Cruise Bruise News

Disney Wonder Stolen iPhone Gets Revenge

Janet Huggard — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:43:22 PDT

A crew member aboard Disney Wonder is soon to be out of job after the crew member stole an iPhone belonging to a passenger and the iphone sent photos to the real iphone owner. Had photos of other Disney Wonder employees not been photographed, including the co-captain (crew party with cake photo), the thief might have gotten away the theft. Instead, there's a photo line up of employees who will know who took those photographs. Photos were posted to the cloud, with the iPhone's owner then posting them to Facebook as well as sending them to Disney Cruises. The Facebook photo album had over 6,000 shares. This is the album thumbnails evidence in the iPhone cruise caper.

Cruise Child Sexual Assault - Guilty Plea

Janet Huggard — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:03:23 PDT

A 14-year-old child sexually assualted in the spa locker room on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Enchantment Of The Seas during the Christmas 2011 cruise, got a quick closure to her case, when crew member Fabian Palmer 25, confessed to the child sexual assault. In another has almost exactly identical case, crew member Kurt Clyde Jordan, 35, confessed to having sex with a 14-year-old child in a public bathroom of Carnival Liberty, then was recently acquitted by a jury. CruiseShipRapes.com has both case details.

Cruise Ship Child Rapist Convicted 16 Years After Rape

Janet Huggard — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:42:23 PDT

For all those who prefer to take aim at the FBI for not doing enough to prosecute cruise ship rapes, I present his recent conviction. After the State Of California failed to get a conviction in a case involving an alleged 150 incidents of child rape upon numerous children, one of them taking place on a cruise ship, the FBI got the state to step aside on their retrial and did what the state couldn't do, they dogged the case and got a conviction 16 years after the cruise ship child rape took place. There is a twist to this particular case that gave me reason to pause. You''ll find an unusual connection in this case on the CruiseShipRapes.com website. The newly added cruise ship child rape case is here.

Confession Of Child Sex Crime Leads To Not Guilty Verdict

Janet Huggard — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:29:43 PDT

Cruise Crime Case Update: This was a cut-and-dried case. Kert Clyde Jordan, from Jamaica, a waiter aboard Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Liberty cruise ship, confessed to the FBI that he had sex on the bathroom floor aboard the cruise ship with a 14-year-old child from Tennessee and that he knew she was 14-years-old before he had sex with her for an hour and half, in a public area of the cruise ship. Yet, on March 7, 2012 a Florida jury brought back a verdict of NOT GUILTY for the November 4, 2011 sex crime. The case is here

Angel Holcomb - Kipi Holcomb Cruise Alcohol Kills Two Women

Janet Huggard — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:54:17 PDT

Angel Holcomb, 39, from Galveston, Texas, is the second Holcomb from the Galveston, Texas area to die from an alcohol related death aboard a Carnival Cruise ship in the past two years. Angel Holcomb was aboard Carnival Conquest on May 3, 2011, Kipi Holcomb from the Galveston area died aboard Carnival Ecstasy on February 16, 2010, with a .27 blood alcohol level. Angel's family has filed a lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines. The CruiseShipDeaths.com website has More on this case.

New Child Passenger Sexual Assault By Crew

Janet Huggard — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:54:44 PDT

CruiseShipRapes.com has a new case of a Carnival Conquest child passenger sexually assaulted in her cabin, by her cabin steward who used his key card to enter the cabin while she slept. The cabin steward is alleged to have had a history of unwanted sexual contact with other passengers, yet he wasn't terminated by Carnival Cruise Lines. More

Oasis Of The Seas Zip Line Injurs Women

Janet Huggard — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:47:00 PDT

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has a problem, a big problem when it comes to their zip line. Two unrelated women were severely injured on the Oasis Of The Seas zip line, on the same day of the Easter 2011 cruise. If that was not enough of a problem, a Youtube user put up a video from the same cruise, of a rough landing for a well-built male. If he had a rough landing, you can imagine what happened to each of the women. Both the women have filed lawsuits, one using Cruise Bruise partner Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina and Winkleman. One passenger alleges she was pushed off the launching platform after she said she didn't want to go . . . more

Book Review: Gentleman Companion One (Cruise Ship Romance)

Janet Huggard — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:31:59 PDT

Gentleman Companion One and Gentleman Companion Two by Patricia Kay, are the first two in a three-book set of romance novels, centered around Lawrence, a hired cruise ship gentleman companion for eight female cruise ship passengers.

