Passengers aboard an Alaskan cruise ship erupted in booing after learning that Mark Zuckerberg’s 387-foot superyacht allegedly failed to respond to calls for assistance from a nearby stranded skiff.
The incident occurred near Farragut Bay, between Petersburg and Juneau, when a 21-foot boat ran out of fuel. Vessel tracking data and passenger reports indicate that Zuckerberg’s $300-million yacht, Launchpad, was positioned closer to the stranded vessel than the small cruise ship Wilderness Legacy. However, according to passengers on board the Wilderness Legacy, their captain announced that the superyacht had repeatedly refused to respond to distress requests. As a result, the cruise ship altered its course to tow the stranded boat and its crew to safety.
A spokesperson for Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, confirmed that the billionaire couple were not on board the superyacht during the event. The spokesperson explained that the yacht's crew had been monitoring a different radio channel from the one used for the broadcast. By the time the crew reviewed the Coast Guard's message on the alternate channel, the cruise ship had already initiated the rescue operation.
The US Coast Guard clarified that it had issued a general marine assistance request at approximately 9:56 p.m. after determining that the skiff was out of fuel but not in immediate danger. Despite the explanation regarding the radio communication mix-up, the incident has prompted an online backlash and sharp criticism from local residents, compounding public scrutiny surrounding the Meta CEO's high-profile lifestyle and presence in Southeast Alaska.