Two cruise ships seized in Bahamas over unpaid fuel bills

Bahamian authorities arrested two cruise ships from the Hong Kong-based Crystal Cruises, the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity, after a U.S. court ordered their seizure last month over millions of dollars in unpaid fuel bills , according to cruise industry publications.

After they changed course from Miami to avoid the U.S. judge’s order, the ships sailed to the Bahamas and allowed passengers to disembark in Bimini, according to Cruise Law News, which reported the ships’ arrests on Friday in waters near Freeport.

Only crew members were aboard during the seizures.

In a statement, Crystal Cruises said it is unable to comment on pending legal matters.

"Following recent developments of Genting Hong Kong, Crystal’s parent company, Crystal has paused its operations for its Ocean and Expedition Cruises through April 29, 2022, and for River cruises through May 2022," the company said.

"Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony’s voyages ended last month and there are no guests onboard.

"The officers and crew on board are being well cared for and staying in single accommodations some of which are guest staterooms. We are making sure they are comfortable and able to enjoy the various amenities on board. Crew members have been paid all wages due and we are meeting and exceeding all contractual obligations," the cruise company wrote.

A recording posted on Twitter allegedly shows the captain of the Crystal Symphony announcing that the ship was being seized in the Bahamas by “local authorities," which they further described as "quite expected."

In a statement, the U.S. Marshals Service, whose agents would have seized the ship if it had sailed to Miami, said it had no role or knowledge of the seizure of the two ships in the Bahamas.

Another trade publication reported that a third Crystal ship, the Crystal Endeavor, was also being held at Ushuaia, in southernmost Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province; Seatrade Cruise News reported last week that its passengers disembarked without incident after an Antarctic cruise, and its current status is unclear.

In an emailed statement, Crystal Cruises said the Endeavor "docked in Ushuaia Thursday as scheduled following a 19-night Antarctica voyage." 

"Guests disembarked Friday and those with chartered air service flew to Miami via a previously scheduled flight and were provided with overnight hotel accommodations, all part of Crystal’s Antarctica cruise packages."

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Tim Fitzsimons is a reporter for NBC News. he/him

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Cruise Ship Reroutes to the Bahamas After U.S. Judge Orders Its Seizure Over Unpaid Fuel Bill

A U.S. judge issued a maritime arrest warrant for the Crystal Symphony as part of a lawsuit over unpaid fuel

cruise ship repossessed in bahamas

A cruise ship made a surprise detour to the Bahamas after a U.S. judge granted an order to seize the vessel amid a lawsuit over unpaid fuel.

The Crystal Symphony, which was originally scheduled to return its passengers to Miami on Saturday, instead headed to the Bahamian island of Bimini, according to CBS News .

The number of passengers affected remains unclear, but the vessel has a maximum capacity of 848 passengers according to the company's website. Those on board the ship were ferried to Fort Lauderdale the following day.

The change in itinerary came after a federal judge in Miami issued a maritime arrest warrant for the ship which allows a U.S. Marshall to take charge once it arrives in U.S. waters due to a lawsuit over unpaid fuel.

Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed a lawsuit in federal court against Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises for breach of contract to recover $4.6 million in fuel costs according to Newsweek .

News of the lawsuit came as a surprise to many passengers and crew members according to the Associated Press . In a Facebook post on Sunday, passenger Steven Heart Fales wrote, "We all feel we were abducted by luxurious pirates!" alongside images of himself on the boat.

Crystal Cruises said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, "This end to the cruise was not the conclusion to our guests' vacation we originally planned for," but noted they were unable to comment on pending legal matters.

The operator added that they provided "overnight accommodations Saturday evening with the ship's exemplary service and amenities offered and they were well cared for on board. Crystal arranged ground transportation to local airports, as well as PortMiami."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE 's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

Last week, Crystal Cruises announced it would suspend operations of its ocean and expedition voyages through April and pause its river voyages through May.

"Suspending operations will provide Crystal's management team with an opportunity to evaluate the current state of business and examine various options moving forward," the said in company a statement posted on its website.

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Rogue cruise ships wanted for millions in unpaid bills seized by authorities in Bahamas: report

Two Crystal Cruises ships that were diverted to the Bahamas in an attempt to avoid a warrant in the United States for unpaid warrants have been seized by authorities.

Travel expert Mark Murphy weighs in on the future of travel going into the new year.

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Travel expert Mark Murphy weighs in on the future of travel going into the new year.

The Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity were boarded by authorities near Freeport, Bahamas, on Friday night in relation to a US warrant for unpaid fuel bills of at least $4.6 million, according to Daily Mail . 

A pedestrian watches as the Crystal Symphony cruise ship arrives at Flynn Cruiseport in Boston, MA on August 18, 2021. The ship is scheduled to depart Sunday for a weeklong trip to Bermuda.

Boston, MA - August 18: A pedestrian watches as the Crystal Symphony cruise ship arrives at Flynn Cruiseport in Boston, MA on August 18, 2021. The ship is scheduled to depart Sunday for a weeklong trip to Bermuda. ((Photo by Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images))

No passengers were on the ships at the time of the seizure but crew members were escorted off the ship and released.

The Crystal Serenity was originally scheduled to take about 200 passengers on a three-and-a-half month expedition, but two days after leaving Miami on Jan. 17, the company announced it would suspend operations through April. The ship canceled several port calls since then.

Passengers were told the ship would end the cruise in Aruba, but then local officials did not allow the ship to dock this weekend, so the ship was diverted to Bimini, a company spokesman said. The cruise line then ferried the passengers to Fort Lauderdale and taken to hotel rooms Monday night.

cruise liner Crystal Symphony

FILE - In this May, 21, 2013, file photo, the cruise liner Crystal Symphony leaves the harbor in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Bruce Smith, File) (AP Newsroom)

The Crystal Symphony was supposed to return to Miami on Jan. 22, but instead changed its course to Bimini, also offloading and ferrying passengers to Fort Lauderdale.

A federal judge overseeing a lawsuit that accuses the cruise line of failing to pay $4.6 million for fuel issued the warrant for the Crystal Symphony on Jan. 20. The maritime order authorizes U.S. Marshals to board a vessel and take charge once it approaches the U.S. coast.

It is unclear how U.S. Marshals commandeered the two ships as they do not have jurisdiction in the Bahamas.

