Island Princess in late

[donna travels]

Just heard from my brother in law the Island Princess arrived late to Fort Lauderdale as their ship rescued a sinking boat full of refugees. He said they ranged from ages 4-86 and the boat will full of water. This rescue caused them to just arrive in Fort Lauderdale. I have not heard any other news on this event.

[HJH]

We arrived in fort Lauderdale two hours late (9:00am) due to the delay yesterday afternoon picking up the 20 refugees. And then transferring them to the Coast Guard later in the evening. Fortunately the airport is so close to the port that it only took 20 minutes from walking across the gangway to airport checking. Great cruise, but a lot of confusion aboard this morning as the announcement detailing the two hour delay was not made in the staterooms last night, only in the public areas. Many were totally surprised and shocked to learn of the time change when they showed up at disembarkation areas this morning.

[amazinglife]

Very sad that people would risk their lives for (hopefully) a better future in the U.S.A.

[luv2travel77]

Originally Posted by amazinglife

Very sad that people would risk their lives for (hopefully) a better future in the U.S.A.

Nice to see the Princess crew be so kind to save them. Well I guess those refugees are allowed to stay in the USA.

[Potstech]

No they won't. They must actually set foot on "US soil" to be given refugee status. They will be sent back to their country of origin as soon as they are medically fit. That is unless the rules have changed in the last couple of years. Being rescued at sea does not change their status at all. Princess ship are registered in a foreign country so they do not classify as "US soil".

[Pam in CA]

Originally Posted by luv2travel77

Nice to see the Princess crew be so kind to save them. Well I guess those refugees are allowed to stay in the USA.

They never got to or entered the US. Princess ships are foreign flagged so once you step foot on the ship, you leave the US. They will be returned to wherever they're from. Sad but that's the policy.

[Mrs. Wilburforce]

I'm at Ft Lauderdale airport. I witnessed the rescue. A ship employee said they had been without food and water for 4 days. It certainly isn't something you see everyday.
I find myself thinking about the people who were rescued. I don't know what happens when they are sent back. They asked for a bible after they had been brought aboard. I know they will be on my mind for a long time.

[satxdiver]

Originally Posted by Potstech

No they won't. They must actually set foot on "US soil" to be given refugee status. They will be sent back to their country of origin as soon as they are medically fit. That is unless the rules have changed in the last couple of years. Being rescued at sea does not change their status at all. Princess ship are registered in a foreign country so they do not classify as "US soil".

The rules have not changed and the US has become more stringent in sending them back ASAP. I imagine their life in the country they came from (most likely Cuba?) is not going to be good given the fact that they tried to escape. The huge outcry in the US today is not to allow illegal immigration and that is what this is without regard to any circumstances.

[chrysalis]

Originally Posted by satxdiver

The rules have not changed and the US has become more stringent in sending them back ASAP. I imagine their life in the country they came from (most likely Cuba?) is not going to be good given the fact that they tried to escape. The huge outcry in the US today is not to allow illegal immigration and that is what this is without regard to any circumstances.

They were likely from Haiti....

[paul929207]

Another reason not to book real early flights from FLL or any other port.

[Love.II.Cruise]

Does anyone know what time she is leaving today?

[5326jan]

I watched yesterday at 5pm and she left on time.

[Love.II.Cruise]

Originally Posted by 5326jan

I watched yesterday at 5pm and she left on time.

We watched her too! I wasn't sure if she had a departure change for this cruise or would leave late since she came in late. In 10 days when she returns to Ft. Lauderdale, they have changed the departure time to 4pm from 5pm.

[Suze on the ocean]

We were near Cuba and not at all near Haiti, though I don't know where this group was from. I'm a little surprised that there hasn't been a news story.

[RickEk]

Originally Posted by Suze on the ocean

We were near Cuba and not at all near Haiti, though I don't know where this group was from. I'm a little surprised that there hasn't been a news story.

Yes, it was probably Cubans... but, sadly, it's apparently just not newsworthy.

[Suze on the ocean]

Here you go: Scottsdale man captures rescue at sea on camera

[donna travels]

Originally Posted by Suze on the ocean

Here you go: Scottsdale man captures rescue at sea on camera

I sent this link to my brother and sister in law so they could watch. Merry Christmas

[Suze on the ocean]

I hope somebody filmed the Coast Guard transfer--it was quite dramatic, but the weather was too bad for us to risk the new camera.

[Durendal]

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...1&l=64cbc57e40

[notentirelynormal]

Wow. Thanks for the pictures. Very dramatic and heart wrenching. It made me think of a thread a bit ago where people were wanting to cruise to Cuba. If people will risk their lives and the lives of their children in horrid conditions to get away from Cuba.... well ....