A Princess Cruises ship recovered five deceased individuals from the water after crew members spotted an orange inflatable lifejacket while sailing toward Spain. The ship, Sapphire Princess, changed course to investigate the sighting and launched its Fast Rescue Boat.
The cruise line said the recovery happened on April 21 as the vessel was en route to Cartagena. Sapphire Princess had departed from Civitavecchia, Italy, on April 19 for a two-week cruise to Copenhagen, according to CruiseMapper.
What the crew saw and how the ship responded
Princess Cruises said the crew noticed the lifejacket in the water and acted quickly. After altering course, the ship sent out its rescue boat to check the area and assist.
The company later confirmed that five bodies were recovered with help from the crew and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, or MRCC. Princess Cruises did not identify the individuals and said they were not guests or employees aboard the ship.
Cruise line statement on the recovery
In a statement shared by email, the company said, “Five deceased individuals were recovered by the Sapphire Princess crew members and coordinated efforts with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC).” The cruise line also said it extended its “sincere condolences for this loss” and thanked the crew for its “swift response and efforts to render assistance.”
The MRCC could not be reached immediately for comment. The cruise line did not release further details about where the individuals came from or how they ended up in the water.
Second rescue involving Princess Cruises this year
The incident follows another rescue involving a Princess Cruises ship earlier in the year. In February, Regal Princess helped rescue four people from a small vessel that was in distress during a Caribbean cruise.
That earlier case also showed how cruise crews can respond when they spot people in danger at sea. In the Sapphire Princess case, the crew’s quick action turned a routine voyage into a recovery operation after an orange lifejacket drew attention in the water.