Freedom of the seas dramatic rescue

[teajak]

It was quite the excitement and I missed most of it as I was in the casino then in my cabin filling out my gratuity envelopes and other "end of cruise" stuff. My DH and our friends said that the water spout was really something to see.

That is exactly what happened with us,casino and packing.Since you cannot hear announcements in the cabins we missed all of it.

[yawalias]

Wow! Same thing happened to us this past May on the Allure! 9 in a home made boat!

[Tonka's Skipper]

The watchdog groups are multi-national, not Cuban. Once again, the abuse claim is a myth. I am loosely connected to these issues through my career, so I know a little about it.

 

 

Sorry, the mutli national?...maybe....but having been involved in a few Cuban rescues as sea...so I know a little about them as well.......not to mention Castros abilities to terrorize his own people.

 

Beleive what you will..........

 

 

AKK

[LeeBe]

Health was good except one with seasickness. Raft was taking on water, so their rescue was welcomed. They knew they wouldn't make it. The rest of the evolution has not taken place yet, so I cannot comment on the operations, but they will be repatriated to Cuba.

 

Thanks, too bad the outcome could not have been better. Just sad that all their work and risk was for naught.

[Cruzaholic41]

Sorry' date=' the mutli national?...maybe....but having been involved in a few Cuban rescues as sea...so I know a little about them as well.......not to mention Castros abilities to terrorize his own people.

 

Beleive what you will..........

[/quote']

 

I am Cuban and my family migrated here in much the same fashion as these rafters - before Clinton's Wet Foot Dry Foot. I am a retired Customs agent and DH is retired USCG. First, Paul (Aquahound) knows what he's talking about and what he says is not opinion. I can second it. It may have been true 10-15 years ago, but not today. I can travel to Cuba once a year and I have actually spoken with some of the people that assist the refugees when they are returned to Cuba. The ones I spoke to were Swiss. They are allowed regular visitations throughout their incarceration that lasts up to a month. The prisoners are interviewed on intelligence matters, like the USCG vessels, aircrafts, and positions. They are not abused in any way because the regime has taken a position of not wanting to bring attention to their migration problem. This has been confirmed to me by a cousin of mine who recently was intercepted at sea trying to migrate to the U.S. He wasn't even transported to jail by soldiers. He was allowed to be taken there by the humanitarians, escorted by the soldiers.

 

Believe what you will, but you apparently know nothing of what actually happens. Just being involved in rescues does not tell what happens on land in Cuba after the USCG drops them off.

[iluvcruzin]

Interesting information Cruiseaholic. Glad they will be fine returning home.

 

Once while on the Emerald Princess, they stopped and picked up a father/son that had been drifting for 10 days when the motor went out on their small dingy. It was an interesting rescue. The coast guard wasn't involved but they dropped them off on the next port of call. I think they were from Venezuella.

 

Great photo of the water spout.

[luvbrady]

WOW. Looking at the pictures of that storm following it seems these fellows were EXTREMELY lucky to be in the proximity of the route! I can't imagine that vessel would have faired well.

 

I'm glad all my cruises have been 'drama free'!

[Eng23]

Good job to all the poster's on this thread that were on the Freedom of the Seas! Great pictures and it is good to know that the outcome was a rescue, although maybe not what the rescued people were hoping for but it is better than having to report a tragedy of those people dying in a storm at sea.

[BillOh]

I imagine ships' crew that sail the Western routes from Florida are probably trained to watch out for these people, but given the size of the Freedom class and above, it sure wouldn't be hard to miss. I don't know the surface radar capabilities of these cruise ships, but I'm guessing they were all spotted visually?

[Tonka's Skipper]

I am Cuban and my family migrated here in much the same fashion as these rafters - before Clinton's Wet Foot Dry Foot. I am a retired Customs agent and DH is retired USCG. First, Paul (Aquahound) knows what he's talking about and what he says is not opinion. I can second it. It may have been true 10-15 years ago, but not today. I can travel to Cuba once a year and I have actually spoken with some of the people that assist the refugees when they are returned to Cuba. The ones I spoke to were Swiss. They are allowed regular visitations throughout their incarceration that lasts up to a month. The prisoners are interviewed on intelligence matters, like the USCG vessels, aircrafts, and positions. They are not abused in any way because the regime has taken a position of not wanting to bring attention to their migration problem. This has been confirmed to me by a cousin of mine who recently was intercepted at sea trying to migrate to the U.S. He wasn't even transported to jail by soldiers. He was allowed to be taken there by the humanitarians, escorted by the soldiers.