The U.S. Marshals did not immediately return a request for comment from Fox News.

Crystal Cruises ship

(Photo courtesy Crystal Cruises)

The company announced it was suspending operations through late April to "provide Crystal’s management team with an opportunity to evaluate the current state of business and examine various options moving forward."

The cruise line’s parent company, Genting Hong Kong , has been struggling with the effects of the pandemic on its shipping and cruise businesses. Last month, one of its shipyards filed for bankruptcy protection in Germany.

Associated Press contributed to this report

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Cruise Has Surprise Ending After Judge Orders Ship Seized Over Debts

The Crystal Symphony was set to arrive in Miami on Saturday, but it was diverted to the Bahamas after a U.S. judge ordered the ship seized over $4.6 million in unpaid fuel bills.

cruise ship repossessed in bahamas

By Jesus Jiménez

The Crystal Symphony left Miami on Jan. 8, as scheduled, on a two-week cruise. On the way back, things took an unexpected turn.

The ship was scheduled to arrive in Miami on Saturday, but mid-trip, a United States federal judge ordered the cruise ship seized over a lawsuit regarding unpaid fuel bills. The ship changed course for Bimini, in the Bahamas, according to a cruise tracker, rather than sail into the clutches of federal authorities.

Those on the cruise were provided with an extra night of accommodations, and on Sunday, the passengers were taken by ferry to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Crystal Cruises said in a statement. The ferry ride, the company added, was “uncomfortable due to inclement weather.”

“This end to the cruise was not the conclusion to our guests’ vacation we originally planned for,” the company said.

Steven Fales, 51, an actor and playwright, was on the cruise with a couple of friends “hoping that the pandemic would end and trying to do something adventurous.” The adventure came to an abrupt end when they learned the cruise was being rerouted.

“It’s just sad to see the pandemic kill it like it’s a Broadway show that opened too soon,” Mr. Fales said on Sunday night.

After arriving in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, Mr. Fales took a ride-share service to a hotel in Miami, where he’ll stay before flying to Los Angeles and then driving home to Palm Springs, Calif. Mr. Fales said that while the change in plans was unexpected, he empathized with the ship’s crew, who seemed uncertain about the future of their jobs.

“That crew treated us like royalty through the tears of losing their jobs,” he said. “They’re all just heartbroken, and it was just devastating.”

About 300 people were transferred to Port Everglades, a spokesman for the cruise line said. It was unclear how many people had been onboard, but the ship can hold up to 848 guests, with one staff member for every 1.7 guests, according to the cruise line .

The course change came after a U.S. judge on Thursday ordered the ship seized as part of a lawsuit filed against Crystal Cruises over unpaid fuel. Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in a federal court in South Florida against Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises for owing a combined total of more than $4.6 million.

In a statement, Crystal Cruises said it could not comment on pending legal matters. A lawyer for Peninsula Petroleum Far East did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday night.

Last week, Crystal announced that it had suspended operations for two of its ships through April 29, and that its river cruises were suspended through the end of May.

“Suspending operations will provide Crystal’s management team with an opportunity to evaluate the current state of business and examine various options moving forward,” the cruise line said in a statement .

One of the cruise line’s ships is set to end its voyage in Aruba on Jan. 30, and another is set to complete its trip in Argentina on Feb. 4.

“This was an extremely difficult decision but a prudent one given the current business environment and recent developments with our parent company, Genting Hong Kong,” Jack Anderson, Crystal’s president, said in a statement.

“Crystal has been synonymous with luxury cruising for more than 30 years and we look forward to welcoming back our valued guests when we resume operations,” he said. “We wish to thank our guests and travel advisers for their incredible support during these ongoing challenging times.”

Jesus Jiménez is a breaking news reporter. More about Jesus Jiménez

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A luxury cruise ship rerouted to the Bahamas over an arrest warrant for unpaid fuel

Rachel Treisman

cruise ship repossessed in bahamas

The cruise liner Crystal Symphony leaves the harbor in Charleston, S.C. , in 2013. A 2022 trip by the ship ended in a lawsuit-fueled detour. Bruce Smith/AP hide caption

The cruise liner Crystal Symphony leaves the harbor in Charleston, S.C. , in 2013. A 2022 trip by the ship ended in a lawsuit-fueled detour.

A luxury cruise ship that was scheduled to dock in Miami this past weekend made a surprise detour to the Bahamas after a U.S. judge ordered it to be seized as part of a lawsuit over unpaid fuel.

The Crystal Symphony was supposed to wrap up its Caribbean voyage in Miami on Saturday, according to operator Crystal Cruises . The online tracker Cruise Mapper clocked it Monday afternoon local time at a port in Bimini, the part of the Bahamas closest to the mainland U.S.

The change in plans appears to have been triggered by a lawsuit filed against the cruise line in a Miami federal court on Wednesday.

People should avoid cruise travel regardless of their vaccination status, the CDC says

Coronavirus Updates

People should avoid cruise travel regardless of their vaccination status, the cdc says.

Peninsula Petroleum Far East sued Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises (which are both owned by Genting Hong Kong) and the Crystal Symphony ship, accusing the vessel and its managers of breach of maritime contract and asking the court to take it into custody. The six-page filing says the entities owe a combined $4.6 million in fuel.

Crystal Cruises announced that same day that it would suspend operations for its ocean and expedition ships through the end of April and for its river cruises through the end of May, saying the decision would give the company's management team time to evaluate the state of business and potential future options.

"This was an extremely difficult decision but a prudent one given the current business environment and recent developments with our parent company, Genting Hong Kong," said Jack Anderson, Crystal's president.

It said the three ships currently in operation — the Crystal Symphony, another in the Caribbean and one in Antarctica — would complete their voyages by the beginning of February.

District Judge Darrin Gayles issued a warrant for the ship's arrest on Thursday. That's the process by which a U.S. marshal boards the ship and physically takes charge of it, putting it in the possession and jurisdiction of the court.

It is not clear how many passengers were on the ship at the time — the company says it can hold 848 guests, and The Associated Press says different outlets have reported conflicting numbers of 300 and 700.

A spokesperson for the company told NPR in an emailed statement that passengers were given accommodations on the ship for Saturday night, and about 300 guests were later transferred via ferry to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The cruise line arranged ground transportation to local airports as well as Port Miami.

"This end to the cruise was not the conclusion to our guests' vacation we originally planned for," they said, adding that the company cannot comment on pending legal matters.

