An RCI-Royal Caribbean crew member was arrested Sunday, March 3, after allegedly filming naked passengers without their knowledge onboard, including kids.
Law enforcement has found child pornography among the electronic devices of Arvin Joseph Mirasol after conducting a search onboard. The search came after RCI notified Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection and the Broward Sheriff’s Office on February 26 that an employee on the Symphony of the Seas cruise ship had hidden a camera in guest bathrooms, an affidavit signed by HSI special agent Michelle Maglione read.
“During the examination of his USB Stick device, law enforcement discovered numerous videos of naked females undressing in the bathroom as well as videos of child pornography,” the document said.
In one video, 34-year-old Mirasol could be seen installing a camera in a cabin bathroom, according to the affidavit. The clip shows a girl who appears to be 10-year-old undressing and getting in the shower.
The crew, who is from the Philippines, has admitted "to taping a video camera in the guests' bathrooms that he worked as a stateroom attendant,” the affidavit filed in the Southern District of Florida read.
“Mirasol revealed that he has been placing these cameras, in the bathroom since he started working on Symphony of the Seas around December 2023,” the document said.
Mirasol had stated he wanted to control it, but he couldn't.
When asked how he picked which stateroom he put the camera in, he told law enforcement that if he liked who was in that room, he place it. He also noted he would choose females ~16 and older (though he knew filming minors was illegal).
Mirasol entered cabins while guests were showering and filmed them naked with a cell phone while hiding under the bed.
The man is charged with the production of child pornography/possession of child pornography, as well as 6 counts of video voyeurism in Florida.
For more Symphony of the Seas incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.