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

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.

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. 

Over 140 passengers and crew members aboard a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship were sickened by a gastrointestinal illness that led to vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The outbreak happened on the Navigator of the Seas ship during its July 4 to 11 voyage, the CDC said. The ship sailed from Los Angeles to a few stops in Mexico, including Cabo San Lucas, and back again, according to Gangwaze, which tracks cruise routes.

The outbreak was reported on July 11 to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, which works to prevent and control the spread of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships. Cruise ships are required to report such outbreaks to the CDC.

According to the CDC, 134 out of 3,914 passengers onboard reported being ill during the journey, while seven out of 1,266 crew members reported being ill. The predominant symptoms were diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

Following the outbreak, the crew aboard the Navigator of the Seas increased cleaning and disinfection procedures aboard the ship, collected stool specimen from people who reported feeling ill and isolated those who reported feeling ill, the CDC said.

In a statement, Royal Caribbean Group said the health and safety of their guests, crew and the communities they visit are their top priority.

“To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines,” the statement read.

The cause of the spread of the gastrointestinal illness is not known at this time, according to the CDC.

“Norovirus is often a cause of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships, but we don’t always know the cause of the outbreak when we begin an investigation,” the CDC said in a report on the outbreak. “Finding the agent that caused an outbreak (causative agent) can take time.”

People with gastrointestinal illness are asked to give stool or vomit samples, which are then tested to determine the cause, the CDC said.

Anyone can contract Norovirus, which is contagious and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever and body aches, according to the CDC. Ingesting contaminated food or liquids, having contact with someone who has the virus and touching contaminated objects can cause people to contact it.

Most people with Norovirus get better in one to three days, but can still spread the virus two weeks or more afterward, according to the CDC.

People can avoid contracting Norovirus by washing their hands, and washing fruits, vegetables and cooking shellfish thoroughly before consumption, the CDC advises. Once sick with the virus, it is best to stay isolated for two days after symptoms stop.

Samples collected from the Navigator of the Seas outbreak are still pending confirmatory testing, according to the CDC.