Victims Helping Victims
Together We Are Making A Difference
International Cruise Victims Association
International Cruise Victims Association (ICV) represents victims of crime on cruise ships, their families and friends, and individuals concerned about the problems of victimization and disappearances on cruise ships. With several hundred members, the organization advocates for legislative reform to protect passengers from crimes and increase the rights of victims of crimes that do occur on cruise ships, and provides support to victims of crimes occurring on cruise ships.
The goal of the organization is to contribute to growing a cruise industry where passengers and crew members are safe and secure from victimization while on board a cruise ship.
‘Partners Around the World’
ICV is truly a worldwide organization. As the only United States associate member of Victim Support Europe (VSE), ICV represented by this organization now offers support through their separate members in 24 countries of which 21 are EU countries.
To determine who to contact, simply go to the VSE website and go to the Membership-Organization Tab and list the country for contact information.
ICV has prepared a special cruise ship safety leaflet for the VSE. You may also print a copy by going to the following link. Safety Tips
For Victims in Australia or Asia, click on this link.
For information on ICV UK Click Here.
Cruise ship crime is a worldwide problem and we are moving forward to support all victims everywhere
Matthew's Story
Few tragedies in life are more devastating than the loss of a child. For many of us, it is difficult to imagine anything worse. But the unimaginable becomes the harshest reality for those whose children are lost due to the negligence of a “trusted” corporation; specifically a global one touting a business model that “supports policies and practices that foster a safe, secure, healthy and sustainable environment.” Read More
My Name is Alyssa, Another Sad Story of Rape on a Cruise Ship
My name is Alyssa. I am a woman living in Texas, and this is the story of what happened to me on a cruise. I cannot tell the whole story, because I was not conscious during part of it and my whereabouts during that time are not definitely known. Much of the information here was provided by my mother, Judy, and my daughter, Emily, then 16....>Read More
Larry and Christy Hammer
Around 2 am on April 10th, 2016, they were trapped inside a burning cabin aboard the Estrella Amazonica. Our father died before the crew extracted him from the room. Our mother held onto a heartbeat when crew members finally pulled her out, but died sometime later—we still do not know when or where she passed away....>Read More
Christina Marie Ricci
Christina collapsed just eight hours after the cruise began as her boyfriend and she were heading to their cabin. She should have been flown by helicopter to a fully equipped hospital immediately, but instead the ship’s medical staff stood by and watched her condition get worse by the minute.....> Read More
Another Teenage Rape Victim
"On July 29, 2015, my 17 year-old daughter was raped by teenage male passenger on a Norwegian Cruise Line Ship. We were on a family cruise. She did not invite this and didn't know her attacker....> Read More
The Tragic Story of Another Jane Doe
On February 14, 2014, HOLLAND AMERICA’S room service attendant onboard HOLLAND AMERICA'S MS Nieuw Amsterdam, Ketut Pujayasa, used his company issued master key to enter the cabin of JANE DOE. The crewmember laid in wait for JANE DOE on the stateroom balcony until nightfall....> Read More
Qwentyn Hunter
October 13, 2013 remains one of the darkest days of our lives. Our family of five was enjoying the last day of our Carnival cruise in the Caribbean when tragedy struck in a matter of minutes: our six-year-old son Qwentyn drowned in a pool. We wish we didn't have to share this familiar story with you....> Read More
Violet Butler
Over fifty of my family members set sail on the Carnival Conquest for a weeklong reunion in the Caribbean on April 14, 2013. Until April 18, Violet Butler, my fifty-one year old mother, was active, enjoyed the cruise, and showed no signs or symptoms of any underlying medical issue....> Read More
George Allen Smith IV
On July 5, 2005, my husband, George A. Smith IV, tragically went overboard during our honeymoon cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean ship, Brilliance of the Seas....> Read More
Richard Fearnside
Just about a year ago, on May 21, in the middle of the night, our son Richard went missing from the P&O ferry 'Pride of Kent.' He had just turned 30, and to celebrate the occasion he and his fiancée had gone to the continent on holiday. That night, he boarded the ferry in Calais, France, and was heading to Dover, England....> Read More
