A group of passengers aboard a catamaran from the Mein Schiff 1 cruise ship found themselves in a terrifying situation when the boat suddenly sank during a day trip to the Dominican Republic. The 12-meter craft, known as Boca de Yuma, quickly went underwater, forcing the 55 people on board to jump into the ocean.
The passengers were left floating in the sunshine over the bay of Samana until the Dominican Navy intervened and rescued them. Local seamen and community members also assisted in the rescue efforts, tossing life rings to the stranded individuals before bringing them to safety. Sadly, one passenger mentioned feeling neglected by the cruise staff, stating that they received no assistance from their own ship.
Following the incident, the Dominican Republic Navy is collaborating with local authorities to investigate the incident and prevent future occurrences. TUI Cruises, the operator of the cruise ship, is working with authorities and the excursion provider to determine the cause of the catamaran’s sinking. It was confirmed that the catamaran was operated by an external provider.
Despite the ordeal, all passengers were successfully rescued and returned to the Mein Schiff 1 cruise ship. The vessel, with a capacity for 4,000 guests, resumed its journey as scheduled, heading towards its next destination in Jamaica.