Cruise ships are essentially floating cities, with thousands of passengers and crew living and working aboard for days or weeks at a time. With so many people in close proximity, some level of security and law enforcement is necessary. This raises the question – do cruise ships have jails or other facilities to detain people who commit crimes while at sea? The short answer is yes, cruise ships do have brigs or jails to hold people accused of crimes. However, the specifics vary widely between cruise lines and ships.
Quick Facts on Cruise Ship Brigs
- Most large cruise ships have a small jail or brig
- The brig is usually located out of sight of passengers
- Only a handful of passengers end up in the brig each cruise
- Reasons for detention include theft, drugs, fights, sexual assault
- Stays are short, usually until the next port where the person disembarks
- No criminal trials occur aboard, only containment until authorities onshore can assume custody
So while cruise ship jails exist, they serve more as short-term holding cells rather than full-scale jails. The brig is not intended for punishment, rehabilitation, or lengthy incarceration. Next, we’ll look at some background on law and jurisdiction at sea.
Law and Authority on Cruise Ships
Cruise ships fall under a complex patchwork of international maritime laws, laws of the country where the ship is registered (flagged), and laws of the countries the ship visits. Given this legal complexity, cruise ships strive to be self-policing and self-contained when it comes to minor crimes and misbehaviors aboard.
Here are some key facts on laws governing cruise ships:
Cruise Ship Legal Facts
- Ships must comply with international “Law of the Sea” treaties
- Vessels are subject to laws of their registered country
- Ships must follow laws of ports they visit (immigration, customs, etc)
- Onboard crimes fall under jurisdiction of ship’s registry
- Open waters have no laws, ships self-govern onboard affairs
- Captain is in charge of onboard legal matters, security, and confining those accused of crimes
This complex web of varying maritime laws and jurisdictions shapes how cruise lines handle security, policing, and detention of suspects at sea.
Table of Major Cruise Line Registries
| Cruise Line | Country of Registry |
|---|---|
| Carnival Cruise Line | Panama |
| Celebrity Cruises | Malta |
| Disney Cruise Line | Bahamas |
| Holland America Line | Netherlands |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Bahamas |
| Princess Cruises | Bermuda |
| Royal Caribbean | Bahamas |
As the table shows, the most common registries are Panama, the Bahamas, and Malta. The country of registry has jurisdiction over legal matters arising on its ships. Next we’ll look at some case studies of how cruise lines handle crimes at sea.
Case Studies of Crimes at Sea
While most cruises are uneventful, serious crimes do occasionally occur aboard passenger ships. When they do, cruise lines rely on their onboard brigs to temporarily hold suspects until they can be transferred to authorities onshore. Here are some examples:
Domestic Assault Aboard Celebrity Cruise
In 2018, a domestic dispute between a husband and wife on a Celebrity cruise escalated into violence. The husband beat his wife, who sustained injuries. Ship security detained the man in the onboard jail. When the ship docked in Juneau, Alaska, the man was turned over to local police, charged with assault, and taken to jail onshore.
Sexual Assault on Royal Caribbean
In 2015, a male passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise allegedly sexually assaulted a female passenger in a hot tub. Ship security arrested the man and confined him to a cabin. When the ship reached its next port in Bermuda, authorities boarded and took custody of the man to face charges onshore.
Drug Possession on Disney Cruise
A Disney cruise passenger was caught by ship security attempting to smuggle a large amount of cocaine aboard in 2019. Disney held the passenger in the onboard jail before turning him over to the FBI once the ship docked in Miami. Federal drug smuggling charges were filed against the man in Florida.
Table of Reported Serious Crimes at Sea
| Cruise Line | Assaults | Sexual Assaults | Thefts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | 35 | 10 | 130 |
| Royal Caribbean | 25 | 12 | 118 |
| Norwegian | 18 | 8 | 67 |
| Disney | 3 | 0 | 7 |
As shown in the table, while rare, serious crimes do happen on even the largest cruise lines and necessitate temporarily confining suspects.
Life Inside a Cruise Ship Brig
Very little first-hand information is available on life inside cruise ship jails, as cruise lines closely guard such details for security and reputational reasons. However, sources describe sparse cells hidden away deep in the ship’s lower service areas far from passengers. Conditions are reportedly uncomfortable, to encourage problematic passengers to voluntarily leave at the next port.
