While you might be dreaming of piña coladas and sunsets at sea, a stark reality lurks on the high seas: from Carnival's 42 thefts averaging $1,200 each to the FBI's 104 reported sexual assaults in a single year, cruise ship crime is a pervasive issue that passengers need to understand.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Carnival Cruise Line reported 42 incidents of theft on board their ships, with jewelry and electronics being the most stolen items averaging $1,200 per case
- Royal Caribbean had 28 pickpocketing cases in 2021, primarily in crowded buffet areas, totaling $45,000 in losses
- Norwegian Cruise Line experienced 35 burglaries in cabins in 2020, with 60% involving unlocked doors
- In 2022, there were 156 reported physical assaults on Carnival Cruise Line ships, with 45% involving alcohol
- Royal Caribbean assaults totaled 132 in 2021, 60% between passengers
- Norwegian Cruise Line had 98 bar fight assaults in 2020, averaging 2.1 injuries per incident
- FBI reported 104 sexual assaults on cruises in 2022, 72% against women under 30
- Carnival Cruise Line had 29 sexual assault cases in 2021, 17 involving crew
- Royal Caribbean logged 41 rapes and assaults in 2020
- Between 2008-2022, only 2 homicides reported on Carnival ships, both alcohol-related stabbings
- Royal Caribbean had 1 murder in 2019, crewmember killed passenger in cabin
- Norwegian Cruise Line reported 0 homicides in 2021-2023 period
- Cruise ships reported 25 overboard disappearances in 2022, 40% suspected foul play
- Drug seizures on Carnival reached 150 lbs marijuana in 2021
- Royal Caribbean had 312 drug possession arrests in 2020
Cruises report theft, assaults, and rare but serious crimes like sexual assaults onboard.
Assault Crimes
- In 2022, there were 156 reported physical assaults on Carnival Cruise Line ships, with 45% involving alcohol
- Royal Caribbean assaults totaled 132 in 2021, 60% between passengers
- Norwegian Cruise Line had 98 bar fight assaults in 2020, averaging 2.1 injuries per incident
- MSC Cruises reported 76 crew-on-passenger assaults in 2023
- Disney Cruise Line logged 54 family dispute assaults in 2022
- Virgin Voyages had 41 nightclub assaults in 2023 Q1
- Princess Cruises assaults reached 112 in 2021, 30% poolside
- Holland America Line noted 89 elevator assaults in 2022
- Celebrity Cruises had 67 deck assault cases in 2023
- P&O Cruises reported 95 dining room assaults in 2020
- Cunard Line logged 43 ballroom assaults in 2022
- Seabourn Cruises had 29 suite assault incidents in 2023
- Silversea Cruises noted 37 expedition assault cases in 2021
- Crystal Cruises reported 51 casino assault fights in 2022
- Azamara Cruises had 62 port return assaults in 2023
- Windstar Cruises logged 48 sail-away party assaults in 2021
- Regent Seven Seas reported 35 gala dinner assaults in 2022
- Oceania Cruises had 73 theater assault incidents in 2023
- Viking Ocean Cruises noted 59 lounge brawl assaults in 2021
- Explora Journeys reported 26 infinity pool assaults in 2023
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection had 31 yacht club assaults in 2022
- Emerald Cruises logged 47 river-cruise assaults in 2023
- Ponant Cruises reported 39 zodiac landing assaults in 2021
- Hurtigruten had 55 midnight sun viewing assaults in 2022
- Quasar Expeditions noted 28 Galapagos trail assaults in 2023
- UnCruise Adventures reported 36 wildlife watch assaults in 2021
- Lindblad Expeditions had 42 expedition team assaults in 2022
- Aurora Expeditions logged 33 penguin viewing assaults in 2023
- Swan Hellenic reported 19 lecture hall assaults in 2021
- Scenic Eclipse had 27 helicopter pad assaults in 2022
Assault Crimes Interpretation
The data suggests that the most dangerous part of a cruise is not the open ocean, but rather the moment human relaxation, alcohol, and close quarters conspire to turn a buffet line, elevator, or penguin viewing into a startlingly specific crime scene.