Ananias Family Barely Escape Death
We have written a book, "SOS: Spirit of Survival" about the disaster on board the Costa Concordia that day and about the way that Costa and Carnival Cruise totally mishandled the entire disaster. It presents the perspectives of five family members ....> Read More
Andrea Davis
Survival was only the beginning on the glamorous Costa Concordia. . I heard our friend’s voice in panic crying..... I will not get back on board tomorrow after port, I will rather fly home. Did we know none of us would get back on board.....but how were we going to get off! .....> Read More
Story of Barbara
I am writing this to tell readers of the ICV forum about my horrible experience on a 2009 cruise, and about the lack of concern the cruise line personnel demonstrated for my well-being in a situation that could easily have proven fatal....>
Theresa Acerra
On Jan. 20, 2014, my sister-in-law, Theresa M. Acerra, began a five-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, and Key West, Florida, on the Celebrity Constellation. She was 63 years old, in good health according to her doctors, and had regular checkups. She went to be with a group of people and just to relax.....> Read More
Betty Virgo
My mother, Betty, and I embarked upon a Sun Princess cruise around New Zealand on 18 Nov 2012. On the forth night we met in the restaurant where Mum told me she felt ill.....> Read More
Check Your Bills
Accountants working on board ship would add to passenger bar bills charges for drinks that they had not consumed.....> Read More
Steven Billing
The tragic story of Steven Billing. Around 5 a.m., ship security called Thomas, saying that I was in the medical center, having been found unconscious. Thomas and Nancy rushed there, only to find me incoherent, foaming at the mouth and screaming that I had no feeling in my arms and legs.....> Read More
Ariel Marion
On Sept. 16, 2012, my daughter Ariel, then 21, and I embarked on a seven-day Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean. It was our first and last cruise -- mine because I have no desire to sail on a cruise ship ever again, hers because she disappeared from the ship that same night.....> Read More
Fariba Amani
Reported missing last March by her boyfriend, off the Bahamas Celebration during an overnight return trip from the Bahamas to Palm Beach.....>Read More
Christa
I was assaulted on a cruise ship as a child in 1978. I was 12 years old and my sister was 9. We found the crew to be very friendly, and thinking nothing of that at that age, we were friendly back to them, chatting occasionally with them. You have to remember, we were children and living in very different times than today....> Read More
Sexual Assault on Cruise Ship
After researching several locations and cruise itineraries we decided to set sail on the Celebrity Solstice on January 23, 2011... He then asked if he could give me a hug good-bye... During the hug he managed to push me against the wall and rub my back down to my butt and kissed my neck, while rubbing himself upon me and grabbing my breasts....> Read More
Jason Rappe
They were having the time of their life until one night when Jason vanished. We have been given no real information as to what exactly happened, or how. All we know is that he somehow went overboard.....> Read More
Rebecca Coriam
In June 2010, a 23-year-old British citizen named Rebecca Coriam was interviewed in London for a shipboard position with Disney Cruise. She was hired over hundreds of other applicants, and received four months of training at Disney facilities in Florida. She then worked for four months on cruises to and from the Bahamas, after which she returned to Britain for two months....> Read More
Pilgrimage to Hell by Christine Lynch
Picture to yourself a "dream holiday" on a cruise ship. Then imagine becoming the victim of a crime. Could the dream turn into any worse nightmare than if you were told to leave the cruise ship, while the perpetrator (a staff member) remained free?....> Read More
Facebook Contest Story
How wonderful is winning a Facebook contest for a free cruise? For my 23-year-old daughter, it seemed to be the best piece of luck in the world. Now, however, we are wondering if something darker might have been involved....> Read More
Teresa Doessel
On May 11, 2002, I arrived at Miami International Airport from Australia to start work on a cruise line At that time, I was a very outgoing 41-year-old woman with 20 years of experience in the photography industry....> Read More
Blake Kepley