Even With COVID-19 Cases, Suing Cruise Lines Is 'Extraordinarily Difficult'

Coronavirus Live Updates

Even with covid-19 cases, suing cruise lines is 'extraordinarily difficult'.

The diversion — and underlying legal troubles — apparently came as a surprise to those on board, according to social media posts and passenger interviews.

"Sadly, Crystal Cruises is another casualty of the pandemic. It just declared bankrupcy [sic] and is docked in the Bahamas instead of Miami to avoid confiscation due to unpaid debts," Steven Heard Fales wrote on Facebook . "We all feel we were abducted by luxurious pirates!"

Musician Elio Pace, who boarded the ship on Tuesday and planned to stay until Feb. 23, wrote on Facebook that on the night of his first show, the captain notified those on board that Genting Hong Kong had gone into liquidation and the ship would cease to sail when it reached Miami. He said passengers were told they would need to disembark the ship and find their way home.

"Would you believe me if I told you that yesterday, Friday, (the night of my second show) after all arrangements had been set for flights, car hire etc by all disembarking passengers and crew, we were notified by the captain that the ship was no longer sailing to Miami and was instead diverting to Bimini in the Bahamas where we would arrive tomorrow, Sunday, and disembark from there?" he continued, adding that he felt most for the staff and crew who consider the ship their livelihood.

Pace told the AP that some 30 to 50 crew members disembarked because their contracts ended, while another 400 don't know when they'll get off or whether they'll keep their jobs.

This story originally appeared on the Morning Edition live blog .

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Cruise ships seized in the Bahamas over unpaid bills

By Kate Gibson

February 7, 2022 / 4:33 PM EST / MoneyWatch

Two Crystal Cruises ships — the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity — have been seized in the Bahamas, according to multiple reports. 

The Crystal Symphony was scheduled to dock in Miami on January 22, but instead sailed to the Bahamas after a U.S. judge granted an order to seize the vessel as part of litigation over unpaid fuel. Its sister ship, the Crystal Serenity, was diverted to the Bahamas last week. Passengers from both vessels were ferried to Florida. 

Crystal Symphony Captain announcement addressed to the crew. The cruise ship has been arrested in Freeport, Bahamas. Crystal Serenity was also arrested in Freeport. pic.twitter.com/cdBNyHf4s5 — Crew Center (@CrewCenter) February 5, 2022

The luxury ships were anchored in Freeport as of Saturday,  according  to Bloomberg News. The seizures were first reported on Saturday by Cruise Law News, a site run by Florida maritime law attorney Jim Walker, who cited crew members from the ships as his sources for information. 

A lawsuit filed in a Miami federal court by Peninsula Petroleum Far East claims Crystal Symphony was chartered or managed by Genting Hong Kong-owned Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises, both of which are being sued for breach of contract for owing $4.6 million in fuel payments.

The cruise line declined comment, citing pending legal matters. 

"Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony's voyages ended last month and there are no guests onboard," a company spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch in an email. 

"The officers and crew on board are being well cared for and staying in single accommodations, some of which are guest staterooms," the spokesperson added. "We are making sure they are comfortable and able to enjoy the various amenities on board. Crew members have been paid all wages due and we are meeting and exceeding all contractual obligations."

According to crew members on @crystalcruises Crystal Symphony & Crystal Serenity, both #cruise ships are now arrested in Freeport, Bahamas due to non-payment of fuel expenses. pic.twitter.com/yg4KGFK2bM — James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) February 5, 2022

Passengers aboard the Crystal Endeavor disembarked Friday in Argentina after officials in that country held up the ship over an unpaid bill, according to Seatrade Cruise News . The issue was resolved, and the ship set sail on Saturday night headed to Uruguay, the site reported. 

Genting Hong Kong is part of a holding company that operates cruise ships in Asia Pacific, U.S. and Europe, operating under the Crystal Cruises, Star Cruises and Dream Cruises brands. Genting Group also owns resorts and casinos in New York City, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.

Genting Hong Kong last month said it was running out of cash, with Crystal Cruises suspending its Ocean and Expedition Cruises through late April and River cruises through May. 

"Suspending operations will provide Crystal's management team with an opportunity to evaluate the current state of business and examine various options moving forward," the said company in a statement .

Kate Gibson is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch in New York.

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US Judge orders cruise ship at sea seized

A cruise ship that was supposed to dock in Miami instead sailed to the Bahamas, after a US judge granted an order to seize the vessel as part of a lawsuit over $4 million in unpaid fuel. Passengers and some crew took a ferry back to Florida. (Jan. 24)

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Cruise ship with hundreds of passengers diverts to Bahamas after US issues arrest warrant over unpaid bills

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A cruise ship with hundreds of passengers and crew diverted its destination path from Miami to the Bahamas to reportedly evade a U.S. warrant over $1.2 million in unpaid fuel bills. 

"The U.S. marshal will be there with the arrest warrant if the ship shows up in Miami," J. Stephen Simms, the lead attorney representing Peninsula Petroleum Far East Pte. Ltd, told Bloomberg . "My good money is that it’s not landing in Miami, from what we’ve been told. Our client is determined to recover."

Boston, MA - August 18: A pedestrian watches as the Crystal Symphony cruise ship arrives at Flynn Cruiseport in Boston, MA on August 18, 2021. The ship is scheduled to depart Sunday for a weeklong trip to Bermuda.

A pedestrian watches as the Crystal Symphony cruise ship arrives at Flynn Cruiseport in Boston, Massachusetts, on Aug. 18, 2021. (Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The luxury cruise ship, Crystal Symphony, was scheduled to port in Miami on Saturday after a two-week sojourn in the Caribbean, but diverted to the Bahamas with about 300 passengers and 400 crew members after a U.S. court issued an arrest warrant.

The ship is operated by Genting Hong Kong Ltd., which has been financially struggling since the pandemic affected travel. Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed suit in the U.S. to recover $4.6 million in unpaid fees for bunker fuel for three different ships owned by Genting, including $1.2 million from the Crystal Symphony, the Daily Mail reported . 

CRUISE INDUSTRY TRIES TO STAY AFLOAT DURING OMICRON SURGE

A British musician who was performing on the ship said the passengers are scrambling to reschedule their flights after being delayed in the Bahamas, but "there’s no panic."

