Yikes. Disney’s “Happiest Ships on Earth” are under serious scrutiny after a major uptick in sexual assault reports over the past two years.
While most guests are boarding Disney Cruise Line ships for sunshine, sea views, and Mickey-shaped waffles, a troubling trend is quietly unfolding behind the scenes—and it’s anything but magical.
Newly released government data shows that alleged sexual assaults onboard Disney Cruise Line voyages have jumped more than fivefold since pre-pandemic years. And yes, it’s raising major eyebrows.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Disney Cruise Line reported just a handful of incidents between 2018 and 2022. But that all changed fast.
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2023: 15 reports
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2024: 18 reports
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2025 (Q1 only): 5 reports already—and it’s only May!
That’s 38 reported assaults in just over two years, compared to just 8 in the five years prior.
A Disney Cruise Line spokesperson said in a statement, “Nothing is more important than the safety of our guests and crew members. We take all allegations very seriously and work closely with law enforcement.”
Bigger Fleet, Bigger Problems?
Disney has been expanding its cruise empire like Ursula on a power trip. With 13 ships planned by 2031, and multiple new vessels added since 2022, the question becomes: Is Disney scaling too fast to stay safe?
The growing passenger count—thousands of families, couples, and cast members—might be stretching onboard safety resources thin, according to critics.
Who’s Reporting the Crimes?
Here’s where it gets more concerning: while some incidents involve crew members, most of the increase has been among passengers.
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Crew-related cases: 9 total between 2023 and 2024
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Passenger-on-passenger cases: 14 in 2024 alone
And for the first time in 2023, the government began categorizing “alleged rapes”—with 4 cases in 2023 and 3 in 2024 coming from Disney cruises.
Why Aren’t More People Talking About This?
Glad you asked. Only crimes that happen on ships sailing to or from U.S. ports involving U.S. citizens get reported to the FBI and Department of Transportation. So, if you’re sailing international, or you’re not American? Those numbers don’t show up in the report.
That means the real number of assaults could be WAY higher, says maritime attorney John H. Hickey, who’s represented dozens of cruise assault victims.
“If the ship doesn’t go through a U.S. port, or if the victim isn’t American, it doesn’t even get counted,” Hickey told Newsweek. “It’s only the tip of the iceberg.”
(We’re officially scared of icebergs again.)
So What Happens When Someone Reports an Assault?
Here’s the thing: there are laws in place—like the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA)—that require ships to offer:
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Access to medical care
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Sexual assault forensic exams
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Onboard security & victim advocates
But Hickey says the response often depends on where the ship is and who’s in charge at the time. “Many cruise lines hire young crew from countries with limited background checks. And if the ship docks at an under-resourced port, there’s not much law enforcement can do.”
Sounds like a legal Bermuda Triangle.
RAINN’s Must-Know Tips for Cruise Victims
If the worst happens, here’s what experts say to do immediately onboard:
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Report it right away to medical or security staff
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Document any injuries
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Request a forensic exam (before showering or changing clothes!)
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Get names of any witnesses
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Call the FBI if you’re a U.S. citizen and the ship touches U.S. shores
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Contact a cruise assault attorney with maritime experience
But Isn’t Cruising Still Super Safe?
Depends who you ask. The Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) insists that cruising is “one of the safest vacation options” and cites research that shows violent crime rates onboard are 95% lower than on land.
But advocates argue that crimes at sea are simply harder to report, harder to prove, and harder to prosecute.
So yeah—cruising can be safe. But it’s not witho
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Disney Cruise Nightmare? Sexual Assault Reports Surge, Parents Rethink Vacation Plans
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ut risk. Especially if you don’t know what to look out for.
The Bottom Line
We’re not saying cancel your Disney cruise. But we are saying it’s time to take cruise safety seriously.
Disney has major expansion plans, and fans will keep sailing. But with a growing number of sexual assault reports onboard, the company may need to invest more in training, security, and support for victims.
Because no one expects to be navigating trauma on a ship with Cinderella and Goofy.
