Hundreds of unsuspecting Royal Caribbean passengers may have been filmed by hidden cameras planted in bathrooms by an ex-employee now serving 30 years in federal prison on child porn charges. Arvin Joseph Mirasol, a former cabin attendant, was sentenced to three decades behind bars in August after he pleaded guilty to producing child sexual abuse material by filming girls as young as 2 in various stages of undress on the Symphony of the Seas ships. Mirasol, a Philippine national, was detained at sea on Feb. 25 when a young girl discovered a camera hidden underneath a sink on a Royal Caribbean cruise that set sail from Florida. He was arrested days later when the boat returned to port. Investigators found a trove of illicit videos of children showering and getting dressed on his electronic devices.
A dozen of Mirasol’s victims and their families are now suing Royal Caribbean Group, alleging that the cruise line didn’t do enough to protect them and screen out predators during the hiring process. Spencer Aronfeld, the attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the 12 anonymous victims, believes hundreds of victims are likely walking around not even knowing they were filmed by the perpetrator. The lawsuit alleges that Mirasol installed cameras underneath the cabin bathroom sinks to record people using the bathroom, including men, women, and children. The plaintiff with the 2-year-old daughter said they want disclosure, accountability, and compensation, to ensure this does not happen to anyone else’s family.
An earlier lawsuit filed by another anonymous victim of Mirasol estimated that up to 960 people may have been victimized by the former employee and his hidden cameras. The lawsuit alleged that Mirasol also filmed adults, including the anonymous plaintiff, and posted the footage online without consent. Royal Caribbean did not inform other passengers staying in rooms serviced by Mirasol between Dec. 1, 2023, and Feb. 26, 2024, on 12 different cruises, according to the suit. The lawsuit accuses Royal Caribbean of failing to protect their privacy and allowing Mirasol to victimize passengers, with potentially countless pornographic images circulating on the internet forever.
The convicted perpetrator admitted to hiding under beds inside cabins to spy on children exiting the shower and record them. Mirasol’s victims and their families seek justice, accountability, and compensation for the invasion of their privacy. The plaintiffs want to ensure that such incidents do not happen again to any other families. The lawsuits shed light on the disturbing nature of these acts and the potential extent of the harm caused by Mirasol’s actions. However, there may be more victims who are unaware that they were filmed by the hidden cameras placed by the ex-employee on Royal Caribbean cruises.
The attorney representing the plaintiffs believes there are likely hundreds of other victims who have yet to come forward. The lawsuits highlight the need for better screening processes and safety measures within the cruise industry to prevent similar incidents in the future. The victims hope to hold Royal Caribbean accountable for the harm caused by Mirasol’s actions and seek justice for the invasion of their privacy. The lawsuits aim to bring attention to the risks posed by predators and the importance of protecting passengers from such violations while onboard cruise ships. Royal Caribbean has not yet commented on the lawsuits or the allegations made against the company regarding the lack of protection for passengers and failure to inform potential victims of the presence of hidden cameras on their ships.
