Cat’s aren’t known for their appreciation of water. But in November a cat named Ovie was discovered cruising aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas bound for Australia.
Cruise safety procedure dictates furry critters be euthanized. Fortunately, Ovie of Ovation of the Seas was rescued from the needle while crew attempted to find a new home for the meower in Miami.
Michael Bayley, the CEO of Royal Caribbean International, shared in a Facebook post on 22DEC 2023 that the cat was likely smuggled onto the ship "in the guest's sweatshirt."
"We assume he must have been sedated or something and he wouldn't beep, since Ovie isn't metal," added Bayley.
The cat is thought to have been smuggled aboard in Hawaii and came to the attention of Royal Caribbean after he was spotted by a crew member and "reported to New Zealand authorities per their bio-security protocols," Royal Caribbean shared in a statement with PEOPLE Magazine.
"When discovered, the cat was not allowed off the ship in Australia or New Zealand by authorities and was supposed to be euthanized," said Bayley.
But Ovie hasn't spent his nine lives just yet; Royal Caribbean "stepped up to the plate and, after several weeks and much back and forth, safely brought Ovie halfway around the world to be adopted by one of the guest service team members in Miami."
Ovie is now purr-manently porterd in a loving home in Miami.
