AIDAluna Crew Rescues Drifting Survivors Near Arctic

The crew aboard the German cruise ship AIDAluna were instrumental in the rescue of several individuals found adrift in a life raft late in the evening on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

The incident took place near Spitsbergen in the Arctic Circle, around 11 p.m., when AIDAluna detected the distressed raft and immediately initiated a rescue response.

At the time, conditions were severe, with air temperatures barely above freezing at 1°C (33.8°F) and sea temperatures only slightly warmer at 3°C (37.4°F). Recognizing the urgency, the ship’s captain brought the vessel to a halt and positioned it for emergency procedures while coordinating with local search and rescue services. A helicopter was sent to evaluate and manage the recovery.

As the crew prepared for action, passengers were informed about the unfolding emergency. The ship’s medical team was placed on standby, ready to administer care if the survivors needed to be brought on board.

Ultimately, the helicopter rescue team was able to safely extract the stranded individuals directly from the raft. They were flown to Longyearbyen, the largest community in Norway’s Svalbard region, for medical assessment.

Although the rescue temporarily delayed the cruise ship’s schedule, guests were reassured that AIDAluna would soon continue its voyage once it was cleared from its emergency stance.