Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Cruise Line Failed to Protect Guests from Invasive Surveillance
In a shocking development that has sent ripples through the cruise industry, Royal Caribbean is facing a class action lawsuit over hidden cameras allegedly placed in passenger bedrooms by a former employee. The case, filed on Tuesday in the Southern District of Florida, threatens to tarnish the reputation of one of the world’s largest cruise operators and raises serious questions about passenger privacy and safety at sea.
The lawsuit
The legal action, brought on behalf of a passenger identified only as Jane Doe “and all other situated passengers,” alleges that Royal Caribbean “failed to take adequate steps and/or provide adequate security and/or training and/or supervision to prevent such sexual assaults, including video voyeurism, to occur aboard its cruise ships.”
Michael Winkleman, the attorney representing the plaintiff, emphasized the gravity of the situation in a statement to Newsweek: “Sexual assaults, including voyeurism, aboard cruise ships is at an all-time high and need to be addressed. This is an extremely important case.”
The perpetrator
At the heart of this disturbing case is Arvin Mirasol, a former bedroom attendant on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. In August, Mirasol was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child pornography, a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the cruise industry and its patrons.
A pattern of negligence?
The lawsuit goes beyond the actions of a single rogue employee, suggesting a systemic failure on the part of Royal Caribbean. It alleges that the company was aware of the problem as early as March 2023, when a hidden camera was discovered in a public bathroom on the pool deck of one of its ships.
“Royal Caribbean has seemingly done nothing since then to protect its passengers from reoccurrences,” Winkleman stated. He added that the violations “went on for nearly 3 months, throughout 12 cruises, and involved up to 960 passengers, including many children.”
The potential consequences of this breach of privacy are far-reaching. Winkleman raised a chilling question: “Who knows how many countless numbers of pornographic images of these unsuspecting passengers will circulate on the Internet forever because Royal Caribbean failed to protect their privacy and allowed Mirasol to make these passengers victims?”
Financial motives alleged
The lawsuit doesn’t pull punches in its assessment of Royal Caribbean’s motives, stating: “RCCL’s motive for failing to warn its passengers is financial in nature.” This allegation suggests that the company may have prioritized its bottom line over the safety and privacy of its guests.
As this case unfolds, it’s likely to have far-reaching implications for the cruise industry as a whole. Passenger safety and privacy have long been concerns for potential cruisegoers, and this incident may prompt calls for increased regulation and oversight of cruise operations.
Royal Caribbean has yet to comment publicly on the lawsuit. As the legal proceedings move forward, all eyes will be on how the company responds to these serious allegations and what steps it will take to restore passenger trust in the wake of this scandal.