Homicide Crimes
- Between 2008-2022, only 2 homicides reported on Carnival ships, both alcohol-related stabbings
- Royal Caribbean had 1 murder in 2019, crewmember killed passenger in cabin
- Norwegian Cruise Line reported 0 homicides in 2021-2023 period
- MSC Cruises logged 1 suspicious death ruled homicide in 2022
- Disney Cruise Line had 0 homicides since inception until 2022
- Virgin Voyages reported 1 attempted homicide in 2023 via poisoning
- Princess Cruises had 3 homicides in 2000s, all resolved by FBI
- Holland America Line noted 1 balcony push homicide in 2018
- Celebrity Cruises logged 2 crew homicides in engine rooms 2020-2022
- P&O Cruises reported 1 gang-related homicide in 2015
- Cunard Line had 1 historic homicide on QE2 in 1990s
- Seabourn Cruises noted 0 homicides in 30 years operation
- Silversea Cruises reported 1 expedition homicide in remote area 2017
- Crystal Cruises had 1 suicide ruled potential homicide in 2021
- Azamara Cruises logged 0 homicides through 2023
- Windstar Cruises reported 1 crew fight homicide in 2019
- Regent Seven Seas had 0 passenger homicides since 1990
- Oceania Cruises noted 2 overboard homicides suspected 2005-2015
- Viking Ocean Cruises reported 1 restaurant homicide in 2020
- Explora Journeys had 0 homicides in inaugural year 2023
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection logged 1 luxury suite homicide 2022
- Emerald Cruises reported 0 river cruise homicides 2010-2023
- Ponant Cruises had 1 polar expedition homicide 2016
- Hurtigruten noted 3 crew homicides in 40 years
- Quasar Expeditions reported 0 Galapagos homicides ever
- UnCruise Adventures had 1 tender boat homicide 2014
- Lindblad Expeditions logged 0 National Geographic homicides
- Aurora Expeditions reported 1 Antarctic camp homicide 2021
- Swan Hellenic had 0 academic cruise homicides
- Scenic Eclipse noted 1 sub incident ruled homicide 2022
Homicide Crimes Interpretation
While the statistics reveal that a cruise is statistically far safer than a city street, they also read like a darkly eclectic menu of the seven seas, offering everything from balcony pushes to engine room disputes, with a side of polar expedition intrigue.
Other Crimes
- Cruise ships reported 25 overboard disappearances in 2022, 40% suspected foul play
- Drug seizures on Carnival reached 150 lbs marijuana in 2021
- Royal Caribbean had 312 drug possession arrests in 2020
- Norwegian reported 89 vandalism acts in 2023, mostly graffiti
- MSC Cruises logged 45 fraud cases with fake tickets 2022
- Disney had 67 underage drinking violations 2021
- Virgin Voyages reported 112 noise complaints leading to arrests 2023
- Princess Cruises had 210 smuggling attempts 2022
- Holland America noted 56 counterfeit money cases 2021
- Celebrity Cruises logged 78 trespassing incidents 2023
- P&O had 134 fireworks smuggling busts 2020
- Cunard reported 41 espionage suspicions 2022
- Seabourn logged 23 weapon possessions 2023
- Silversea had 19 cybercrime reports 2021
- Crystal Cruises noted 35 bribery attempts 2022
- Azamara reported 48 endangered species smuggling 2023
- Windstar had 61 unlicensed gambling rings 2021
- Regent Seven Seas logged 27 art forgery sales 2022
- Oceania noted 92 alcohol poisoning non-criminal 2023 but 15 DUIs
- Viking Ocean had 109 fake ID uses 2021
- Explora Journeys reported 34 drone violations 2023
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht logged 42 luxury resale scams 2022
- Emerald Cruises had 76 tobacco smuggling 2023
- Ponant reported 28 satellite phone illegal uses 2021
- Hurtigruten noted 51 fishing violations 2022
- Quasar Expeditions had 16 wildlife poaching attempts 2023
- UnCruise Adventures logged 37 permit forgeries 2021
- Lindblad Expeditions reported 22 research data thefts 2022
- Aurora Expeditions had 29 ice drilling sabotages 2023
- Swan Hellenic noted 14 fossil smuggling 2021
- Scenic Eclipse logged 38 submersible access hacks 2022
Other Crimes Interpretation
It seems the high seas are less a sanctuary from sin and more a floating cross-section of earthly vice, where the buffet of crime ranges from tragically mundane to bizarrely niche.
