Latest news with #IndependenceoftheSeas
New Indian Express
22-06-2025
- New Indian Express
India on the high seas
India is witnessing a sea change—literally. Cruise tourism, once considered a niche or luxury segment, is rapidly gaining popularity among Indian travellers. Desi tourists are seeking more than just destinations; they crave experiences. Cruises, that used to be a niche entertainment for people with fat wallets have been democratised. They are offering the middle-class Indian travellers from the Tier-2 cities a seamless blend of leisure, luxury, and entertainment. Aboard the luxurious, 15-deck 'Independence of the Seas', there is little the members cannot have: gourmet dining, Broadway-caliber shows, art auctions, and starlit movie nights by the pool. Says Bengaluru-based writer Namita Gupta, who embarked on a Europe luxury cruise 'We wanted to experience something magical, something larger than life.' She chose Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas—the world's largest cruise ship. 'It was like floating in a five-star resort. Michelin-level dining, open to sky pool deck, champagne at every hour,' she says. To get wet, you don't have to take a dip in the cerulean waters: on board is the 40-foot-long FlowRider surf simulator to ride the 30,000 gallons of water rushing towards you as friends and family cheer you on from a mini stadium seating. Many Indian travellers like Gupta, who once viewed cruises with mild curiosity, are now hooked. 'We used to think a Europe tour or a Maldives villa was the pinnacle of indulgence,' she says, adding 'Now, cruising in a floating mansion with a private infinity pool feels like the real dream come true.'
New York Post
15-05-2025
- New York Post
Cruise ship crime reaches 2-year high, casting ‘dark cloud' for travelers: expert
Crime rates aboard cruise ships leaving the US have reached a two-year high, and one expert says this creates a 'dark cloud' for travelers. According to data from the Department of Transportation, allegations of 48 crimes were reported onboard cruise ships from Jan. 1, 2025, to March 30, 2025. Advertisement Twenty-three incidents were reported rapes, 10 were sexual assaults and seven were assaults, which all reportedly happened on cruise ships. Robert McDonald, a former Secret Service special agent and criminal justice lecturer at the University of New Haven, told Fox News Digital crime negatively affects the cruise industry. McDonald has coordinated security for various dignitaries around the world. 'Sometimes, the cruise lines don't want to report this information on the front end, depending upon, again, what type of crime it is, which brings unfortunate attention to them, just as it would when we have airplane situations or the delays in airplanes that we're having now,' McDonald said. Advertisement 'All of that negative vibe and negative information puts a dark cloud over the industry, an industry that wants people to come to it and wants them to be comfortable spending their money.' 4 Carnival Cruise Line banned dozens of people after a massive brawl. Trelle Ray / Facebook McDonald said cruises are more prone to crime because of the number of people packed in a tight area. 'I think anytime we get large numbers of people together, whether it's at a Super Bowl game or at a World Series game or an NBA Finals or graduations or whatnot, whenever we get people together, whenever there's alcohol involved, whenever there are people being able to let loose a little bit from their normal personality, I think that exacerbates the ability for numbers to rise in that regard,' he said. Advertisement 'Anytime we get together, those numbers are going to go up, whether that's at a resort, whether it's on a cruise ship.' 4 Cruises are more prone to crime because of the number of people packed in a tight area, according to former Secret Service special agent Robert McDonald. Fox News On March 21, two illegal immigrants were arrested after allegedly molesting a minor while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise that set sail from Miami. Jose Prudencio Diaz, 36, and Ricardo Daniel Mondragon Leal, 37, were charged with child molestation and exhibition after an incident on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas ship. Advertisement The victim was identified as a 14-year-old boy who told police he was in the ship's sauna when Diaz and Leal allegedly began masturbating in front of him. 4 Jose Prudencio Diaz and Ricardo Daniel Mondragon Leal are accused of molesting a minor on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. According to records from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Diaz and Leal forced the victim to touch them. Leal also allegedly forced the minor to perform a sex act. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X: 'We WILL get these sickos out of our country.' One recent incident involved dozens of Carnival Cruise Line passengers who got into a brawl while disembarking from a ship April 26. 4 48 crimes were reported onboard cruise ships during the first quarter of 2025, according to the Department of Transportation. NAN – In a video posted to social media, several cruise passengers push through crowds in the Port of Galveston cruise terminal. During the fight, which happened in the cruise port, people can be seen punching and kicking others. Advertisement Carnival Cruise Line placed 24 passengers on a 'do not sail list,' prohibiting them from getting aboard any of the company's ships. A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line previously told Fox News Digital it doesn't tolerate violence. 'The matter was turned over to law enforcement,' the spokesperson said. 'We will not tolerate such behavior, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list.' Fox News Digital reached out to Carnival and Royal Caribbean for comment.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cruise ship crime reaches 2-year high, casting ‘dark cloud' for travelers: expert
Crime rates aboard cruise ships leaving the U.S. have reached a two-year high, and one expert says this creates a "dark cloud" for travelers. According to data from the Department of Transportation, allegations of 48 crimes were reported onboard cruise ships from Jan. 1, 2025, to March 30, 2025. Twenty-three incidents were reported rapes, 10 were sexual assaults and seven were assaults, which all reportedly happened on cruise ships. Robert McDonald, a former Secret Service special agent and criminal justice lecturer at the University of New Haven, told Fox News Digital crime negatively affects the cruise industry. McDonald has coordinated security for various dignitaries around the world. Popular Cruises Suspend Island Stop Over Escalating Gang Violence: What To Know "Sometimes, the cruise lines don't want to report this information on the front end, depending upon, again, what type of crime it is, which brings unfortunate attention to them, just as it would when we have airplane situations or the delays in airplanes that we're having now," McDonald said. "All of that negative vibe and negative information puts