This smells like dead, rotting fish.
Two illegal immigrants from Mexico were arrested and charged Friday for allegedly molesting a minor on a Royal Caribbean cruise off the coast of Miami.
Jose Prudencio Diaz, 36, and Ricardo Daniel Mondragon Leal, 37, are charged with child molestation and exhibition on a child in connection with an incident that occurred on an Independence of the Seas cruise.
Additionally, Diaz is charged with having sex with another person without disclosing his HIV infection, and Leal is charged with sexual battery of a minor, according to arrest records.
How did they get on the ship?
To board a cruise you must present, if a citizen of the US and the ship is sailing from and returning to the US, either a valid US Passport (with six months remaining on it) or a certified birth certificate and if over 16 a federal or state ID (e.g. Driver License.)
If you're not a US citizen then you must present a passport and proof of lawful entry into the US such as a Visa or waiver processing (as is the case for many nations in the EU.)
No documents, no boarding. Period.
So.......
Yeah, that question. And I've taken several cruises -- including on Royal. Yes, using a passport, and yes, they check it, and no, it can't be the card either -- it has to be the book.
The only other way they should have been able to get on board is if they were employees, which is an even worse problem for obvious reasons.
So how did they get on the ship?
Royal Caribbean has a problem here......