TUI Cruise Excursion Ends in Dramatic Sinking
A holiday outing turned into a disaster for 55 cruise ship passengers when the catamaran transporting them sank in the Caribbean Sea. The incident occurred on Sunday near the Dominican Republic, forcing everyone on board to jump into the water for their own safety.
The Incident and Rescue Operation
The passengers were on a 12-metre (39ft) vessel named Boca de Yuma, which was ferrying them from the German cruise ship Mein Schiff 1 during a stop in Samaná Bay. The catamaran, operated by an external provider, began to take on water and ultimately sank, leaving the tourists floating in the bay.
A major rescue operation was swiftly launched. Personnel from the Dominican Republic Navy were dispatched to the scene, assisted by local residents from the coastal community of El Crucero. Footage from local news service CDN37 captured the dramatic moment the boat slipped beneath the surface.
TUI's Response and Ongoing Investigation
In an official statement, a spokeswoman for TUI Cruises confirmed the vessel was externally operated and that the company is in close contact with the provider and local authorities to investigate the cause. Initial reports suggest a leak in the hull may have been responsible.
The local port authority stated that the Dominican Navy is working to identify those responsible and to implement measures to prevent a future occurrence. Despite the frightening ordeal, all 55 passengers were safely returned to the Mein Schiff 1, which can accommodate up to 4,000 guests. The nationalities of those on the catamaran have not been disclosed.
Passenger Complaints and Journey Continuation
Following the rescue, some passengers expressed dissatisfaction with the response from the cruise ship staff. One claimed they were "not taken care of" and another stated, "My ship offered no assistance, or even knew anything about the incident."
Despite the event, the Mein Schiff 1 was scheduled to continue its journey as planned, with its next port of call being Jamaica. The TUI group operates a combined fleet of 18 ships across its three cruise lines.
