Highlight Summary

“The Illusion of Safety” — Congressional Statements

Source: Senate Hearing, Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (CHRG-113shrg94526)

• Senator Rockefeller stated that if someone is assaulted on a cruise ship, passengers cannot call 911; they must report the incident to the ship’s own security personnel.

• He expressed concerns that cruise ticket contracts contain provisions that make it difficult for victims to pursue legal action.

“Statistical Cover-Up” — Crime Reporting Discrepancies

Source: Appendix I & III; Committee Staff Analysis (CHRG-113shrg94526)

Congressional findings showed significant differences between:

• Crimes reported by cruise lines to the FBI, and

• Crimes made public by the U.S. Coast Guard, as required under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA).

2011–2012 Crime Data

• Cruise lines reported 959 alleged crimes to the FBI (including voluntary reports).

• Only 31 alleged crimes were publicly listed on the Coast Guard website.

• Even among crimes required by law to be reported (e.g., homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping), only 25% were publicly disclosed.

Sexual Assault Data (2012)

• 28 alleged sexual assaults were reported to the FBI.

• 11 were publicly listed.

• Of the reported victims, 34% were minors, according to FBI-provided data.

“Self-Investigations and Evidence Handling Concerns”

Source: Testimony references in S.Hrg. 113-642 (CHRG-113shrg94526)

• The hearing references victim testimony from earlier congressional sessions, including that of Laurie Dishman (Royal Caribbean).

• Reported issues included:

  • Contaminated or altered crime scenes

  • Re-used CCTV footage

  • Delays in FBI access to ships

• Expert testimony (e.g., Dr. Ross Klein) indicated that FBI FOIA documents were often heavily redacted, limiting available information.

“Jurisdictional Challenges”

Source: Senate Committee Overview of CVSSA (CHRG-113shrg94526)

The hearing outlined how criminal jurisdiction on cruise ships depends on several factors:

• Whether the ship is owned by a U.S. entity

• Whether a U.S. national is involved

• Whether the crime occurred in U.S. waters

• Whether the voyage originated from or will return to a U.S. port

The committee noted that law enforcement agencies may be geographically distant, and ships often operate under foreign flags, limiting U.S. investigative authority.

“Crimes Involving Minors”

Source: Appendix II (CHRG-113shrg94526)

• FBI data not publicly released in detail shows that minors make up a significant portion of onboard sexual-assault victims.

• Publicly available statistics did not reflect crimes involving minors due to reporting limitations built into the CVSSA process.

“Corporate Testimony and Reporting Practices”

Source: Written Responses & Testimony of Cruise Executives (CHRG-113shrg94526)

• Representatives from major cruise lines, including Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean, testified on reporting practices.

• Cruise executives emphasized existing safety protocols, guest satisfaction, and efforts to disclose crime statistics.

• Royal Caribbean noted that they chose to voluntarily publish certain crime allegations on their website due to limitations in the CVSSA’s public disclosure requirements.

Disclaimer:
The information presented on this page is a factual summary of content taken directly from the official U.S. Senate hearing transcript S.Hrg. 113-642 (2013) and its associated appendices.
This summary is provided solely for educational, informational, and reference purposes.
It does not introduce new allegations, make claims about any individual or company, or offer legal conclusions.
All statements and statistics originate from the congressional document itself, and readers are encouraged to consult the original hearing for full context.