Do cruise ships have to report crimes?

The Cruise Vessel Safety & Security Act (CVSSA) of 2010 requires cruise ships calling on U.S. port to report certain shipboard crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The CVSSA was the result of the efforts of the International Cruise Victim (ICV) which is a grass-roots organization created in 2006.



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If you've committed only minor offenses, you likely won't have a problem, but be honest about anything on your criminal record. You might also be asked to submit documentation to explain your convictions.

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Maritime Law Typically, while in international waters, a cruise ship follows the same laws of the country that it is registered to. If the ship is out to sea, under the captain's discretion, you can be detained in a separate room until the ship can dock at the next port and local law enforcement can get involved.

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In all instances, when a U.S. citizen commits a crime on a cruise ship or is the victim of serious crime onboard, the FBI makes every attempt to investigate, although it might be secondary to investigations done by other law enforcement involved.

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79% of all crimes reported onboard cruise ships are sexual assaults, as per the US Department of Transportation. This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of sexual assaults on cruise ships, and serves as a powerful reminder of the need for increased safety measures to protect passengers.

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Cruise ships do not have police. Instead, an onboard Security Director will oversee the ship's own dedicated security department, staffed by former federal, state and military law enforcement personnel from various countries.

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There are no police on a cruise ship. Everyone from passenger to crew is subject to the control of the master or captain who answers only to the cruise line. The cruise line industry has orchestrated a public campaign to mislead the vacationing public here and abroad about the risk of crime and dangers at sea.

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If you wonder whether cruise ships have jails, the answer is yes. Jails are called brigs on a cruise ship and tend only to be used in serious circumstances when no other options are available. Cabin arrest is typically used before the brig is needed.

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As for your person, you will go through a metal detector. We have yet to go through a port that has the body scanners that have caused so much controversy at airports.

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Surveillance cameras may be present on cruise ship balconies for security purposes. However, the specific presence and placement of cameras can vary between different cruise lines and ships.

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The Cruise Passenger publication says: There were only six reports of pirates attempting to attack cruise ships over the last 10 years – in fact there has never been a successful pirate attack on a cruise ship. However, this doesn't mean cruise ships aren't prepared for the worst.

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No sneaking drugs or alcohol on board Contraband booze will be confiscated if discovered, and you might not get it back. Bring illegal drugs on board and you risk fines, disembarkation and jail time. You're not allowed to bring marijuana on a cruise, even if it's legal in your departure port or port of call.

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No, cruise ship security personnel do not typically carry guns. Cruise ships have a variety of safety measures in place to protect passengers and crew members, such as metal detectors and CCTV cameras.

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Over the past 100 years since the RMS Titanic sank in 1912, only 18 cruise ships and some ocean liners have been publicly known to have sunk. And, over the past 50 years, only four cruise ships have sunk while navigating on a cruise.

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What is the Safest Cruise Line? The CDC gave ships with Disney Cruise Lines a score of 96 or above on their 2016 inspections. According to their voluntary disclosures in Q2 of 2016, there was 1 claim of theft exceeding $10,000 and 2 claims of sexual assault.

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Here's a roundup of some U.S. and international regulations your cruise line must navigate:
  • Death on the High Seas Act. ...
  • International Convention for the Safety of Life at Seas. ...
  • The Jones Act. ...
  • The Passenger Vessel Services Act. ...
  • The Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act.


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You will need to pass through an x-ray machine and have your carry-ons scanned, but the process is not as rigorous as at the airport. (You likely won't need to remove your shoes, for example.) Then you'll enter a large open space with roped-off lines and check-in stations.

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According to a study, one in five people admitted to cheating on a cruise. I asked five people if they considered it cheating if you're in a different country. Four were adamant that cheating is cheating. One person said it doesn't count if you're in a different time zone.

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The Cruise Passenger publication says: There were only six reports of pirates attempting to attack cruise ships over the last 10 years – in fact there has never been a successful pirate attack on a cruise ship.

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FBI investigating 'suspicious death' on Carnival cruise ship, but cruise line says death appears to be 'natural' The FBI is investigating the “suspicious death” of a female passenger on board a Carnival Sunshine cruise ship, but the company said the death appears to be natural.

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Throughout 2016 and into the first quarter of 2017, DOT reported the following crime statistics for cruise lines that embarked or disembarked in the U.S.: 4 suspicious deaths, 6 thefts of $10,000 or more, 14 assaults with serious injury, and 62 sexual assaults (nearly 70% of total crimes) (Kozlowska, 2017).

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