I don't want anyone to have to got hrough such an unimaginable experience as not only losing a child but having him go on vacation and disappear without a trace off a cruise ship. How is it possible in this day and age that cruise ships don't have...> Read More
A Mother's Perspective on Losing her Daughter
"My 3 year-old daughter was killed on Christmas Eve of last year while on a Holland America cruise with her biological father. She drowned in the designated children's swim area of a private island in the Bahamas owned by HAL. > Read More
Another Sad Story by a Widow Concerning the Death of her Husband
What can you do when tragedy aboard a cruise ship is compounded by being handed a bill for substandard healthcare and ending in the death of your loved one? This question was brought home forcefully to one family, left unnamed here, who left the United States on February 27, 2011 on a Royal Caribbean cruise to the Caribbean. > Read More
Cruise from Hell -- Drugged on Shipboard
What better way to celebrate your 52nd birthday than going on a cruise? When friends suggested that my husband, Ed, and I join them on a 14-day Southern Caribbean excursion, avid cruisers that we are, we couldn't say no. > Read More
Sarah Alexander - Massachusetts
On September 25, 2005, I boarded the Norwegian Cruise Line “Majesty”, as a solo passenger for a 7-day cruise from Boston to Bermuda. From September 26th thru October 1st, I was repeatedly “hit on” by my Cabin Steward. On the final day of my cruise, October 2nd, the Cabin Steward assaulted me
Barry Allen - California
Our cruise was billed as a twenty (20) day Mediterranean Adventure, sailing from Civitavecchia, Italy, on September 14, 2008, on the MS NOORDAM. We were thrown into the Mediterranean Sea by Holland America... > Read More
Dorothy P. Arnett - Tennessee
On January 7, 2006, my fiancé and I took a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise from Port of Charleston, SC, on Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Majesty”. On the second night, I developed an irritation in my throat.
Camila Peixoto Bandeira - Brazil - ( Updated January 2010 )
Around 7 a.m. that day, 30-year-old Souza Bicalho, a crew member who served as a waiter, left the cabin that he shared with his girlfriend, Camila Peixoto Bandeira, to begin work. Less than three hours later, Bicalho returned to the cabin, where, he reported, he found the body . . . > Read More
Ashley Barnett - California - ( Updated March 2007 )
On October 14, 2005, my daughter, Ashley Barnett, her boyfriend, and two other couples, boarded Carnival Cruise Line’s Paradise in Long Beach, California for a 3-day cruise to celebrate her 25th birthday. Less than twenty-four hours later, Ashley was dead. > Read More
Amy Lynn Bradley - Virginia - ( Updated February 2008 )
Amy, our beautiful 23-year-old daughter, who had recently graduated from college, vanished in the Caribbean on March 24, 1998. > Read More
Dianne Brimble - Australia
For two years, Dianne had saved to take a cruise around the South Pacific. Although she was the mother of three, she was only able to save enough to take her youngest daughter, Tahlia, with her on the trip of a lifetime. > Read More
Christopher Paul Caldwell - Virginia
On July 23, 2004, I received a call that changed my life forever…. My son, Christopher Paul Caldwell, had gone on a Carnival Cruise to Mexico with his fiancée. . . He never returned! > Read More
Merrian Carver - Arizona
Merrian Carver, a 40 year old woman, disappeared from a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska in August of 2004. > Read More
Shari Cecil ( Updated October 2007 )
On December 18, 2004, I was raped in my bunk by a fellow crew member, while docked at a U.S. port.
Laurie Dishman - California
My best friend, Michelle, and I decided to celebrate our thirty-year friendship. I have known her since I was five years old, and so we thought, “How about going on a cruise together? . . . But little did I know of the dangers that awaited me. > Read More
Daniel DiPiero - Ohio
On May 15, 2006 our son/brother, Daniel DiPiero, boarded the cruise ship Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas for what was intended to be a vacation of a lifetime. Daniel went onboard the ship with his friends. He was excited. Daniel and his friends had big plans to enjoy their vacation. > Read More
Jane Doe #1 - ( Updated September 2007 )
For three horrific hours, he held me captive in that cabin, where no one could hear my screams, because everybody was at bingo. And every time I tried to talk to him, he hit me furiously.
Jane Doe #2 - ( Updated October 2007 )
The color of this particular drink (blue/green) was much different than my previous cocktails (orange/pink), and was served in a plastic container, rather than my original "souvenir” cup.
