When a crew member on the Norwegian Getaway was reported overboard and the Coast Guard called off a search without success, there was not much hope of a happy ending.
However, against the odds, the 33-year old man managed to survive for an entire day in the water, and was picked up by another passing cruise liner.
The Carnival Glory rescued the man about 20 miles off the Cuba coast, about 22 hours after going overboard.
An eagle-eyed steward aboard the Glory spotted the man drifting in the water.
"This is nothing short of miraculous. Kudos to the Carnival Glory team for this amazing effort to rescue a fellow seafarer," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
The Glory had left Miami headed for Cozumel.
When he first went overboard the Norwegian Getaway reversed course and joined in the search for several hours which was suspended after sun down.
It is still unknown how the Filipino crew member went overboard.
