DOT Releases Cruise Ship Crime Report for Q4 2025
On the surface, the cruise industry keeps selling paradise. Sun-soaked decks, bottomless buffets, Broadway-style shows. But beneath the glossy brochures, the Department of Transportation’s latest Cruise Ship Crime Report for Q4 2025 tells a more complicated — and frankly more troubling — story.
According to DOT data submitted to the FBI under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010, a total of 44 crimes were reported across all cruise lines in the fourth quarter of 2025. That number alone raises eyebrows, but what really stands out is who topped the list.
Royal Caribbean, the world’s largest cruise operator by passenger capacity, led all cruise lines with 16 reported crimes in Q4. That’s double the total reported by Norwegian Cruise Line, which came in second with eight. Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line — long considered the industry’s crime leader — saw a dramatic reversal, reporting just three incidents after logging 17 in Q3.
Crime by Cruise Line: A Shift at the Top
Here’s the full breakdown of reported crimes by cruise line for Q4 2025:
- Royal Caribbean Cruise Line: 16
- Norwegian Cruise Line: 8
- MSC Cruises: 7
- Princess Cruises: 4
- Carnival Cruise Line: 3
- Virgin Voyages: 3
- Disney Cruise Line: 2
- Margaritaville at Sea: 1
For context, Carnival had been the crime leader for 33 consecutive months, stretching from Q3 2022 through Q1 2025. That streak is officially over. Royal Caribbean led in reported crimes during Q2 2025 and again in Q4, signaling a possible long-term shift rather than a one-off spike.
Some industry insiders speculate fleet size may be part of the explanation. Royal Caribbean’s ships can carry approximately 157,000 passengers fleet-wide, compared to Carnival’s 128,800. More passengers naturally mean more incidents, but critics argue that capacity alone doesn’t fully explain the numbers.
Sexual Crimes Dominate the Data
Once again, sexual crimes were the most prevalent category — and it wasn’t even close.
Out of the 44 reported crimes in Q4, 29 were sexual in nature. Royal Caribbean alone accounted for 13 sexual crimes, with Norwegian Cruise Line reporting five. These are not minor infractions or paperwork issues. These are life-altering events, and the numbers show they’re not slowing down.
For all of 2025, the DOT reported 181 total crimes, narrowly surpassing the previous record year of 2023, which had 180. Of those, 121 were sexual assaults or rapes, making 2025 the second-highest year on record for sexual crimes at sea.
Royal Caribbean reported 39 sexual assaults and rapes in 2025, compared to 31 for Carnival. That’s a significant shift in an industry already facing intense scrutiny.
Why Cruise Crime Is Still Underreported
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: these numbers don’t tell the full story.
First, only crimes involving U.S. nationals are included in DOT data. That means incidents involving only non-U.S. passengers or crew members are excluded entirely. Given that most cruise ship crews are international, that’s a massive blind spot.
Second, not all qualifying crimes ever appear in the DOT’s public reports. Legal advocates have documented cases that clearly met CVSSA reporting thresholds but never showed up in federal data.
Third, the DOT’s narrow classifications suppress the numbers even further. Categories like “Death-Suspicious” and “Assault with Serious Bodily Injury” lack clear definitions, leaving room for interpretation — and omission.
Looking Ahead: A Troubling Trend
The cruise industry has now experienced nearly a twofold increase in reported crime since 2016. In 2025 alone, sexual crimes averaged 34 per quarter, matching the record pace set in 2024. If current trends continue, the industry could finish the year with 136 reported sexual crimes.
And remember — that’s just U.S. victims.
As long as the CVSSA fails to require reporting for crimes against non-U.S. nationals, the true scope of cruise ship crime remains hidden beneath the waves. The ships may keep getting bigger, but accountability still hasn’t caught up.
