Disney Treasure Rescues Family from Sinking Catamaran

The Disney Treasure rescued four individuals from a sinking catamaran off Bermuda’s coast on Sunday.

Having been delivered to Disney Cruise Line in late October, the ship responded to a distress call during its transatlantic journey to Florida.  The Disney Treasure was approximately 80 miles from the catamaran when it began taking on water due to a gasket failure in the escape hatch.

According to ABC News, the rescue occurred in the North Atlantic, around 230 miles from Bermuda.

The passengers, a family of four, were safely brought aboard the Disney Treasure using one of its tender boats. 

The rescued family members, aged between 25 and 74, were unharmed and did not require medical assistance, stated U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Mile Rauch.

“They were really far out at sea and were in distress, struggling to keep the water out,” Rauch told ABC News. Rauch added that the family was “very fortunate” the cruise ship arrived in time, given the severity of the situation.

In a statement to ABC News, Captain Marco Nogara of the Disney Treasure expressed relief at being able to assist the distressed passengers. "Our crew members worked together on the rescue, skillfully demonstrating their training and commitment to safety,” Nogara said.

The Disney Treasure is set to embark on its maiden voyage in late December and was constructed by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.

After departing from Europe earlier this month, the 2,500-passenger ship is currently being readied for a series of pre-inaugural sailings.

As the sister ship to the Disney Wish, launched in 2022, the Disney Treasure is scheduled to offer seven-night cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas, sailing from its homeport in Port Canaveral.