Radiance of the Seas Rescues Six From Boat Taking on Water

While enjoying what was intended to be a quiet day at sea on Sunday, February 15, 2026, Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas sprang into action when a makeshift boat was spotted nearby taking on water.

Onboard were six individuals, all of whom were taken onto the cruise ship because their craft was not seaworthy.

Guests onboard Radiance of the Seas shared the tense scene on Reddit, noting that the stranded individuals appeared to be bailing water out of their craft as the cruise ship approached.

Satellite tracking confirms that the 90,090-gross-ton ship was just west of Cuba at the time of the encounter, and in fact, Radiance of the Seas backtracked slightly along her course in order to effect the rescue.

The incident happened at roughly 4:45 local time, when the cruise ship stopped briefly and sent a notification to authorities. The pilot boat from Radiance of the Seas was sent out to meet the smaller craft about an hour later and all six individuals were safely brought onboard the cruise ship.

It is not clear where the small craft originated from, though Cuba is the likely home country for these individuals. Cruise Hive has previously covered multiple similar rescues in the same general area from several cruise ships.

In fact, almost exactly one year ago in February 2025, Cruise Hive reported that Radiance of the Seas‘ sister ship, Brilliance of the Seas, performed a similar rescue in almost the exact same area.

This time of year is common for such incidents, as it is outside hurricane season and weather conditions, while never ideal for such small, makeshift boats, are smoother for desperate attempts.

What Happens to Rescued Individuals?

Once onboard, it is standard practice for rescued individuals to be given food, water, and any necessary medical care. The appropriate authorities are alerted to the situation and the individuals will be turned over to those authorities as soon as possible.

In some cases, this will mean dropping the individuals off at the next port of call, which for Radiance of the Seas will be Grand Cayman on Monday, February 16. This is what the ship’s captain has confirmed will be the case in this incident.

Another option would often be to rendezvous with the relevant authorities at sea for the individuals to be transferred into appropriate custody. This might be necessary if the cruise ship was not scheduled for another port visit before leaving the region or returning to the US.

Regardless of when and how refugees are submitted to authorities, the individuals are generally returned to their home country in accordance with local laws.

Read Also: Do Cruise Ships Have Jails? Here’s the Truth!

It should be noted that at no time are rescued individuals permitted in guest areas or furnished with the extravagant amenities of the cruise ship. They remain restricted to crew areas and kept under secure watch at all times, though they are not considered prisoners and are not confined to the brig.

Radiance of the Seas is currently sailing a 6-night itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, February 14. The ship will visit Grand Cayman on Monday, followed by another day at sea before a visit to Cozumel on Wednesday, February 18.

After a third day at sea, Radiance of the Seas will return to Fort Lauderdale on Friday, February 20.

There is no indication that the ship’s itinerary will be impacted by this encounter, but guests onboard will be notified if any schedule adjustment is necessary. Radiance of the Seas can host up to 2,501 guests (double occupancy) per sailing.

While it may seem inconvenient for a massive cruise ship to make such a rescue, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requires all vessels to assist anyone in distress at sea.

A small delay or diversion is certainly worthwhile to safeguard all life, and cruise ships from all lines will always stand ready to assist those in need, anywhere in the world.