Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas performed a dramatic rescue during its transatlantic voyage, saving a stranded family and their dog off the coast of Marrakesh, Morocco.
The incident occurred on Friday, 15th November 2024. The family’s sailboat had suffered engine failure and lost its masts, leaving them powerless in the waters off West Africa.
According to passengers onboard the cruise ship, the stranded group included two adults, two children, and a black Labrador retriever. Some reports suggested there could have been as many as six people on the sailboat.
Currently on @RoyalCaribbean Voyager of the Seas sailing towards Gran Canaria. We diverted to rescue a family of 2 adults, 2 minors, and a dog who were stranded with a broken sail last and a stalled engine. Everyone is on board and safe, but they had to leave the boat behind. pic.twitter.com/J10ogoOHtg
— Roberto Mezquia Jr (@the1dynasty) November 15, 2024
Before bringing the family onboard, engineers from the ship attempted to repair the damaged sailboat.
When the repairs proved unsuccessful, the crew transferred the family to a Royal Caribbean lifeboat in choppy seas and brought them aboard the 138,194-gross-ton ship.
Passengers cheered as the rescue operation concluded. “The rescue crew showed great skill (and bravery) in choppy seas to bring everyone safely aboard. There was a well-deserved big round of cheers and applause from all of the spectators on their balconies,” shared a passenger.
Although there was some discussion about towing the sailboat for later repairs, it was ultimately abandoned due to the challenges involved.
The family is being cared for onboard the Voyager of the Seas. The crew has provided them with food, water, and medical care as needed. The ship will transport the family to its next scheduled port of call in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, on 17th November 2024.
From there, the family can arrange their next steps with local authorities. While it might sound appealing to continue the cruise, non-paying passengers are typically disembarked at the next available port due to documentation and logistical issues.
The Voyager of the Seas embarked on its 16-night transatlantic sailing from Barcelona, Spain, on 10th November.
It was a delayed departure after weather had held up the drydock renovations – perhaps the family would’ve been in even more trouble if the ship’s drydock had run on schedule!
After its stop in Gran Canaria, the ship will make its final port call in Tenerife, Canary Islands, on 18th November, before continuing with sea days to Port Canaveral, Florida, where it is scheduled to arrive on 26th November.
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