The Sapphire Princess, a Princess Cruises ship, altered its course during a voyage in Europe after crew members spotted an orange inflatable life jacket in the water. The ship was en route to Cartagena, Spain, having departed from Civitavecchia, Italy, on April 19 for a 14-day journey to Copenhagen, Denmark.
In response to the sighting, the Sapphire Princess deployed its Fast Rescue Boat to investigate the area. This effort led to the recovery of five deceased individuals from the water. According to Princess Cruises, these individuals were not passengers or crew members aboard the ship. The crew coordinated their actions with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center to manage the situation effectively.
Princess Cruises expressed their condolences regarding the loss of life and acknowledged the crew’s prompt response in assisting with the recovery efforts. Further information regarding the identities of the deceased or the circumstances surrounding their deaths has not been released.
At the time of the incident, the Sapphire Princess was anchored in the port of Montevideo, Uruguay. The cruise line has not disclosed additional details about the recovery operation or the ongoing implications of this event. The incident highlights the responsibilities of cruise ships in maritime safety and response to emergencies at sea.