Welcome to Cruise Blog's Weekly Roundup for the week of January 9, 2026!
This is a helpful post covering everything you may have missed from this week, including two stepbrothers who were arrested after being accused of raping a 25-year-old passenger on a Carnival cruise ship, and a stern warning sent to parents of kids caught breaking the minor curfew policy.
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Stepbrothers accused of raping 25-year-old aboard Carnival cruise ship
Two Carnival cruise passengers have been charged with the rape of a 25-year-old woman, as reported by Cruise Law News.
Sayjuan Readous, 26, and Antoine Flowers Jr., 28, of Michigan, allegedly swapped places during a sexual encounter on December 15, 2025, unbeknownst to the victim. The incident reportedly occurred aboard the Carnival Sunrise, one of the oldest ships in Carnival’s fleet.
The victim met Readous at one of the bars and consented to sexual activity with him after having a drink. After returning to the cabin, Readous allegedly left the victim alone in the dark stateroom. That’s when Flowers Jr. climbed into bed with the woman and allegedly had sex with her.
Read more: Stepbrothers accused of raping 25-year-old aboard Carnival cruise ship
Carnival warns parents they'll be fined if their kids break the cruise ship curfew
One parent received a written warning after their child was caught violating Carnival's curfew policy.
According to the cruise line's website, all passengers 17 and under who are not accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older in their travel party are required to leave all public areas on the ship by 1:00 a.m.
The curfew policy is in place to maintain order and promote safety, as late-night programming for minors is limited. Additionally, supervision from youth staff is minimal, placing the responsibility on parents or guardians to monitor their children and keep them out of trouble.
Read more: Carnival warns parents they'll be fined if their kids break the cruise ship curfew
Carnival cruise ship passenger mistakenly held by ICE agents
A cruise passenger was wrongfully detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents when their Carnival ship returned to Miami, Florida.
Jose Martinez, a U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and U.S. citizen residing in Phoenix, Arizona, was abruptly woken up around 6:45 a.m. on January 5, 2025, when ICE agents barged into his cabin.
Martinez was sailing on the Carnival cruise ship with his wife, Tamara Verhas, and several others for a special birthday celebration.
Read more: Carnival cruise ship passenger mistakenly held by ICE agents
Cruise lines delay embarkation because of airspace closure after U.S. attack on Venezuela
Multiple cruise lines have delayed the departures of their ships due to the airspace closure that affected flights to the Caribbean over the weekend.
On January 3, 2026, the United States carried out a military strike in Venezuela, resulting in the capture of the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
Consequently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a temporary restriction of airspace, which impacted travelers heading to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Read more: Cruise lines delay embarkation because of airspace closure after U.S. attack on Venezuela
Cruise line surprisingly bans kids and goes adults-only
Guests hoping to embark on a child-free vacation now have another option to consider.
Oceania Cruises will exclusively welcome guests aged 18 and older for all new reservations for future voyages made on or after January 7, 2026. That said, all existing reservations with travelers under the age of 18 will be honored.
The change highlights Oceania’s Your World. Your Way® approach, which allows passengers the freedom to explore at their own pace, savor each destination, and enjoy the fellowship of like-minded travelers.
Read more: Cruise line surprisingly bans kids and goes adults-only
16-year-old sexually assaulted on the Carnival Sunrise cruise ship, reports say
One teenager has been arrested for reportedly raping a 16-year-old aboard the Carnival Sunrise cruise ship after Christmas, according to Our News Bahamas.
The victim was allegedly assaulted after going to the 17-year-old’s cabin shortly after they met. Prosecutors say the unnamed Minnesota teen committed the rape on December 29.
Eyewitness News Bahamas reported that the female victim's parents were in the ship's casino when they were alerted about the incident around 8:00 p.m.
Read more: 16-year-old sexually assaulted on the Carnival Sunrise cruise ship, reports say
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
