Cruise ship forced to divert after finding 17 Cuban migrants in small raft

Royal Caribbean diverted from its original route to deliver Cuban nationals to US Coast Guard

Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas cruise ship rescued 17 Cuban migrants Saturday who were spotted in a makeshift boat. 

After seeing the boat adrift and in need of assistance while en route to the Bahamas, the Royal Caribbean ship launched a successful rescue operation and brought all 17 passengers aboard.

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Royal Caribbean cruise ship rescues Cuban migrants

Photos from onboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas cruise ship show the rescue of 17 Cuban migrants, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (Fox News / Fox News)

The cruise ship's medical team provided care for the Cuban nationals pulled from the boat.

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A passenger aboard the Liberty of the Seas spoke with Fox News Digital about the incident. The passenger also provided images of the rescue, but requested to keep their identity private. 

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Royal Caribbean cruise ship rescues Cuban migrants

Photos from onboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas cruise ship show the rescue of 17 Cuban migrants, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (Fox News / Fox News)

The Liberty of the Seas was reportedly forced to forgo a planned stop on its cruise route in order to deliver the migrants to the U.S. Coast Guard.

"While enroute to The Bahamas, Liberty of the Seas encountered a small vessel adrift and in need of assistance," Royal Caribbean said in a statement to Fox News. 

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Royal Caribbean cruise ship rescues Cuban migrants

Photos from onboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas cruise ship show the rescue of 17 Cuban migrants, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (Fox News / Fox News)

The company continued, "The ship's crew immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 17 people onboard. The crew is actively giving them medical attention, and working with the United States Coast Guard."