Dozens of cruise ship travelers were left stranded at sea when the catamaran they were on during a day trip unexpectedly sank.
The small vessel was transporting passengers from the Mein Schiff 1 cruise ship to the Dominican Republic. The 12-meter boat, known as Boca de Yuma, quickly went underwater, forcing the 55 individuals onboard to jump into the ocean.
The group outing took a distressing turn as vacationers were spotted floating in the sunny waters off the bay of Samana before being rescued by the Dominican Navy. The nationalities of the day-trippers remain unknown.
Video footage depicts sailors tossing life rings to the stranded passengers before bringing them to safety. A portion of the catamaran was visible briefly before disappearing beneath the waves. Local residents from El Crucero also assisted in the rescue efforts.
Everyone was successfully retrieved from the water, although one passenger recounted feeling neglected by the cruise staff, stating that their ship provided no assistance or awareness of the incident.
The port authority confirmed that the Dominican Republic Navy is collaborating with local officials to identify those accountable and implement preventive measures for similar incidents in the future.
TUI Cruises, the operator of the voyage originating from La Romana, acknowledged ongoing discussions with the excursion provider and law enforcement to investigate the incident’s cause.
A spokesperson noted that the travelers were on an externally operated boat that sank during the outing. The company is actively coordinating with the provider and authorities to clarify the situation.
All passengers were safely returned to the German cruise ship Mein Schiff 1 following the event on Sunday. The vessel, capable of accommodating 4,000 guests, resumed its scheduled journey, with Jamaica as the next destination.