On Wednesday, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Brilliance of the Seas, found 11 refugees drifting in the Gulf of Mexico between Cuba and Mexico. The ship, chartered by the LGBT+ vacation company Vacaya and departing from New Orleans on a seven-night cruise, turned around after the captain spotted the distressed boat. Randle Roper, CEO of Vacaya, reported that the refugees appeared exhausted and malnourished after being adrift for one to two days.
Witnesses, including former MTV host Julie Brown, documented the rescue, where crew members delivered supplies and life jackets to the stranded individuals. Roper highlighted the emotional intersection of the LGBT+ community and refugees, expressing pride in the assistance offered. The US Coast Guard is involved in the refugees’ next steps, with reports indicating they disembarked to Mexico. Roper noted that guests on the cruise were actively donating clothes and resources to support those rescued.
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