Carnival Cruise Ship Picks Up Small Boat of 27 Refugees

The Carnival Cruise ship Carnival Paradise rescued 27 individuals adrift at sea in the Caribbean. This rescue occurred about 20 miles southeast of Los Cajuelos, Cuba, on April 21st, Sunday, as the ship was en route to Roatan, Honduras.

At around 2:30 PM on that Sunday, the bridge crew of Carnival Paradise noticed a small, distressed boat signaling for help. The crew quickly responded, and assistance was also coordinated with the US Coast Guard Sector Key West and Roatan officials.

The ship successfully rescued 27 people, all Cuban nationals, from the overcrowded boat. They were immediately provided with medical care.

Carnival Paradise, which has a gross tonnage of 70,367 and sails under the Panamanian flag, departed from its home port in Tampa, Florida, on April 20th for a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise.

The rescue operation did not affect the ship's planned itinerary. After stopping in Roatan on Monday, Carnival Paradise was scheduled to visit Cozumel, Mexico, on Tuesday, followed by another day at sea. The cruise will conclude on April 25th as the ship returns to Tampa, Florida.