A group of cruise ship passengers found themselves adrift in the sea when the catamaran they were on sank unexpectedly during a day trip.
The incident occurred as the small vessel, named Boca de Yuma, was transporting passengers from the Mein Schiff 1 cruise ship to their destination in the Dominican Republic. With the boat quickly submerging, all 55 individuals on board were forced to enter the water.
The group of tourists was left stranded in the waters of the bay of Samana until the Dominican Navy arrived to rescue them. The nationalities of the passengers involved in the incident have not been disclosed.
Video footage captured crew members throwing life rings to the distressed travelers before bringing them to safety. Despite some efforts from the locals of El Crucero, the catamaran eventually sank beneath the surface.
While all passengers were successfully rescued, one individual expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of assistance provided by the cruise staff, stating that they felt neglected during the ordeal. The port authority has initiated an investigation in collaboration with the Dominican Republic Navy to determine accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.
TUI Cruises, the operator of the voyage originating from La Romana, confirmed ongoing discussions with the excursion provider and authorities to establish the cause of the incident.
A spokesperson clarified that the passengers were aboard an externally operated boat that sank during the excursion. The company is actively cooperating with the excursion provider and local officials to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following the incident on Sunday, all passengers were safely returned to the German cruise ship Mein Schiff 1. The vessel, with a capacity for 4,000 guests, resumed its scheduled itinerary with Jamaica as the next port of call.
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