Cruise Ship Lawyers Blog
Since mid-August, at least 87 members of the crew from cruise ships in Boston were removed by police following accusations of possession and distribution of child sex abuse material, according to reporting from USA Today.
The investigation was a part of the U.S. Customs and Borner Protection’s “Operation Tidal Wave,” officials said in a Sept. 25 news release. This investigation involved multiple agencies that targeted the possessions and distribution of child sex abuse material and exploitation among crewmembers.
The most recent efforts in Boston followed previous phases in areas such as San Diego in April and San Juan, Puerto Rico, in June and July. The San Diego efforts resulted in 27 crewmembers from six unidentified vessels while the second phase in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in June and July resulted in the removal of 14 crewmembers. At least one person faced prosecution in Federal court, officials said in the news release.
The success of this initiative demonstrates authorities’ dedication to protecting the most vulnerable, said Acting Director of Field Operations Julio Caravia in the news release.
“Let the removal of these 87 be a message to others: we will not accept this exploitation and CBP will not stop identifying and arresting the individuals who participate in it,” Caravia said.
Leesfield & Partners
For five decades, Leesfield & Partners has stood with injured passengers, crew, and family members who have faced unimaginable losses as the result of a cruise line’s negligence. Our cases have involved violent crimes aboard ships, medical malpractice at the hands of inadequate cruise ship doctors, shore excursion accidents and more. Over the years, our attorneys have handled some of the most complex and tragic cases on behalf of injured individuals and families, securing record verdicts and settlements throughout the state of Florida.
In an ongoing case, Leesfield & Partners is representing a woman who was left with severe emotional scarring after it was discovered that a member of the ship’s crew was planting hidden cameras in the private cabins of passengers, including her own. In addition to our client, this crewmember filmed numerous other passengers, which included children. As a result, he was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
This case is being handled by Bernardo Pimentel II.
And, tragically, these sorts of violations are not entirely uncommon on cruise ships. For several years, cruise crime has been on the rise, according to U.S. Department of Transportation and FBI data. In a 2024 article addressing this increase, Leesfield & Partners Founder and Managing Partner Ira Leesfield said he believes the rise in these incidents correlates with the growing number of cruise passengers. No matter the cause, he said, cruise lines are still responsible for a passenger’s safety.
“That’s just kind of a one in a long series of why there’s more sexual abuse and sexual activity on the ships, and I think your question is why? And I think the answer that I see is very lax policing, and very lax training, because a lot of the people … are crew members. This guy was a crew member,” he said.
Incidents of alleged sexual assaults and rape make up the majority of incidents that are reported across all major cruise lines. The latest USDOT data published incidents occurring from April to June 2026 revealed that there was one assault with serious bodily injury, one suspicious death, and four thefts of less than $4,000 reported on major cruise ships coming in and out of the United States. On these same ships, the data showed, there were approximately 19 sexual assaults and 25 rapes reported. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act mandates that these incidents are reported to the FBI.
Previous Cases
In a traumatic case handled by Leesfield & Partners attorneys, a Canadian woman who was traveling on a cruise ship was raped by a crewmember. The cruise line employee was able to gain entry into the woman’s room using a key card from the ship before he attacked her multiple times. This case resulted in a multi-million-dollar recovery for the woman.
Though not on a cruise ship, Mr. Leesfield and Trial Attorney Carlos A. Fabano previously represented four adults who were sexually abused as children by a church official. Throughout the decades, these individuals have been deeply affected by the abuse they suffered as children at the hands of someone meant to protect and guide them and the ignorance of other adults who knew or should have known but did nothing to stop the abuse from taking place.
A confidential settlement was obtained on behalf of our clients.
Previously, Partner Justin B. Shapiro secured a $16 million settlement on behalf of a couple who were staying at a Florida hotel when they were savagely beaten, and the wife was raped and sexually assaulted by a man who was not a guest at the hotel. The property had no required keycard access on elevators that would have prevented the man from traveling up to the couple’s floor. Additionally, neither security not hotel employees stopped or questioned the man when he entered the property.
The hotel had been previously advised by police and a private security company to hire armed guards due to its previous history of violence. To save money, however, hotel officials did not heed this warning and took no action to improve safety measures to protect its guests or employees. Making matters worse, the attack was witnessed by both employees and the security that the hotel already had. Neither party intervened to try and stop the violent assault.
Leesfield & Partners recovered $8.6 million against a prestigious overnight camp in Florida after they failed to notice the signs of one of their counselors who sexually abused a child in their care.
A well-respected Florida high school was forced to pay multi-million-dollar reparations to numerous students represented by Leesfield & Partners. These reparations were made following the serial sexual abuse our clients suffered at the hands of their teacher.
An unaccompanied minor was represented by Leesfield & Partners after she was sexually abused by a passenger on an airline. The child was meant to be under the supervision of flight attendants who failed to properly watch over and protect the child.
A confidential settlement was reached with the airline.
If you or a loved one were injured as the result of a negligent security incident aboard a cruise ship, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney today at 305-854-4900 to see if you may be eligible to make a claim.
