Passenger blames cruise company for sexual assault

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. – For the second time this year, a former Margaritaville at Sea passenger who claims he was the victim of sexual assault has filed a lawsuit against the cruise line.

Investigative reporter Dave Bohman looked into the details of the lawsuit and learned that the alleged attack “did not occur on the ship.”

A woman identified in the lawsuit only as Jane Doe said she took a Margaritaville at Sea cruise in August 2023. The ship docked in Freeport, Bahamas.

In her lawsuit, she claimed that the cruise line Concora, which also operates Margaritaville at Sea, arranged for her to stay at a Wyndham hotel in Freeport.

She claims she was attacked at the Wyndham Hotel and blames the cruise line for putting her in the hotel because, as a passenger, she did not have a room on the ship.

The indictment alleges that she “left her room one night to get a drink,” whereupon a hotel employee “forced her into the control room of the resort’s theater, locked the door, and then raped her.”

“These are very sensitive issues,” said Alex Perez, the victim’s lawyer.

In the lawsuit, the woman claims there was evidence of a sexual assault at the hotel in 2016 that the cruise line should have warned her about.

“As soon as there is a reason to know about the danger, passengers must be informed,” said Perez, “so that they can make informed decisions about their future behavior.”

I have called and emailed both Margaritaville at Sea’s parent company and Wyndham Resorts to get their perspective on the matter, but have not received a response.

This is the second lawsuit in recent months filed by a Margaritaville Line passenger blaming the cruise line for a sexual assault.

A woman from West Virginia claims She was raped by a ship’s bartender and became pregnant.

The case was settled and the bartender is now serving his sentence in a federal prison.

The latest lawsuit accuses the cruise line of failing to warn the woman about the dangers of Freeport. It states: “Between 2018 and 2019, the U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory for the Bahamas, and specifically Freeport, warning that violent crimes, including sexual assault, are common.”

“And we think that’s something the cruise line should have made clear to passengers,” Perez said.

I spoke to Jeanne Knight, a travel agent specializing in cruise bookings, about what travelers should know about visiting Freeport.

“You’re always safer in a group, right? Whether you’re hanging out at the pool or staying home,” Knight said, “you’re safer in a group.”

The lawsuit does not mention a police report from Freeport.

And again: the alleged attack took place in a hotel, not on the ship.

The woman is suing Margaritaville at Sea because, according to her complaint, the company arranged her hotel accommodations and, according to her lawyer, is at least partially responsible for her safety.