"Every one of these people are trying to reschedule their flights," musician Elio Pace told the Daily Mail. "There's no panic, there's no tantrums going on, they're taking it in their stride."

Lighthouse guarding the port to Nassau, Bahamas

Lighthouse guarding the port to Nassau, Bahamas (iStock)

CDC RECOMMENDS AVOIDING CRUISE SHIPS AS OMICRON VARIANT SURGES 

Genting Hong Kong on Wednesday filed with the Supreme Court of Bermuda to appoint provisional liquidators after exhausting "all reasonable efforts" to negotiate with creditors, according to Bloomberg. The company reported in May that it lost $1.7 billion as the pandemic and shutdowns continued affecting the travel industry. 

Crystal Cruises notified staff on the Crystal Symphony on Wednesday that all cruise operations will be suspended until at least April. 

TEEN JUMPS FROM CRUISE SHIP'S UPPER BALCONY, DEATH RULED A SUICIDE, COMPANY SAYS

"This was an extremely difficult decision but a prudent one given the current business environment and recent developments with our parent company, Genting Hong Kong," Jack Anderson, Crystal's president, said in a statement on the decision to cease all cruises, according to the Daily Mail. 

Miami skyline. Yachts sail on sea water to city Miami, Florida (iStock)

Miami, Florida, skyline (iStock)

Pace said passengers were shocked when the announcement was made, but that he still performed and operations continued as usual. 

"That was quite extraordinary, to be in a position to have to perform to people, with them knowing the cruise line has gone into liquidation," he said. "This was a shock to everybody when we got the announcement on Wednesday."

The ship docked in Bimini just before midnight local time on Saturday. Passengers are expected to be ferried to Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas. 

"For me it's a headache, but for the crew, for the staff, the brilliant staff of this gorgeous luxury liner, I feel more sorry for them," Pace added. "I'm put out, but they've lost their jobs for the foreseeable future."

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"Guests were provided overnight accommodations last evening with the ship’s exemplary service and amenities offered and they well cared for on board.  Crystal has arranged ground transportation to local airports, as well as PortMiami, and guests are currently en route home," a Crystal Cruises spokesperson told Fox News on Sunday. 

The spokesperson added that the company can not comment on pending legal matters at this time. 

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Cruise ship sails to Bahamas to avoid fine

As of Monday, January 24, 2022

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The cruise liner Crystal Symphony pictured in 2013.

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

[email protected]

A CRYSTAL Cruises ship was diverted to The Bahamas over the weekend after a United States judge issued an arrest warrant for the vessel over its unpaid fuel bills, according to international reports.

The Crystal Symphony was enroute to Miami following a two-week cruise in the Caribbean when it received news of the warrant, which stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Peninsula Petroleum Far East in Hong Kong last week.

However, while en route to the US, the ship changed its course and instead sailed to Bimini.

According to reports, the ship will be seized if it docks in Miami and fails to pay some $1.2m in monies owed for its fuel purchases.

When contacted for comment yesterday, West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe said he was made aware of the issue on social media.

While he could not say how long the ship would remain in Bimini, Mr Wilchcombe said he understood the Crystal Symphony was a Bahamas flagged vessel.

 “I became aware as you did through social media,” the minister told The Tribune yesterday.

 “I have been keeping abreast of the development with Hong Kong relative to the situation there and the file for bankruptcy and that’s in Hong Kong. I did follow up to determine whether or not that was going to affect their property in Bimini and I was told ‘no, it’s not’ and that was a separate matter.

 “...The vessel I understand does fly The Bahamas flag so I believe that assists in them changing their schedule and landing here.”

 Some 700 people were reported to be onboard the vessel.

 Attempts to reach Minister of Housing and Transport Jobeth-Coleby Davis were unsuccessful up to press time yesterday.

 According to Cruise Critic, after the collapse of parent company Genting Group, Crystal Cruises “has announced it will cease sailings on a temporary basis while its executive team examines options for it to continue operations.”

bahamianson 2 years, 1 month ago

Bahamas was always a.place for this kind of action. Our history tells the tale.

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Proguing 2 years, 1 month ago

Yes please send all the bankrupt cruise ships here, you can't make this stuff up

ohdrap4 2 years, 1 month ago

they already carried all the natives to make up cash flow:

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2021/j... ">Ceremony for Crystal Cruises sailing on Saturday

whogothere 2 years, 1 month ago

Exposes the desperation of crystal cruises in the pushing the homeporting agenda with little or no transparency for the family destinations…

GodSpeed 2 years, 1 month ago

so not only avoiding seizure but holding 700 people hostage. very bold

John 2 years, 1 month ago

Not so. The passengers have all been ferried to Miami

TalRussell 2 years, 1 month ago

De article's headline is both misleading and forgiving. ― Yes?

Yes - Should read:

"Bahamas aids and abets business partner in fuel heist."

tribanon 2 years, 1 month ago

We need a national declaration that all of these cruise ships are not welcome in our territorial waters. All of the cruise line companies our corrupt politicians keep pandering to are as corrupt as corrupt can be, and that's in addition to them being major polluters and pathogen incubators.

The Bahamas used to be a hiding place for Pirates, now we are a hiding place for fugitive cruise ships???

Is this is truly de big one that we colony's Five-hundred thousand PopoulacesOfCommeners, and de Cruise Port's Chief Comrade Michael Maura's Jesus's sea waters calming moment that de first truly pirate ship has legally Flag of Convivence ported that shows us, He's still in control even when we do not realize it, ― Yes?

There are two or three more ships out to sea on cruise. At least let them come here until they sort things out.didn’t yinna allow the Covid-19 laden ships to come herr

rodentos 2 years, 1 month ago

dismantle and sell for scrap metal

DiverBelow 2 years, 1 month ago

Quickly fix the dock in Abaco, dock it there as a Hospital/Govt Office/Temporary Housing/food Bank. Has the equipment, only needs the personnel & supplies.

Did y’all hear Joe Biden cussing out the reporter when he thought the mic was dead.. from sleeping Joe to cussing Joe…

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Crystal Cruises ship diverts to Bahamas with 700 people on board after arrest warrant issued over $1.2 million unpaid fuel bill: report

  • A Crystal Cruises ship diverted to the Bahamas in an apparent attempt to escape an arrest warrant. 
  • The warrant relates to an unpaid fuel bill, according to case documents obtained by USA Today.
  • A US marshal would be prepared to arrest the ship if it showed up in Miami, per Bloomberg.

