An LGBTQ cruise turned into a life-saving mission Wednesday when Brilliance of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship chartered by LGBTQ vacation company VACAYA, rescued 11 refugees adrift in the Gulf of Mexico. Passengers and crew mobilized after spotting a distressed vessel. Video footage shows a yellow rescue boat bringing the refugees aboard in small groups. Once on board, they received medical care, food, water, and warm clothing. The ship had departed New Orleans on Saturday for a Caribbean cruise when the rescue took place. VACAYA CEO Randle Roper shared how the captain noticed the stranded boat, which was taking on water.
He recalled how the refugees, stranded for up to two days, waved a white flag in distress. MTV icon Downtown Julie Brown, performing on the ship, captured the event in real-time, describing multiple trips to retrieve the refugees. Once on board, the guests eagerly offered support, donating clothing and funds for the refugees’ needs. Roper expressed,
“To be out in the open Gulf with no other vessels around, and then to see us—it must have been such a relief”
Roper mentioned that VACAYA’s ReachOUT program would help provide further assistance. It’s still unclear where the refugees were headed, but the U.S. Coast Guard has taken over the situation. For VACAYA, this powerful moment highlighted the community’s core values of compassion. There are multiple social media comments about groups of Vacaya guests singing Gloria Gaynors LGBTQ Anthem ‘I Will Survive’ on deck while the rescue was underway.
