Lawsuit Alleges Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Failed to Screen Crew Member Accused of Peeping Tom
A lawsuit is making waves against Royal Caribbean Group after a former cruise ship worker was convicted of preying on passengers.
Attorney Files Lawsuit on Behalf of 12 Alleged Victims
Attorney Spencer Aronfeld, who filed the lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Group on behalf of 12 alleged victims, spoke with 7News on Wednesday. "Royal Caribbean has the largest cruise ships at sea, tens of thousands of passengers, and I don’t think they’re doing an adequate amount of screenings," he said.
Former Crew Member Installed Camera in Guest Bathrooms
Aronfeld said a now former crew member in Symphony of the Seas, Arvin Joseph Mirasol, hid a video camera inside guest bathrooms. "He installed, underneath the cabin bathroom sink, a camera where he was recording people using the bathroom — men and women and children, in and out of the showers," he said.
Mirasol worked on the cruise ship in early 2024. When the camera was found, he was arrested. Mirasol pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Victims Express Shock and Anger
One of the victims and her attorneys said the cruise line is also responsible. "Yeah, I was shocked. I was, I mean, in complete disbelief," she said. "We entrusted our privacy, our safety with their cruise line, and to hear that our privacy was completely just thrown off the window with this situation was really shocking to me."
Victim Fears Public Restrooms After Incident
This passenger said her daughter was only 2 years old when they went on the cruise, and now she and her family fear public restrooms. "We now carry one of these video detectors, so you can, you know, wave the detector around the room to see if it tracks any kind of a signal," she said.
Attorney Believes There May be Hundreds More Victims
Aronfeld believes there could be many more victims. "We think there are hundreds of other victims out there," he said.
Victim Seeks Disclosure, Accountability, and Compensation
"We want disclosure, we want accountability. Compensation would be ideal as well," said the passenger who spoke with 7News. "For the most part, we want to make sure that this does not happen to anyone else’s family."
Royal Caribbean Refuses to Comment
Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to 7News’ request for comment. Shortly after Mirasol’s arrest, a spokesperson said guests’ safety is a top priority.
Conclusion
This incident highlights the importance of effective screening and monitoring of cruise ship employees to ensure the safety and privacy of passengers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is the defendant in the lawsuit?
A: Royal Caribbean Group
Q: What was the alleged crime committed by the former crew member?
A: Peeping Tom and installing a hidden camera in guest bathrooms
Q: How many alleged victims are involved in the lawsuit?
A: 12
Q: What is the punishment for the former crew member?
A: 30 years in prison
Q: Will the victims seek compensation?
A: Yes, they are seeking compensation for the harm and suffering caused by the incident.
