RELATED PRESS / 2020
The Symphony of the Seas cruise ship is shown docked at PortMiami, Miami. A 34-year-old Royal Caribbean cruise worker is accused of hiding cameras in passenger cabin bathrooms to spy on guests. Arvin Joseph Mirasol was arrested on Sunday, March 3, for generating and possessing child pornography after the Symphony of the Seas arrived in Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. >> A Royal Caribbean cruise ship worker is accused of hiding cameras in passenger cabin bathrooms to spy on guests, including underage girls.
Arvin Joseph Mirasol, 34, was arrested Sunday on charges of generating and possessing child sexual abuse curtains after the Symphony of the Seas arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the U. S. District Court for the District of Florida. He also faces six counts of voyeurism in state court.
A guest staying in a cabin where a Mirasol attendant discovered a camera in the bathroom on Feb. 25. “It was attached to the counter under the sink,” according to the affidavit. She reported it to the ship’s officials, who sent security guards. to the room to investigate.
Mirasol, a Filipino national, was detained aboard the ship until March 3, when it docked in Fort Lauderdale. He was questioned by agents from Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies discovered “numerous videos of naked women,” as well as photographs of child sexual abuse on his phone, an SD card and a USB stick, according to the affidavit. One of the videos showed Mirasol installing a camera in the bathroom of a guest cabin.
In a five-minute video, a 10-year-old female entered the bathroom, took off her clothes and entered the shower, according to the affidavit.
Mirasol told investigators he had placed cameras in the bathroom since he started running in December.
“I need it, but I can’t,” he told investigators, according to the affidavit. He admitted that he knew it was illegal to film underage girls. Officials asked him how he had chosen the location of the cameras. I like who’s in this room, I position it,” he told them.
In addition to the hidden cameras, Mirasol told officials he entered the rooms while visitors were showering and hid under the bed. He then recorded them getting dressed, according to the affidavit.
Royal Caribbean said in a statement that the company had fired Mirasol and was cooperating with the investigation.
“We have zero tolerance for this unacceptable behavior,” he said.
Mirasol is represented through Robert Bérubé of the Federal Public Defender’s Office, who said in an email that he would comment on the case. Mirasol remained in the Broward County Jail on Wednesday.
Have comments? Learn more here.
Click here for our full information on the coronavirus outbreak. Submit your coronavirus news.
Back to top