CNN iReport

On January 2, 2009 Crew members from the NCL Pearl Cruise Ship rescued 5 Cuban Refugees from the rough waters between Cuba and Florida.  The Refugees indicated that they had been adrift at sea since Christmas day when they left Cuba headed to the United States.

The 5 refugees were rescued and brought onto the NCL Pearl Cruise ship as it made its way from Cozumel to the Bahamas.  Ironically, this same ship had searched the waters for a passenger lost at sea exactly 1 week earlier.  The captain assured passengers that, in this case, it was not an overboard situation but if anything, "we are gaining passengers."

The refugees were rescued to the cheers of thousands of onlookers who took pictures and movies of the event.  Later that evening a Coast Guard Cutter (the Ocracoke) pulled alongside the ship to take the 5 rescued refugees away.  The refugees boarded the Coast Guard rescue ship all clean and dressed in NCL attire, which they had obviously recieved from the ship.  The rescue ship loaded the refugees and pulled away to chants from the cruise ship passengers of "let them stay" and cheers of "buena suerte".

In only a small boat and  2 hand made paddles, these individuals took off for what they must have believed would be a better life in America.  Seeing this rescue at sea with my family as we all enjoyed our experience on the luxurious cruise liner helped to put things into perspective and remind us all of how good we really have it.   

Photos by Debi Davis - Descriptions below

1) 5 Cuban refugees floating at sea;

2) Rescue occurs in bottom right corner during beautiful sunset;

3) Second of 5 Cuban refugees climbs aboard NCL rescue boat; 

4) Rescuer provides direction before rescuing final 3 refugees;

5) Final refugee climbs aboard rescue ship;

6) Rescued refugees express their thanks to the crew of the NCL Pearl and thousands of onlookers;

7) Refugees pulled to safety aboard the NCL Pearl;

8) Rescued refugee expresses thanks for his rescue;

9) Refugee boat afloat at sea after rescue of refugees who had lived in it for 8 days;

10) Refugees, now in white NCL t-shirts and blue shorts climb aboard a Coast Guard rescue boat to be taken to the Coast Guard Cutter awaiting them.