Insider Today

A Crystal Cruises ship with hundreds of passengers and crew onboard has diverted from its scheduled stop in Miami after an arrest warrant was issued, multiple outlets reported.

The Crystal Symphony was due to return to Miami on Saturday, following a 14-day Caribbean voyage, but instead traveled to Bimini in the Bahamas, per The Daily Mail.

According to Bloomberg , if the ship docks in Miami, the terms of the warrant would allow it to be seized to repay a $1.2 million unpaid fuel bill, which is apparently owed by its operator, Genting Hong Kong Ltd. 

Related stories

The warrant resulted from a lawsuit filed by Peninsula Petroleum Far East Wednesday against Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises Limited, per USA Today . 

Crystal Cruises did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. 

One passenger tweeted to travel agent Mundy Cruising: "Can you help me change my flight to Heathrow from Miami as we are stuck on Crystal Symphony which has changed route and is now heading for Bahamas instead of Miami." 

Elio Pace, a musician performing aboard the ship, told The Daily Mail that "every one of these people are trying to reschedule their flights." But he noted that "there's no panic, there's no tantrums going on."

Pace, however, said in an interview with USA Today that he hopes he will be compensated for the additional time he's had to spend onboard. 

—John (@johndresner) January 21, 2022

Passengers had to wait overnight Saturday to be transported by a ferry to Fort Lauderdale after the diversion, The Daily Mail reported. 

Genting Hong Kong filed for provisional liquidation Wednesday, per Bloomberg. It had reported a $1.7 billion loss in May.

Cruise companies have faced many difficulties in recent months, particularly in relation to the pandemic. Earlier this month, staff and passengers on Norwegian Getaway and Royal Caribbean ships described their difficult quarantine experiences after contracting COVID-19.

Another passenger, who was traveling on an unspecified cruise ship, recently said she experienced "panic and anxiety" while isolating for six days in a windowless cabin.

cruise ship repossessed in bahamas

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A luxury cruise ship operator is underwater — and has left passengers high and dry.

US Marshals seized a pair of popular cruise ships in the Bahamas on Friday on allegations that their Miami-based owner, Crystal Cruises, has failed to pay $4.6 million in fuel bills.

Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony had only crew members on board, according to Cruise Law News , while hundreds of passengers faced “bedlam” after being hurriedly booted off the ships before the vessels were seized.

“What a dreadful, disgraceful end to a so-called luxury #cruise line,” tweeted Cruise Law News publisher and maritime attorney Jim Walker.

A third ship, the Crystal Endeavor, the line’s newest and most luxurious vessel, was seized in Argentina, Cruise Law News reported Saturday afternoon.

The US Marshals seized popular cruise ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony in the Bahamas following allegations that their owner failed to pay $4.6 million in fuel bills.

The Serenity and Symphony dumped their passengers in Bimini last month before setting sail for the perceived safety of international waters. The passengers, some of whom expected to cruise on to California, were ferried to Fort Lauderdale and then left to fend for themselves.

What a dreadful, disgraceful end to a so-called luxury #cruise line . . . https://t.co/PgiRE0ICsU — James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) February 2, 2022

“Five hours in, we get off the ferry only to find all the luggage dumped everywhere, colors and numbers NOT together, luggage falling down, no porters and NO CRYSTAL REPS. NONE,” Serenity passenger Allyn Jaffrey Shulman wrote on Facebook. “No one giving instructions. No one helping the older folks. It was a shameful sight.” 

Fuel supplier Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed a complaint in Florida last month seeking an arrest warrant against the cruise ships under US admiralty law, the Daily Mail reported .

The ships unloaded their passengers and hit the high seas after US District Judge Darrin Gayles approved the warrant.

Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed a complaint in Florida seeking an arrest warrant against all of the cruise ships under US admiralty law, The Daily Mail reported.

It remained unclear how US officials had the authority to seize the ships in the Bahamas, Cruise Law News reported.

Meanwhile, passengers aboard the Crystal Endeavor disembarked Friday as the ship was held in Ushuaia, Argentina, by the country’s maritime authority over some type of unpaid bill, Seatrade Cruise News reported.

The issue was resolved as of Saturday night, the site reported, and the Endeavor was allowed to set sail again en route to Uruguay.

Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony had only crew members on board, as hundreds of passengers were being rushed off the ships before the vessels were seized.

“We are unable to comment on pending legal matters at this time,” Crystal Cruises spokesman Vance Gulliksen told the Daily Mail. “Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony’s voyages ended last month and there are no guests onboard.

“The officers and crew on board are being well cared for and staying in single accommodations some of which are guest staterooms. We are making sure they are comfortable and able to enjoy the various amenities on board. Crew members have been paid per their normal schedules and we are meeting and exceeding all contractual obligations.”

Crystal Cruises is owned by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Genting Hong Kong.

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The US Marshals seized popular cruise ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony in the Bahamas following allegations that their owner failed to pay $4.6 million in fuel bills.

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cruise ship repossessed in bahamas

Onboard the Crystal Symphony During Its Return to Service

By Scott Laird

An aerial of a cruise ship in Sydney.

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Peering out of my suite at Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik , a 19th-century hotel with views of the walled Old Town and the shimmering Adriatic just beyond, it was hard to imagine being thrilled to leave.

But I was about to board the Crystal Symphony, the second of Crystal’s pair of oceangoing cruise ships. A mere 18 months prior, both vessels had been repossessed in the Bahamas during the bankruptcy of the Chinese parent company. Yet now, after the Crystal brand had been purchased by the parent company of luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent , and the ships totally reimagined in down-to-the-steel refurbishments at Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard, we were to board for the first sailing, a cruise to Athens .

We weren’t quite done with Croatia just yet, though. To preview some of the shore excursions Abercrombie & Kent is planning to integrate with Crystal’s oceangoing cruise , a group of 15 boarded a luxury tour bus for the nearby hamlet of Orašec. There, in a stone house bathed in bougainvillea, we learned about the pressing of olive oil in a horse-pulled stone mill before sitting down for a tasting replete with baskets of fresh bread and plates of olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and fresh cheese produced on the estate.

