban migrants on Sunday, forgoing one of its planned stops in order to bring the rescued passengers to the U.S. Coast Guard.

"While en route to The Bahamas, Liberty of the Seas encountered a small vessel adrift and in need of assistance," Royal Caribbean told Fox News in a statement. "The ship's crew immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 17 people onboard. The crew is actively giving them medical attention, and working with the United States Coast Guard."

Related: Cruise Ship Rescues 22 Stranded People From a Raft After Their Engine Breaks

The makeshift boat had reportedly been adrift for days before the passengers were rescued.

The cruise ship was headed for CocoCay in the Bahamas but due to rough conditions in the water, the cruise ship had to dock a day early and forgo the stop.

"Once it's happening in front of you, it's really really different. You can see the people showing up, crying on the boat," cruise passenger Danielle McMahon told WPTV of the rescue. "It's just a totally different experience seeing their reaction to being rescued. It was insane."

This is not the first time a Royal Caribbean ship has had to make a rescue in recent months.

In December, the Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas cruise ship, which was also headed for the Bahamas, rescued 22 migrants on a raft between Key West and Cuba.

The Liberty of the Seas sails from Ft. Lauderdale and regularly cruises to the Bahamas.

Carnival was down just over 52% in a one-year period as of Monday afternoon.

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

An Hermès Heir Wants to Give Half His $12 Billion Fortune to His Gardener—and Lawyers Are Going Nuts

Nicolas Puech, the grandson of Hermès' founder, intends to legally adopt the 51-year-old former groundskeeper as his son, ensuring he inherits his billions.

Business Models

A Company With a Conscience — How to Make High-Priced Products Accessible to Working-Class Families

Some products are inherently expensive. Companies can offer leasing programs, financing options and other marketing approaches to make them accessible to working families.

Growing a Business

How to Get Your Business Noticed (and How to Brag About It)

Knowing how to go after important recognition awards and then leverage them can have a long-term impact on your business.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2023

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2023.

Leadership

7 Reasons Why CEOs Need to Develop a Personal Brand — and How to Build One.

Here's why crafting a captivating personal brand and origin story is pivotal in today's landscape and how these seven tangible advantages can redefine your success as a business leader.