During the night of February 23, 2026, the cruise ship Regal Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, changed its course after spotting a small sailing vessel in distress approximately 150 nautical miles north-northeast of Progreso on the Yucatán Peninsula.
The Regal Princess was on a scheduled 7-night voyage to Cozumel, Mexico, having departed from Galveston, Texas. Onboard, the crew noticed a makeshift craft that was drifting and had taken on water. The occupants of the small vessel were using manual efforts to remove water from their heavily rusted boat, which appeared structurally compromised.
Understanding the maritime obligation to assist those in peril at sea, the Regal Princess reversed its course and successfully rescued the individuals aboard the distressed vessel. Eyewitnesses noted that the makeshift craft was made of metal and wood, with a makeshift sail that had collapsed prior to the rescue. Although there were slight variations in initial reports about the exact number of rescued individuals, they were taken aboard and provided necessary assistance.
The rescue occurred within international waters and did not disrupt the ship’s scheduled itinerary, which included a visit to Cozumel on February 24. This incident highlighted the vital responsibility under maritime law for vessels to assist those in danger at sea, regardless of nationality or legal status, with appropriate authorities following up as needed.
For further details on other incidents involving the Regal Princess, please refer to the ship’s CruiseMinus page.
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