Cruise Lawyer Weekly: Celebrity Cruises Faces Lawsuit Over Crew Member Sexual Assault Aboard Celebrity Apex
A crew member has filed a lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises, Inc., alleging that she was sexually assaulted by a fellow crew member while working aboard the Celebrity Apex. The case, Jane Doe (J.K.) v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc. (Case No. 1:25-cv-21035-RAR), raises serious concerns about crew safety, cruise line liability for onboard assaults, and the failure to protect employees from known dangers.
Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Celebrity Cruises for Crew Member Attack Aboard Celebrity Apex
The plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe (J.K.), was employed by Celebrity Cruises as a crew member aboard the Celebrity Apex. According to the complaint:
- On January 14, 2024, while the ship was at sea, J.K. was in her cabin when a fellow crew member entered and sexually assaulted her.
- She immediately reported the incident to her supervisors and the ship’s security team.
- Despite her report, Celebrity Cruises allegedly failed to take immediate corrective action, allowing the perpetrator to remain onboard and continue working.
- J.K. suffered severe emotional trauma and distress, ultimately leading her to terminate her employment with the cruise line.
Failure to Prevent Sexual Assault and Crew Member Safety Aboard Celebrity Cruises
The lawsuit accuses Celebrity Cruises of negligence and failure to provide a safe working environment, including:
- Failure to prevent the assault – The plaintiff claims that Celebrity Cruises failed to implement proper security measures and crew supervision to prevent acts of sexual violence aboard its vessels.
- Failure to investigate and respond – The complaint alleges that Celebrity Cruises did not take immediate steps to remove the alleged attacker from the ship, nor did it conduct a thorough investigation.
- Failure to provide a safe work environment – The lawsuit asserts that the cruise line knew or should have known of the risks of sexual violence among crew members but failed to enforce proper policies to protect employees.
- Negligent hiring and retention – The plaintiff argues that Celebrity Cruises failed to properly screen, train, and supervise crew members, allowing a dangerous individual to remain employed onboard.
- Unseaworthiness – The lawsuit claims that the vessel was unseaworthy under maritime law because it did not provide a safe and secure environment for its crew members.
Legal Issues in the Celebrity Cruises Crew Member Sexual Assault Case
This case raises significant legal questions regarding the responsibility of cruise lines to protect their crew members from sexual violence, including:
- Are cruise lines liable for failing to prevent sexual assaults involving their employees?
- What duty does Celebrity Cruises have to remove an alleged attacker from a ship once an assault is reported?
- Should cruise lines implement stricter hiring and background check policies for crew members?
- Does failing to provide a safe work environment make a vessel unseaworthy under maritime law?
What Happens Next in the Celebrity Cruises Sexual Assault Lawsuit?
The case will likely focus on:
- Whether Celebrity Cruises had prior knowledge of similar incidents and failed to implement better security measures.
- If the cruise line’s failure to act after the report of the assault created an unsafe work environment for J.K. and other crew members.
- Whether Celebrity Cruises’ policies for handling crew member sexual assault cases meet legal and ethical standards.
- Will Celebrity Cruises argue that it responded appropriately, or will this case expose systemic failures in how cruise lines handle sexual misconduct involving crew members?
Stay tuned as Cruise Lawyer Weekly continues tracking this case and its potential impact on maritime law, crew member safety, and cruise industry regulations.
