LGBTQ+ cruise ship rescues 11 migrants between Cuba and Mexico

On Wednesday, an LGBTQ+ travel company’s chartered cruise ship aided in rescuing 11 Cubans from a drifting boat located between Cuba and Mexico.

According to a press release from Vacaya, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, which departed from New Orleans, spotted the migrants’ vessel in the Yucatán Channel. This strait between Cuba and Mexico links the Gulf of Mexico (currently referred to as the Gulf of America by the Trump-Vance administration) with the Caribbean Sea.

According to ‘Washington Blade’, Vacaya shared a video showing the migrants’ boat before the rescue, along with other videos capturing the rescue operation itself.

MTV’s Downtown Julie Brown, who was entertaining on the ship, provided a description of the rescue in a social media video she uploaded.

“We are in the middle of a live rescue operation right now,” she stated. “The captain of the ship, while we were hauling so fast the other way, thought he saw a boat in distress. So, we looped around … and it was indeed a boat in distress.”

“Nothing speaks more to VACAYA’s values than providing comfort in a moment of need,” expressed Vacaya CEO Randle Roper in the press release. “I’m so happy we were able to bring these 11 refugees onboard safely and provide medical care, dry clothes, food, and, most importantly, water.”

“It’s sad that some people have to put themselves through such trauma in hopes of finding a better life, but that’s where we are today,” Roper added. “I’m so proud of our LGBT+ guests rallying to collect clothes for these fellow humans in need.”

The ship is expected to return to New Orleans on Saturday.