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Jim Walker

“Everything the cruise lines don’t want you to know” is the motto of Cruise Law News, authored by Jim Walker.

Jim is the founding partner of Walker & O’Neill, a Miami-based maritime law firm that has represented more than 2,500 clients, including survivors who testified before Congress on cruise ship safety.

A U.S. cruise passenger was arrested after he punched and broke the side window of a car in downtown Nassau. The passenger was reportedly trying to illegally stop traffic on Bay Street for a convoy of ATVs when a local driver tried to pass him, according to The Tribune.

The driver inched forward towards…

A 35-year-old Filipino crew member was arrested in Boston after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents found numerous child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) during a review of his two phones, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Arrest and Criminal Charges

The crew member, Bobby Prieto, a Filipino, was targeted for…

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) claims that it has removed a total of 87 crew members from cruise ships at the Port of Boston since August and quickly deported them as part of the ongoing “Operation Tidal Wave” program. CBP issued a press release on Friday stating that the U.S. federal program targeted only…

The U.S. Coast Guard sprang into action to medically evacuate a 32-year-old crew member from the Allure of the Seas Thursday night, September 24, according to a press release by the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard received an urgent medical evacuation request from the ship at approximately 8:00 p.m. The unidentified crew member was suffering…

A settlement has been reached between Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and the estate of Michael Virgil, who died after being over served alcoholic drinks. The settlement was reached on January 8, 2026, just over a month after the lawsuit was filed on December 5, 2025.

The settlement was not finalized until September because Virgil’s…

Two passengers, including a 7-year-old child, required urgent medical attention aboard Oasis of the Seas, forcing the Royal Caribbean ship to turn back to Nassau for shoreside care.
Continue Reading Oasis of the Seas Turns Back to Nassau After Two Passengers, Including 7-Year-Old, Require Emergency Medical Care

A 56-year-old man reportedly jumped overboard from the Carnival Panorama this weekend while the ship was sailing back from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. As of Monday afternoon, September 21st, the U.S. Coast Guard is still searching for the man.

Timeline

The man’s family reportedly could not find him Saturday morning and asked guest services to “page”…

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently deported at least fifteen non-U.S. crew members from two cruise ships in Boston.

CBP agents abducted five crew members from the Viking Mars when the Viking cruise ship was in Boston on September 3 and 4, and quickly deported them to the Philippines. CBP agents also deported ten…

A 34-year-old passenger was taken into custody after his cruise ship returned to PortMiami Saturday, accused of raping an 18-year-old who he had met in one of the ship’s bars hours earlier. The passenger, Cody Gray, now faces criminal charges in Miami-Dade County of sexual battery and providing alcohol to a minor.

According to Local…

A 58 year old Minnesota man died from complications he suffered from a spinal injury aboard Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess. The man, Stephen “Steve” Junker, was celebrating his son’s wedding when the tragedy occurred.

On August 16, Junker suffered a severe injury “after falling and nearly drowning” on the Sun Princess according to the…

The highest paid executive in cruise industry history has been denied additional compensation by the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Miami.

Frank Del Rio filed a lawsuit against his former employer Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), arguing he was owed additional compensation as part of an under the table agreement he made with four board…

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) sent letters to passengers warning them that three prior passengers on the Norwegian Prima came down with Legionnaires’ disease. The letters, which were shared on reddit, state the sick passengers sailed on the Norwegian Prima in May and July 2026.

Legionnaires’ disease is a deadly type of pneumonia caused by…

A Carnival cruise ship rescued a man who had reportedly been stranded at sea for over a week on his sailboat. The rescue operation occurred on August 26 while the Carnival Conquest was en route to Grenada.

A passenger reported that the ship’s captain made an announcement at around 1:00 p.m. local time that the…

A lifeguard aboard the MSC World America was arrested at PortMiami after authorities accused him of unlawful sexual activity with a 17-year-old passenger during a Caribbean cruise.…

Continue Reading MSC World America Lifeguard Arrested Over Alleged Sexual Activity With 17-Year-Old Passenger