Two rogue Cruise Ships Seized by Authorities in Bahamas

Rogue cruise ships wanted for millions in unpaid bills seized by authorities in the Bahamas.

Two Crystal Cruise ships, The Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity were seized by authorities in the Bahamas. They diverted to the Bahamas with hundreds of passengers in the ships in order to avoid a US warrant over unpaid fuel bills of about $4.6 million.

The ships were confiscated by authorities in waters near Freeport, the Bahamas on Friday night. The passengers were disembarked at the time of confiscation, enraged and dissatisfied by the cruise ships. They expected to end their cruise in Miami but the cruise was cut short and about 300 passengers were transported to Florida by ferries.

A US marshal sought the ships over a federal warrant issued last month. The parent company of Crystal Cruises, Genting Hong Kong reported that they were winding up the company and they won’t be able to pay up the debts immediately. However, their main fuel supplier sought after them to recover the unpaid fuel bills.

Genting’s accompaniments had accounted over a total of $4.6 million in fuel payments, out of which $1.2 million were credited to the Crystal Symphony alone.

Judge Darrin Gayles of the U.S. District Court in Southern Florida approved the warrant, and the Crystal vessels were to be arrested if they entered US ports. Avoiding the warrants, the cruise ships diverted to Bimini instead of going to Miami and California, where they were finally seized. 

British musician Elio Pace, who was performing onboard the Symphony at the time said, “That was quite extraordinary, to be in a position to have to perform to people, with them knowing the cruise line has gone into liquidation. This was a shock to everybody when we got the announcement.”

Also, Read Crystal Cruises forced to reroute another ship: ‘They just screwed everyone over’