Rape and Man Overboard

[LSUtraveler]

Jante was asking if anyone had heard of a rape on a Carnival ship? Another said they heard of a man overboard. I guess that now that the question is out there, if anyone can offer proof or an article of some kind that would quell the rumors that this thread will start.

Anyone know? If not true lets stop it before it starts!

[GoinCruisin]

LSU, I have 3 articles of men overboard... they were all drinking related but they have all expired as far as online. They were all posted on here over the past year. I heard briefly about a rape but it turned out that it was a teen that was with a guy she wanted to be with and when her mother caught her she called it rape... she recanted afterwards...

[MERVYN BREMMER]

Go to this site and you'll find a weath of information including the report of a sexual assault on RCCL Rhapsody of the Sea reported to have happened in July 2003.....

 

http://www.cruisejunkie.com/events.html

[Auburn Tigers]

Jante was asking if anyone had heard of a rape on a Carnival ship? Another said they heard of a man overboard. I guess that now that the question is out there, if anyone can offer proof or an article of some kind that would quell the rumors that this thread will start.

 

Anyone know? If not true lets stop it before it starts!

Here is some proof from Thestate.com - something to do with SC.

Posted on Sun, May. 11, 2003_krdDartInc++;document.write('');:eek:

Coast Guard Searching for Man Who Fell From Cruise Ship

Associated Press

 

Matthew Scott Bjorn's wife of less than two weeks remains hopeful her husband will be found alive.

 

In Renee Bjorn's words, ”We haven't lost him yet.''

 

Authorities say 35-year-old Matthew Bjorn of Northport, Alabama, fell from the Carnival Conquest sometime between midnight and 1 a.m. Sunday into a shipping channel about 10 miles from the coast.

 

Renee Bjorn says her husband's fall from a 10th-floor balcony was an accident.

 

She says her husband, who had climbed over the railing during a party, lost his footing while trying to climb back over the railing.

Lieutenant Robbie Cox of the Harrison County Sheriff's Department says witnesses in the cabin next door saw Bjorn climb over a cruise ship railing during an argument with his wife.

 

Cox says Bjorn and his wife were both intoxicated at the time. He says the fall will likely be ruled an accident.

 

Renee Bjorn says there was no argument. She says authorities have not interviewed her or anyone else who was at the party.

 

The Harrison County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident along with search and rescue crews from the U.S. Coast Guard.

[Auburn Tigers]

Here is another one:

 

Man Overboard! Michigan Man Rescued After 17 Hours

 

A passing cargo vessel fished a Michigan man from the Gulf of Mexico after he fell overboard from the Carnival Celebration approximately 50 miles off Galveston. The passenger told reporters in Port Arthur, TX that he didn't recall falling from the ship and that he saw other vessels pass in the distance during his ordeal. He apparently fell overboard in the early hours of the morning and treaded water for nearly 17 hours before being spotted by the cargo ship. A friend traveling with the victim didn't realize he had fallen overboard until the Carnival captain received word of the rescue.

[GoinCruisin]

I have the article where they found that guy.... it was so sad.. they were honeymooning.... he was playing around on his balcony. Fortuneately, these incidents are few and far between...

[Auburn Tigers]

And another one - by the way they seems to be all drunk or stupid when falling off the boat:

 

April 30, 2001

 

A 19 year old man, apparently drunk, fell overboard from the deck of the Carnival cruise line ship Sensation yesterday. Officials said that the victim's body was found floating in Tampa Bay. Impact with the water caused his death according to the medical examiner.

 

 

Passengers must be at least 21 years old in order to drink alcohol aboard the Sensation. Carnival officials could not say why the man was served. Witnesses say that the man was seen arguing with his girlfriend and then climbed over the ship's railing in an apparent attempt to frighten her. Unfortunately, when he tried to return to the deck his grip failed, and he plunged several stories to his death.

[Auburn Tigers]

From Maritimesecurity.com:

 

Sexual assault.

The cruise line industry has recently seen the public spotlight drawn to allegations of sexual assault aboard cruise ships. For example, Carnival recently faced two lawsuits from alleged victims of sexual assault. The cases, which were settled out of court, focused the attention of cruise security, potential passengers, and the press on the potential for sexual assaults at sea.

 

Though no centralized database of sexual assault reports exists, according to representatives of the International Council of Cruise Lines in Washington, D.C., individual cruise lines do keep records. For example, over the past five years, in which Carnival carried more than 6.5 million passengers, there were 108 reports of sexual assaults, including 22 rapes, aboard its cruise ships. The cruise liner terminated 49 employees as a result of these incidents.

