A cruise passenger has filed a lawsuit against the adults-only cruise line Virgin Voyages and One World Spa after an alleged sexual assault that took place this summer.
The alleged incident took place during a 12-night cruise from Seattle to Alaska from June 11-23, 2026, on Brilliant Lady.
The 17-page lawsuit from Morgan & Morgan is asking for damages in excess of $75,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney’s fees.
The complaint alleges that a crewmember led the plaintiff to a secluded grooming area for a shoulder massage, where the crewmember assailant locked the door and sexually assaulted her under the guise of providing therapeutic bodywork.
The lawsuit alleges that Virgin Cruises and One Spa World failed to adequately supervise their crewmembers and implement safeguards to protect passengers.
The complaint alleges the crewmember was able to use the booking system to schedule multiple unauthorized, after-hours massages despite not being a massage therapist.
The alleged assault occurred during the second massage he provided to the plaintiff in a secluded grooming area. The lawsuit states that the plaintiff did not consent to sexual touching at any time and the assailant’s touching was “intentional, offensive, harmful, and without legitimate purpose”.
The alleged assailant has been charged in federal court with two counts of abusive sexual contact involving passengers aboard the Brilliant Lady.
The plaintiff is a woman from Hidden Valley, California, who is using the pseudonym Jane Doe (E.M.) to protect her privacy. She is demanding a trial by jury on all issues so triable as of right.
Even though cruise lines usually do not run the spas on their ships, the lawsuit states that they are vicariously liable for the negligence of One Spa World and that they have a duty to protect passengers on their ships.
Spa workers are not employed by cruise lines, but by spa companies that lease space on the ship.
Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and attorney Garrett P. Keane, gave the following statement about the lawsuit:
“When someone steps aboard a cruise ship, they surrender a degree of control over their own safety and trust that the company responsible for their well-being has taken every reasonable precaution to protect them.
“Our lawsuit alleges that Virgin and One Spa World failed in their responsibility by allowing a crewmember to exploit his position and access to passengers and ship facilities to isolate and sexually assault our client. As a result of this alleged assault, our client has endured devastating physical and emotional suffering, and we intend to hold the defendants accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The lawsuit was filed on September 10, 2026.
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