Cruise horror as new record set for crimes on ships from key location

departing from have reached their highest level in two years, a recent report from the United States Department of Transport (DOT) has revealed. During the first three months of 2025, 48 serious crimes were reported onboard these vessels. The crimes were reported to as required by federal law All incidents happened on cruises operated by commercial companies en route from or to the United States. According to the data, more than half of the crimes were rapes or sexual assaults.

One of the most serious cases took place on the Independence of the Seas cruise, operated by . In March, two passengers identified as Jose Prudencio Díaz (36) and Ricardo Daniel Mondragón Leal (37) were arrested after being accused of sexual abuse against a 14-year-old minor. The incident occurred in the ship's sauna, where the two adults allegedly began to masturbate in front of the minor and forced the minor to touch them. One of them also forced the minor to perform a sexual act, according to the judicial documents of the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Department. Diaz was HIV positive when the incident occurred, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's tweets.

Another incident occurred in April at , which has maintained its reputation as the most violent cruise line.

In a video shared on social media, passengers are involved in a massive fight when disembarking at the port of Galveston in Texas. Several people are seen hitting and pushing each other as they try to leave the terminal.

Carnival Cruise Line informed Fox News Digital that 24 people involved in the altercation were placed on their "", which prevents them from boarding future company vessels.

The DOT report specified out of the total crimes documented, 23 were alleged , 10 corresponded to sexual assaults, and 7 to physical assaults. All of them happened when the vessels were sailing and not docked in port.

The incidents usually take place in common areas such as bars, saunas, swimming pools or nightclubs, as well as in private cabins. Authorities indicate that most victims and perpetrators are passengers, although in some cases crew members are also involved.

Robert McDonald, former Secret Service agent, explained for Fox News Digital that due to the high number of people concentrated in limited spaces, alcohol consumption and passengers being more relaxed as they are on holiday.

But McDonald also affirmed that some cruise companies don't immediately report these incidents for fears of damaging their reputation.

He added: "This negative information puts a dark cloud over the industry."

A breakdown of crimes by cruise line is as follows:

• Carnival Cruise Line: 12
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Line: 9
• Princess Cruises: 6
• Disney Cruise Line: 6
• Norwegian Cruise Line: 5
• MSC: 5
• Celebrity Cruises: 3
• Virgin Voyages: 2