U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents recently detained and removed crew members from Victory I and Victory II, the two small cruise ships operated by Victory Cruise Lines, while the vessels were sailing the Great Lakes. The removals happened during scheduled port stops in the United States, with Detroit confirmed as one of the key locations.
According to Travel Weekly 13 international crew members were removed on July 9 and 11, despite having previously been cleared to enter the U.S. and work onboard the ships by the same agency. The action has sparked outrage and fear seafarers, many of whom see this as an unprecedented and aggressive enforcement move that undermines trust in the U.S. immigration process.
Crew Handcuffed, Deported – Morale Collapses
Reports say that CBP agents boarded the ships and handcuffed crew members before removing them for deportation, leaving both passengers and crew shaken. Peter Knego, maritime historian and journalist, was the first to publicly share the incident, stating that the crew were accused of child pornography, including one crew member who posted a photo of his naked newborn in a basin in 2008. However, many of the crew had no prior legal issues and had followed every required procedure for obtaining their C1/D seaman visas, issued through U.S. embassies abroad.
Fear and Silence Among Remaining Crew
The mood onboard both Victory ships has reportedly collapsed. Crew morale is “low and deteriorating,” with remaining crew members allegedly warned not to speak to the press. According to those familiar with the situation, many crew are now considering quitting, fearing unjust arrest or deportation.
“There is concern there might not be enough crew left to operate both ships,” said one source, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. “Viking is reportedly worried about the same problem in the Great Lakes region.”
Reactions from industry veterans have been swift and critical. Thomas Carlson, a former Director of Maritime Personnel for a non-U.S. cruise line, called the incident “so wrong.”
“Crew members go through an extensive process to obtain a C1/D visa in their home country. If there was misconduct, yes, investigate it. But this kind of mass removal, especially of crew already cleared, shows a disturbing turn. I know how hard these jobs are. My heart goes out to them,” Carlson said.
Victory Cruise Lines Responds
John Waggoner, founder and chairman of Victory Cruise Lines, released a brief but pointed statement:
“We are actively cooperating with federal authorities to clarify the circumstances, and my priority is always our crew and the experience for our guests.”
While Victory has not issued a full public comment on the legal specifics, the tone of their response suggests they were not informed in advance and are seeking answers from federal agencies.
Not Just Victory: Other Cruise Lines Affected
According to reports, Victory Cruise Lines is not the only operator affected. Other vessels operating in the Great Lakes region have allegedly experienced similar removals of crew by federal agents.
A video shared by CrimeInTheD reported that nine crew members were arrested by CBP in Detroit in June, further fueling speculation that this is part of a broader immigration sweep targeting international seafarers.
