While very rare, it happens. Jewelry disappears from the cabin. A crew member illegally uses a stolen credit card. American cruise ship passengers may experience theft, assault and more serious crimes. Often, because the offenses happened in mid-ocean or foreign ports, cruise lines haven’t reported them to U.S. authorities.

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Maritime Commission recently issued orders to all passenger ships that sail to and from U.S. ports. Officials of the lines are required to make public any crimes against passengers. The responsibility is to give total information all incidents to the FBI.

If, while on a cruise, you suspect, experience or witness a crime, be sure your report to the ship’s officers is forwarded to the proper U.S. authorities.