Celebrity Cruise Ship Rescues 200+ Refugees

Celebrity Beyond, the newest ship from Celebrity Cruises, recently assisted the Italian Coast Guard in rescuing over 200 migrants from a drifting vessel in the Ionian Sea. The cruise ship received a call for assistance and immediately changed course to rendezvous with the Coast Guard. Within 20 minutes, Celebrity Beyond arrived at the scene and positioned itself to provide shelter from the winds and rough seas. The ship’s guests were kept informed of the operation’s progress by the cruise director. By 10:50 a.m., all individuals in danger had been evacuated from the stranded fishing vessel. The ship was released to resume its voyage without impacting its itinerary.

Mediterranean rescues like this one are happening with increasing frequency, with the Eastern Mediterranean being one of the main migratory routes for refugees into Europe. The Central Mediterranean route, which leads to Sicily, has already seen over 89,000 illegal border crossings this year. Celebrity Beyond, with its capacity to accommodate over 3,900 passengers, is currently sailing throughout the region on a series of cruises to Croatia, Montenegro, Turkey, Italy, and Greece. In October, the ship will reposition to Fort Lauderdale, offering various Caribbean, Panama, and Bahamas sailings.

Celebrity Beyond, part of the Edge-class ships, joined the Celebrity Cruises fleet in November 2022. The ship will soon be joined by its sister ship, Celebrity Ascent, in December 2023.

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