Passengers aboard a catamaran on a day trip were stranded at sea when the vessel suddenly sank while ferrying them from the Mein Schiff 1 cruise ship to the Dominican Republic. The 12-meter boat, named Boca de Yuma, submerged, forcing all 55 passengers to jump into the water. The group was eventually rescued by the Dominican Navy after being spotted in distress in the bay of Samana. Video footage captured the dramatic rescue with the navy and local community members assisting in pulling the stranded passengers to safety. Despite the ordeal, one passenger criticized the lack of assistance from the cruise staff, claiming they were not attended to promptly.
Authorities are investigating the incident, with the Dominican Navy collaborating with local officials to determine accountability and prevent similar accidents in the future. TUI Cruises, the operator of the ill-fated cruise, is working with authorities and the excursion provider to investigate the cause of the catamaran’s sinking. The company clarified that the sunk catamaran was operated externally and that they are actively engaging with the provider and local authorities to address the situation.
Fortunately, all passengers were successfully rescued and returned to the Mein Schiff 1 cruise ship without any injuries. The cruise ship, capable of accommodating 4,000 guests, resumed its journey as scheduled, heading towards its next destination in Jamaica.