A viral TikTok showing a woman allegedly confronting Royal Caribbean staff over her girlfriend’s alleged detainment has sparked internet outrage and raised concerns about cruise ship safety.
On June 29, a TikTok user (@kvng.lizz) posted a video of a heated interaction with someone who appears to be a Royal Caribbean security officer. The video has received over 30 million views as of Sunday.
In the video, it appears that a security officer approaches the room of the woman recording with her girlfriend. They are there to pick up a change of clothes for her detainment.
The woman who was allegedly detained claims that she was detained for saying she would jump off the ship. However, she denies that she ever said that.
“They said that I said that I was going to jump off the ship, but they refused to provide [evidence],” says the woman in the video.
The two women claim that the officers have body cameras. Still, they refuse to show proof that she ever said such a thing.
What started it all?
The woman who posted the video clarifies the situation in the caption. She claims that they went to the front desk the day after one of their items was missing. They were told that the team would review who entered their room. However, they never received this information.
The caption also claims that they later returned to their room. There, they found the safe open and their passport and wallets missing. This led them to return to the front desk. The caption claims that they were not allowed to speak to the director. However, they spoke to the head of security. Reportedly, he said they “wasted his time with these issues and made the remark that he trusts his staff.”
“He goes to dismiss us and then says my girlfriend allegedly said she was going to jump off the boat,” the woman writes in the caption. “That was never said in any form of fashion or anything similar. There was six witnesses with body cam footage along with a surveillance camera as I also was a witness in the room. Not once when we provided footage where that remark was said. We instantly was split up and I was told to wait 30 minutes outside of the office.”
The caption explains that over five hours later, the TikToker received a call that they are coming to their room with their girlfriend. This is the alleged incident recorded in the viral video. “Once they arrive, they do not want to explain why she is being detained nor provide footage of being detained,” she writes.
“She then has to remain confined to herself the entire duration of our vacation so again we are two females alone that [don’t] know anyone,” claims the woman in the caption.
More to the story
The woman posted numerous other follow-up videos. In one video, they post an altercation with a man they describe to be the head of security. In this video, the couple claims that the woman never made the comment they are accusing her of saying. They insist that there is no proof of such.
“You are currently under the confinement protocols of this company and the vessel,” says the man in the video. “The reason why we brought you here is because we are trying to be nice and we are trying to be friendly, and we want you to be comfortable, so we’ve allowed you to come down here and bring a set of clothing to bring down to detainment,” says the supposed head of security.
“Without proof, she cannot be detained,” says the woman recording the video.
People are outraged at Royal Caribbean
The initial viral video has sparked outrage in the comments, causing many to question the safety of cruise ships. “I have a feeling that the staff, including the head of staff, are involved in thefts regularly, and this is their method of silencing the guests,” suspected one comment.
“They have cameras all over the place,” wrote another user. “They can just review the cctv. That will solve the problem.”
Many commenters chimed in with their experiences, alleging that they went through similar events. “A Royal Caribbean employee stole our credit card and spent $3,800 on the last day,” claimed one individual.
“This happened to me,” alleged another. “Housekeeping stole my new $700 camera out of my room, and when I suggested it was stolen by staff, I became the focus of their attacks. They refused to let me up to check the room, they threatened to call the police, they insisted I calm down, and refused to check any cameras.”
The issue of theft on cruise ships is not unheard of. The Department of Transportation published a report claiming that 2023 saw 20 reported thefts of more than $10,000 on cruise ships that docked in the U.S. that year.
@kvng.lizz UPDATED SHORTER ANSWERS ON NEW UPLOAD. 8 AM my girlfriend & I went to security because for the second day in the row with do not disturb sign. The housekeeper has came in and moved thing around multiple times even messed with the intimate items. the day after I’m missing a item so I report it front desk. they tell me that they would review who has entered my room never gets back with me even after I asked several times will not let me see footage. or given me card entry history like they promised. on the third day when we wake up from going out the previous night, our entire safe was open as if someone came in while we were gone, our passport wallet bracket and etc was missing.. we search 15-20 mins then goes to from desk distraught genuinely seeking help kindly. They would not let me speak to the director. They only let me speak to had security who is once again mad I have wasted his time with these issues and made the remark that he trust his staff, even though this is staff’s first few days on ship. he goes to dismiss us and then says my girlfriend allegedly said she was going to jump off the boat. That was never said in any form of fashion or anything similar there was six witnesses with body cam footage along with a surveillance camera as I also was a witness in the room not once when we provided footage where that remark was said we instantly was split up and I was told to wait 30 minutes outside of the office. an hour and a half goes by. I’ve been waiting and I’m told to go back to my room. It is now been five hours go on evening time and I am getting a phone call saying that my girlfriend is coming downstairs to get some clothes and we’ll talk. Once they arrive, they do not want to explain why she is being detained nor provide footage of being detained. the security has not favored me the entire duration, even though I went to them to seek for help I did not know that it would end up this way as me coming to them. We were not doing anything wrong for them to come approach us we were not doing any type of misconduct for them to approach us. We came to them for help. They simply took advantage of separating two women alone and international waters. This is a scary situation that was not explained and felt like she was being held hostage after not being able to speak for 5+ hours. she then has to remain confined to herself the entire duration of our vacation so again we are two females alone than no anyone.
♬ original sound – Lizzy
The Mary Sue reached out to The Royal Caribbean and @Kvng.lizz for comment.
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