You’re standing on the balcony of a $4,000 suite. The ocean is black, the air is salty, and the buffet is still serving lukewarm shrimp cocktail. It feels like the safest place on earth because, well, you’re in the middle of nowhere. But lately, the numbers coming out of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) suggest that the "floating city" vibe might be a little more like a real city than most vacationers want to admit.
Is there a literal crime wave at sea cruise ships are trying to hide?
Honestly, it depends on who you ask and how you read a spreadsheet. If you talk to the Cruise Lines Industry Association (CLIA), they’ll tell you that cruising is statistically one of the safest ways to see the world. They aren't lying. When you have 35 million people sailing in a year, the raw percentage of victims is tiny. But if you look at the FBI’s 2025 data, the "tiny" numbers are trending in a direction that’s making some people very nervous.
The Numbers Nobody Wants to Talk About
In the first three months of 2025 alone, the FBI logged 48 major incidents on cruise ships. That sounds small until you realize it’s the highest three-month total in years. By the time the Q3 reports rolled in around November 2025, the total for the year had hit 138 reported crimes.
That’s a record.
Wait. It gets darker. More than half of those reports—specifically 102 incidents by the end of September—involved sexual violence. We aren't talking about petty theft or someone swiping a deck chair. We are talking about rape and sexual assault.
The industry is on track to hit an all-time high of roughly 136 sexual crimes by the end of 2025. For comparison, 2024 saw 120, and 2023 saw 131. It’s not just a spike; it’s a sustained, ugly plateau.
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Why Is This Happening Now?
Part of it is just math. Simple, boring, terrifying math. More ships are sailing than ever before. Disney Cruise Line, for instance, saw its sexual assault allegations jump from about three a year to 18 in 2024. Why? They expanded their fleet. More berths equal more people, and more people equal more potential for trouble.
But there is also a culture clash.
Take Carnival Cruise Line. They consistently top the charts for reported crimes. In Q3 of 2025, they regained the "leader" spot from Royal Caribbean with 17 major incidents. Experts like Jim Walker, a maritime lawyer who has spent years tracking this, often point to the "party boat" atmosphere. When you mix unlimited drink packages with a sense of "vacation rules don't apply," things go south fast.
Who Is Committing These Crimes?
There is a common myth that it’s the crew members lurking in the hallways. While that does happen—like the 2024 case where a crew member used a master key card to enter a passenger’s room—the data shows a different reality.
In 2023 and 2024, the number of assaults committed by passengers actually outpaced those committed by crew.
It turns out your fellow vacationers are often the bigger threat. The FBI notes that the vast majority of violent incidents on board involve two passengers. Usually, there’s a lot of booze involved. Usually, it happens late at night.
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The Jurisdiction Nightmare
Here’s the part that really trips people up: Who do you call when something happens 200 miles offshore?
If you’re on a ship that started or ended in a U.S. port, the FBI usually has jurisdiction. This is thanks to the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA). But if you’re in international waters on a ship flagged in the Bahamas, technically Bahamian law applies.
It gets messy. Fast.
If a crime occurs while the ship is docked in Cozumel, Mexican authorities might step in. If you’re a Canadian citizen on a Bermuda-flagged ship in Italian waters... well, you see the problem. This "jurisdictional maze" is one reason why many crimes at sea go unprosecuted. It’s a lot easier to let a case go than to figure out which country’s lawyers have to fly where.
What a "Crime Wave" Looks Like on Different Lines
Not all ships are created equal when it comes to the blotter.
- Carnival: Often the highest total numbers, particularly for physical assaults and serious injuries.
- Royal Caribbean: They have more passengers than Carnival but often fewer reported crimes, though they still struggle with high sexual assault numbers.
- Disney: A surprising jump in recent years, likely due to massive capacity increases.
- Virgin Voyages: Consistently some of the lowest numbers in the industry. Maybe the "adults-only" vibe changes the behavior? Or maybe they just have fewer ships.
How to Not Become a Statistic
It’s easy to get paranoid, but you don't have to cancel your trip. You just have to stop treating a cruise ship like a magical bubble where nothing bad can happen.
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Watch your drink. This is rule number one. "Drink spiking" isn't just a thing that happens in dive bars; it happens at the Lido deck bar, too. If you leave your cocktail to go take a selfie, don't finish it when you come back.
Use the deadbolt. Most stateroom doors have a manual deadbolt or a "privacy" switch. Use it. Even if the crew has a master key, a physical deadbolt (or a cheap travel door wedge) can stop an intruder from getting in while you’re asleep.
Know where the cameras aren't. Cruise ships are covered in CCTV—except inside the staterooms and certain public bathrooms. Most incidents happen in these "blind spots." If a stranger or even a friendly-seeming crew member asks you to go somewhere private, just don't.
Report it immediately. If something happens, go to the Purser’s Desk or call 911/999 from a ship phone. Under the CVSSA, the cruise line is legally required to report certain crimes to the FBI. They might try to handle it "internally" first. Don't let them. Ask for the security guide they are required by law to provide.
The Reality Check
Look, the "crime wave at sea cruise" headlines are sensational, but they’re based on real, rising numbers. The odds are still 1 in 73,000 that you’ll be a victim of a major crime on a ship. Those are better odds than you’ll find in most major U.S. cities.
But "better than Chicago" shouldn't be the safety standard for a luxury vacation.
The industry is growing, and with that growth comes the same problems we face on land. The best defense isn't a better security guard; it’s you being aware that the ocean doesn't wash away bad intentions.
Your Safety Checklist for the Next Sail
- Download the FBI's contact info: Keep the 1-800-CALL-FBI number in your phone.
- Pack a door wedge: A $5 rubber wedge can provide more security than a $500 travel insurance policy.
- Set a "buddy system" for the bars: If you’re traveling with friends, never leave someone alone at the bar, even if they say they’re fine.
- Review the DOT crime reports: Before booking, check the latest quarterly "Cruise Line Incident Reports" on the Department of Transportation website to see which lines are trending up or down.