Crew members on board the world's largest cruise ship rescued 14 people who had been stranded at sea on a small boat for eight days.
The drama unfolded as the 1,198-foot (365-meter) icon of the seas took flight. Honduras After leaving Miami.
Passengers heard a loudspeaker broadcast of “Code Oscar, Code Oscar, Code Oscar”, the emergency call signal for someone abroad.
The ship can host 5,610 guests and has a crew of 2,350. Photo: Reuters
The crew launched a small vessel to transport the stranded group, who were waving a large white flag, to safety.
Miami-based Royal Caribbean said in a statement that the ship encountered the vehicle “adrift and in need of assistance.”
The cruise operator added: “The ship’s crew immediately launched a rescue operation and safely brought 14 people on board.
He added, “The crew provided them with medical care and is working closely with the US Coast Guard.”
Alessandra Amodeo was on the cruise ship with her family when the rescue happened.
“We were really surprised and a little spooked,” she told FoxWeather.com.
“We've been on a few cruises and have never seen anything like this happen. It was crazy to think that these people had been stuck at sea for so long.”
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She added: “The boat turned around and we got as close to them as possible and stopped.”
Ms Amodeo said the ship deployed a “small Zodiac rescue boat to investigate”.
The ship's captain then informed the passengers that those rescued had been at sea for eight days.
The cruise ship, which only made its maiden voyage in January, can host 5,610 guests and a crew of 2,350.
It has 20 decks, 2,800 guest cabins and seven swimming pools.
The ship surpasses the Titanic, which is 882.9 feet (269 meters) long.