Jane Doe #3 - ( Updated November 2007 )
The Filipino [crew member] claimed that (for my boyfriend’s birthday) he planned to murder him by throwing him off the ship during the crossing to Portugal . . . > Read More
Jane Doe - New Zealand - ( Updated May 2008 )
We were chatting and laughing with our newly acquired friends when a man brought me a drink. Little did I know that my relaxing holiday was about to end and a horrible nightmare was about to begin . . .
John Dresp - Nebraska - ( Updated February 2007 )
On November 16, 2005, my wife Winifred, brother John and I, along with 47 other passengers, left the Norwegian Dream by a catamaran operated by Discovery Divers for snorkeling at the Belize barrier reef. It is hard to imagine that was the last time we saw my brother John alive. > Read More
Angelo Faliva - Italy - ( Updated February 2010 )
It is believed that Angelo vanished from the ship on the evening of November 25. That day, he began work at about 4:30 p.m. in the kitchen of Sabatinis, a restaurant on the ship's “promenade” seventh deck. > Read More
David Gabriel - Australia
On January 2, 2001, I was walking from the top sun deck to my cabin on Level 4 with my, then, 3-year-old son. While waiting for an elevator, I noticed a male in his mid-thirties, large build, who appeared to be following us. > Read More
Andrew Gready- Australia - ( Updated March 2007 )
January 7, 2005, was our last day at sea after a 10-night New Year’s Eve cruise on the Pacific Sky out of Brisbane, Australia. > Read More
Michael Groves - United Kingdom - ( Updated December 2009 )
As for my story, at this time I am unable to discuss it in much detail due to legal restrictions, but ladies and gentleman, My name is Michael Groves and I'm this guy > Read More
John & Chantal Hopkins - California
Two Children Sexually Assaulted by a “Carnival Cruise Line” Employee. In July 2004, on the last night aboard a Carnival Cruise ship, our cabin steward called the cabin occupied by our 13-year old daughter and her 12-year old friend. The two18-year old girls, who were also sharing the same cabin, had gone dancing. It was the last evening for them to enjoy the cruise, their high school graduation gift.
Injury Incident
In December 2004, while onboard Royal Caribbean’s “Legend of the Seas”, I slipped and fell outside of the Windjammer Café, as the ship was going through the Panama Canal. > Read More
Jaime's Story - Alaska
I just wanted to see the dolphins. On May 23, 1999, my family and I (age 12 at the time) boarded a Carnival cruise ship where we spent the next seven days, cruising the Caribbean! It truly was a dream come true, or so we thought. > Read More
Cathy Johnson - Florida ( Updated July 2007 )
As I proceeded to my cabin, the Hotel Manager, Mario, followed me and noticed that I was having trouble with the door key. As he began helping me with the key, he then started telling me that I was beautiful, that he wanted me, and then he began groping my breasts! > Read More
Mindy Jordan ( Updated August 2008 )
On the morning of May 11th, 2008 – Mother’s Day – Mindy Jordan, her boyfriend, and one other couple boarded the Norwegian Dawn. Just twenty-four hours later, we learned that Mindy had gone overboard > Read The Family's Story > Read The Mothers Story
Janet Kelly
On the last night of the cruise, in between a show and dinner, the ship’s bartender mixed and served me with a drug-induced drink. I began to experience mental and physical impairment. I was taken to a location on the ship marked “crew members only” to my horror, the crewmember then raped me!
Richard Liffridge - Georgia - ( Updated June 2007 )
My name is Lynnette Hudson. My story is not much different than the ones I’ve read on the ICV website. We all have two things in common, a tragedy that occurred on a cruise ship and the fact that our lives will never be the same. > Read Wife's Story > Read Daughter's Story
Margaret McCarthy
Thirteen years ago, when my daughter was 4 and son was 9, we went on a Disney Big Red Boat cruise. It was a short trip out of Tampa to the Cozumel area. > Read More
Gayle Smith-McDonald - ( Updated May 2007 )
I was assaulted by another passenger and nearly drowned, while the ship’s pool attendant stood by and refused to intervene. > Read More
Annette Mizener - Wisconsin
On December 4, 2004, the last night of a 9-day Mexican Riviera cruise with her parents and daughter, my 37-year old wife, Annette Mizener, disappeared off the Carnival cruise ship, “The Pride".
