A former Royal Caribbean cabin steward who is already serving a lengthy federal prison sentence is now facing additional criminal charges tied to one of the most disturbing cruise ship privacy scandals in recent years.
Arvin Joseph Mirasol, a former crew member aboard Symphony of the Seas, is scheduled to appear in a Broward County courtroom on June 15, 2026, where he is expected to enter a plea related to local charges stemming from the same investigation that previously sent him to federal prison.
The new development comes nearly two years after a cruise passenger made a shocking discovery inside their stateroom bathroom, a discovery that ultimately uncovered a much larger criminal investigation involving hidden recordings, privacy violations, and child exploitation material.
A Routine Cruise Turned Into a Criminal Investigation
The case first came to light during a Caribbean sailing aboard Symphony of the Seas in March 2024.
According to investigators, a guest found a concealed camera hidden beneath a bathroom sink while reaching for an extra roll of toilet paper. The discovery immediately raised an alarm and was reported to ship security.
When the vessel returned to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, authorities boarded the ship and detained Mirasol, who was working as a cabin steward at the time.
What investigators uncovered after examining his electronic devices would dramatically expand the scope of the case.
Investigators Allegedly Found Hundreds of Secret Recordings
Federal investigators reported finding videos that allegedly showed female passengers inside private stateroom bathrooms while changing clothes or showering.
Authorities said some recordings dated back several months and appeared to involve multiple cruise sailings.
Even more troubling, investigators also reported discovering child sexual abuse material among the files recovered during the investigation.
According to court documents cited in media reports, one video allegedly showed a young child undressing and showering. Authorities also pointed to internet search history that included voyeurism-related searches.
The findings ultimately led to serious federal criminal charges.
Thirty-Year Federal Prison Sentence
In August 2024, Mirasol pleaded guilty in federal court to producing child pornography.
As a result, he received a 30-year prison sentence.
The sentence was one of the harshest penalties handed down in a cruise-related criminal case in recent years and effectively ensured he would spend decades behind bars.
However, the legal process did not end there.
Now, local prosecutors are moving forward with separate state-level charges connected to the hidden-camera allegations.
Reports indicate he is facing multiple counts related to digital voyeurism and has already been booked into Broward County’s jail system ahead of upcoming court proceedings.
Lawsuits Continue to Grow
While the criminal case moved through federal court, civil lawsuits also began piling up.
One of the most significant legal actions came from a former passenger who filed a class-action lawsuit alleging she was secretly recorded inside her stateroom bathroom.
The lawsuit claims that intimate images were captured without consent and later distributed online.
According to court filings, the passenger says the experience has had a devastating emotional impact on her life.
The lawsuit describes ongoing effects, including:
- Anxiety and emotional distress.
- Sleep disruption and insomnia.
- Crying episodes.
- Nausea and dizziness.
- Fear that videos may still be circulating online.
The case seeks damages for the emotional and psychological harm allegedly caused by the incident.
Could Hundreds of Passengers Have Been Affected?
One of the most alarming claims emerging from the civil litigation involves the potential number of victims.
Attorneys estimate that the number of affected passengers could be significantly larger than initially believed.
Their calculations are based on:
- Multiple cruise sailings over several months.
- Roughly 20 cabins are allegedly serviced by the crew member per voyage.
- Multiple occupants are staying in each cabin.
Using those estimates, attorneys suggest that as many as 960 passengers may have been exposed to potential privacy violations.
At this stage, however, the exact number of affected guests has not been officially confirmed.
Royal Caribbean Also Named in Lawsuit
The civil litigation doesn’t focus solely on the former crew member.
Royal Caribbean has also been named as a defendant.
Plaintiffs argue that the cruise line should have implemented stronger safeguards, supervision, and oversight measures that could have prevented the alleged conduct.
The lawsuit claims the company failed to:
Adequately Monitor Crew Members
Attorneys argue that stronger supervision may have detected suspicious behavior sooner.
Properly Protect Passenger Privacy
The complaint alleges guests were entitled to a higher level of protection while staying onboard.
Warn Potential Victims
The lawsuit further claims passengers whose cabins were serviced by the employee were not adequately informed after the investigation became public.
Royal Caribbean has not publicly admitted wrongdoing regarding the allegations.
One of the World’s Largest Cruise Ships
At the time of the incident, Symphony of the Seas was operating weeklong Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale.
The Oasis-class vessel remains one of the largest cruise ships ever built and regularly carries more than 5,500 guests along with approximately 2,200 crew members.
Since the investigation, the ship has relocated to Galveston, Texas, where it continues sailing Western Caribbean itineraries.
The vessel itself has not been accused of any operational safety failures related to guest accommodations, but the case has sparked broader conversations throughout the cruise industry about privacy protections, crew oversight, and passenger security.
Legal Proceedings Continue
Although Mirasol is already serving a lengthy federal sentence, the state case remains active and could result in additional penalties tied to the hidden-camera allegations.
Meanwhile, the civil lawsuits continue working their way through the court system as former passengers seek answers and compensation.
For many affected guests, the legal battle is no longer simply about financial damages. It is about accountability and ensuring similar violations never happen again aboard a cruise ship.
As the court proceedings move forward, the case remains one of the most significant passenger privacy scandals ever linked to the modern cruise industry.
