No Thank You! Apparent Refugees pass on a free ride from Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady was en route back to its home port of Miami on Thursday when it passed a small water craft in the Straits of Florida.

Vessels are required by law to offer aid to any fellow seafarer they feel may be in danger. According to a travel blogger on Valiant Lady, the ship stopped and dispatched a small boat to check on the traveling party.

Upon making contact, the the blogger reported the occupants declined to come aboard the safety of the 110,000 gross ton cruise ship. Instead, those on board asked for food and water. Virgin Voyages agreed to provide the items they requested.

It's becoming increasingly common, and has been for some time, for refugees from Cuba to be spotted in the Straits of Florida, a 93 mile stretch of water at its widest point between the United States' southern coast line and the northern coast of Cuba. In most cases, cruise lines will stop and bring the people on board the ship for medical treatment, food and water.

According to MarineTraffic, Valiant Lady continued on her route after about an hour of stoppage time and made an on-time arrival in Miami this morning.

Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line founded by business mogul Richard Branson. It currently has two vessels operating. A third-vessel, Resilient Lady is scheduled to launch in May of 2023 after nearly a one-year delay from the original launch date.

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