Cruise Ship Rescues 111 Migrants Off Greece

Cruise ship Marella Discovery has rescued 111 migrants, including 33 children near Greece's Peloponnese peninsula by picking them up from a distress spot.

The luxury cruise was sailing close to the Greek mainland, the Coast Guard said.

According to the coast guard, the Marella Discovery was on a Mediterranean cruise and found the migrants' boat in distress on Saturday evening, 40 nautical miles off Peloponnese peninsula.

It is estimated that six people die daily from the risky voyage of migrants trying to cross into Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.

So far in 2019, deaths of 426 men, women and children have been reported, according to the French medical charity Doctors Without Borders.

Marella Discovery is an 11-deck luxury liner equipped with swimming pools, casinos, and a theatre.

The origin-country of the migrants was unknown. Also, the details of the boat that ferried were not available.

The passengers have been taken to the port of Kalamata in Greece. According to the Coast Guard, two boat operators have been arrested.

Migrants in boats face the risk of death

Boatloads of migrants, mainly from Africa attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea for a better life in Europe. The migrants’ influx has been a problem for Greece, Italy, and Spain. Many migrants in distress had been picked up by migrant rescue ships run by European charities.

The lack of an agreement among the European Union on a disembarkation procedure adds to the problems. The Italian government has banned migrant ships from docking at its ports.

However, there is a steep decline in the number of migrants attempting the hazardous journey braving deaths en route. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports, the numbers have fallen to 116,000 in 2018 from 362,000 in 2016.

Princess Cruises announces mega Sale package

Meanwhile, Princess Cruises announced a landmark sale package for select cruises and cruise tours spanning March 2020 to May 2021.

The package offers guests $1,000 onboard credit per stateroom with additional guests offered $50 onboard credit in the same stateroom.

The cruises will cover highly sought-after landmarks in Europe, Alaska, Japan, and the Caribbean.

The Landmark Sale is open to residents aged 21 and above from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bermuda and the District of Columbia.

Princess Cruises is a fast-growing premium cruise line operating a fleet of 17 modern cruise ships and it serves 380 destinations around the globe.

They include Alaska, Europe, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal, South America, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Asia, Canada, New England, and Antarctica.