Cruise & Ferry
Crew Members Removed From Two Cruise Ships Sailing the Great Lakes
Several international crew members working aboard two ships operated by Victory Cruise Lines were recently removed from the vessels by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.
As many as 13 crew from the cruise line’s Victory I and Victory II, both small ships with a capacity for 180 guests, were detained and apparently deported by CBP officials during port calls at US destinations.
The ships are currently sailing summer season Great Lakes voyages between Chicago and Toronto. The removal of the crew members occurred during port calls to Detroit and perhaps in another port call as well.
CBP has not confirmed any arrests or detainment of cruise ship crew members. The action apparently took place on July 9 and 11, 2025, according to the trade publication Travel Weekly.
“We are actively cooperating with federal authorities to clarify the circumstances, and my priority is always our crew and the experience for our guests,” John Waggoner, chairman of Victory Cruise Lines, told the media outlet.
The reasons behind the crew members’ removal are unclear but the arrests were not the work of the controversial US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, aka ICE. However, both ICE and CBP are part of the US Department of Homeland Security.
According to various unconfirmed reports, the crew members were handcuffed and removed from the two ships. Some reports indicate that at least one crew member was charged with possession of child pornography.
In fact, CBP posted on its Facebook page that nine cruise ship crew members were removed from a cruise ship in Detroit for alleged possession of child pornography, but those arrests happened on June 20, 2025, not in July 2025, adding another puzzling aspect to the report.
The removal of a cruise line’s foreign crew members at any US port would throw a wrench into cruise ship operations. Foreign workers typically obtain required documents and authority, such as a C1/D Seaman Visa, to work on cruise ships across the globe.
It would be highly problematic for a cruise line to find additional crew members to replace those arrested during a port call.
The removal and presumed deportation of the Victory Cruise Line employees has rattled international crew members across the industry, with fears rising that immigration sweeps could impact cruising on a widespread basis, although there is no indication that is happening now.
Read Also: How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Cruise Vacation
There have also been reports that federal agents have carried out similar removals of foreign staff working on other vessels operating in the Great Lakes, but these are unconfirmed.
Crew Member Arrests Don’t Happen Too Often
It is uncommon for cruise ship crew members to be arrested but it does happen from time to time. One recent case that sparked headlines was the case of the male stateroom attendant aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas who was charged with hiding cameras inside guest cabins.
In that case, Arvin Joseph Mirasol, 34, a Filipino national, was arrested in Fort Lauderdale when Symphony of the Seas returned from an 8-night Southern Caribbean sailing in March 2024.
Mirasol had placed hidden cameras in a number of staterooms and hid under the beds in staterooms while guests were reportedly in the shower. In August 2024, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
In another case, a crew member working onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore was arrested in May 2024 after allegedly attacking a ship’s security guard and a member of the medical staff.
When someone commits a crime, there is typically a process. Depending on the level of crime, you receive a punishment. Some crimes go to trial, some result in a mere ticket. Others could land you in prison for a very long time. In addition to the type of crime, the place in which you commit it alters how you will receive punishment. So, what happens if you commit a crime on vacation? Usually, you have to abide by that country’s rules. However, what about if you are out at sea? Experts have now answered that question by revealing the truth behind how crimes are handled on cruise ships.
How Crime Is Handled While On Cruise Ships
Image via Shutterstock
LadBible shares the ins and outs of handling crime while on cruise ships. Let’s face it, it is not as simple as on land. When on land, you have police forces readily available to tackle any issues that arise. However, on cruise ships, that is not the case. So, what is done to handle any trouble that arises? If there are trouble-makers on cruise ships, they are typically detained.
However, how do they know which rules to follow when they are in international waters? LadBible shares that “Cruise ships are often registered in countries like Panama, the Bahamas, or Liberia- known as ‘flags of convenience’- to avoid taxes, safety regulations, and labor laws.” Additionally, they share that “the ship operates under the laws of the country where it’s registered and not necessarily where it sails.”
