The crew on the world’s largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas, helped rescue 14 people who were clinging to a small boat this week, officials said.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said the ship “encountered a small vessel adrift and in need of assistance” Sunday.
“The ship’s crew immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 14 people onboard,” the spokesperson said. “The crew provided them with medical attention, and is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard.”
The cruise, which began in Miami, was headed for Honduras when the rescue happened, passengers said. Passengers captured video of the crew using a small vessel to ferry the group to the safety of the cruise ship.
The crew broadcast “Code Oscar, Code Oscar, Code Oscar,” over the loudspeakers, Alessandra Amodio said in a report on FoxWeather.com. Amodio said she watched as people on the tiny craft waved a large white flag.
After the rescue, Amodio said, the cruise ship’s captain announced the crew had rescued 14 people stranded at sea for eight days.
The Icon of the Seas boasts 18 decks and six waterslides, and it can accommodate more than 5,500 passengers. It has 2,850 staterooms and seven swimming pools.
The colossal ship is 1,198 feet long, dwarfing the Titanic, which was 882.9 feet long. It departed on its maiden voyage on Jan. 27 from Miami, TODAY.com reported.
