Carnival Splendor diverted course to rescue four sailors and three dogs from a disabled catamaran in the South Pacific on May 22.
The ship, which departed Sydney earlier that week on an eight-night voyage to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, was sailing south of New Caledonia when it received a distress call via the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Noumea.
The catamaran had suffered a broken mast and engine failure during bad weather.
After a five-hour detour, Carnival Splendor reached the vessel and brought all four people and their pets aboard.
The group included Australian bloggers from the channel “Sailing Barking Cat” and two companions.
Though Carnival ships do not typically allow pets, the two French bulldogs and a miniature husky were welcomed without hesitation.
All seven were provided food, water, and medical assistance, and will disembark in Noumea.
The ship’s itinerary remains unchanged, with scheduled stops at Mystery Island and Noumea before returning to Sydney on May 27.
This is the latest in a string of maritime rescues by Carnival Cruise Line.
In May 2024, Carnival Radiance rescued 25 people from a stranded vessel off Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Carnival Jubilee pulled two men to safety earlier that year after their kayak drifted near Isla Mujeres.
Cruise ships are bound by international maritime law to assist vessels in distress, a responsibility Carnival’s crews have consistently upheld.
While only trained service dogs are permitted on board under normal circumstances, emergency rescues are handled on a case-by-case basis to ensure the safety of all lives at sea—human or otherwise.