While crime on cruise ships is low, it does happen. Cruise ship security acts similarly to police in the sense that they will intervene and handle the individuals causing said crime. However, unlike police officers, security does not have the authority to arrest anyone. Instead, they just detain them. In regard to detaining, this could mean being confined to their room, having their room card blocked, or being prohibited from making additional purchases.
If the cruise is smaller, these disgruntled individuals may be confined to their rooms. However, larger ships may offer “brig-like” spaces or secure rooms to detain passengers, causing issues. At the end of the day, it is the captain of the ship who has the final say in how to deal with any crime that arises onboard.
Several renowned Houston hotels and resorts were just declared the best in the world by Travel + Leisure readers, according to the publication’s annual World’s Best Awards.
The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa was honored as the No. 1 best resort in Texas, while the prestigious Post Oak Hotel ranked as the No. 7 best hotel in the nation. Among T+L’s list of the 15 best hotels in Texas, four more distinguished Houston properties made the cut.
Every year, Travel + Leisure surveys its readers to determine the ultimate travel experiences around the world, which include the top hotels, resorts, travel destinations, and more. The 2025 survey had more than 180,000 responses from T+L readers with over 657,000 votes across 8,700 accommodations, cruise lines, and other properties.
The Houstonian Hotel reclaimed the top spot for 2025 after previously slipping into No. 4 in 2024. The publication celebrated this “serene sanctuary” for its numerous sports and fitness activities, plus its rejuvenating 26,500-square-foot spa, pool, and jacuzzi. The resort’s location next to Memorial Park also provides guests with the feeling that they’ve escaped the hustle and bustle of the city.
“The staff treats you like you are a long-awaited family member,” said a T+L reader.Photo courtesy of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
“Resort guests receive complimentary access to the fitness club, which has dedicated spaces for a myriad of sports, including nine tennis courts, a shaded jogging trail, an indoor track, and a lap pool,” the report said. “On top of the unbeatable facilities and location, the Houstonian’s memorable hospitality had our voters eager for repeat visits.”
In a press release, general manager Steve Fronterhouse said the entire Houstonian team was honored to receive the worldwide recognition.
“To be named the best resort in Texas by the discerning readers of Travel + Leisure is not just a reflection of our 27 acres and amenities; it’s recognition of the Southern hospitality and warmth our staff delivers every day,” he said. “We are grateful to all of our guests who continue to make The Houstonian their home away from home.”
The full list of best Texas resorts, in order, are:
- The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston
- Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa, Frisco
- JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio
- Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin
- Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine
In addition to being ranked among the top 10 best hotels in the U.S., The Post Oak Hotel was also hailed as the No. 1 best hotel in Houston. The hotel succeeds at providing guests with a flawless level of service and accommodations, while its on-site restaurants and bars add to the overall opulence of the property’s amenities.
“And naturally, there’s a world-class spa on site and a Rolls‑Royce showroom in case you need to pick up a new ride,” the report said.
Stay in style at The Post Oak Hotel. Photo courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel
A T+L reader said The Spa at The Post Oak Hotel is “a destination in itself” and noted that guests could still have a memorable experience in Houston even if they never step foot off the 700,000-square-foot premises. But if guests did choose to explore everything the city has to offer, the hotel provides an over-the-top travel method.
“There is a rooftop helipad so that you don’t even have to sit in Houston traffic if you don’t want to,” the reader said.
The full list of Houston winning hotels, in order, are:
- No. 1 – The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
- No. 2 – Hotel ZaZa
- No. 3 – Four Seasons Hotel Houston
- No. 4 – JW Marriott Houston Downtown
- No. 5 – Hilton Americas-Housto
Other Texas awards
San Antonio’s Hotel Emma and Fort Worth’s Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection were the only two other Texas properties to earn acclaim in T+L’s list of the “15 Best City Hotels in the U.S.”
San Antonio was also deemed one of the best U.S. travel destinations in 2025, ranking 12th out of 15 total cities.
