Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows that reported sexual assaults on cruise ships reached 131 cases in 2025 — matching the highest number ever recorded and rising from 120 the previous year. But according to maritime attorneys, that number likely represents only a fraction of what actually happens at sea.

With the global cruise industry carrying nearly 38 million passengers last year and ships sailing at full capacity during peak periods like spring break and Easter, legal experts say awareness hasn’t kept pace with risk.

According to Michael Winkleman, named partner at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., and the attorney who has handled more cruise ship rape and sexual assault cases than any other in the United States, over 1,000, warns that most passengers are dangerously unprepared: 

“There is always a huge discrepancy between what assaults actually occur aboard a cruise ship and what is actually reported… Consider the number 131 as the floor rather than the ceiling.”

Mr. Winkleman said the victims should never let the cruise line control the process:

“The mistake that will cause you the most damage is to let the cruise line take over the reporting process - because once you dock, they have already reconstructed their own spin on what happened, controlled the evidence, and found a way to work against you."

He warns that cruise lines largely control what gets reported, with no independent verification process, meaning many cases may never appear in official statistics.

What every cruise passenger needs to know:

• The 131 figure is the floor, not the ceiling. Cruise lines decide what counts as reportable - with zero independent verification.

   

• Contact the FBI yourself. Don't let the cruise line make the report on your behalf. Federal law requires them to let you speak directly with the FBI - insist on it.

   

• Don't shower. Don't change clothes. Forensic evidence disappears fast. Request a forensic exam by name - you have a legal right to one onboard.

   

• Kids' clubs are not safe havens. No federal staffing standards exist for these areas - and that's where a disproportionate number of minor assaults occur.

   

• The clock starts immediately. Most cruise tickets hide a 6-month notice requirement and 1-year lawsuit deadline in the fine print. Most victims miss it.

   

• The civil case survives the criminal one. Whether charges are filed or dropped, victims can still sue the cruise line for negligence.

Investigations at Sea

One of the biggest concerns raised by attorneys is the lack of a standardized, independent investigation process onboard.

Jason Margulies, Maritime Atorney and named partner at Lipcon, explains that while laws like the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) require certain crimes to be reported to the FBI, they do not mandate how investigations must be conducted.

“There is no standardized legally required investigation procedure for cruise ships… onboard investigations are done by the cruise's own security staff, and those employees are more vested in protecting their employer rather than the passengers.”

In practice, this means the same security personnel handling the case may later act as witnesses for the cruise line — raising serious concerns about bias.

Statements, Pressure, and Legal Risk

Another critical issue is how passenger statements are collected — and sometimes altered.

Margulies warns that even small discrepancies can have major legal consequences:

“Any statement that is changed or misrepresented… can become strong evidence of bad faith and coercion.”

He adds that passengers are often asked to sign documents written by ship security without fully understanding them — and sometimes without receiving a copy.

“Signed documents are signed documents in the eyes of the courts… even if you were pressured or confused.”

This creates a situation where a victim’s own statement can later be used against them.

Evidence Can Disappear Fast

Unlike incidents on land, cruise ships present unique challenges when it comes to evidence.

Passengers and crew frequently disembark every few days, surveillance footage may be overwritten, and physical evidence can degrade quickly.

Margulies stresses the urgency:

“You’ll want visuals like photos and videos… but what you write down afterward, dated and timestamped, is one of the most powerful things you can have.”

He advises documenting everything immediately — before speaking to cruise line representatives — to preserve an independent account of events.

What Passengers Often Don’t Realize

Legal experts say many travelers board ships assuming they are entering a highly controlled and safe environment — but that assumption can be misleading.

Winkleman highlights several critical gaps:

Cruise lines do not conduct direct background checks on passengers

Security processes differ widely between companies

Legal deadlines are extremely short — often just six months to file notice and one year to file a lawsuit

The cruise line may control initial evidence collection and reporting

“People going on a cruise vacation just don’t read that fine print… and that’s sadly a terrible assumption to make.”

He also warns parents not to assume youth areas are automatically safe:

“Parents shouldn’t just assume a cruise ship is some safe bubble… a registered sex offender can legally board and be on the cruise the entire time.”

A System That Favors the Cruise Line

At the core of the issue, both attorneys point to a structural imbalance: cruise lines operate the environment, employ the investigators, and often shape the narrative before authorities get involved.

“The mistake that will cause you the most damage is to let the cruise line take over the reporting process,” Winkleman cautions.

By the time a ship reaches port, key details may already be documented in a way that benefits the company.

Experts say passengers need to be far more informed about their rights and the realities of onboard investigations.

The record number of reported cases in 2025 is not just a statistic — it’s a warning sign.

And according to those who handle these cases every day, the biggest risk may not be the crime itself — but how unprepared victims are when it happens.