Medical emergencies at sea are rare, but when they happen, cruise lines and coast guards must spring into action fast.
That’s exactly what unfolded on Sunday, August 24, 2025, when not one but two guests were evacuated from Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess in a complex and highly coordinated rescue.
A Double Medical Emergency at Sea
The 3,080-passenger Ruby Princess had just departed San Francisco on August 22 for an 11-night Alaska sailing when two passengers fell critically ill within days of embarkation.
- Case 1: A 52-year-old female guest went into cardiac arrest and was placed on life support.
- Case 2: A 99-year-old male passenger suffered a complete esophageal obstruction — a dangerous blockage of the passage between the throat and stomach.
Both emergencies required immediate evacuation to shore-side hospitals for advanced treatment.
Impressive Multi-Agency Rescue
Because two patients needed urgent attention, a rare joint airlift was launched involving both U.S. and Canadian teams.
Agencies involved:
- 🇺🇸 U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) – MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Port Angeles.
- 🇨🇦 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) – CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft from 19 Wing Comox.
- 🇨🇦 Canadian Coast Guard – assisted with coordination.
The Kingfisher aircraft acted as an airborne command center, overseeing and guiding the simultaneous evacuations.
Cmdr. Kelly Higgins of the USCG praised the joint operation:
“This case demonstrates how our specialized expertise and dedicated training allows us to rapidly respond to these types of time-sensitive medical evacuations at sea. The expert coordination between the Canadian Coast Guard, the Life Flight Network, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard ensured these patients received the care they needed.”
Smooth Itinerary Despite the Rescue
At the time of the evacuations, Ruby Princess was about 145 nautical miles west of Cape Flattery, Washington.
- The ship paused briefly to allow the helicopters to complete the operation.
- Once the airlifts were done, Ruby Princess resumed her route.
- By the following morning (August 25), she arrived on time in Ketchikan, Alaska, her first scheduled port of call.
Despite the dramatic rescue, no itinerary changes were needed.
Guests continued their Alaskan adventure with stops in Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Sitka, and Victoria, BC, before returning to San Francisco on September 2.
Looking Ahead
Ruby Princess, launched in 2008 and weighing 113,561 gross tons, still has two more 11-night Alaska itineraries scheduled (September 2 and September 13) before wrapping up her summer season.
Princess Cruises and passengers alike will be hoping the rest of her season runs more smoothly, without further medical drama.
Final Word
This rescue highlights the remarkable coordination between international agencies when emergencies happen at sea.
While the prognosis of the two evacuated guests remains unknown, the successful operation demonstrates just how prepared cruise lines and coast guards are for even the most urgent situations.
For the thousands of other passengers onboard, it was a reminder that safety is always the top priority — and that even in emergencies, a well-trained crew and skilled responders can keep the voyage on course.
