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Cruise Ship Rescues Stranded Refugees in Gulf of Mexico
30 Sep, 2025
Summary
- Royal Caribbean cruise ship rescues 11 refugees floating in Gulf of Mexico
- Cruise ship diverted course to avoid storm, found raft in distress
- Passengers witnessed dramatic rescue and provided refugees with water
On September 30, 2025, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship made headlines for rescuing a group of refugees who were stranded at sea. The Enchantment of the Seas, which was traveling from Tampa, Florida to Costa Maya, Mexico, had diverted its course to avoid a storm on the evening of September 28. This change in plans put the ship in the Caribbean Sea, where it encountered a makeshift raft with around 12 people aboard.
As the Enchantment of the Seas dodged Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda, the crew spotted the distressed raft and immediately sent a rescue craft to bring the refugees on board. Footage shared by a passenger showed the raft "was starting to fall apart" when the cruise ship arrived. Once rescued, the refugees were provided with drinking water and cared for by the ship's staff.
This was not the first time a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has come to the aid of those in need at sea. In February 2025, the Brilliance of the Seas rescued 11 people floating in a small boat in the Gulf of Mexico between Cuba and Mexico. The captain had immediately diverted the ship to investigate and send a rescue team to the stranded vessel.