From the first book, "Her warm body and perfumes were easily touched and their scent lingered on his fingers . . . " More

Cruise Ship Bomb Threat Woman Back In Jail

Janet Huggard — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:43:36 PDT

Cruise Ship Fires, the only website in the world to focus exclusively on cruise ship fires, explosions and bomb threats, has updated the case of the middle-aged woman, Linda Gayle Wilson, who allegedly called in a bomb threat to Carnival Cruise Lines, saying a bomb was aboard Carnival Facsination. Wilson had been jail, bonded out, then was brought before the judge again, then placed back in jail two weeks ago on May 2. The case has been pending for two years.

In addition, recent bomb threats to Liberty Of The Seas, Carnival Imagination and Carnival Elation are now on the website. Then there is odd case of the bomb threat against Carnival Sensation by a Muslim passenger, exactly three years after a prior bomb threat to the same cruise ship in the same port. Coincidence?

Also recently added to Cruise Ship Fires website were the fires aboard Azamara Quest and Allure Of The Seas

Cruise Ship Eye Drops Use May Result In Rape

Janet Huggard — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:36:33 PDT

Overwhelmed! That word sums up 354+ inquiries for information I've had recently by people who want to know the cost, where to buy, how to manufacturer and the effects of the date rape drug scopolamine. It's terrifying to know that so many people not directly tied to law enforcement nor to the media want to know how to get their hands on this drug, with apparent intent on using the drug for criminal intent. It became so terrifying to me, I felt it was time, once again, to warn women sailing on cruise ships to protect themselves against this date rape drug, especially American women.

The bulk of the inquiries I've received came from Americans, residing in states such as Washington, California, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Florida, all of which have popular cruise ship ports. Of those states the majority of the inquiries specifically came from cities home to cruise ships. Based on some of the inquiries I've had, people seem to be looking for this drug to facilitate planned crimes of kidnap and/or rape, though the potential criminal usages of the drug reach far beyond rapes.

The reason this particular date rape drug in so dangerous, is because you can fall victim to it, without consuming food or beverages, unlike other date rape drugs, since it comes in powder form. As a power, it can be placed in close proximity to the head of potential victim for inhalation with incredibly horrifying results.

In addition, scopolamine can be used as an additive cut into illegal drugs that are sold in a white powder form, creating yet another hazard to illegal drug users. Unsuspecting victims may snort or shoot up the powder unknowingly and be rendered helpless for rape, robbery or worse as well as resulting in victim overdose. That free high from a fellow passenger or crew member could very well result in worse results than a planned fun high. The concentrated liquid doses can easily be concealed in eye drops, in order to smuggle it aboard cruise ships.

While there has been much chatter about scopolamine uses in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, it's the legal use of the drug in small doses here in America, that has the potential for great illegal uses, just as crack made it's mark here using legal ingredients.

We are sure to see an upswing of people buying this drug in large quantities from grocery stores, supermarkets and pharmacies in order to manufacturer more condensed, stronger doses, ultimately resulting in eye drops and sea sickness tablets being pulled from store shelves. It's been suggested that if you are offered eye drops or a powdered substance, make sure the person offering it uses it first.

For more information on scopolamine, click here for my original article covering this drug in more depth.

Cruise Ship Winemaker Experience Needs Your Vote

Janet Huggard — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 09:08:01 PDT

I recently learned about a unique new cruise ship activity program. Blend Craft Wines brings onboard a new and fun optional activity program called the "Winemaker Experience" for cruise ship guests. During a recent four week test program on MSC cruises, Blend Craft's program earned a customer satisfaction rating of over 9.9 out of 10 and their Napa trained winemakers earned an unprecedented perfect score of 10 out of 10 from every single guest who participated. Guests pay a fee of $25 to spend an hour with the winemaker learning the fine art of wine blending, and then have the option to create an actual custom made bottle of their wine blend ($30) to enjoy onboard at dinner or take home as a memento of their cruise. Blend Craft provides all the necessary training, winery equipment, and bottling supplies. Customers can even create a custom label for their wine using Blend Crafts innovative computer labeling equipment.