Mother of Victim, a minor
It is extremely hard to find the words to describe the shock, the anger and the frustration that results from having a child become a victim of sexual assault on a cruise ship during a family vacation.
My Daughter's Story
During her off-hours, in 2005, my Daughter was with other employees on the Cruise Ship, where she had been working. Another employee handed her a drink and said, "Drink this". Within 30 minutes of drinking it, she has no memory of the night. > Read More
National organizations for victims that are supporting ICV efforts to promote legislation, improve safety and reduce crimes on cruise ships include:
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO ICV
WE ARE ALSO PROUD
TO OFFER YOU THE OPTION
OF MAKING YOUR DONATION
IN HONOR OF OR IN MEMORY OF SOMEONE SPECIFIC.
Click Here
For More Information
Crimes and Medical Care on Board Cruise Ships: Do the Statistics Fit the Crimes Click Here
Univision Noticias/Columbia Journalism School and the NY Times take on the Cruise Line Industry
Alleged Crimes by Cruise Lines for the year 2011. This report shows total alleged crimes reported to the F.B.I as compared to actual reported crimes by Cruise Lines on their corporate reports. Carnival Corporation showed combined numbers for four of their cruise lines instead of by each cruise line on their own. Notice that Carnival Cruise Lines, one of the four crises shown, represented 95% of the total alleged crimes reported to the F.B.I. under the combined shown for the Carnival Corporation. This was obtained by ICV under a FOIA request to the F.B.I – Click Here
Travelers Can Now Get Comprehensive Reports
of Cruise Ship Crime, October 6, 2016 - Click Here
Cruise Ship Report Card 2019 - Click Here
"The Cruise Passenger's Rights and Remedies 2016" by Thomas Dickerson
Cruise Line Political Contributions-Open Secrets, Org - Click Here
New Wave of Terror - Greg Noone talks to Commander Mark Gaouette - Click Here
Several ICV Members and Friends have participated in these interviews, including episodes produced and/or written by the BBC-England, Nine Network - Australia, Park Avenue Magazine - Germany, VI Magazine - Norway and the Canadian TV (CTV). The following BBC, Nine Network-Australia, Park Avenue-Germany, VI Magazine-Norway and CTV review the issues concerning the cruise line industry in great detail:
Things
You Should Know
Before
You Leave Port
Read
Don't Snooze Before You Cruise
Read
I Just Cant
Cruising for Trouble
Foreword by Kendall Carver, President of the International Cruise Victims Organization is complete with photos, index and is available exclusively through International Cruise Victims website for
$35.00 (check or money order) including shipping to U.S. postal addresses.
For more information, click here
ICV Victims Testify at Senate Commerce Hearing 7-23-14
Associate Member of
Cruise Ship by Michael Lloyd
The cruise ship was a dream. A seagoing pleasure city. The passengers came for that dream. The young, the old, the infirm; all were welcome provided they had the money. The crew that served them were also part of the dream. Voyage after voyage she proved that dreams come true and slowly the sea became forgotten. But the sea did not forget the ship.
It can be purchased on Amazon.
Books by ICV Victims
Read the harrowing experience of the Ananias family as they almost died 4 times while escaping the Costa Concordia.
Change in the cruise line industry is demanded by this family who are seasoned cruisers. This book also highlights how people are treated after an accident or disaster by the cruise lines. The book is available through Amazon.com.
Survival Was Only The Beginning by Andrea Davis
To order this book, please go to the following link. A summary of her tragic story about being on the Costa Concordia can be read on the ICV website.
Triumph or Tragedy: Stories of Victims at Sea by Amanda Butler represents a sampling of countless stories involving tragedies which have occurred on ships and the devastation brought upon surviving victims and family members. Each story depicts despicable acts of medical malpractice, personal trauma, disappearances at sea, and cover-ups. Also each story highlights the lack of duty on the part of the cruise industry to provide adequate and timely medical care or preservation of a crime scene. The book is available on Amazon or at
2017 Ronald Reagan Policy Award presented to Kendall Carver - See Video
