The serenity of a family cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas was shattered for hundreds of unsuspecting passengers who unknowingly became victims of a clandestine filming operation orchestrated by a former cabin attendant, Arvin Joseph Mirasol. Mirasol, a Philippine national, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child sexual abuse material. The disturbing discovery of his crimes unfolded when a young girl on a cruise departing from Florida found a hidden camera beneath the sink in her cabin’s bathroom. This revelation triggered an investigation that uncovered a trove of illicit videos on Mirasol’s electronic devices, depicting children in various stages of undress, showering, and getting dressed. He later confessed to hiding under cabin beds to film children as they exited the shower, further amplifying the egregiousness of his actions.
The repercussions of Mirasol’s predatory behavior extend far beyond his prison sentence. A dozen victims and their families have filed a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Group, alleging negligence in their hiring and security protocols, which they argue failed to protect passengers from this insidious violation of privacy. The lawsuit highlights the deep sense of betrayal and trauma experienced by the victims, who entrusted their safety and privacy to the cruise line, only to have it shattered by Mirasol’s actions. One plaintiff, whose two-year-old daughter was on the cruise, expressed shock and disbelief, emphasizing the profound impact this incident has had on their family. The victims seek accountability, disclosure, and compensation, aiming to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The scope
