Posted October 21, 2026
By cruise ship attorney, Joel Barnett
Princess Cruises just took the top spot among mega-ship cruise lines in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers cast nearly 800,000 votes, and Princess scored 92.35 in the category for ships carrying more than 4,000 passengers, ahead of Royal Caribbean, MSC, Carnival Cruise Line, and Norwegian.
Princess earned its spot in the category with its two newest and largest ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess, each able to carry up to 4,300 passengers. Princess is owned by Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Carnival Cruise Line and several other brands.
Readers’ polls measure the things passengers enjoy: dining, cabins, entertainment, and service. However, they do not measure what happens when something goes wrong. As attorneys who represent injured cruise passengers and crew, we see that side of the industry every day, and it is worth looking at alongside the rankings.
What FBI Crime Reports Show for Princess Ships in 2025 and 2026
Under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, cruise lines must report certain serious crimes to the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Transportation publishes those reports each quarter. The figures are allegations reported to the FBI, published without regard to the status of any investigation, so they do not mean a crime was proven. They also reflect only incidents involving ships that sail to or from U.S. ports.
Here is what was reported for Princess Cruises over the last six reported quarters:
| Quarter | Total | Sexual Assault / Rape | Theft Over $10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Q2 2025 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Q3 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Q4 2025 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Q1 2026 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Q2 2026 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 11 | 5 |
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Cruise Line Incident Reports (CVSSA data reported to the FBI). Figures are alleged incidents, reported without regard to investigative status.
That is 16 reported serious crimes in 18 months, 11 of them involving sexual assault or rape. Sexual assault consistently makes up the largest share of crimes reported across the cruise industry, not just at Princess, and advocates widely believe many incidents never get reported at all. Click to see the most recent FBI crimes report – Q2 2026.
Serious Incidents Aboard Princess Ships
Some incidents aboard Princess ships have drawn national attention. In 2017, 39-year-old Kristy Manzanares died aboard the Emerald Princess during an Alaska cruise after a domestic dispute in the couple’s cabin. Her husband later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. In 2018, the FBI and Aruban authorities investigated the death of a 52-year-old American woman aboard the Royal Princess as the ship approached Aruba.
These cases are rare compared with the number of people who sail each year, but they are a reminder that a cruise ship is a small city at sea, with a security team, medical staff, and response procedures that only work when they are properly staffed and followed.
When Princess Cruise Line Responsible for Injuries or Crimes?
Cruise lines owe passengers a duty of reasonable care, which includes reasonable security measures. A cruise line may be held responsible when it fails to prevent a crime it should have seen coming, for example through inadequate security staffing, poor surveillance, broken cabin locks, over-serving alcohol, or ignoring prior complaints about a passenger or crew member. When a crew member assaults a passenger, the law can hold the cruise line responsible even more directly. Learn more about cruise ship sexual assault claims.
Protecting Your Rights After an Incident on a Princess Cruise Ship
If you are harmed aboard any cruise ship:
- Get to safety and get medical care. Ask the ship’s medical center to document your injuries.
- Report the incident to ship security and ask that it be reported to the FBI. You can also contact the FBI directly.
- Preserve evidence. Keep clothing and personal items, write down names and cabin numbers, and ask in writing that surveillance footage be preserved.
- Watch the time limits. Princess ticket contracts, like most cruise contracts, generally require written notice of a claim within six months and a lawsuit within one year, usually in federal court in Miami. These time limits are shorter than most passengers expect.
Survivors of sexual assault can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline 24 hours a day at 1-800-656-4673. You can also read about the rights cruise passengers have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the FBI numbers mean Princess is less safe than other cruise lines?
Not necessarily. Princess carries a very large number of passengers, and the reports list allegations rather than convictions. The numbers show that serious incidents happen even on the highest-rated ships. However, it’s important to note that these reports under report incidents as many passengers, especially with rape and sexual assault claims are hesitant to report.
Can I sue Princess Cruises for a crime committed by another passenger?
Possibly, if the cruise line’s security failures made the crime foreseeable or preventable. Read more about injury claims against Princess Cruises.
Do I need a lawyer for a cruise ship crime or injury claim?
Cruise lines have experienced legal teams protecting them from the moment an incident is reported. See whether you need a cruise ship lawyer.
Get a Free, Confidential Case Review
If you or a loved one was assaulted, injured, or harmed aboard a Princess ship or any other cruise line, call Waks & Barnett, P.A. at 1-305-271-8282 or find out if you have a case. Your consultation is free and confidential. Hablamos Español.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; contact Waks & Barnett, P.A. to discuss the specific facts of your situation.
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