A Florida man, Michael Henry Mullis, 39, of Lutz, Florida, was arrested and faces two counts of indecent exposure following incidents that occurred aboard the Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship.
The Celebrity Eclipse was returning from an 8-night Caribbean cruise that had departed Fort Lauderdale on March 14, 2026, and called at Basseterre, St. Kitts; St. Johns, Antigua; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. The incident occurred while the vessel was still at sea, with the case referred to local authorities once the ship returned to South Florida.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Broward Sheriff’s Office, a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old told investigators that Mullis exposed himself and engaged in a lewd act while seated on the top bench of the ship’s sauna. Later that same day, a 19-year-old crew member reported that Mullis entered the sauna, removed his clothing, and covered himself with a towel before making an explicit lewd proposition to the employee. Ship security took Mullis into custody, and he was transported to Broward’s main jail upon the ship’s return to Fort Lauderdale.
Celebrity Cruises has not released a statement on the incident. The Celebrity Eclipse is currently back at sea on a subsequent sailing.
The article also draws attention to a broader legal gap in cruise ship safety oversight. Unlike sexual assault, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010 does not obligate cruise lines to report incidents of indecent exposure — even those involving minors — to the FBI. This means investigations for incidents of this nature are typically handled by local Florida law enforcement only after the ship has returned to port.
The incident has drawn renewed scrutiny to the safety of public saunas and steam rooms on cruise ships, which safety experts note are frequently unmonitored by ship security — creating elevated risk for unsupervised minors. Age restrictions for spa facilities are often poorly enforced, allowing children access to these areas without adequate oversight.
This is not the first misconduct incident involving Celebrity Cruises’ vessels. In December 2023, a youth counselor aboard Celebrity Silhouette was charged with abusive sexual conduct involving a minor, and a crew member from Celebrity Reflection was arrested in 2024 on child pornography charges.
The case highlights the gap that can exist between the well-advertised safety protocols cruise lines promote and conditions that passengers — particularly families with minors — actually encounter in less-monitored areas of the ship.
Contact Waks and Barnett, P.A.
The attorneys at Waks and Barnett, P.A. have been representing injured cruise ship passengers and crew members for more than 35 years. Based in Miami, we handle cases exclusively against cruise lines and understand the complexities of maritime law and the federal courts where these cases are litigated. If you or a loved one experienced a medical emergency aboard a cruise ship, we encourage you to contact our office today for a free consultation.
For more information from our attorneys, please call us today. There is no obligation with the call—and the call with our attorneys is free.
Call today at 1-305-271-8282.
Hablamos Español
Our cruise ship accident lawyers help you understand your rights and will assist you in filing an injury claim against the cruise line. If you believe negligence played a role in your medical emergency—or just have questions—please contact our office today.
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique and should be evaluated by an experienced cruise ship accident or maritime injury attorney.