DOT Data Show Cruise Ship Sex Crime Reports Rose to 131 in 2025

Reports of alleged sex crimes on cruise ships that embark and disembark in the United States increased in 2025, according to incident data published by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DOT totals show 131 reported sex crimes in 2025, up from 120 in 2024 and matching the total recorded in 2023.

What the DOT reported for 2025, and how it compares

In the 2025 DOT data, the 131 reported sex crimes included 51 sexual assaults and 80 rapes. For 2023, the DOT total was also 131, including 52 sexual assaults and 79 rapes.

Earlier years cited alongside the recent totals show lower reported figures before the cruise industry’s post-pandemic rebound, including 87 alleged sexual assaults in 2022 and 101 in 2019. The DOT data available for 2019 and 2022 did not separate sexual assault and rape into distinct categories in the same way the later figures do.

How cruise ship crime reporting works for U.S. sailings

The publicly posted counts reflect incidents that enter a specific federal reporting framework rather than every onboard incident. For cruises that fall under U.S. rules, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires cruise lines to report certain alleged serious crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with figures made publicly available through DOT quarterly reporting.

The reportable categories include serious incidents such as sexual assault, suspicious death, and homicide, among other offenses. The quarterly public reporting can also separate some cases based on factors such as whether the alleged offender was a passenger or a crew member.

Sex crimes remain the most frequently reported major category

Within the DOT’s publicly available totals for serious offenses on U.S.-regulated sailings, sexual assault and rape are reported far more often than other major reportable categories. In the same 2025 dataset, other categories were comparatively low, including one suspicious death, one homicide, and zero kidnapping reports.

• The dataset also listed 22 reports of assault with serious bodily injury in 2025, a separate category from the sex-crime totals. The figure provides additional context for how often other violent incidents appear in the same reporting framework.
• For non-violent categories, the 2025 totals included 19 reports of theft over $10,000. The DOT reporting focuses on specific serious categories and thresholds rather than a full accounting of all thefts.
• The same year included seven reports involving missing U.S. nationals. These figures are published alongside other major categories tracked under the quarterly reporting rules.

Why advocates and attorneys say the true number could be higher

Even for incidents covered by the federal reporting pipeline, underreporting is a longstanding concern in sexual violence statistics. RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, estimates that only one out of every three victims reports sexual assault to law enforcement.

Michael Winkleman, a maritime attorney with Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., said in a 2022 interview that cruise guests may underestimate how often these crimes occur: “I think the general cruising public is just not aware of the prevalence of rapes and sexual assaults on cruise ships.” Winkleman also cited alcohol consumption and the lack of independent law enforcement onboard as contributing factors, noting that cruise ships rely on their own security personnel.

Cruise demand has risen as reporting continues

The updated incident counts come during a period of growing cruise passenger volumes. Cruise Lines International Association’s State of the Cruise Industry Report 2025 put 2024 ocean-going cruise guests at 34.6 million, up from 31.7 million in 2023 and 20.4 million in 2022.

CLIA recorded 29.7 million cruise guests in 2019, prior to the pandemic, and projected 37.7 million passengers would cruise in 2025. A 2026 report had not been released at the time of the reporting.

Industry comment, personal safety awareness, and support resources

In reporting on the updated DOT totals, Cruise Lines International Association did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

Experts and advocates also emphasize that personal precautions can reduce risk in some situations, including moderating alcohol consumption, traveling with trusted companions, and avoiding high-risk scenarios such as going to a stranger’s cabin or inviting unfamiliar people into personal spaces.

Erinn Robinson, then-director of media relations at RAINN, stressed that responsibility lies with the perpetrator: “Regardless of the circumstance of an instance of sexual violence, only the perpetrator is responsible.” RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 800-656-HOPE (4673), and confidential online support is available at hotline.rainn.org/online.

With the DOT’s 2025 totals posted, future quarterly updates are expected to continue adding detail as new incidents are reported and logged under the federal reporting rules.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where do the cruise ship sex-crime numbers come from?

The totals cited come from incident data published by the U.S. Department of Transportation for certain alleged serious crimes tied to cruise ships embarking and disembarking in the United States.

Do the DOT numbers include every crime that happens on a cruise?

No. The public totals cover specific serious alleged crimes that must be reported under U.S. law for applicable sailings, and they are not a complete accounting of all onboard incidents.

What is the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, and what does it require?

For cruises that fall under U.S. rules, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires cruise lines to report certain alleged serious crimes to the FBI, with those figures made publicly available through DOT quarterly reporting.

How many sex crimes were reported on U.S.-related cruises in 2025?

The DOT data shows 131 reported sex crimes in 2025 for ships embarking and disembarking in the U.S., including 51 sexual assaults and 80 rapes.

Who can help if someone experiences sexual assault?

RAINN provides confidential support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) and online at hotline.rainn.org/online.