2 women on cruise out of Florida reported being drugged, raped in Bahamas. What we know

Cheryl McCloud and Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
Updated ·6 min read
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A couple of weeks after the U.S. Department of State issued a travel warning for the Bahamas, two Kentucky women reported being drugged and sexually assaulted.

The two women were on a Carnival cruise that left Jacksonville and said they were unaware of the travel warning and "not aware of any warnings given by Carnival," according to their Miami-based attorney, Nicholas Gerson.

Carnival offers cruises out of four Florida ports, and the Bahamas is one of several destinations offered.

Two women reported being drugged, raped on Bahamas beach. What happened?

The women, two mothers from Kentucky, told News Nation's Chris Cuomo they were "relaxing on a Grand Bahama beach" when a resort employee allegedly gave them drinks spiked with a cocktail of drugs, including benzodiazepines.

"They were given drinks — a coconut and pineapple drink — spiked with a series of drug and narcotics," Gerson told the USA TODAY. "They became inebriated and were both taken away and raped."

One of the women told Cuomo she and her friend went to look for seashells for their children with "a male resort employee" and the next thing she remembered she "was waking up while she was being assaulted by a uniformed male resort staffer."

Toxicology results found little if no alcohol in women but they tested positive for benzos and other drugs, including cocaine, according to Gerson.

What are benzodiazepines or benzos?

Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are depressants that slow down activity in your brain and nervous system, according to Cleveland Clinic.

They can cause extreme drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination, decreased reflexes, respiratory depression, coma, and possible death.

The most common benzodiazepines are the prescription drugs Valium, Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, and Klonopin, according to the DEA.

Where did the recent attacks take place in the Bahamas?

According to a preliminary report from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the attacks took place shortly after noon Feb. 4 while the two women visited a beach in Central Grand Bahama.

Gerson said on the day of the alleged assaults, his clients went on an excursion called "Pirate's Cove Beach Getaway" and were taken to the island by a shuttle arranged by Carnival.

Was anyone arrested in the Bahamas attack on 2 women?

Police in the Bahamas have arrested two people on sexual assault charges.

"Quick response," by officers in Grand Bahama, the northernmost island of the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean, resulted in the arrest of a 54-year-old man of Eight Mile Rock and a 40-year-old man of South Bahamia, after they allegedly sexually assaulted two women on Sunday, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.

What did Carnival have to say about the attacks?

Carnival released the following statement to USA TODAY:

"While ashore in Freeport, Bahamas on an independent shore excursion, two guests on Carnival Elation reported to Bahamian police that they were sexually assaulted at a local beach. Our onboard Care Team provided support for the two guests as they sailed back to Jacksonville. Bahamian police are investigating the matter and Carnival is providing our full cooperation."

How did Pirates Cove Zipline and Water Park respond to reports of an attack?

"At Pirates Cove, the safety of our guests and team members is always paramount," a spokesperson for Pirates Cove Zipline and Water Park said in an email.

"We regret that our guests experienced this incident, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to aid police in the collection of evidence in response to these allegations, including providing police access to video from the 16 cameras around the beach facility where the assault of the two guests allegedly occurred.

"We take great pride in ensuring our guests have a safe and enjoyable experience when visiting Pirates Cove. In addition to having safety personnel and CCTV surveillance throughout the park, employees and vendors of Pirates Cove must follow strict guidelines when interacting with guests. We have a zero-tolerance policy for fraternizing with guests or behaving in a manner that is unsafe.

"While there is an active police investigation into these serious allegations, we have terminated the employment of the two accused, as the behavior seen on tape by management indicates that at a minimum, they violated our zero-tolerance policy."

What is the travel warning for the Bahamas?

The United States Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory for travelers heading to the Bahamas in January.

The advisory warns travelers to "exercise increased caution" due to crime, specifically on the islands of New Providence, which includes Nassau, and Grand Bahama, which includes Freeport.

"Violent crime — such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults — occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence, " the State Department said.

Bahamas travel warning: Heading to the Bahamas? Here's what you should know about travel warning

Carnival sails out of four Florida ports

Carnival offers tours out of four Florida locations: Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Miami and Tampa.

Carnival Elation sails out of Jacksonville, offering tours to the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Five ships — Mardi Gras,Vista, Freedom, Glory, Liberty — sail out of Cape Canaveral. Destinations depend on the ship and range from the Bahamas and Caribbean to transatlantic cruises and the Panama Canal.

Six ships — Celebration, Spirit, Horizon, Sunrise, Magic, and Conquest — sail out of Miami. Destinations depend on the ship and range from the Bahamas and Caribbean to Alaska, transatlantic cruises and the Panama Canal.

Five ships — Spirit, Miracle, Legend, Paradise and Price — sail out of Tampa. Destinations depend on the ship and range from the Bahamas and Caribbean to Alaska, Seattle, Greenland, Canada, Mexico, transatlantic cruises and the Panama Canal.

Top Carnival destinations from Florida ports

The top destinations for a Carnival cruise out of Florida are:

  • Caribbean and Mexico: Ports of call include Celebration Key; Cozumel; Grand Cayman; Nassau; Freeport; Belize; Mahogany Bay; St. Thomas; Bimini; Progreso, Yucatan; San Juan; Key West; Half Moon Cay; St. Maarten; St. Kitts; Montego Bay; Ocho Rios; St. Lucia; Grand Turk; Barbados; Curacao; Costa Maya; La Romana; Princess Cays; Falmouth; Antigua; Bonaire; Bermuda; Grenada; Amber Cove; Dominca; Santa Marta; Miami; Galveston; Port Canaveral; New Orleans; Tampa; Charleston, South Carolina; Baltimore, Maryland; New York City; Mobile.

  • Bahamas: Ports of call include Celebration Key; Nassau; Bimini; Freeport; Baltimore; Charleston; Half Moon Cay; Jacksonville; Miami; Norfolk; Port Canaveral; Princess Cays.

  • Panama Canal: Destinations include Panama Canal transit; Panama Canal partial transit; Cartagena; Limon; Celebration Key; Cozumel; Ocho Rios; Grand Turk; Half Moon Cay; Amber Cove; Aruba; Bonaire; Montego Bay; Puntarenas; Colon; Santa Marta; Curacao; Huatulco; Grand Cayman; Puerto Quetzal; Cabo San Lucas; Seattle; Baltimore; Tampa; Miami; Galveston; New Orleans.

  • Transatlantic: Ports of call include Funchal, Madeira; Celebration Key; Grand Turk; La Coruna; Las Palmas; Praia Da Vitoria, Azore; Malaga; Tenerife; Valencia; Lisbon; Vigo; Gibraltar; Bermuda; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Ponta Delgada; Alicante; Barcelona; Southhampton, London; Tampa; Miami.

Mexico, Caribbean travel advisories: Many Caribbean islands have travel advisories, so here are 10 Florida islands for vacation

US Embassy, State Department offer these tips if you go to the Bahamas

  • Exercise extreme caution in the eastern part of New Providence Island (Nassau).

  • Use caution when walking or driving at night.

  • Keep a low profile.

  • Be aware of your surroundings.

  • Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.

  • Review your personal security plans.

  • If you decide to travel to The Bahamas, do not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Bahamas travel warning 2024: 2 women attacked on cruise out of Florida