Next, it was on to Mali Ston, a seaside village on the Pelješac Peninsula where a stone wall snaked up the hillside. Built in the 1300s to protect the region’s salt production, the Walls of Ston are second in size only to the Great Wall of China. At a nearby oyster farm, we sampled fresh shellfish before returning to town for a seafood lunch in the shadow of the village’s stone tower.

These are exactly the intimate touring experiences from Abercrombie & Kent that the relaunched Crystal is planning to integrate with the ocean cruise, explained Jacqueline Barney, Crystal’s senior vice president of global marketing, over a lobster appetizer in Osteria d’Ovidio, the new Italian specialty restaurant concept onboard.

Abercrombie & Kent purchased Crystal with the intent of returning it to its roots, with two tweaks to the brand—dropping “Cruises” from the name, and refraining from any mention of the word “luxury” in the line’s marketing materials. “If you have to say you’re ‘luxury’, are you really?” she says with a wry smile.

If anything, though, the ships are back even more sumptuous than they were before. The overall number of cabins has been reduced as some smaller cabins were made into suites. Going into drydock, Crystal Symphony had space for 848 passengers—now it’s just 606. The guest-to-crew ratio is now roughly one-to-one, and even though the ship was fully booked for our sailing, it felt about half full, with a noticeable lack of crowding in virtually all of the public areas. All room and suite categories now have butler service, although there are additional services and amenities provided in the higher suite tiers.

An interior of a cruise room.

The Sapphire Veranda Suite's living area

That space ratio is industry-leading in the luxury sector—and it was deliberate—says A&K Travel Group CEO Cristina Levis. The ship’s 84 cubic feet of space per passenger—and a crew complement just as loyal to the brand as the passengers. While the passengers were waiting for Crystal’s comeback, Levis says, so too were the crew who had worked onboard before the previous parent company’s bankruptcy. Some of them even declined contracts from other cruise lines in the interim so they could return immediately to Crystal when they received the call, the team says—she noted nearly 80 percent of the crew onboard were returning.

Later, on a tour of the ship’s refurbished staterooms, we learned that Crystal had gone to great lengths to balance a modern refresh of the ship with the Crystal experience that guests had known for years. Many suite categories come in two flavors—classic design, with more focus on wood paneling (and bathrooms with tubs), or a more contemporary refit (with larger showers replacing tubs).

An interior of a cruise room.

An ocean-view suite

A cruise ship pool.

The Seahorse pool

An interior of a cruise.

Avenue Saloon, Crystal's signature piano bar

An interior of a cruise ship.

Apropos & Facets, an onboard boutique selling fine jewelry, watches, and cruise wear

An interior of a cruise ship.

Palm Court, a dining space on the Crystal Serenity

Both ships had their casinos removed during drydock—a move that Levis said was already being reversed after swift and decisive guest feedback. Adding back the casinos won’t be a simple task, she notes, and there's no announced date for when the project might be completed.

There's another noticeable difference with Crystal Symphony that belies her history: Although the ship’s interiors are all brand new, the 1995 vintage means that her propellers are shaft-mounted, making for more noticeable vibration onboard compared with newer cruise ships ( Crystal Serenity , built in 2003, has newer, smoother pod-mounted propulsion).

There are other ships in the pipeline, Levis says, with plans for four more ships—two oceangoing cruise liners and two expedition ships—to be built in a European shipyard in the coming years.

Guests can also expect the upcoming builds will maintain the same design aesthetic of Crystal’s senior ships—no wild amusements, no gimmicky onboard activities, nothing meant to fool guests into believing they're anywhere but a luxury cruise ship at sea. Guests might spend their days dining in Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa, indulging in the famous black cod marinated in Saikyo miso with baby peach and young ginger, or in the main dining room Waterside restaurant with a sophisticated menu of both classic and contemporary dishes.

There’s also the typical cruise dining assortment—ice cream parlor, buffet, grill, coffee shops, and 24-hour in-suite dining (guests in top suites can order room service from Umi Uma or Osteria d’Ovidio), but all top-quality. For entertainment, aside from the line’s legendary White Party, there are production shows, an onboard movie theater, or an impressively wide selection of treatments in the Aurora Spa, including massages using coconut poultices or bamboo, cosmetic medi-spa services administered by a licensed physician, IV treatments for hydration and vitamin intake, teeth whitening, facials, and a full host of salon services.

In short, Crystal is back, in all its glory. And even if they won’t describe themselves as luxurious, their guests almost certainly will.

27-year-old Florida woman found dead on cruise ship en route to Bahamas, police say

Police said medical staff onboard the cruise ship performed CPR, but the woman was declared dead.

(Gray News) – A 27-year-old woman from Florida was found dead in her cabin on a cruise ship while traveling to the Bahamas.

According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force , officers were contacted Monday evening about the passenger who was found unresponsive in her cabin.

Police said medical staff onboard the cruise ship performed CPR, but the woman was declared dead.

Officials did not say which cruise line was involved.

During their investigation, officers confiscated “suspected cocaine” from the cabin and arrested a 32-year-old man from Florida.

Police did not specify the relationship between the man they arrested and the woman who died. They also did not release their identities.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the woman’s cause of death.

Further information was not immediately available.

Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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A luxury cruise ship rerouted to the bahamas over an arrest warrant for unpaid fuel.

The cruise liner Crystal Symphony leaves the harbor in Charleston, S.C. , in 2013. A 2022 trip by the ship ended in a lawsuit-fueled detour.

A luxury cruise ship that was scheduled to dock in Miami this past weekend made a surprise detour to the Bahamas after a U.S. judge ordered it to be seized as part of a lawsuit over unpaid fuel.

The Crystal Symphony was supposed to wrap up its Caribbean voyage in Miami on Saturday, according to operator Crystal Cruises . The online tracker Cruise Mapper clocked it Monday afternoon local time at a port in Bimini, the part of the Bahamas closest to the mainland U.S.

The change in plans appears to have been triggered by a lawsuit filed against the cruise line in a Miami federal court on Wednesday.

Peninsula Petroleum Far East sued Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises (which are both owned by Genting Hong Kong) and the Crystal Symphony ship, accusing the vessel and its managers of breach of maritime contract and asking the court to take it into custody. The six-page filing says the entities owe a combined $4.6 million in fuel.

Crystal Cruises announced that same day that it would suspend operations for its ocean and expedition ships through the end of April and for its river cruises through the end of May, saying the decision would give the company's management team time to evaluate the state of business and potential future options.

