The father of Anna Kepner, who was killed aboard a cruise ship, has spoken out regarding the upcoming trial of her stepbrother. This high-profile cruise ship crime case continues to generate significant media attention. The case highlights serious safety concerns aboard cruise vessels.
📰 Reported — from industry news sources
Photo: Travel Mutiny
How to Protect Yourself After a Cruise Ship Crime: What You Need to Know Now
Cruise ship deaths and serious crimes make headlines, but most travelers have no idea what their rights are—or what they should do if something goes wrong aboard. This guide walks you through the practical steps to understand your exposure, document incidents, and know which safety measures actually matter before you book.
How Do You Know If Your Cruise Line Has a Real Safety Problem?
Start by checking the U.S. Coast Guard's voluntary reporting database and reading incident summaries from independent cruise safety organizations rather than relying on cruise-line marketing materials. Request detailed safety records directly from your cruise line's corporate office—specifically incident reports, crew training certifications, and medical response protocols. Cross-reference the ship's name and itinerary against public court records and news archives covering maritime incidents. Don't assume one high-profile case means systemic failure, but do pay attention to patterns: multiple deaths on the same vessel, repeated allegations of negligent investigations, or documented crew safety violations.
Most cruise lines operate under international maritime law, which means incident investigations may not follow U.S. criminal procedures. This matters because transparency varies wildly. Some lines cooperate fully with authorities; others have faced criticism for slow reporting or incomplete documentation. The Port of Seattle, for example, lists sailing details for ships like the Discovery Princess (Princess Cruises, departing from Smith Cove/Pier 91) and Norwegian Encore (Norwegian Cruise Line, departing from Bell Street Pier/Pier 66), but neither terminal's public information details safety records or incident history. You have to dig for it yourself.
Photo: Travel Mutiny
What Should You Do Before Booking If a Crime Concerns You?
Review your cruise line's written safety and incident-reporting policies before purchasing any ticket. Contact the cruise line's guest services department and ask specific questions: How are medical emergencies documented? What is the protocol if a guest reports a crime? Who investigates—the ship's security team, port authorities, or both? Request written answers, not verbal assurances. This creates a paper trail if something later goes wrong.
Purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers trip cancellation for any reason (CFAR) if you're nervous about your sailing. Standard trip cancellation policies typically cover only named perils—death of a family member, illness, job loss. CFAR policies, offered by carriers like Allianz and IMG, usually run 10-14% of your cruise fare but allow you to cancel within 14 days of departure for basically any reason and recover 50-75% of your prepaid costs. Check whether the policy explicitly covers "cruise line-related safety incidents" before buying; some do, some don't. Read the exclusions carefully. If a specific ship has been in the news for crime or negligence, some underwriters may exclude that vessel entirely.
Photo by What Do You Actually Do If an Incident Occurs During Your Cruise?
If you witness or experience a crime aboard ship, immediately report it to the ship's security office and request a formal incident report number. Document everything in writing within 24 hours: date, time, location, names of witnesses, and exactly what happened. Take photographs or video if safe to do so. Contact the ship's medical team if anyone is injured. Request the names and contact information of all security personnel and officers involved.
Once the ship reaches port, contact the local port authority police and file a separate report with them—do not rely solely on the cruise line's internal investigation. Keep copies of all reports. If you're a passenger involved in the incident, provide your contact information to the port authority, not just the cruise line. Many cruise lines have settled lawsuits because passengers couldn't access their own incident reports or because ship security delayed reporting crimes to authorities.
After disembarking, consult a maritime attorney if the incident involves serious injury, death, or criminal conduct. Maritime law has different liability rules than land-based law, and cruise lines often include mandatory arbitration clauses in your ticket—which means you may not have the right to sue in court. A lawyer can review your ticket's fine print and advise whether your case is worth pursuing.
Traveler Tip:
I always tell people to photograph your cruise ticket's terms and conditions on your phone before boarding—specifically the liability and arbitration clauses. Most passengers never read these, and when something goes wrong, they discover they've already waived their right to a jury trial. Take five minutes at home, snap a photo, and keep it in your files. It costs nothing and could save you thousands in legal fees if you need to challenge the cruise line's interpretation of their own contract.
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Last updated: May 18, 2026. This is a developing story — check back for updates.