BREVARD COUNTY — A Carnival Cruise Line ship based in Port Canaveral rescued nine people from a disabled boat flying a distress flag off the coast of Sebastian Inlet on Saturday, May 16, 2026, officials said.
The Carnival Mardi Gras crew spotted the boat in distress and immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard before carrying out the rescue, a Carnival spokesperson said. All nine individuals were safely transferred aboard the cruise ship without reported injuries.
The rescued passengers remained under the ship’s care until the vessel reached Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday. They then disembarked with Bahamian authorities, the spokesperson added. The cruise ship’s home port is Port Canaveral.
The incident occurred near Sebastian Inlet, a popular passage along Florida’s Atlantic coast known for its challenging currents and proximity to recreational and commercial maritime traffic. Details about the disabled boat’s origin, the identities of those rescued or the cause of the vessel’s mechanical failure were not immediately available.
Carnival, one of the largest cruise operators departing from Central Florida, has not released the name of the specific ship involved. Company representatives emphasized that the crew followed standard maritime protocols for distress situations at sea.
No further information has been released by the U.S. Coast Guard regarding ongoing investigations or any potential hazards in the area.
This rescue highlights the occasional role of large passenger vessels in assisting smaller craft in the busy waters off Florida’s Space Coast.