A crew member working as a pianist aboard RCI-Royal Caribbean's cruise ship Ovation of the Seas was rescued after spending ~9 hours in the Pacific Ocean, ~20 miles (32 kilometres) off the California coast.
The man was discovered on Friday, November 6th, near Catalina Island by two fishermen, Grant Garrett and Sean Norton, who were operating their fishing boat in the area. After spotting the crew member in the water, they stopped their vessel and brought him aboard.
According to reports, the pianist may have been in the water for as long as 9 to 10 hours before being located. The relatively warm sea temperature, estimated at 76°F (24°C), may have contributed to his survival.
Royal Caribbean Group confirmed the incident and stated that it was providing assistance and support to the crew member. The company did not disclose further details, citing the employee's privacy.
The circumstances surrounding how the crew member went overboard have not been disclosed.
For more Ovation of the Seas incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page.