The crew of the Carnival Valor cruise ship is being hailed as heroes after they rescued five sailors  from a sinking boat.

On Saturday, the staff of the Carnival cruise ship noticed the sailors on a pleasure boat in distress. The boat was sinking off the coast of St. Maarten amongst inclement weather.

After they were saved, the five adults were brought on board the Carnival Valor where they were evaluated by the ship's medical staff and were given food and water. Although the sailors were alright, two of Carnival Valor's deck officers
sustained minor contusions during the rescue effort.

The Carnival Valor cruise ship then went to St. Maarten after the rescue. The ship was on the last leg of a a seven-day cruise that departed San Juan last Sunday, December 15, part of its year-round schedule of week-long southern Caribbean departures from that port.

This rescue shows that Carnival Cruise Line is continuing its  longstanding practice of assisting distressed mariners and vessels at sea. Cruise ship rescues are a common practice among cruise lines. In April, the Disney Wonder cruise ship helped save eight people near Key West. Just a day later, the Carnival Conquest crew helped save 13 people around the same area.

Carnival Cruise Line is known as "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line." The liner operates 24 ships which go on three to 23 day sailings to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Panama Canal, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Tahiti.  The company will launch a new ship, the Carnival Vista in 2016.