The Regal Princess cruise ship makes a sudden turn to rescue the people on the distressed boat
Passengers on a cruise ship from Texas to Mexico erupted in cheers after crew members rescued four people from a boat in distress in the Gulf, the second rescue involving a Caribbean vessel in as many days, according to reports.
The Regal Princess was en route from Galveston to Cozumel on Feb. 23, when crew members responded to a small boat with four people.
“Regal Princess responded to a small vessel in distress and safely rescued four people from the sea,” the cruise line said in a statement shared with multiple media outlets.
“All four were brought on board and examined by the ship’s medical team. Their safety and well-being remains our priority.”
Photos shared on social media showed what appeared to be four men on board a small rusty boat made of steel and wood, People reported.
A white sheet or tarpaulin could be seen blowing in the wind as passengers dumped water from the ship into the sea, according to a post shared online.
Fox News Digital reached out to Princess Cruises for comment along with passengers.
Some sailors said they noticed something unusual when their ship began to change direction.
“We knew something was going on because the boat started turning,” passenger Melody Almogabar Barr told the Houston Chronicle.
When the ship’s captain announced the rescue was successful, people inside the packed theater began to cheer, Barr said.
“It is clear that this cruise ship has passengers who care about the welfare of others, and we are grateful to be a part of that,” he told the media.
Princess Cruises said the rescued people will be transported to the ship’s next port, where they will be received by local authorities and support services.
“In accordance with international obligations at sea, people rescued at sea are taken care of and taken to the next scheduled stop of the ship,” the ship’s statement said.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ships are required to render assistance to anyone found at sea in distress, as long as doing so does not cause serious danger to the rescue vessel.
The law applies regardless of nationality or circumstances.
“Princess Cruises extends its gratitude to the captain and crew of Regal Princess for their prompt response, intelligence and unwavering commitment to safety,” the statement said.
“Their actions reflect a long-standing maritime tradition and commitment to helping those in distress at sea.”
The ship left Galveston Feb. 22 seven-day Western Caribbean cruise, according to CruiseMapper.
The trip included stops in Cozumel, Mexico, followed by Roatan Island in Honduras; The ship was scheduled to return to Texas on March 1.
The rescue comes amid other recent incidents in the region.
On the night of February 16, a Carnival Cruise Line ship – also en route to Cozumel – rescued another “small vessel in distress,” according to reports.
The Carnival Celebration cruise ship landed five people safely as their makeshift boat reportedly began to take on water, Carnival Cruise Line told multiple outlets.
The US Coast Guard was notified and provided guidance during the rescue, and the ship continued its seven-day voyage without incident.
