When you're stranded in the middle of an Alaskan bay because your boat is taking on water, watching a 781-foot cruise ship steam your way must be a welcome sight to behold.
That's what it was like for dozens of sightseers who were touring Glacier Bay National Park on Sunday. The tourists were enjoying the park's spectacular vistas when their boat, the 79-foot-long Baranof Wind, reportedly struck rocks and began taking on water, according to news reports.
Baranof Wind crew members immediately activated pumps to counteract the flooding, while a Coast Guard vessel and helicopter were dispatched to the accident scene. Although a National Park Service boat rescued two of the tourists, the big hero of the day was Holland America Line's ms Volendam.
The 1,432-passenger liner responded to an emergency call and quickly plucked 70 Baranof Wind passengers from danger.
"The Coast Guard would like to thank the crew of the Volendam, the National Park Service personnel and the other good Samaritans for taking immediate action to aid the passengers and crew of the Baranof Wind," the Coast Guard said in a statement. "Their quick assistance ensured everyone was quickly accounted for and transferred to safety."
There were no reported injuries, and the Coast Guard is investigating the accident.
