On April 12th, the Carnival Conquest and Disney Wonder were contacted by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in regards to aiding the USCG in refugee pick up near Key West.
Both operations took place somewhere between 40-45 miles from Key West earlier yesterday. Once the Carnival Conquest arrived on the scene, they were able to rescue 13 Cuban refugees from a very tiny, unsafe raft. Similarly, the Disney Wonder, once on the scene, was able to pick up 8 Cuban refugees in a very similar raft. All 21 refugees were provided food, water, and medical attention once they were onboard the ships.
As standard with these pickups, the refugees will be transferred to the United States Coast Guard once they arrive back in port. It is common for the USCG to request the aid or assistance of cruise ships for various operations if one happens to be in the area. Most cruise ships usually opt to help out, especially if aiding in emergency situations with other, smaller ships.