 

Because of the allegations leveled against his cruise line, Beh was especially concerned. "We went through the entire fleet and gave a training course to each employee," says Beh. The program, titled "In the Spotlight," was overseen by the company's Miami-based training department and included information on sexual harassment, inappropriate behavior, and investigation of sexual assault allegations.

 

The emphasis was on how to prevent situations that might lead to allegations of sexual misconduct. For example, part of the training included teaching staff to take into account the cultural differences of passengers and the local customs in ports of call so that what they interpreted as normal behavior wouldn't be misconstrued as a sexual advance.

 

Even before sexual assault allegations became a public concern, Royal Caribbean's Newhoff was looking into incidents of sexual assault and harassment. "Though the rate of allegations aboard our ships was far below that of a municipality of the same size, we knew that an incident could be even more traumatic when it happens on a cruise ship," says Newhoff. "Our main concern was to protect the safety of our passengers and crew."

 

To deal with any potential problems with sexual misconduct, Royal Caribbean formed a sexual awareness task force. The four-member task force included Newhoff, corporate counsel, risk management, and senior management. The cruise line also hired outside experts in psychology and sexual assault investigations to counsel the team. The outside consultants were given tours of ships and were encouraged to question crew members.

 

The task force analyzed all the sexual assault cases for the previous five years. To find trends, the task force cross referenced data such as which ships the incidents occurred on, where on the ship they occurred, the nationalities of crew members and victims, the jobs of the perpetrators, and the age of victims. Unfortunately, no clear trends emerged. "We learned that we couldn't address the problem with a single fix," says Newhoff.

 

Security decided that the best response was to conduct more thorough training of crew members, place more responsibility on middle managers, and make some modifications to physical security.

 

Training. The awareness program, which is still in the planning stage, will take the form of seminars given to all the officers, staff, and crew of each ship. Though the exact plan has not been finalized, the training will include awareness exercises and instruction on conducting sexual assault investigations. Details, such as whether training teams will move from ship to ship or occupy quarters in a specific port, have not as of yet been determined.

 

Manager responsibility. Middle managers will be charged more directly with conveying and enforcing the cruise line's zero tolerance policy. To this end, managers will be given special training on their duties and responsibilities, such as the need to convey information to subordinates and report sexual assault charges. The prompt and thorough reporting of sexual assaults, which is also the responsibility of middle managers, will be enhanced by standardized reporting forms that clarify what information should be provided.

 

Physical measures. Some additional physical security measures have been implemented on Royal Caribbean ships. For example, signage has been improved, making it clear that passengers are not allowed in certain areas of the ship. "This helps further delineate crew from passengers," says Newhoff. Security has also increased the number of CCTV cameras in certain areas of the ship, such as common areas where passengers and crew could meet.

 

Since the training and other changes have not been fully implemented, complaints have remained stable at about two cases for every 100,000 passengers. However, Newhoff feels confident that the rate will decline over time.

[Auburn Tigers]

One more source and I am done:

 

Cruise Ship Rapes: Uncensored Facts

 

Three out of every four crimes on cruise ships reported to the US Attorney's Office in Miami-d are sexual offenses.

Most involve young women-under 21. But crimes at sea are hard to prosecute. They may go unreported, the evidence may be old, and potential witnesses scatter as soon as the ship docks. Most complaints from passengers involve crew members. A cruise company official admits that although they do try to make background checks, it is very difficult.

 

 

Bottom line: Although the great majority of cruises are well managed and safe, passengers need to be cautious. Women in particular should not walk the decks and inner corridors of a cruise ship alone, nor should parents allow their children to roam non-escorted. Source: US Attorney's Office in Miami.

[dan40]

CCL alone has over 8 [eight]million passenger days per year.

 

In any group that size there will be sickness, injury, assaults, sexual and otherwise, suicides, fatal accidents. There will also be loves met and lost, new friends, engagements, marriages shipboard romances and tens of thousands of hours of new experience and great pleasure. People will be people on land and sea.

 

Dan

[kristikae]

Although the events listed were tragic, I just want to say that as a female solo cruiser I have never for even an instant felt unsafe in any way on a Carnival ship.

[Jacqui Z]

Maybe I'm from the generation of "Safety in Numbers" but I think it's a little foolish to think that cruise ships are immune to crime.

 

I feel terrible for the people who were victims, having such an experience on what is supposed to be a wonderful vacation.

