Royal Caribbean Passenger Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Photograph Under Another Guest’s Dress
A 25-year-old passenger aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas has been arrested and charged with three counts of video voyeurism after a fellow passenger reported he attempted to secretly photograph beneath her dress during an Eastern Caribbean sailing.
According to an affidavit from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, the female passenger said Matthew Stilwell followed her into an onboard gift shop on May 31 and attempted to take the invasive photographs with his cell phone on three separate occasions.
How the Case Came Together
The incident was reported while the ship was still at sea, and law enforcement responded once Allure of the Seas returned to Port Everglades on June 7. The Eastern Caribbean sailing had departed from Fort Lauderdale on May 30.
Investigators reviewed the ship’s CCTV footage as part of their inquiry, and according to the affidavit, that footage corroborated the victim’s account of what happened in the gift shop. Based on that evidence, Stilwell was charged with three counts of video voyeurism.
Court records reviewed by USA TODAY did not list an attorney representing Stilwell at the time of reporting. The identity of the victim has been withheld from public record.
How Royal Caribbean Responded
Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of the cruise line, confirmed its role in the case to USA TODAY, stating that it “immediately notified local law enforcement and supported their investigation” once the report was made.
The swift notification to authorities and cooperation with the subsequent investigation reflects standard protocol for incidents of this nature aboard cruise ships, where shipboard security and onboard surveillance systems play a critical role in documenting and substantiating passenger complaints that might otherwise be difficult to prove.
A Broader Conversation About Privacy at Sea
Incidents like this one underscore a growing area of concern for cruise passengers: personal privacy in shared spaces aboard ships carrying thousands of people. Crowded public areas like shops, pools, and dining venues create opportunities for this kind of violation, and cases that come to public attention often rely heavily on a combination of victim reporting and shipboard camera evidence to establish what occurred.
For passengers, the case serves as a reminder that cruise ships are equipped with extensive surveillance infrastructure throughout public areas — infrastructure that exists for general safety and security purposes but which, in cases like this one, can also play a direct role in supporting victims who come forward.
The case against Stilwell is ongoing, and further legal proceedings are expected as it moves through the Broward County court system.
