Cruise ship sexual assaults and the complexities of crime at sea.
Aside from its goals of excitement and family-focused enjoyment, the cruise ship industry is attempting to navigate murky waters. Cruising is at a record high: 34.6 million passengers were welcomed aboard cruise ships in 2024.
As passengers flock to the sea, however, crime is rising steadily, and sexual assault is the most prevalent offense among those that ships are required to report. Last year, 120 alleged sexual assaults on cruise ships were reported to the F.B.I., and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), believes far more cases likely remain unreported.
The 2010 passage of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act required any ships entering and exiting United States ports to report crimes like homicide, kidnapping, and suspicious death to the F.B.I. These guidelines also mandated that cruise ships have the proper tools to conduct medical examinations after a sexual assault: a certified medical professional, specific evidence collection processes, and more.
Although cruise ships are incredibly regulated, it can be difficult for investigators to “immediately secure an alleged crime scene on a cruise vessel, recover evidence of an onboard offense, and identify or interview potential witnesses to the alleged crime,” the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act acknowledges. Even after a crime is reported, it is almost impossible to track the outcome.
Ross Klein, a retired professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland said of the cruise industry, “There is no way to reliably know how many cases reach the attention of law enforcement, and how many of those are prosecuted.”
At least 30 civil lawsuits are filed against cruise lines for sexual assault in any given year, he estimates, and most are settled with the instruction that plaintiffs cannot discuss details of their cases publicly.
Cruise ships operate under complex regulations as they traverse international jurisdictions. Ships employ their own security teams in place of broader law enforcement, yet notable biases color judgement of those tasked with protection.
Laurie Dishman serves on the board of the International Cruise Victims Association, a nonprofit serving survivors of crimes that have taken place on cruise ships. “It’s not easy for victims to go up against these huge cruise lines,” she said. As a survivor herself, Dishman acknowledges the weight of the process: “It’s a long, hard, traumatic battle.”
Once a ship departs a U.S. port, passengers’ rights do not remain the same as they did on land. Independent security companies typically favor their employer rather than passenger safety. Sometimes, security urges passengers not to make reports: “They will say things like, ‘Are you sure you want to do this? It’s going to be a he said/she said scenario,’” said lawyer Michael Winkleman. “In my opinion, that is squarely because the guards are cruise line employees who have an inherent bias and interest in protecting the company.”
When asked, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian lines did not allow a reporter from the New York Times to attend training sessions and interview security about sexual assault protocol.
Throughout examination of evidence from numerous civil lawsuits against cruise lines, a recurring theme has emerged: inadequate gathering of evidence.
Lawyers, cruise industry experts, and former employees have shed light on improper collection procedures that have led to contamination and unprocessed rape kits. Many survivors report that it is nearly impossible to obtain evidence even when they have contacted ships themselves.
Through her journey as a survivor and across her advocacy work, Laurie Dishman has found that billion-dollar cruise companies attempt to utilize power to silence those brave enough to come forward. “I knew the only way to bring about any change was to go public,” she said. She settled her case with Royal Caribbean in 2008, but did not agree to any conditions that would prohibit her from speaking out.
Dishman and other advocates are calling for updates to the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, including improved medical care, reinforced safety measures, and certainty that proper investigations will be conducted.
“We go to Washington regularly,” she said, “but ultimately, it’s our stories versus the cruise line’s checkbooks.”
Authors: Andy Goldwasser and Alexis Kabat
