(CNN) – While sailing in open waters not far from Cuba on Friday morning, crew members of the Mardi Gras cruise ship spotted what must have been a chilling sight: a small vessel in rough seas driven by a weather system tropical.
The crew spotted the distressed ship just before 8 a.m., Carnival Cruise Line said in a news blog. Mardi Gras stopped his leisure trip to help, picking up 16 stranded people.
The damaged vessel was about 60 nautical miles west/northwest of Key West, Florida, according to Matt Lupoli, senior public relations manager for Carnival.
All residents were adults; 11 men and five women, Lupoli told CNN Travel.
Those with identification were of Cuban nationality, he said. All 16 were seen by medical staff on board the Mardi Gras and given food and clothing.
A meeting with the US Coast Guard was coordinated this afternoon at sea, Lupoli said. All 16 passengers were safely transferred to a Coast Guard cutter around 2:45 p.m. Friday.
The US Coast Guard cutter met the cruise ship and all 16 people were safely transferred to the cutter, Chief Petty Officer Jose Hernandez confirmed.
“We thank the captain and crew of the cruise ship for helping rescue these 16 people from a dangerous journey, especially with the tropical storm that has been in the area,” he said in an email to CNN Travel.
This is a photo of the distressed ship rescued by crew members of the Mardi Gras, a ship operated by Carnival Cruise Lines.
Carnival Cruise Line
A seafaring habit to help
The Carnival ship was on a seven-day Caribbean cruise. The ship is returning Saturday to Port Canaveral, Florida, as planned after a day at sea, Lupoli said. He made several stops in the Western Caribbean on his trip, including Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, and Roatan Island, Honduras.
Mardi Gras was launched in July 2021. According to Lupol, the total number of officers and crew is 5,282 people.
It is not unusual for cruise ships to assist in maritime rescue.
Lupoli said crew members are always scanning the waters, and as the captain of the Mardi Gras pointed out to guests on board, it’s a maritime custom to help anyone in distress at sea.
Tropical storm Alex is expected
The damaged vessel was in an uncertain position Friday morning regarding location and weather.
Tropical storm warnings were in effect Friday for more than 10 million people in the southern half of Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas.
