Key Aspects:
- At least 18 Filipino crew members from Carnival Sunshine were detained and deported by Customs and Border Patrol agents in Norfolk, Virginia.
- The crew members all possessed valid visas and advocacy groups say that they were wrongfully deported without due process.
- The unexpected removal of crew members is not only nerve wracking, but can also hinder cruise ship operations.
In addition to the usual sights and sounds at the bustling Port of Norfolk, the phrase “due process is the law” could be heard from protestors chanting outside of the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center on July 20, 2025.
The protestors were seeking justice for at least 18 Filipino crew members who were working and living onboard Carnival Sunshine before they were allegedly wrongfully detained and deported.
The crew members, who all possessed valid 10-year C-1/D visas, were put in handcuffs and removed from the Carnival ship by Customs and Border Patrol officers. The exact date of their removal is unclear.
As part of their deportment, their visas were revoked and the individuals have been banned from re-entering the US for 10 years.
The cruise ship employees were accused of possessing child pornography, but advocacy groups are firm in that there was insufficient evidence to prove this and that the workers were not allowed a lawyer or a trial before being sent back to the Philippines.
“These crew members are hardworking parents and spouses with clean records, having passed rigorous background checks to obtain their visas,” a joint statement from the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) read.
“Their sudden removal, combined with the revocation of their visas and a decade-long re-entry ban, has brought not only humiliation but also financial devastation to their families,” the statement continued.
In a statement to local Norfolk outlet WAVY, Carnival said that the cruise line was cooperating with law enforcement.
“This is a law enforcement matter. Carnival always cooperates with law enforcement investigations. We also have active training and education programs to make sure our crew members follow internet safety guidelines,” a Carnival spokesperson said.
The former employees have shared that their contracts with the cruise line were terminated before they made it home to their families.
The Impact on Cruising
Carnival Sunshine is currently alternating between 6-night sailings to Bermuda and 8-night sailings to the Eastern Caribbean out of Norfolk, Virginia, which is the 3,002-guest ship’s year-round homeport.
Reports show that CBP agents have been boarding the ship on turn-around days since February 2025, and an additional eight Filipino crew members have already allegedly been detained but not deported.
This means that every return to Norfolk is likely full of fear and anxiety for the approximately 1,040 crew members onboard, and that more deportations could be possible in the future.
The only other cruise line that is actively sailing to the port at the moment is American Cruise Lines, although they are not using Norfolk as a homeport.
It’s unclear if the crew members on ACL’s small ships may also come under scrutiny.
Read Also: Are Cruises Safe? What You Really Need to Know
Notably, several international crew members were also already deported from two ships sailing to the Great Lakes under Victory Cruise Lines on July 9 and 11, 2025.
The 13 crew members were detained (and later deported) during calls to other US destinations while working onboard Victory I and Victory II, both of which are small ships with a capacity for 180 guests.
At least one of these crew members was also allegedly charged with the possession of child pornography.
The unexpected removal of crew members, regardless of the reason, can certainly throw a wrench into cruise ship operations.
Not only does it create an environment of fear among employees and anxiety about similar incidents happening in the future, but this can lead to staffing issues onboard.
Until crew members can be replaced, which takes time, other employees may have to take on extra work and there may be gaps in services available or a dip in quality for some services onboard.
