Celebrity Cruises carried out a dramatic rescue off the coast of Cuba yesterday, successfully transferring a man from a small boat to the cruise line’s rescue vessel despite rough, choppy waters.
Celebrity Reflection was on a seven-day Caribbean cruise when it encountered an emergency distress signal at around 11 am and was approximately 40 miles from Cuba’s northern coast.
A few guests spotted a small flare and notified crew members. The captain then launched emergency protocols and ordered a rescue operation as the vessel diverted from its course and made its way to the area.
A digital creator who appears to be a crew member uploaded the entire rescue operation on Facebook. According to his account, the boat had capsized several miles from shore, forcing its occupant to board a smaller lifeboat.
Celebrity Reflection deployed its rescue craft to retrieve the man, but rough seas and strong winds added to the challenge, extending the rescue operation to over an hour.
Once he was transferred to the cruise ship’s safety, the unidentified survivor immediately received medical attention. He was said to be “visibly exhausted but conscious.”
After the successful rescue, the Solstice-class cruise ship continued its regular itinerary.
Earlier Rescue by Celebrity Apex
Celebrity Cruises was part of another rescue last April. Celebrity Apex was between Mexico and Cuba when it came across a small craft that had gone adrift. Due to the crew members’ timely intervention, they rescued four men and three women who had been at sea for five days.
Sister company, Royal Caribbean, participated in a separate rescue operation in November.
Voyager of the Seas saved a family of six and their dog from a sailboat that had drifted a hundred miles from Africa’s coast.
