MSC Cruises Dismisses Lifeguard After Teen Passenger Sex Arrest
The Florida charge is a second-degree felony, and booking records listed bond at seven thousand five hundred dollars while an immigration hold kept him in custody.
Miami-Dade authorities arrested an MSC Cruises lifeguard on Aug. 22, 2026, over allegations that he had sex twice with a 17-year-old passenger aboard MSC World America. Rafael Cayetano Blanco, 38, was charged with unlawful sexual activity with a specified minor and was dismissed by the cruise line.
The charge is a second-degree felony under Florida Statute 794.05, carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of as much as $10,000 upon conviction. Booking records listed bond at $7,500, but Cayetano Blanco remained in custody under an immigration hold.
Alleged encounters aboard MSC World America
An arrest affidavit said Cayetano Blanco, a Guatemalan national working aboard the ship as a lifeguard, met the passenger on Aug. 16 and exchanged phone numbers with her. The passenger went to his crew cabin later that night, where the first alleged encounter occurred, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit alleges that the passenger returned to the cabin on Aug. 19 and that they had sex again. Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies detained Cayetano Blanco when MSC World America returned to PortMiami on Aug. 22. Investigators said he later admitted to the sexual activity.
“On discovery of a breach of conduct by a crew member and an alleged criminal act, we immediately contacted the relevant law enforcement authorities,” MSC Cruises said in a statement. The company said it supported the investigation and assisted the passenger.
Ship continued scheduled operations
The alleged incidents occurred during a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise that departed PortMiami on Aug. 15 and called at Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
MSC World America operates alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from PortMiami. The arrest did not disrupt the ship’s next departure on Aug. 22, a scheduled Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas voyage calling at Puerto Plata, San Juan and Ocean Cay before returning to Miami on Aug. 29.
No court date had been publicly released, and no attorney was listed for Cayetano Blanco in the booking records.
