Cruise Ship Crime Rates Hit Two-Year High in 2025, Reports Show
Cruises are known for offering an easy, all-inclusive escape filled with entertainment, exotic ports, and endless dining options. But behind the fun, recent reports show a troubling rise in onboard crime, with incidents reaching their highest levels in nearly two years.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the first half of 2025 already recorded 91 reported crimes—just one fewer than the total number reported in all of 2016. The numbers suggest that while cruising remains popular, vigilance is becoming more important than ever.
Crimes Rising Across Major Cruise Lines
From January to March 2025, 48 crimes were reported to the FBI, marking the highest quarterly total since mid-2023. Reported incidents included 23 rapes, 10 sexual assaults, and seven assaults.
Other violent incidents, such as a suspected murder and manslaughter case aboard MSC Virtuosa in May, further highlight that crime is not limited to U.S.-based ships.
For years, Carnival Cruise Line has carried the reputation of being the most incident-prone brand. However, DOT’s most recent report shows a shift: Royal Caribbean has now overtaken Carnival, reporting the highest number of crimes among all cruise lines in the second quarter of 2025.
The breakdown of incidents between April and June 2025 shows:
- Royal Caribbean: 15 crimes (including 11 sexual assaults, 2 thefts, and 2 missing U.S. nationals)
- Carnival Cruise Line: 9 crimes (all sexual assaults)
- Disney Cruise Line: 6 crimes
- Norwegian Cruise Line: 5 crimes
- Margaritaville at Sea: 3 crimes
- Princess Cruises: 2 crimes
- Celebrity Cruises: 2 crimes
- MSC Cruises: 1 crime
This marked the first time since 2022 that Royal Caribbean topped the DOT list.
Disney’s Troubling Increase in Reports
Disney Cruise Line, often perceived as family-friendly and safe, has also faced increasing scrutiny. The line went from averaging one to three sexual assault allegations annually to 15 in 2023 and 18 in 2024, raising concerns about whether the trend will continue.
Why the Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story
While the DOT data is sobering, experts caution that the numbers don’t necessarily mean cruise ships are unsafe.
For one, larger cruise lines like Royal Caribbean operate the world’s biggest ships and the most sailings, meaning they naturally report more incidents.
Maritime attorney Jim Walker has also suggested that the true number of crimes is likely higher than official statistics show. His firm has worked on cases never reported to the FBI, including assaults and fights that ended with serious injuries.
Crimes against non-U.S. passengers, as well as incidents in international waters or foreign ports, often go uncounted in DOT figures.
Industry Response: “Cruising Is Still Safe”
Despite the rise in reported crime, the industry emphasizes that cruise vacations remain among the safest forms of travel. “Rates of serious crimes are exceedingly lower than those on land due to multiple layers of security,” said Charles Sylvia, Vice President of Industry and Trade Relations for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Cruise lines maintain zero-tolerance policies for criminal behavior, with trained security officers onboard and clear protocols for reporting incidents.
Cruise experts also note that common-sense precautions can go a long way. Travelers are advised to:
- Lock cabin doors at night.
- Avoid leaving drinks unattended.
- Never enter another guest’s stateroom alone.
- Be mindful when walking hallways late at night.
The Bottom Line
While crime on cruise ships is rising and grabbing headlines, it remains rare compared to life on land. Still, with 2025 shaping up to be one of the highest years on record for reported incidents, passengers are encouraged to stay aware and take extra steps to protect themselves.
The good news? For most travelers, a cruise remains what it has always been—one of the safest and most enjoyable ways to vacation at sea.