"This was an extremely difficult decision but a prudent one given the current business environment and recent developments with our parent company, Genting Hong Kong," said Jack Anderson, Crystal's president.

It said the three ships currently in operation — the Crystal Symphony, another in the Caribbean and one in Antarctica — would complete their voyages by the beginning of February.

District Judge Darrin Gayles issued a warrant for the ship's arrest on Thursday. That's the process by which a U.S. marshal boards the ship and physically takes charge of it, putting it in the possession and jurisdiction of the court.

It is not clear how many passengers were on the ship at the time — the company says it can hold 848 guests, and The Associated Press says different outlets have reported conflicting numbers of 300 and 700.

A spokesperson for the company told NPR in an emailed statement that passengers were given accommodations on the ship for Saturday night, and about 300 guests were later transferred via ferry to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The cruise line arranged ground transportation to local airports as well as Port Miami.

"This end to the cruise was not the conclusion to our guests' vacation we originally planned for," they said, adding that the company cannot comment on pending legal matters.

The diversion — and underlying legal troubles — apparently came as a surprise to those on board, according to social media posts and passenger interviews.

"Sadly, Crystal Cruises is another casualty of the pandemic. It just declared bankrupcy [sic] and is docked in the Bahamas instead of Miami to avoid confiscation due to unpaid debts," Steven Heard Fales wrote on Facebook . "We all feel we were abducted by luxurious pirates!"

Musician Elio Pace, who boarded the ship on Tuesday and planned to stay until Feb. 23, wrote on Facebook that on the night of his first show, the captain notified those on board that Genting Hong Kong had gone into liquidation and the ship would cease to sail when it reached Miami. He said passengers were told they would need to disembark the ship and find their way home.

"Would you believe me if I told you that yesterday, Friday, (the night of my second show) after all arrangements had been set for flights, car hire etc by all disembarking passengers and crew, we were notified by the captain that the ship was no longer sailing to Miami and was instead diverting to Bimini in the Bahamas where we would arrive tomorrow, Sunday, and disembark from there?" he continued, adding that he felt most for the staff and crew who consider the ship their livelihood.

Pace told the AP that some 30 to 50 crew members disembarked because their contracts ended, while another 400 don't know when they'll get off or whether they'll keep their jobs.

This story originally appeared on the Morning Edition live blog .

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Florida man arrested after 27-year-old woman found dead on cruise ship

"A quantity of suspected cocaine from the cabin" was confiscated by authorities.

A 27-year-old Florida woman has been found dead on a cruise ship in the Bahamas, authorities say.

Initial reports of the woman's death began at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday evening when members of the Royal Bahamas Force from the Criminal Investigation Department – Grand Bahama were told that a female passenger was found in a cabin on board a cruise line en route to the Bahamas, according to a statement from the Royal Bahamas Police.

MORE: Body of missing 54-year-old woman found in cemetery on the side of highway in Mexico

"A team of medical personnel from the ship assisted and performed CPR, but no vital signs of life were detected and she was declared deceased," police said detailing their response to the case.

The cause of death is currently unknown, but police did confirm that they confiscated "a quantity of suspected cocaine from the cabin, and arrested a 32-year-old American male from Florida, U.S.A."

MORE: 2 men charged with blowing up woman's home, planning to use large python to eat her daughter

The identity of the deceased woman and the 32-year-old male who was arrested has not yet been disclosed by authorities and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

The investigation into the death of the 27-year-old woman is currently ongoing.

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Florida woman found dead inside cruise ship cabin in Bahamas

Police said they arrested a 32-year-old man from florida, the same state that the deceased woman was from, article bookmarked.

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A woman has been found dead inside a cabin of a cruise ship en route to The Bahamas , with police finding “suspected cocaine ” on board.

The 27-year-old woman from Florida, who has not been officially named, was found unresponsive on the Margaritaville at Sea cruise line on Monday afternoon, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.

The ship’s medical staff performed CPR, but there were no vital signs of life and she was pronounced dead.

Police have now arrested a 32-year-old man, also from Florida , in connection to the case. A quantity of “suspected cocaine” was also confiscated from the cabin.

Authorities have not revealed what relationship the suspect and deceased woman may have and neither of their identities have been released.

An investigation into the death is ongoing on the island of Grand Bahama, and an autopsy will be carried out to determine the exact cause of death.

A spokesperson for the cruise line Margaritaville at Sea told FOX 35 that, after learning of the death on board the ship, “our medical staff immediately provided support and assistance to the travelling companion of the deceased guest”.

“The travelling companion reported the death, which reportedly occurred overnight. All appropriate authorities were notified, including the FBI, as is standard procedure regarding such events within the cruise industry. 

“We are fully cooperating with the FBI and its investigation.”

The spokesperson added that the ship had departed from Palm Beach last Sunday for a two-night sail to Freeport in The Bahamas before returning to Palm Beach on Tuesday.

“Upon the ship’s arrival in Palm Beach, the FBI was provided full access to the ship,” they added.

The Independent has contacted the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Margaritaville at Sea for further information.

The incident comes at a time when the Bahamas’ tourism industry is facing trouble as a string of murders have fuelled safety concerns.

In total, 18 murders have been recorded in the capital in the first month of 2024, the US Embassy in The Bahamas said in a release. The embassy has advised people to take extreme caution in the eastern part of New Province Island and to be aware of their surroundings.

Shortly after this warning, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation released a statement saying that the government of The Bahamas is “alert, attentive and proactive to ensure that The Bahamas remains a self and welcoming destination”.

“The rating of The Bahamas has not changed; we remain a level 2 alongside most tourism destinations,” the agency said, adding that over nine million visitors were welcomed to the country in 2023.

“The incidents described in the January 2024 US Embassy crime alert do not reflect general safety in The Bahamas, a country of 16 tourism destinations, and many more islands,” the ministry said.

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BREAKING NEWS

Central Florida woman found safe, man located after violent kidnapping, police say

Florida woman dies on cruise ship en route to the bahamas, police say, royal bahamas police force confiscates suspected cocaine.

Brandon Hogan , Digital Editor

GRAND BAHAMA – A 27-year-old woman from Florida was found dead Monday in her cabin aboard a cruise ship headed to the Bahamas, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Members of the police force responded around 5:30 p.m. that day to the woman’s cabin, a statement reads . The woman was located unresponsive, declared dead after medical personnel from the ship assisted the officers and performed CPR, police said.

