As part of Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued important guidance for passengers and crew on what to do in the event of a sexual assault at sea, and how to report it.
Celebrity Xcel crew member was taken into custody on April 5 when the cruise ship arrived at Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), following a reported incident that happened earlier in the voyage.
The arrest was carried out by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, who identified the crew member as Wigawa Putu Janu, 36, from Jembrana, Indonesia. He is facing a charge of sexual battery.
South African authorities opened an investigation following allegations of sexual assault aboard the cruise ship MSC Musica on December 6, involving a 29-year-old South African staff member who was employed as an onboard musician.
The truth rarely erupts loudly on a cruise ship. It lives in quiet corners, in stories exchanged behind closed cabin doors, and in the fear that speaking up might cost someone their career, their stability, or their dignity. She was one crew member among thousands, doing her best to survive the long hours and relentless expectation to smile, yet what happened to her reflects a much larger crisis that has taken root across the industry. Sexual harassment and assault affect women and men alike on board, and the silence surrounding these experiences has become its own painful tradition.
A disturbing incident was reported aboard the cruise ship Costa Favolosa on Thursday, October 9, involving the alleged sexual assault of a female crew member in her cabin.
The FBI has launched an investigation into a reported sexual assault that allegedly occurred aboard Carnival Breeze during a recent sailing from Galveston, Texas. The incident was reported on a 4-day itinerary that included a call in Cozumel and returned to Galveston on July 28, 2025.
Three French men were sentenced on Monday by a court in Genoa for their involvement in the rape of a 19-year-old Italian student aboard an MSC cruise ship last year. The Genoa tribunal handed 10-year prison terms to two of the men, while the third received a 5-year and 4-month sentence. All three had been accused of participating in the sexual assault of the student on the cruise ship MSC Seaside during the night between May 17 and 18, 2024, as the ship sailed off the coast of Genoa.
April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a month dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence, supporting survivors, and promoting prevention efforts across society. While much of the focus often falls on land-based institutions, it's crucial to highlight the unique vulnerabilities and challenges faced by cruise ship crew members working far from home.
Two passengers were arrested at PortMiami on Sunday after allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
The suspects, identified as Ricardo Daniel Mondragón Leal, 37, and José Juan Prudencio Díaz, 36, both Mexican nationals, face multiple felony charges, including lewd and lascivious molestation of a minor and sexual battery on a child, said Miami-Dade police.
A 34-year-old chef aboard the Sky Princess cruise ship has been sentenced to one year in prison for assaulting a teenage passenger. Vincent Lucas, from Goa, India, was convicted after a four-day trial at Southampton Crown Court and will face deportation after serving his sentence, Cruise Radio reported.