 

Believe what you will, but you apparently know nothing of what actually happens. Just being involved in rescues does not tell what happens on land in Cuba after the USCG drops them off.

 

 

You have a point about maybe today things have changed. I was involving 10 years ago.

 

I was invloved after the fact, being interviewed and reporting what happened. Seems the people I was dealing with were telling us that the people returned were jailed and abused.thier families were threatened. One USCG officer reported one man trying to break away from the Cuban soilders in the parking lot near the peir and was shot dead.

 

 

I will bow your direct recent knowledge but you know nothing about my background or knowledge........I am going on my expriences....direct expriences and I know alot about what happened back then..... I put no faith in international groups.

 

With all due repect, talking to 2 swiss people isn't much to bank on!

 

What happens after these groups are not watching.....maybe alot more like 10 years ago

 

 

I am dropping this discussion as its getting to political for to long......we will have to agree to disagree.

 

 

AKK

[Cruzaholic41]

I was involving 10 years ago.

 

This says it all. A lot has changed since then and my info is current.

[Jimnbigd]

I'm sure more youtube videos will be posted.

[island lady]

I'm sure more youtube videos will be posted.

 

Wow...that was informational and dramatic. :rolleyes:

[jackg962]

heres some pix

[CruiseLover15]

Thanks for the pictures. I was on the cruise and missed most of it.

[paggerscorvette]

Thanks for the pictures. I was on the cruise and missed most of it.

 

I was also on this cruise. All in all, it was a wonderful cruise. Hats off to the Freedom staff, it was a fast rescue. I also have pics but not sure how to post them.

[gr8.guy]

WOW Loves_Dogs, your photos are very impressive. When it was announced, I went up to deck 11, and all I had with me was my iPhone and just started recording everything on video. I was able to get 28 minutes of video but the file is 2 gigs in size. There is a lot of background noise and I have been having a hell of a time getting the audio stripped out of it.

[island lady]

WOW, your photos are very impressive. When it was announced, I went up to deck 11, and all I had with me was my iPhone and just started recording everything on video. I was able to get 28 minutes of video but the file is 2 gigs in size. There is a lot of background noise and I have been having a hell of a time getting the audio stripped out of it.

 

We were up on Deck 12 with the binoculars...but no video. Lots of pics from our balcony

of the coast guard pick up though.

[tahoemc]

Very impressive pictures and stories. Having never experienced anything like this I appreciate everyone's efforts in posting this information here. Thanks!

[gr8.guy]

"Dramatic"... humm, maybe a stretch using that term.

 

While I do agree that "dramatic" may be a stretch to some of the more seasoned cruisers, those who do not have that many cruise days such as myself find this to be dramatic. Considering the impending storm, water spout, condition of the sea, and the fact that their craft was disabled constituted my choice of terminology.

[island lady]

While I do agree that "dramatic" may be a stretch to some of the more seasoned cruisers, those who do not have that many cruise days such as myself find this to be dramatic. Considering the impending storm, water spout, condition of the sea, and the fact that their craft was disabled constituted my choice of terminology.

 

Been on a few cruises....and that was my first "rescue at sea" observation and my very first up close look at a water spout. All at the same time. Thought it was very interesting indeed!

[gr8.guy]

so if they're being sent back to Cuba, i guess to have been picked up by a boat called the "Freedom" is somewhat ironic.

 

The taste of freedom but for a fleeting minute. (and what a taste it is on a luxury cruise ship)

 

Sad.

 

I agree, it is ironic.

[Loves_Dogs]

WOW Loves_Dogs, your photos are very impressive. When it was announced, I went up to deck 11, and all I had with me was my iPhone and just started recording everything on video. I was able to get 28 minutes of video but the file is 2 gigs in size. There is a lot of background noise and I have been having a hell of a time getting the audio stripped out of it.

 

I have some good video too but trust me I will never figure out how to get it out there on Youtube. I am hoping to get my son (the only not technically challenged person in our family..lol) to put some of the video out on Youtube. He is at his Dad's house right now and will not be back here until Christmas day. If he gets the video out there I will post a link.

[Jimnbigd]

Wow...that was informational and dramatic. :rolleyes:

Try this one instead --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofm3yJRUB00

[alaska_planner]

i found this video on youtube of the same event:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofm3yJRUB00

 

it shows the cuban boat being marked by the ship crew, then the coast guard cutter showing up, then the little coast guard boat coming up to the ship and the cubans going down the ladder to the little coast guard boat (in their new RCCL shorts and shirts)..

the cubans are all very young looking...i'm not good with ages, but maybe in their young 20's or even late teens?

 

very sad, but at least they lived to try again another day...