Cruise Ship Lawyers Blog
A 34-year-old is facing multiple charges after police say he gave a teen alcohol and raped her aboard a cruise ship, according to reporting from The Miami Herald.
The man, from Maitland, Florida, was charged with sexual battery with no serious injury and giving alcohol to an underaged person, the newspaper reported.
The incident happened Saturday, Sept. 12 when the victim, 18, went to a club on the cruise ship. The girl allegedly had at least one drink on her own before she was met at the club with the man. He allegedly gave her three more alcoholic drinks throughout the night.
At one point during the night, the girl told police that she explained to the man that she did not want to engage in sexual activity with him. She was allegedly brought to his cabin, where he accused of raping her. She repeated to police that she never consented to sexual activity.
She was unconscious when her parents were “found and brought to Gray’s cabin,” the newspaper reported.
The man was taken into custody by deputies with the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office when is docked at PortMiami.
Leesfield & Partners: Representing the Victims and Survivors of Sexual Assaults Since 1976
Leesfield & Partners is a personal injury law firm with offices in Miami and Key West, Florida. For the last five decades, this firm has remained committed to representing the victims of tragic and preventable accidents and highlighting crucial safety issues. Our attorneys work tirelessly for every client, approaching each case with the care and tenacity necessary to achieve the best possible result. Leesfield & Partners has garnered state and nationwide recognition and has secured numerous record verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured clients and their families.
With more passengers boarding these ships comes an increased risk of possible accidents. Over the years, Leesfield & Partners has seen passengers injured due to the negligence of ship medical staff, painful injuries from hazardous environments aboard ships and from excursion adventures. Sadly, our firm has also handled tragic cases of crimes aboard cruise ships.
As common carriers, these ships have a heightened responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of their passengers. That includes keeping them safe from crimes. In order to do this, cruise ships should employ security with the proper training to handle criminal situations like assaults, theft and harassment. Security cameras in public areas should also be installed in order to monitor passengers’ safety and act as a deterrent for potential criminal behavior. Cruise lines should also perform background checks and screens during potential applicants during the hiring process.
When a crime does occur, these ships must take immediate action and cooperate with eventual criminal investigations. As outlined in the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA), cruise lines have a duty to report violent crimes to the FBI as soon as possible. Other crimes, like theft, can be reported within 24 hours.
There were 19 sexual assaults and 25 rapes reported aboard cruise ships from April to June 2026, according to data reported to the FBI and published online by the Department of Transportation. This is the latest data publicly available.
Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Lawyer with the firm, was recently obtained to represent a woman who was filmed in her private stateroom bathroom while traveling on a cruise ship. The cameras are alleged to have been installed in various private bathrooms in the cabins of passengers by a crewmember who filmed the woman and other passengers, some of whom are minors.
In a conversation with local media about the case, Mr. Pimentel called for accountability.
“Terminating the employee is not enough,” he said. “That does not stop this from occurring in the future.”
Litigation in that case is ongoing.
Leesfield & Partners has maintained a longstanding commitment to supporting victims and survivors both in and out of the courtroom. Through The Leesfield Family Foundation, the firm has supported organizations dedicated to providing essential services to the victims and survivors of physical, mental, and sexual abuse.
Previous Sexual Assault Cases
Leesfield & Partners previously handled a case in which a Canadian woman traveling on a ship was brutally raped in her private cabin by a crew member. This crew member abused his employee status via the use of a keycard which gave him access to passengers’ rooms, including the cabin of our client.
A multi-million-dollar recovery was obtained for the woman in that case.
Ira Leesfield, the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, and Tral Attorney Carlos Fabano represented four adults who were sexually abused as children by a school and church official. While years had passed since the incident took place, the toll of the abuse that our clients suffered at the hands of someone they trusted, who their parents trusted, to protect them continued to plague them. Holding the perpetrator and those who knew or should have known of what was occurring accountable, was one step toward healing for our clients.
The firm also handled the case of a cruise ship passenger who was descended upon by a violent group of passengers who violently assaulted our client.
Partner Justin B. Shapiro and Trial Attorney Evan Robinson recently obtained a confidential settlement in a sexual assault case.
Mr. Shapiro secured a $16 million settlement for a couple who were brutally attacked while staying as guests at a hotel. The assailant in that case viciously beat both victims. He also raped and sexually assaulted the wife.
Despite the hotel’s known history of violent incidents, management had disregarded repeated recommendations from both law enforcement and a private security firm to employ armed security personnel.
On the day of the incident, the attacker gained unrestricted access to the hotel due to the absence of basic safety measures, such as functioning locks or keycard-secured elevators. He went up to the couple’s floor, where he launched a violent assault—first attacking the husband, then brutally beating and raping the wife. Disturbingly, hotel staff and on-site security witnessed parts of the attack but failed to intervene.
Previously, the firm secured $8.6 million for a camper at a well-known Florida summer camp. A camp counselor in that case was later found to have been sexually abusing our minor client. The camp ignored clear warning signs, to the detriment of the child they were entrusted to protect.
Leesfield & Partners attorneys previously secured a confidential settlement for a child who was flying as an unaccompanied minor on an airline and meant to be under the care of flight officials. During the flight, the child was sexually abused by another passenger.
In a case involving multiple students who were sexually abused by a teacher at a prestigious Florida high school, the victims and survivors were paid multi-million-dollar reparations thanks to the work of Leesfield & Partners.
The firm represented a Canadian cruise ship passenger who was attacked and raped in her private cabin by a crew member. This crew member used his employee keycard to enter the woman’s room. A multi-million-dollar recover was obtained for the woman in that case.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse, you are not alone. Help can be found by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
Call Leesfield & Partners today at 305-854-4900 to see if you may be eligible to make a claim.
