Lawsuit Alleges Hidden Camera Incident on Royal Caribbean Ship
Royal Caribbean is facing a class action lawsuit regarding allegations of hidden cameras placed in staterooms by a former employee. The lawsuit was filed on October 15 in the Southern District of Florida, according to reports from Newsweek. The plaintiffs include a passenger identified as Jane Doe and “all other similarly situated passengers.”
Named in the lawsuit alongside Royal Caribbean is Arvin Joseph Mirasol, a 34-year-old former bedroom attendant on the Symphony of the Seas. Mirasol is currently serving a 30-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty in August to producing child pornography.
The lawsuit alleges that during a February cruise on the Symphony of the Seas, Mirasol secretly installed a video camera in the bathroom of the plaintiff’s cabin. This camera reportedly captured images of the plaintiff while undressed and engaging in private activities. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that Mirasol transmitted or uploaded these images to third parties or the internet, including the dark web, without the plaintiff’s consent or knowledge.
As a direct result of this incident, the plaintiff has suffered severe emotional distress, the court filing states. In response to the lawsuit, Royal Caribbean released a statement emphasizing that the safety and privacy of its guests are their top priorities. The cruise line expressed its zero tolerance for such behavior and noted that it immediately reported the incident to law enforcement and terminated the employee involved. However, due to the ongoing litigation, Royal Caribbean has stated that it cannot comment further on the case.
The lawsuit also raises concerns about Royal Caribbean’s overall safety practices. It claims the cruise line “knew or should have known” that sexual assaults were foreseeable given the frequency of such incidents aboard its ships. The filing references a separate incident aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas in 2023, where a passenger was arrested for allegedly hiding a camera in a public bathroom, capturing footage of over 150 individuals, including children.
Additionally, the lawsuit cites that 26 sexual assaults and rapes were reported on Royal Caribbean cruises in 2023, based on data from the Department of Transportation. The plaintiffs argue that the cruise line failed to implement adequate security measures, training, and supervision to prevent incidents of sexual assault and video voyeurism from occurring on its vessels.
The lawsuit further contends that Royal Caribbean did not provide sufficient warnings to passengers regarding the risks of sexual assaults and voyeurism, contributing to an unsafe environment for guests.
As this case unfolds, it raises significant questions about the safety protocols and protective measures in place on cruise ships. Passengers are increasingly concerned about their privacy and security while enjoying their vacations at sea, making this lawsuit a pivotal moment for Royal Caribbean and the cruise industry as a whole. The outcome may impact how cruise lines address safety and security issues in the future.
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