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Officers confiscated a quantity of suspected cocaine from the cabin and arrested a 32-year-old Florida man, according to the statement.

The exact cause of the woman’s death is pending an autopsy, police said.

No other details were shared or confirmed, such as any more information about the identity of those involved or of the ship they were aboard.

Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily :

Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

About the Author:

Brandon hogan.

Brandon, a UCF grad, joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021. Before joining News 6, Brandon worked at WDBO.

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Disney Cruise Line offering worldwide adventures to Europe, Alaska, Bahamas in summer 2025

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Disney Cruise Line has released its itineraries for summer 2025, and it's a mix of fan-favorites destinations plus exciting new adventures.

Options include tropical getaways to The Bahamas and Caribbean from Florida, adventures in Alaska and, for the first time ever, European sailings to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe onboard the Disney Fantasy.

Here's a quick look at where the Disney Cruise Line ships are sailing:

  • The Disney Fantasy is marking its inaugural season in Europe, with destinations including Barcelona, Rome and Greece
  • The Disney Wonder will embark on trips to Alaska from Vancouver, Canada
  • The Disney Treasure, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, will follow its inaugural season with itineraries from Port Canaveral to the Eastern and Western Caribbean
  • The Disney Magic will homeport in Port Canaveral for the first time since summer 2016, taking guests on sailings to The Bahamas and both of Disney's island destinations
  • Both the Disney Magic and the Disney Dream will take guests to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, the one-of-a-kind retreat on the island of Eleuthera
  • The Disney Wish will also sail from Port Canaveral, offering sailings to Nassau and the beloved beaches of Disney Castaway Cay

Itineraries, experiences and offerings are subject to change.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line, visit disneycruise.com .

Disney is the parent company of Disney Cruise Line and this station.

Related Topics

  • DISNEY CRUISE LINE
  • U.S. & WORLD
  • CRUISE SHIP

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Bahamas resort refutes American cruise ship passengers' sex attack warning

A Bahamian resort has said two American women's allegations of drug-laced cocktails and sexual assaults "conflict" with its 16 "time-stamped surveillance videos."

Amber Shearer and Dongayla Dobson, lifelong friends from Kentucky , were enjoying a kid-free vacation when they stopped on Grand Bahama Island during a Carnival cruise. 

They said they felt woozy after a couple of sips of their drinks, lost consciousness and were sexually assaulted by resort employees, according to news outlets and their own posts on social media. They tested positive for high levels of drugs.

The resort, Pirate's Cove in Freeport, Bahamas, said in a statement the "lengthy videos of all concerned" were handed over to local police. The FBI is also part of the investigation. 

KENTUCKY MOMS SURVIVE BAHAMAS DRUGGING, SEXUAL ASSAULTS AFTER CRUISE STOPS AT RESORT: REPORT

The resort did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for more information or answer follow-up questions about what resort officials saw on their cameras that "conflict" with the women's allegations. 

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"We regret that our guests experienced this incident, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to aid police in the collection of evidence in response to these allegations, including providing police access to video where the assault of the two guests allegedly occurred," the resort said in its statement. 

WARNING FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS AS SEXUAL ASSAULTS HIT NEW HIGH IN 2023: FBI

The Freeport resort said it called law enforcement and medical personnel and took "swift" action by firing the two resort employees for violating resort policy.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy for fraternizing with guests or behaving in a manner that is unsafe," the resort's statement says. 

"While there is an active police investigation into these serious allegations, we have terminated the employment of the two accused, as the behavior seen on tape by management indicates that, at a minimum, they violated our zero-tolerance policy."

"Local authorities and paramedics were called to the scene and Pirates Cove management assisted in identifying and locating the two alleged suspects," the Freeport resort's statement goes on to say. "In addition, after the police concluded their initial investigation, we assisted in transporting the women back to their cruise ship after guests refused transportation to the hospital."

The women have not responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment, and the FBI did not immediately respond with a comment about their involvement. 

The Royal Bahama Police Force said in a Feb. 4 statement that they arrested two men – ages 54 and 40 – in connection with the alleged sexual assault. Their names were not released. 

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In a follow-up statement, the Royal Bahama Police Force told the Nassau Guardian that the women declined medical assistance and signed a waiver before leaving for their cruise ship "in a private vehicle."

"Recognizing the gravity of the incident, our officers boarded the cruise ship, providing a sexual assault kit and hospital form to the ship’s medical doctor and obtained signed statements from the victims," the statement says. 

"Preliminary reports suggest the incident occurred shortly after noon at a central Grand Bahama beach. Upon learning of the incident, our officers immediately commenced investigations, leading to the arrest of two adult males, aged 54 and 40."

Carnival Cruise Line said the two guests aboard the Carnival Elation reported the sexual assault that occurred on "an independent shore excursion," according to the New York Post . 

"Our onboard Care Team provided support for the two guests as they sailed back to Jacksonville," the cruise company said.

As the resort fights the women's allegations with its own statement, the United States Department of State and the Bahamian government exchanged cutting barbs over the department's level-two travel advisory warning because of rising levels of crime.

"The majority of crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands," according to the State Department's late January warning , which mentioned spikes in violent crimes like armed robberies and sexual assaults because of gang activity. 

Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis came out swinging by saying many tourism locations share the same level two designation. 

"The incidents described in the January 2024 US Embassy crime alert do not reflect general safety in The Bahamas, a count of sixteen tourist destinations, and many more islands," Davis said on Jan. 29, five days after the U.S. warning. 

He said the Bahamian government "is alert, attentive and proactive to ensure that The Bahamas remains a safe and welcoming destination."

Nearly the entire Bahamian economy is at stake when it comes to tourism, which accounts for approximately 70% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and employs just over half of the workforce, according to an October 2022 report by the International Trade Administration . 

The Bahamas was on track to welcome over 7 million American tourists by the end of 2023, according to the state department's most recent Investment Climate Statement, which was released in 2023. 

Original article source: Bahamas resort refutes American cruise ship passengers' sex attack warning

Amber Shearer, left, and Dongayla Dobson, two Kentucky moms who were allegedly sexually assaulted during their vacation to the Bahamas. Amber Nicole Shearer/Facebook

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