Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Forbids Crime Prevention
April 2, 2008
When you see something going wrong on a cruise ship, you have several choices, do nothing and look the other way, report the offense to the cruise line, report the offense to law enforcement, or join in the fray. You might even choose to do more than any one of those options. Before considering those options, you might want to consider what impact your decision will have upon yourself, in the way of backlash.
I'm sure most of you would consider the obvious. There might be statements to be made, shore time missed, depositions, court appearances and the like. But, what if I told you that merely reporting an incident on a cruise ship could be enough to get you banned from the cruise line?
This is the results a Cruise Bruise visitor presented to us today.
"According to reports to mother by the 25 year old daughter passenger - During the course of sailing young male waiter flirtingly approached the daughter - commenting she could meet him in his cabin & provided his cabin number to her.
Daughter reported story to Mother, daughter did NOT act on the invitation and dismissed it as an innocent flirtation. Mother however was offended that the waiter solicited the daughter EVEN providing his cabin number.
So, Mother approached the officers and ask if there was an existing policy prohibiting fraternizing w/ passengers. The officers replied in the affirmative and asked the Mother for her reasons why she asked that question. The mother shared the report imparted by her daughter and the officers said they would investigate & discipline - which they did.
The waiter was taken off duty for several days. No further follow-up or sequel of any nature occurred henceforth no legal action was taken by any party.
The Mother shared her concerns with both her adult (passenger) daughters , her husband, and the officers that her concern was not so much for the safety of her own daughter (knowing she was wise to these types of crew antics) but rather for two reasons : 1st it was offensive, 2nd - the mother's history of social & public health professional practice historically required her to legally report any suspected incident of "abuse" - whether substantiated or unsubstantiated.
This placed her in a mind set of child advocacy - thus the mother's concerned were founded in the protection and prevention of similar crew solicitations towards younger more naive other future female passengers.
Again - no communication or sequel UNTIL this week - 3 months later when the Mother booked another extended high-end booking w/ Celebrity.
After holding a cabin for the couple for a period of 6 days for an intended 14 day Mediterranean cruise Ms. L, Pierre from the Global Security Dept of RCI phoned the Passenger's TA [travel agent] and the passenger, stating they were refusing / denying passage because of the story the mother reported while on the Expedition.
Absolutely unbelievable. Apparently the Global Security Dept. led by Gary Bald [former FBI agent] feels that this passenger posed a high risk management threat.
Clearly - RCI, Inc. are either not familiar with such professional practices (health professionals, social workers, law enforcement) or choose to ignore these standards of required reporting by professionals.
Finally, other than pure intent - what would motivate a crew member to give out his personal cabin number?"
After reading this account, it seems to me that Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines is more interested in hiding crimes and incidents aboard, then seeing to it that passengers have a safe voyage. Clearly they are penalizing those who have concern for the safety of others to the point they refuse passage for those concerned citizens willing to step forward.
This is the post George Allen Smith IV and Merrian Lynn Carver world we live in. During those two incidents, RCCI crew and officers worked to clean up evidence and hinder any investigation. This is the way things were handled in the past. After the Smith and Carver incidents, the public began taking a closer look at safety aboard the floating hotels.
It became very apparent that the only way passengers were going to be safe aboard the ships was to watch each other backs. This of course would not be to the advantage of the cruise lines, as more reports might come forward further marring their reputations.
Now, the message is clear, if you meddle in our affairs, break ranks, and violate the number one rule of cruising, "what happens at sea, stays at sea", you will be blacklisted from cruising.
The duty of every passenger is to lay down and become victimized. Let wayward passengers, crew members, staff or officers have their way with you, and keep your mouth shut, or else.
Let's look at you. You have been on a half dozen cruises and loved every one of them. You will cruise to the day you die. But today, on the latest cruise, you see a young girl with a crew member, who is trying to lure her to his cabin. Now, let's go back to the first paragraph of this story. The choice is yours. But, now, the choice is different. If you choose to report the crew member, your sailing days are over. Do you meddle or not?
According to Gary Bald's crew, you look the other way, keep your mouth shut, and don't look back. How does the reporting of a crew member breaking cruise line policy, by inviting a passenger to their cabin have anything to do with Global Security blacklisting the witness because they become a security threat? Doesn't reporting such violations make a ship MORE secure? Not according to RCCI. You, the witness, even a second-hand witness, are a security threat.
While this incident brings many questions to mind of moral, ethical, religious and business principles, there is really only one question you need to ask yourself.
Given the policy of RCCI is to muzzle witnesses and victims alike, why would even begin to consider cruising with them?
Before you answer that question, look at your children, grandchildren, nephew, nieces and other children in your life that you personally protect and adore, and ask yourself if an adult had knowledge of an impending crime against them, would you want that adult to keep their mouth shut and look the other way, or do the right thing?