The company is just now trying to introduce their product to the wider cruise industry and a vote in the Miami Herald's new business contest will help demonstrate the public's interest in new and innovative onboard offerings such as this. To vote for Blend Craft in the Herald's online contest visit www.miamiherald.com/businessplanchallenge/vote. Voting is open until Monday night at midnight (Miami time).

Maritime Lawyers - Honesty Credibility and Responsibility at Lipcon Law Firm

Janet Huggard — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:29:58 PDT

Over the weekend I stumbled upon a Youtube video promoting this fine maritime law firm. The points made within the video produced by Martindale-Hubbell for Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated attorneys summarizes 25 years of honesty, credibility and responsibility at Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina & Winkleman P.A.

Seven Cruise Ships Crowd Miami

Janet Huggard — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:45:20 PDT

The Port Of Miami, Florida will host seven cruise ships on Monday, March 19, 2012. While a typical busy day at the port includes six cruise ships, lucky visitors and locals will spot seven cruise ships next Monday. The seven cruise ships are Carnival Destiny (2,642), Carnival Imagination (2,634), Majesty Of The Seas (2,744), Oceania Marina (1,250), Norwegian Sky (1,928), Crystal Symphony (922) and Celebrity Millennium (1,950). With the approximate 5800 crew members the seven cruise ships bring, the port will explode with nearly 20,000 cruise ship visitors. It's become common to see eight cruise ships at Ft. Lauderdale's Port Everglades.

Cruise Ship Vandals Costly - Carnival Destiny & Ryndam

Janet Huggard — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:41:09 PDT

Vandalism aboard cruise ship has been elevated beyond playing with the life vests, wheel chairs and furniture aboard the ships. On November 27, 2010, Rick Ehlert, drunk aboard Holland America Line’s Ryndam, dropped the anchor of the ship while she was underway, as she was sailing at 12 knots. This month, a judge ordered him to four months confinement, two of them in jail, two in home arrest and a $7500 fine. Ehlert was caught on the ship’s security cameras dropping the anchor.

Never making the news was an incident aboard Carnival Destiny nearly a year later. Cruise Bruise has learned, that after leaving Miami, Florida on September 5, 2011 for a 5-night Caribbean cruise to Grand Turk and the Bahamas, Carnival Destiny returned to Miami on September 10, 2011 with a damaged lifeboat. The damage to the lifeboat indicates that a person or persons played with lifeboat #10, perhaps attempted to launch it.

Lifeboat #10 was found with the L/B Davit arms extended and the navigational lashings still secured. It was determined that someone had attempted to launch the #10 Lifeboat without properly releasing the lashings. The lifeboat sustained damage to the port bow where the lashing is connected to the vessel hull. Damaged consisted of a 65cm X 75cm (25” x 29”) hole in the vessel's fiberglass hull above the waterline.

The lifeboat was removed from service while at port in Miami, shorting the ship one lifeboat. This short resulted in the passenger count being reduced from 4470 to 4320, a net passenger loss of 150 or 3.3 percent, a significant loss of revenue to Carnival Destiny. Since nobody was charged with that act of vandalism, it can be assumed the security cameras were unable to determine who damaged the lifeboat.

Passengers witnessing vandalism aboard cruise ships should report the incidents to ship's security. The cost of escalating vandalism will ultimately raise ticket prices.

Norwegian Sky Fire Safety Violations

Janet Huggard — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:57:10 PDT

How does a fire get out of control enough that passengers and crew are in danger of losing their lives? An inspection of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky on January 23, 2012 by the United States Coast Guard at station Miami, hints at how the cruise of a lifetime can quickly become a life-ending cruise ship horror story.

Inspectors found during the course of their inspection two particular infractions which would have serious ramifications during the course of an emergency. The first infraction was critical because most fires typically begin in the engine and/or generator room. Inspectors found, "fire hose in engine room, aft sewage treatment room, was found not connected to the hydrant." The time it takes to connect the fire hose can make the difference between a small fire being quickly controlled and a fire getting out of control.

The second infraction, "Passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler capable of immediate operation. Deck 4, FZ 5 showing heavy salt buld-up [sic] making immediate operation not possible."

