Sexual Assault On Cruise Ships Becoming Increasingly Common

Nearly 100 Instances of Sexual Assaults On Cruise Ships Have Been Reported In The First 9 Months of 2023

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (January 11, 2023) – Sex crimes aboard cruise ships have become increasingly common, according to a new report by the Washington Post.

The report states that the FBI has received 39 reports of sexual assault and 58 reports of rape from passengers aboard cruise ships.  In fact, sexual assault has become one of the most common crimes reported on cruise ships.

The number of sexual assaults on cruise ships has continued to climb over the last three years. This is likely due in part to more people using cruise ships as pandemic era restrictions have eased.

For every instance where sexual assault is reported, it is estimated that another two instances go unreported. These instances of sexual assault and rape have led to numerous lawsuits.

Liability For Cruise Ship Sexual Assault

Cruise ships are supposed to be places of fun and relaxation for the whole family. But far too often, cruise passengers are victimized by sexual predators on the ship. Many of these assaults involve two companies in particular. According to Business Insider, “Of the approximately 500 incidents of sexual assault documented aboard 13 major cruise lines from January 2010 to September 2022, about 70% happened on either Royal Caribbean or Carnival ships, Insider’s analysis found.” There are a number of steps that cruise ships should take to protect guests from sexual assault.

• Cruise ship staff should be trained to recognize and address potential signs of sexual assault.
• Cruise ships should implement certain safety measures to prevent sexual assault such as putting security cameras in public areas.
• Cruise ships should communicate and enforce clear policies on sexual assault.
• Cruise ships should collaborate with authorities to report instances of sexual assault.

Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain their properties in a reasonably safe condition. This must be done for the protection of everyone on a property whose presence is reasonably foreseeable. This includes protecting guests from criminal activity including sexual assault. If a cruise company fails to take reasonable steps to protect guests from sexual assault, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Several steps should be taken after any instance of sexual assault.

• A police report related to the incident should be created.
• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• Surveillance footage should be preserved.
• Internal reports related to protecting guests from sexual assault should be sought.
• An experienced sexual assault attorney should be contacted.

It can be hard to know where to begin after any instance of sexual assault on a cruise ship. To make matters worse, businesses will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if one of their guests is harmed. This is why it is so important that evidence is properly preserved after any incident. Any person that has been sexually abused aboard a cruise ship may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A sexual abuse attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating Cruise Ship Sexual Assault

We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all of the people who have been impacted by sexual abuse in a cruise ship. It is our sincere hope that Royal Caribbean, Carnival and other cruise companies will implement measures to promote a safer environment. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of all of the victims.

Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused on a cruise ship? You may have legal recourse. Our team of sexual abuse attorneys are here to help. We care deeply that abuse victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.