Incidents of sexual assaults increased on cruise ships last year, according to federal data

Sexual assault allegations on cruise ships saw a rise last year, as indicated by federal data. The Federal Bureau of Investigation received reports of 131 sex crimes in 2023 on ships embarking and disembarking in the United States. This included 52 instances of sexual assault and 79 instances of rape, according to cruise line incident reports from the Department of Transportation. These figures represent an increase from 87 alleged sexual assaults in 2022 and 101 in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic halted the cruise industry (cruising resumed in mid-2021). Reports from 2018 indicated another 82 cases; however, available incident reports for those three years do not distinguish between sexual assault and rape.

The actual numbers might be higher, with over two-thirds of all sexual assaults going unreported, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Among the alleged sex crimes reported in 2023, 98 were committed by passengers, 27 by crew members, and six were listed as being committed by “unknown” or “other.”

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the industry’s leading trade organization, defended the safety of cruises, emphasizing that cruise ships are one of the safest vacation options globally. According to Anne Madison, a spokesperson for CLIA, the rates of serious crimes on cruises are exceedingly lower than those on land, thanks to multiple layers of security and the nature of cruising. She added that cruise lines have a zero-tolerance policy for criminal behavior, and allegations of major crimes on cruise ships are extremely rare.

CLIA estimated that 31.5 million cruise passengers would sail in 2023, representing 106% of 2019 numbers, according to its State of the Cruise Industry report. Madison noted that cruise lines are subject to robust civil liability due to maritime law and are strictly liable for assaults against guests by employees. Cruises to or from the U.S. must comply with federal crime reporting requirements, and CLIA policy requires member lines to report allegations of serious crime on any oceangoing voyage, regardless of the ship’s location or registration.

However, Michael Winkleman, a maritime attorney, previously stated that these types of crimes are more common than travelers might realize. He cited alcohol and the lack of independent law enforcement on board as contributing factors, despite the presence of ship security.

Erinn Robinson, director of media relations at RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), emphasized that the victim is never at fault, regardless of the circumstances of an instance of sexual violence. She stated this in response to comments about alcohol and the lack of independent law enforcement being factors contributing to such incidents on cruise ships.