A hotel has no obligation to people who pass by its doors. Caesars and MGM Resorts International don’t have to feed the homeless people who sleep and ask for money outside its resort casinos, and no New York (or any other city) hotel chain has to take responsibility for people in perilous situations outside their doors.
That’s not the case with cruise ships. A ship at sea has a legal obligation to help other vessels in need and rescues happen fairly often. That might mean helping a commercial ship having engine trouble, or it could mean rescuing people on a vessel in imminent danger of sinking, or being stranded at sea.
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Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald shared details of a recent rescue on his popular Facebook page.
“Carnival Radiance’s team responded to a call from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and rescued 25 people who were stranded aboard a small boat off the Pacific coast of Mexico on Saturday (May 25),” he shared. Carnival Radiance was sailing toward Ensenada, Mexico on Saturday afternoon when the Coast Guard informed the officers on board about a distress call involving a small vessel.”
The crew of the ship responded quickly to help those in danger.
“The ship was immediately routed toward the location provided by the USCG and the rescue was quickly completed, with all 25 people, including three children, stranded on the boat safely welcomed onto Carnival Radiance. The team on board offered to meet any immediate needs among the rescued group, including food, water and medical assistance, and coordinated a rendezvous with Coast Guard officials,” Heald added.
Carnival Radiance, which sails out of Long Beach, Calif., left May 24 on a three-day cruise and despite the rescue, remained on its planned schedule.
Carnival pushes back on social media comments
Heald also responded to some ugly comments on his Facebook page that questioned why the cruise line helped the distressed ship. He also made it clear what happens to the rescued people.
“They do not get a free cruise. They do not get to walk around the Ship in any guest areas or even crew area. They are confined to one area, under the watch of our security team,” he said. “They are given food, water, and medical assistance. They are transferred to a United States Coast Guard ship.”
Heald noted that Carnival Radiance’s crew did what it had to do and the morally right thing.
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“Yes, we do have to rescue them because it is the law. Yes, we rescue them because it is the right thing to do,” he added.
Carnival's Heald gets angry
Some of the comments on Heald’s page implied that the cruise line was making a “woke” political decision. The brand ambassador pushed back heavily on that idea.
“This is not political, this is not ‘it’s not fair. They are getting a free cruise and being allowed into our country and Carnival Cruise Line should be ashamed,’” he wrote. “The people who should be ashamed, are the people who who feel we should always leave people in peril on the sea to remain so.”
Heald, who normally maintains a playful tone, could not hide his disgust in this situation.
“Sometimes, I think we are all doomed,” he added.
Most of the comments on Heald's post were supportive.
"John, it is the right thing to do. And the law. Thank you for clarifying for those who are trying to make this political. Great job to the crew and Captain. Thank you John," wrote Angie Sims Grogan.
Other commenters were outraged at anyone who would think the cruise line was doing anything other than its duty.
"Who in their right mind would think they are getting a free cruise that’s insane. They were in a life and death situation. Carnival did what they should and were human beings helping other human beings," added Christy L. Wallace.
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