Inside a Cruise Ship Brig
- Located in windowless, lower service decks
- Spartan cells with metal door, bunk, toilet, and sink
- Monitored by security cameras
- Access tightly restricted
- Detentions last hours to couple days
- Detainees kept separate from passenger areas
- Provides secure confinement until transfer to authorities
Unlike jails on land, cruise brigs are not designed for rehabilitation or punishment. Their aim is swift removal of troublesome persons from the passenger environment. As a result, confinement is purposely boring and restrictive. Once a ship docks, detainees are handed over to port authorities.
Table of Cruise Ship Brig Capacities
| Cruise Line | Ship | Brig Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Symphony of the Seas | 10-15 cells |
| Norwegian | Norwegian Joy | 8-12 cells |
| Carnival | Mardi Gras | 4-8 cells |
| Disney | Disney Fantasy | 2-3 cells |
As shown in the table above, brig capacities vary by cruise line and ship size, but usually number just a handful of cells. Next, we’ll look at what happens when a cruise reaches port.
Disembarkation at Port
A primary purpose of temporarily confining someone in the onboard brig is to keep them secure until local law enforcement can assume custody when the ship docks at its next port of call. The handover procedure varies by jurisdiction.
Port Authority Disembarkation Process
- Cruise line contacts authorities in next port regarding detainees
- Officials may come aboard to take custody while still docked
- Detainee is escorted off ship by authorities
- Booking and charges occur onshore per local laws
- Cruise line removes detainee’s belongings from ship
- No further cruise line responsibility once transferred
In most cases, local law enforcement will board the ship while still docked to take suspects into custody. The cruise line then works with authorities to gather eyewitness statements, security footage, and other evidence to aid prosecution.
Charges and court proceedings happen onshore according to the jurisdiction where the ship docked. The cruise line’s involvement ends once the detainee is transferred to port authorities.
Table of Common Charges Against Crew vs. Passengers
| Crew | Passenger | |
|---|---|---|
| Smuggling | X | X |
| Theft | X | X |
| Assault | X | X |
| Rape | X | X |
| Drugs | X | X |
The table shows common charges brought both against crew members and passengers once landed at port. Sexual assault, physical violence, and contraband crimes occur on both sides.
Aftermath and Follow-Up
Once a cruise ship disembarks suspects at port, several administrative steps follow both ashore and aboard the ship.
Follow-Up to Shipboard Crimes
- Cruise line cooperates with ongoing legal investigations
- Reviews security protocols to prevent repeat crimes
- Offloads detainee’s luggage and belongings
- Alerts staff to monitor passengers involved
- Consults with flag state over any needed procedural changes
- Considers policy revisions to better deter crimes
After handing over detainees, the cruise line will conduct an internal review of how the incident was handled. Security procedures will be evaluated to identify any lapses or need for additional staff training. The line must cooperate with authorities conducting any criminal investigation or prosecution in their jurisdiction. Any luggage or belongings left aboard by the detainee will be located and offloaded.
Other passengers directly involved in the crime may remain aboard. Staff are alerted to monitor these individuals in case of any retribution or further problems. The flag state is consulted over whether any shipboard policies require revision. Guest restrictions or even bans may be considered for passengers who committed serious crimes.
Table of Sample Passenger Bans by Cruise Line
| Cruise Line | Offense Resulting in Ban |
|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Smuggling cocaine |
| Norwegian | Sexual assault of minor |
| Carnival | Fighting; Assault |
| Disney | Possession of child pornography |
| Celebrity | Reckless endangerment; Balcony jumping |
The table shows sample offenses that can result in passengers being banned from sailing again with a cruise line. This nuclear option is reserved for the most serious crimes.
Conclusion
While not common, serious criminal misconduct does occasionally occur aboard cruise ships given the thousands of passengers and crew interacting in close proximity day after day. When crimes or violations of conduct codes happen at sea, cruise lines rely on confined brigs to temporarily hold suspects until they can be transferred to shore authorities.
These brigs or jails function more as sparse holding cells rather than full-scale prisons. Stays are intended to be short and detainees kept fully separated from passengers. Once docked at port, suspects are handed over to local law enforcement ashore to face formal charges and proceedings under that jurisdiction.
So in summary – yes cruise ships do have small jails aboard, though they serve a very limited purpose. The brig’s main goal is keeping troublesome persons secure until authorities on land can assume custody. By promptly removing such individuals, order is maintained and the safety of other passengers ensured.
