I have been on several cruises but I have never before experienced what we experienced on this one. It was back in early March and we were headed from Cozumel back to Tampa when we got a signal from the Coast Guard about a boat in trouble. We were just about to go on a tour of the bridge, but that was cancelled for obvious reasons. Our ship was apparently the closest to the boat in trouble and we headed for it at top speed.

The sailboat was out of Honolulu and was foundering in rough waves. It appeared that the engine was down and that the rudder was broken. Our captain pulled in fairly close to use our ship to block the wind and waves and make the rescue safer.

We then lowered a boat into the water from directly below the balcony of my room and sent it off to save the day.

As our boat approached the broken one the Coast Guard flew by so I got them in the picture, too.

An elderly man and woman were taken off the boat, which was then set adrift. I understand, though, that the Coast Guard marked it as a navigation hazard and that a company out of New Orleans was sent out to bring it back to port.

Our two new passengers were delivered to the ship and the rescue boat returned to the winch under my balcony. And then the entire crew and passengers who were all lining that side of the ship at every available railing broke out in applause and cheering for their efforts. All of this happened about 60 miles off the northwestern coast of Cuba. It was pretty cool and it was very impressive.

With this in mind, our fire department practices several times a year at the river. Here is one of our practices that turned into a rescue (of a sort).
Cold Water Rescue Practice on the Milwaukee River

Thanks for looking. I hope you enjoy!