In a release, Travel + Leisure editor in chief Jacqui Gifford said the 2025 World’s Best Awards “reflect a travel landscape in motion.”
“From a high-desert city in the American Southwest to a quiet Greek island, our readers are seeking depth, character, and a strong sense of place,” Gifford said. “We’re thrilled to honor the hotels, destinations, and travel companies that are delivering those transformative experiences.”
Over 130 passengers recently caught a gastrointestinal bug while sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.
The outbreak occurred during a weeklong cruise to Mexico from Los Angeles, California, and was the 18th incident recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2025.
Among the 3,914 guests onboard, 134 reported symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, along with 7 crew members. This means that 3.4% of the passengers and 0.6% of the crew reported being sick during the 7-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera.
The cause of the outbreak has not been confirmed, but it is likely norovirus, a highly contagious virus that spreads easily through contaminated food, water, or surfaces.
In response to the outbreak, Royal Caribbean ramped up its cleaning protocols, isolated sick passengers and crew, and collected stool specimens for testing.
Navigator of the Seas was on a weeklong cruise from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, when the outbreak occurred.
The incident on Navigator of the Seas marks the 18th cruise ship gastrointestinal outbreak reported to the CDC so far in 2025, equaling the total reported in 2024
Between January 1 and July 11, 2025, 18 gastrointestinal outbreaks were reported to the CDC, with the first being on Sea Cloud Cruises’ Sea Cloud Spirit. The causative agent wasn’t norovirus, though. Instead, the CDC lists it as Ciguatera (presumed).
Following the Sea Spirit, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Ray reported an outbreak that was eventually revealed to be caused by E. coli. 51 out of 681 passengers on the luxury ship reported being ill during the voyage.
It wasn’t until January 15, 2025, that the first norovirus outbreak was reported, occurring on Holland America Line’s Volendam.
Since then, multiple cruise lines, ranging from Royal Caribbean to Princess, Viking, and Cunard, have faced similar incidents.
Norovirus remains the most common cause of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks at sea, with 12 of the 18 reported outbreaks attributed to the highly contagious gastrointestinal virus.
Here’s a full list of the gastrointestinal illnesses reported to the CDC in 2025:
- Sea Cloud Cruises, Sea Cloud Spirit (January 4-10, 2025): Ciguatera (presumed)
- Silversea Cruises, Silver Ray (January 4-20, 2025): E. coli
- Holland America Line, Volendam (January 4-25, 2025): Norovirus
- Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Mars (January 10-24, 2025): Norovirus
- Princess Cruises, Coral Princess (January 20-February 5, 2025): Norovirus
- Royal Caribbean, Radiance of the Seas (February 1-8, 2025): Norovirus
- Holland America Line, Rotterdam (February 2-14, 2025): Norovirus
- Holland America Line, Eurodam (February 19-March 1, 2025): Norovirus
- Princess Cruises, Coral Princess (February 5-March 9, 2025): Norovirus
- Holland America Line, Rotterdam (March 7-16, 2025): Norovirus
- Cunard Line, Queen Mary 2 (March 8-April 6, 2025): Norovirus
- Seabourn Cruise Line, Seabourn Encore (March 16-April 8, 2025): Norovirus
- Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Polaris (April 11-23, 2025): Norovirus
- Lindblad Expeditions, National Geographic Sea Lion (April 15-29, 2025): Unknown
- Holland America Line, Zuiderdam (January 4-May 6, 2025): Unknown
- Holland America Line, Eurodam (April 12-May 3, 2025): Norovirus
- Regent Seven Seas, Seven Seas Explorer (April 26-May 14, 2025): Unknown
- Royal Caribbean, Navigator of the Seas (July 4-11, 2025): Unknown
Comparatively, 2024 saw 18 gastrointestinal outbreaks from January to December, whereas 2025 has already matched that total by mid-July. By July 2024, only 8 gastrointestinal illnesses had been reported to the CDC.
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