Then, combine those two infractions with a third, "Door on deck 5 stbd aft does not maintain weather-tight integrity", it becomes clear this ship was prime for a disaster due to a combination of maintenance failures.

The aging Norwegian Sky was launched October 6, 1996. In the scheme of maritime ship life, fifteen years is only a drop in the bucket of sea water. However, with all the newer cruise ships launched since 2005, Norwegian Sky is a dinosaur, with aging components at increasing risk of failure or malfunction.

The July 1, 2011 inspection had so many fire safety infractions, if a fire had taken place Fourth Of July weekend, injuries and deaths would have been probable. Infractions included numerous fire-safe doors not working, smoke detector on passenger deck not working, flammable materials stored improperly, emergency exit sign blocked by casino machine, exits from public areas of the ship blocked, multiple sprinkler heads throughout the ship corroded and full of lint, no direct exit form the sauna area and other violations that set the scene for a disaster at sea.

Fariba Amani Cruise Ship 'Crime' Scene Not Preserved

Janet Huggard — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:37:01 PDT

The family of missing cruise ship passenger Fariba Amani says the Bahamas Celebration dropped off the passengers from the cruise to the Bahamas that Amani was aboard, then shoved off back out to sea before the FBI could board the cruise ship to begin their investigation, according to an interview family members gave to the CBC in Canada.

The CBC contacted the Florida law firm of Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina and Winkleman for comment on the case. The maritime law firm was considered the local "expert" by the CBC, on the topic of maritime law, according to the article. The firm has been handling maritime crime and personal injury cases, including those that take place on cruise ships and cargo ships, incidents in ports and on cruise ship excursions for both passengers and crew members since 1971.

Mr. Winkleman was quoted by the CBC on the topic of cruise ship crime scene preservation saying, "The cruise lines, once any kind of an incident happens, they automatically go into defence mode and do everything they can to protect themselves."

Crew Sends Porn Video To Child Pax

Janet Huggard — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:30:03 PST

He knew she was 16, he knew possessing child pornography was illegal, he knew sending porn to someone under 18 was illegal, yet assistance cruise director Senad Djedovic aboard Norwegian Star did it anyway sending pornographic images and a pornographic video of himself masterbating, after he had sex with the child on the cruise ship stairs. All that was not enough, he had to brag to fell employees and share the naked photographs of the child with them. They were not impressed with his deviant behavior. . . More

Congress Demands Cruise Industry Tax Forms

Janet Huggard — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:10:37 PST

John (Jay) D.Rockefeller said, "The cruise industry is a large and successful industry, with $25 billion in revenues, "Rockefeller said. "I must ask why an industry that earns billions and uses the services of up to 20 federal [agencies] pays almost no corporate income tax at all."

The anti-cruise industry gossip mill will no doubt pounce on that statement and it will be repeated many times as the cruise industry gets crucified over and over in the coming months and years. What those who pounce on any tidbit of cruise news, including meaningless 'news' reports that don't deserve a click, much less a headline, will not say, is that among corporations in America, the cruise industry is actually nowhere near the tax-eating, tax-evading beast some would have the public believe. More

Fin Whale Killed By Ship In Va

Janet Huggard — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:40:15 PST

Grtetchen Rhodecap an Outbound Sales Consultant for World Travel Holdings reported a dead whale washing up on the beach in Ocean View, Virginia, a suburb of Norfolk, near Virginia Beach. The 42-foot-long whale was first thought to be a Sei whale. Upon further investigation it was determined the dead whale was a male Fin whale, which is an endangered species.

The dead whale had a gash on the back of his head, measuring about a foot-and-half long and suffered a fractured skull. Investigators found paint on the whale's head indicating it had been hit by a ship painted with orange and brown paint.

