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Reports of sexual assault aboard Disney Cruise Line vessels have significantly increased in recent years, according to new data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
In 2023, there were 15 reported assaults aboard Disney cruises departing from U.S. ports. That number rose to 18 in 2024, with five additional incidents already reported in the first quarter of 2025, Newsweek reported yesterday.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our guests and crew members,” a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told Newsweek. “We have zero tolerance for this type of behavior and take allegations of this nature seriously. We fully cooperate with law enforcement and local authorities in their investigations into any such allegations. We’re committed to promoting safety onboard our ships, continuously reviewing our procedures and providing our crew with specialized training to uphold the highest standards.”
The rise in reported assaults coincides with Disney Cruise Line’s rapid expansion plans. The company intends to more than double its fleet by 2031, increasing its number of cruise ships from six to 13. With two ships added since 2020, Disney has already expanded guest capacity by 40%.
The DOT mandates that all cruise lines report serious crimes, including sexual assaults, to the FBI, provided the incidents involve U.S. citizens or take place on U.S.-based sailings. However, experts warn that the real number of assaults may be much higher due to reporting limitations.
John H. Hickey, a board-certified maritime lawyer who has worked on cruise assault cases for two decades, noted: “A cruise ship is an island of drinking and partying. The crew on board the ship are usually young men… They are away from their friends and family for that time. To make matters worse, the cruise lines recruit crew members from developing countries with little infrastructure for accurate criminal records on people.”
Though Hickey did not speak specifically about Disney, he explained that isolated locations and under-resourced local authorities often hinder investigations. “Much of the time, where the next port is an island nation, they do not have the interest or the resources to investigate.”
A spokesperson for the Cruise Line Industry Association, of which Disney is a member, responded: “Crime is extremely rare on cruise ships as a result of our member lines’ comprehensive security measures, hiring protocols, and training, which makes cruise one of the safest holiday options.”
Yet DOT data tells a more complicated story. Between 2020 and 2022, only four assaults by crew members were reported. That number rose to nine in 2023 and 2024 combined. Passenger-on-passenger assaults saw a more dramatic spike: from zero in 2020 and 2021 to two in 2022, nine in 2023, and 14 in 2024.
Since 2023, the DOT has also categorized rape separately from other types of sexual assault. That year, Disney reported four alleged rapes, followed by three more in 2024.
Hickey emphasized that the DOT’s figures underrepresent the full scope of the problem. “The DOT website statistics on onboard rapes and sexual assaults is way low,” he said. “All of the rapes and assaults which happen to passengers who are citizens of a European country, for example, do not get reported. Or the rapes and assaults of a U.S. citizen on a cruise in Europe which did not start or stop in the U.S. does not get reported.”
In response to growing concerns, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010 provides certain protections to victims, including access to medical care and forensic exams onboard. However, critics argue that the enforcement of these standards remains inconsistent.
Hickey added: “The best recourse for any rape victim onboard a cruise ship is to report it onboard to the physician in the infirmary and insist — before you shower — on a rape kit (standard rape pelvic) exam. If you are a U.S. citizen, contact the FBI at once and report it. Take photos of your bruises, cuts, scratches, lacerations, and bumps… Call an attorney who specializes in representing passengers or crew members against the cruise lines.”
According to RAINN, victims should also report the incident to cruise security officers and record the names of witnesses. The organization stresses that survivors have the right to request that the scene of the assault be preserved until law enforcement can investigate.
As Disney and other cruise lines expand, scrutiny over onboard safety measures continues to grow. While cruise vacations may be marketed as carefree getaways, recent data suggests the need for greater transparency, enforcement, and victim support.
