(CNN) – While cruising in open waters not too far from Cuba Friday morning, crew members of the cruise ship Mardi Gras spotted what had to be a chilling sight: a small vessel in rough seas stirred up by a tropical weather system.

The crew saw the distressed vessel just before 8 am, Carnival Cruise Line said in a news blog. The Mardi Gras stopped its leisure trip to assist, taking on 16 stranded people.

The distressed vessel was about 60 nautical miles west / northwest of Key West, Florida, according to Matt Lupoli, senior manager for public relations for Carnival.

All the occupants were adults; 11 men and five women, Lupoli told CNN Travel.

Those with identification were of Cuban nationality, he said. All 16 were seen by medical staff on board the Mardi Gras, and they were given food and clothes.

The sea was rough at the time, which contributed to the small vessel’s distress. The weather conditions are currently being impacted by a sub-tropical system that is projected to develop into a tropical storm this weekend, the first such storm of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

A maritime custom to assist

The Carnival ship was on a seven-day cruise in the Caribbean. The ship is returning Saturday to Port Canaveral, Florida, as scheduled after a day at sea, Lupoli said. Lei, made several Western Caribbean stops on its journey di lei, including Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, and Roatan Island, Honduras.

The Mardi Gras launched in July 2021. Normal occupancy is 5,282, and the total officers and crew number is 1,745, according to Lupoli.

It’s not unusual for cruise ships to assist in maritime rescues.

Lupoli said crew members are always scanning the waters and as the captain of the Mardi Gras pointed out to guests on board, it’s a maritime custom to help anyone in distress at sea.