 

As anywhere, be careful! But not so careful that you forget to have fun:D

~J

[LSUtraveler]

Well Jante this is one reason that the Cruise Critic board is a great place to learn, no matter whether you are a veteran or a rookie cruiser. Some of the information, documentation by Auburn Tigers, surprised me and I guess there is a tendency to let your guard down but you can bet I will be more cautious.

 

I think everyone here said it well and the post should be mandatory reading for everyone.

[momofmeg]

We had the experience of my daughter and her young friends have a 45 year old plus man offering them to come to his room for a "drink" fortuantely none of the girls did. (he approached each one indivually at different times) They were between the ages of 15 and 19 at the time. It made me sick to think there were sick creeps that are roaming ships and preying on young girls instead of the many ready, willing, and available women over 21 that are on all cruiseships. So anyway I say have a talk with your kids before going and make sure they understand there are creeps around ready to take advantage.

[derf5585]

Just a little humor here

 

"Rape and Man Overboard"

 

Maybe someone was raped and threw who did it overboard.

[hstrybuf]

We tend to let our guard down when cruising. It's supposed to be a happy, relaxed vacation with no worries. Unfortunately, anyone who can afford the ticket can be aboard with no way to know if they have tendencies toward violence. All we can do is remember to be aware of our surroundings, take a few precautions and talk to our kids.

[betsyrossapk]

See the following link:

http://www.cruiselaw.com/links.html

And check the link # Romero v. Carnival Cruise Lines - Court TV's "Cruise Ship Assault Trial"- Video

 

I remember watching this trial on Court TV (yes, I'm addicted to that as well)

I believe the woman & her husband were so drunk & the wife said she was assaulted in her room by a Carnival employee.

After both sides rested during trial, the Romeros and Carnival settled the suit for an undisclosed amount. The agreement was reached before both sides presented closing arguments.

[glrounds]

I was talking to the piano player in the piano bar 2 years ago on the ELATION. I was joking with him about all the women that were literally throwing themselves at him (especially the 4 married ones in various stages of fidelity, on their "girls" cruise :D) . He laughed and stated that such opportunities may sound very inviting, etc., etc., etc., and may seem like the "piano man" has it made on cruise ships, BUT, IF HE WAS EVER CAUGHT IN A PASSENGER'S CABIN OR A PASSENGER WAS EVER CAUGHT IN HIS CABIN HE WOULD BE PUT OFF THE SHIP AT THE NEXT PORT, NO AIRFARE, NO NEGOTIATIONS, AND NO EXCEPTIONS ! :eek:

 

He also said this was true of any member of the crew regardless of position. He than said, rather whimsically, "and the operative word is "cabin". :D

 

Watch where your stepping on the funnel deck on a moonless night. :D

[Auburn Tigers]

Even though I found all those articles last night about cruise ships, how many articles of rape and crime could I pull up about Memphis or any other city in the US. Like Historybuff said, we need to just keep are guard up. With the thousands of travelers each year on the cruise ships some of the slime will make it on board, but that isn't any reason not to cruise. If that was the case, travel to any major us city would come to a halt. Have fun, be safe, and

Watch where your stepping on the funnel deck on a moonless night.

LOL

 

PS - Hope my findings didn't turn anyone anyone off about cruising.

[kristikae]

BUT, IF HE WAS EVER CAUGHT IN A PASSENGER'S CABIN OR A PASSENGER WAS EVER CAUGHT IN HIS CABIN HE WOULD BE PUT OFF THE SHIP AT THE NEXT PORT, NO AIRFARE, NO NEGOTIATIONS, AND NO EXCEPTIONS ! :eek:

 

He also said this was true of any member of the crew regardless of position. He than said, rather whimsically, "and the operative word is "cabin".

That is the rule but don't think for a second that it doesn't happen.....often. On my first cruise one of the ships photographers visited my cabinmate several times during our cruise.

[Cotton]

Right you are, Kristy! Happens more than we realize, I guess.

 

I know one girl who cruises 6 times every year just to be with a particular officer (and they spend every night together in her cabin!) The ship and the officer shall remain nameless. I've seen many photos of those two together on cruises, beginning about 11 years ago. Still going on. I think she really thinks she's the ONLY 'friend' he has. Poor girl.:rolleyes:

[betsyrossapk]

Right you are, Kristy! Happens more than we realize, I guess.

 

I know one girl who cruises 6 times every year just to be with a particular officer (and they spend every night together in her cabin!) The ship and the officer shall remain nameless. I've seen many photos of those two together on cruises, beginning about 11 years ago. Still going on. I think she really thinks she's the ONLY 'friend' he has. Poor girl.:rolleyes:

 

 

I hope he at least gets her a nice discount