A cruise ship rescued 18 Cuban migrants off the Florida coast on Friday, ending a dangerous voyage in which the migrants said nine other travelers died, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The migrants were picked up just west of Marco Island by Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, which was bound for Cozumel, Mexico. The migrants, who said they had been at sea for 22 days, were to be treated for severe dehydration at that port of call, the Coast Guard said.  

The migrants reported nine others died during the journey, Coast Guard officials said, noting they had not yet been able to confirm the information.

“Unfortunately, tragedy is all too common when taking to the sea in homemade vessels with no safety or navigation equipment,” Reuters news service reported Coast Guard Captain Mark Gordon as saying. Gorden is in charge of enforcement for the guard’s 7th District, which includes Miami..

According to Miami’s CBS4 news station, the Coast Guard has reported more illegal attempted crossings by Cuban rafters since the thaw in United States and Cuba relations in December 2014.
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