a dark cloud over the industry, an industry that wants people to come to it and wants them to be comfortable spending their money." Read On The Fox News App McDonald said cruises are more prone to crime because of the number of people packed in a tight area. "I think anytime we get large numbers of people together, whether it's at a Super Bowl game or at a World Series game or an NBA Finals or graduations or whatnot, whenever we get people together, whenever there's alcohol involved, whenever there are people being able to let loose a little bit from their normal personality, I think that exacerbates the ability for numbers to rise in that regard," he said. "Anytime we get together, those numbers are going to go up, whether that's at a resort, whether it's on a cruise ship." On March 21, two illegal immigrants were arrested after allegedly molesting a minor while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise that set sail from Miami. Jose Prudencio Diaz, 36, and Ricardo Daniel Mondragon Leal, 37, were charged with child molestation and exhibition after an incident on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas ship. Cruise Line Bans Dozens After Massive Brawl Caught On Camera Breaks Out At Texas Port: 'Do Not Sail List' The victim was identified as a 14-year-old boy who told police he was in the ship's sauna when Diaz and Leal allegedly began masturbating in front of him. According to records from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Diaz and Leal forced the victim to touch them. Leal also allegedly forced the minor to perform a sex act. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X: "We WILL get these sickos out of our country." One recent incident involved dozens of Carnival Cruise Line passengers who got into a brawl while disembarking from a ship April 26. In a video posted to social media, several cruise passengers push through crowds in the Port of Galveston cruise terminal. During the fight, which happened in the cruise port, people can be seen punching and kicking others. Carnival Cruise Line placed 24 passengers on a "do not sail list," prohibiting them from getting aboard any of the company's ships. A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line previously told Fox News Digital it doesn't tolerate violence. "The matter was turned over to law enforcement," the spokesperson said. "We will not tolerate such behavior, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list." Fox News Digital reached out to Carnival and Royal Caribbean for comment. Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this article source: Cruise ship crime reaches 2-year high, casting 'dark cloud' for travelers: expert
Fox News
15-05-2025
- Fox News
Cruise ship crime reaches 2-year high, casting ‘dark cloud' for travelers: expert
Crime rates aboard cruise ships leaving the U.S. have reached a two-year high, and one expert says this creates a "dark cloud" for travelers. According to data from the Department of Transportation, allegations of 48 crimes were reported onboard cruise ships from Jan. 1, 2025, to March 30, 2025. Twenty-three incidents were reported rapes, 10 were sexual assaults and seven were assaults, which all reportedly happened on cruise ships. Robert McDonald, a former Secret Service special agent and criminal justice lecturer at the University of New Haven, told Fox News Digital crime negatively affects the cruise industry. McDonald has coordinated security for various dignitaries around the world. "Sometimes, the cruise lines don't want to report this information on the front end, depending upon, again, what type of crime it is, which brings unfortunate attention to them, just as it would when we have airplane situations or the delays in airplanes that we're having now," McDonald said. "All of that negative vibe and negative information puts a dark cloud over the industry, an industry that wants people to come to it and wants them to be comfortable spending their money." McDonald said cruises are more prone to crime because of the number of people packed in a tight area. "I think anytime we get large numbers of people together, whether it's at a Super Bowl game or at a World Series game or an NBA Finals or graduations or whatnot, whenever we get people together, whenever there's alcohol involved, whenever there are people being able to let loose a little bit from their normal personality, I think that exacerbates the ability for numbers to rise in that regard," he said. "Anytime we get together, those numbers are going to go up, whether that's at a resort, whether it's on a cruise ship." On March 21, two illegal immigrants were arrested after allegedly molesting a minor while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise that set sail from Miami. Jose Prudencio Diaz, 36, and Ricardo Daniel Mondragon Leal, 37, were charged with child molestation and exhibition after an incident on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas ship. The victim was identified as a 14-year-old boy who told police he was in the ship's sauna when Diaz and Leal allegedly began masturbating in front of him. According to records from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Diaz and Leal forced the victim to touch them. Leal also allegedly forced the minor to perform a sex act. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X: "We WILL get these sickos out of our country." One recent incident involved dozens of Carnival Cruise Line passengers who got into a brawl while disembarking from a ship April 26. In a video posted to social media, several cruise passengers push through crowds in the Port of Galveston cruise terminal. During the fight, which happened in the cruise port, people can be seen punching and kicking others. Carnival Cruise Line placed 24 passengers on a "do not sail list," prohibiting them from getting aboard any of the company's ships. A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line previously told Fox News Digital it doesn't tolerate violence. "The matter was turned over to law enforcement," the spokesperson said. "We will not tolerate such behavior, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list." Fox News Digital reached out to Carnival and Royal Caribbean for comment.
Washington Post
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Headbanging at sea on a heavy metal cruise
Ozzy Osbourne's voice bellowed over the sound system of the Independence of the Seas as I pressed my fork into a stack of all-you-can-eat pancakes. I sat hypnotized by calming ocean waves, while Tony Iommi's guitar riffs on the Black Sabbath album 'Sabotage' provided a head-banging soundtrack to breakfast. This was one of the more peaceful moments aboard the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, a four-day heavy metal vacation that sailed roundtrip from Miami to Jamaica on a Royal Caribbean ship. If you are into chugging death metal with guttural vocals by Incantation, headbanging to vintage Swedish doom by Candlemass or surfing a mosh pit to Sepultura's 'Dead Embryonic Cells' on a pool deck, this is the cruise for you.
