“Maritime law requires the ship to render assistance to anybody in danger or in distress at sea, as long as they can do it without serious danger to themselves, their crew or their passengers,” he says. What happens next can be murky, varying depending on cruise company policies and where the rescues occurred.

Yes, cruise ships have a clear legal and moral obligation to assist anyone in distress at sea, including refugees and migrants. This duty is enshrined in international maritime law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). According to these regulations, a shipmaster is required to render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost, provided it does not pose a serious danger to their own ship, crew, or passengers. In practice, if a cruise ship encounters a distressed vessel, they must stop and provide aid, which often involves bringing people on board, providing medical care, food, and water. Once a rescue is completed, the cruise line coordinates with the nearest Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to arrange for the safe disembarkation of the rescued individuals at a "place of safety," ensuring minimal disruption to the cruise's intended itinerary while upholding humanitarian standards.