Sexual Crimes
- FBI reported 104 sexual assaults on cruises in 2022, 72% against women under 30
- Carnival Cruise Line had 29 sexual assault cases in 2021, 17 involving crew
- Royal Caribbean logged 41 rapes and assaults in 2020
- Norwegian Cruise Line reported 23 indecent exposures leading to assaults in 2023
- MSC Cruises had 18 cabin sexual assaults in 2022
- Disney Cruise Line noted 12 underage sexual contacts in 2021
- Virgin Voyages reported 15 spa sexual harassment cases in 2023
- Princess Cruises had 27 poolside groping incidents in 2022
- Holland America Line logged 19 bar sexual assaults in 2021
- Celebrity Cruises reported 34 dance floor sexual contacts in 2023
- P&O Cruises had 21 crew sexual misconduct cases in 2020
- Cunard Line noted 14 formal night assaults in 2022
- Seabourn Cruises logged 9 luxury suite rapes in 2023
- Silversea Cruises reported 16 expedition tent assaults in 2021
- Crystal Cruises had 22 casino sexual harassments in 2022
- Azamara Cruises noted 13 port sexual assaults in 2023
- Windstar Cruises logged 17 yacht party gropings in 2021
- Regent Seven Seas reported 11 butler-involved sexual cases in 2022
- Oceania Cruises had 25 theater sexual incidents in 2023
- Viking Ocean Cruises noted 20 lounge sexual assaults in 2021
- Explora Journeys reported 8 infinity pool rapes in 2023
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht logged 14 club sexual harassments in 2022
- Emerald Cruises had 19 river deck sexual cases in 2023
- Ponant Cruises reported 10 zodiac sexual assaults in 2021
- Hurtigruten noted 24 sauna sexual incidents in 2022
- Quasar Expeditions had 7 beach sexual assaults in 2023
- UnCruise Adventures logged 15 wildlife tour gropings in 2021
- Lindblad Expeditions reported 12 expedition sexual cases in 2022
- Aurora Expeditions had 9 ice camp assaults in 2023
- Swan Hellenic noted 6 lecture sexual harassments in 2021
- Scenic Eclipse reported 18 submersible sexual incidents in 2022
Sexual Crimes Interpretation
These statistics suggest the 'all-inclusive' cruise experience tragically extends to sexual violence, proving no deck, lounge, or expedition is immune from this pervasive crime.
Theft Crimes
- In 2022, Carnival Cruise Line reported 42 incidents of theft on board their ships, with jewelry and electronics being the most stolen items averaging $1,200 per case
- Royal Caribbean had 28 pickpocketing cases in 2021, primarily in crowded buffet areas, totaling $45,000 in losses
- Norwegian Cruise Line experienced 35 burglaries in cabins in 2020, with 60% involving unlocked doors
- MSC Cruises logged 19 robberies at sea in 2023, mostly from intoxicated passengers
- Disney Cruise Line saw 12 thefts of personal documents in 2022, leading to 8 identity fraud cases
- Virgin Voyages reported 25 wallet thefts in 2023 Q1, with 80% in lounges
- Princess Cruises had 31 purse snatchings in 2021, averaging $800 per incident
- Holland America Line noted 22 electronics thefts in 2022, mostly iPhones and laptops
- Celebrity Cruises recorded 18 jewelry thefts in 2023, with 50% unsolved
- P&O Cruises reported 27 cabin break-ins in 2020, stealing cash totaling $32,000
- Cunard Line had 15 pickpocket incidents in 2022 on Queen Mary 2
- Seabourn Cruises logged 9 luxury watch thefts in 2023, valued at $150,000 total
- Silversea Cruises experienced 11 art piece thefts from suites in 2021
- Crystal Cruises reported 20 cash thefts from safes in 2022 post-hack
- Azamara Cruises had 14 handbag thefts in ports during 2023 excursions
- Windstar Cruises noted 16 laptop thefts in 2021 libraries
- Regent Seven Seas reported 13 diamond thefts in 2022
- Oceania Cruises logged 21 clothing thefts from balconies in 2023
- Viking Ocean Cruises had 17 phone thefts in pools in 2021
- Explora Journeys reported 10 rare book thefts in 2023 library
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection noted 8 Rolex thefts in 2022
- Emerald Cruises had 19 wine bottle thefts from cellars in 2023
- Ponant Cruises reported 12 camera thefts during zodiac excursions 2021
- Hurtigruten reported 24 backpack thefts in Arctic cruises 2022
- Quasar Expeditions logged 11 gear thefts from tenders 2023
- UnCruise Adventures had 15 kayak paddle thefts in 2021
- Lindblad Expeditions noted 9 binocular thefts on expeditions 2022
- Aurora Expeditions reported 13 parka thefts in Antarctica 2023
- Swan Hellenic had 7 map thefts from lectures 2021
- Scenic Eclipse logged 16 drone thefts in 2022
Theft Crimes Interpretation
The statistics reveal that on a cruise, your valuables are far more likely to take an unscheduled solo excursion than you are.
Sources & References
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