Cruise Ship Utopia Founder Sinking

Janet Huggard — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:41:02 PST

No cruise ship or cruise line story would be complete without conflicting public reports and news articles along with the almost obligatory lawsuit with somebody suing for breach of contract. It's the nature of the industry. When Donald V. Allen came up with the idea in 2001 of the Orphalese (now called Utopia) , a floating condo community, he was living large, a country club member who had a history with the National Democratic Party, worked for numerous banks and had high connections with international companies and politicans. That all came tumbling down in 2009 when something went terribly wrong between the investors he had lined up, the law firm he hired and his version of what took a $1 billion venture out of his hands. It left him in deep debt with lawsuit verdicts that left him oweing millions, pushed him into Chapter 11 bankruptcy and ultimately chasing a venue for filing a lawsuit against the very law firm he had hired to manage the newly formed company and his investors. More

Cruise Ship Terrorist Attack Trial

Janet Huggard — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:44:38 PST

Twenty-four years after the terrorist attack on the cruise ship City Of Poros, France is putting three men on trial in absentia giving French victims an ounce of long-deprived closure. More

Cruise Ship Passenger Group Robbed In Mexico

Janet Huggard — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:49:46 PST

A group of nearly two dozen cruise ship passengers sailing aboard the Carnival Splendor cruise ship, who ventured into the jungle on a tour bus were robbed on the nature trail at gun point by hooded banditos in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. More

Cruise Ship Disabled By Fire In Pirate Alley

Janet Huggard — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:50:19 PST

The cruise ship Costa Allegra is floating helplessly in Pirate Alley, after a generator fire disabled the little cruise ship. Costa Cruises is a division of Carnival Corp. Both the cruise line and parent company came under fire after Costa Concordia grounded, partially sunk, killing dozens on Friday the 13th of January, 2012. More

Cruise Ship Drug Bust P&O Aruora

Janet Huggard — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:57:46 PST

New Zealanders Tony Earl Wilkinson, 42, and Kirsty Harris, 25, were passengers on the P&O cruise ship Aurora when they were arrested in San Francisco on January 25 after 5.8kg of cocaine was allegedly found in their cabin. More

Cruise ship crew member charged in child sex case

Janet Huggard — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:03:23 PST

Paul Trotter, 34, of the United Kingdom, is alleged to have sexual contact with children and possessing indecent images of children while working for Cunard Line cruise ships as a children's activity area supervisor on Queen Mary 2 and its sister vessel the Queen Elizabeth.

He was arrested in August and will appear in court March 15th, 2012. He appeared in court Monday, Febuary 13th to answer to charges of the sexually based crimes which have been alleged to have taken place between December 2010 and January 2011.

The investigation began about six months ago by law enforcement investigators where Trotter lives. Detectives found indecent images on photographic and computer equipment at the man’s home.

A Cunard Line spokesman said: "We are deeply shocked by these allegations." Cunard Line have launched their own inquiry into the allegations.

Cruise Ship jumper identified

Janet Huggard — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:06:18 PST

Kenneth Gemmell, 30, from Bailieborough in the United Kingdom, was a flight attendant who was celebrating his 30th birthday while on a gay and lesbian cruise sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida at 1700 hours, on February 5, 2012. He jumped overboard while the cruise ship was off the coast of Mexico. More

Taxpayers Fund Cruise 'Victims' Trip

Janet Huggard — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:59:16 PST

An International Cruise Victims' (ICV) member tells Cruise Bruise, taxpayers are funding the most recent trip by ICV board members to Washington DC. The ICV announced the trip in a press release to the public, but neglected to tell the public the taxpayers were funding the trip, including airfare and hotels. More

Cruise Ship Norovirus - Fouth Cruise Ship Has Norovirus

Janet Huggard — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:28:18 PST

Cruise Ship Norovirus - Over the weekend, a fourth cruise ship was reported to be sailing and calling at ports with Norovirus aboard . . . more at www.cruiseshipnorovirus.com

Cruise Ship Norovirus - 3 Cruise Ships Report Norovirus

Janet Huggard — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:49:37 PST

Cruise Ship Norovirus: Three cruises ships reported norovirus cases at epidemic levels this weekend, two from Princess Cruises and one from Royal Caribbean. Of the last 19 reported major outbreaks, six of them sailed out of Port Everglades, three were out of Tampa, two were out of New Orleans and four were out of San Francisco . . . More

Passenger Overboard On Cruise Ship

Janet Huggard — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:27:56 PST

The search is underway for a cruise ship passenger from the United Kingdom who was seen going overboard on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' Allure Of The Sea around 0700 hours today.

The male passenger described as being 30-years-old and British, was seen by another passenger going overboard from the balcony of his cruise ship cabin on Deck 11. The overboard was confirmed by closed circuit television footage.

Allure Of The Seas is on a 7-day Caribbean Cruise. Check back for full updates.