Federal authorities detained four Filipino crew members aboard Carnival Sunshine while the ship was docked at Norfolk and arranged for their deportation the following day, according to Filipino advocacy groups. This incident increases the total number of CCL-Carnival Cruise Line workers apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in recent months to 28.
Advocates have reported that despite holding valid C1/D crew visas, the workers were accused of participating in a group chat associated with child pornography—a claim they uniformly denied. No formal charges, evidence, or convictions have been presented, and none of those detained were granted access to legal counsel.
The detainees—three men and one woman, all resident crew aboard Carnival Sunshine—were initially held overnight at a hotel near Norfolk International Airport and transported to the airport the next morning for deportation.
Both Carnival Cruise Line and CBP characterized the matter as a law enforcement operation, with Carnival stating it cooperates fully with such investigations.
Advocacy groups have criticized the process for its lack of due process, suggesting that the detentions may be aimed at meeting deportation quotas. These organizations continue to press for transparency and due legal consideration for the affected crew members.
For more Carnival Sunshine incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.