Two American men have been charged with rape following a disturbing alleged bait-and-switch incident aboard a Carnival cruise ship in the Bahamas. The case has ignited serious questions about passenger safety on major Caribbean voyages.
The Alleged Deception Onboard
According to authorities from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the incident unfolded on the evening of December 15, 2025. A 25-year-old woman from Miami, Florida, who was on a five-night family cruise, reported that she initially consented to sex with Sayjuan Readous, 26, after meeting him on the Carnival Sunrise vessel.
The woman told police she developed a romantic connection with Readous, exchanged numbers, shared drinks by the pool, and then accompanied him to his cabin. After their consensual encounter, Readous allegedly switched off the lights and left the room, claiming he needed to run an errand for his mother.
The victim stated she fell asleep briefly, only to wake up and find someone else in bed with her, with sexual acts ongoing. It was only when she switched on the lights that she allegedly ‘realised it was his brother’ – later identified as his 28-year-old stepbrother, Antoine Flowers Jr.
Arrests and Court Proceedings
Ship staff were alerted after reports of screaming from an eighth-deck cabin after the ship left Eleuthera. Officers boarded the $240 million mega-liner when it docked in Nassau the next morning, December 16.
Both men, from Detroit, Michigan, were arrested and appeared in court on the following Monday. Sayjuan Readous and Antoine Flowers Jr. were each charged with rape, with Readous facing an additional charge of abetment to rape.
Their defence attorney, Terrel Butler, confirmed the pair are stepbrothers. During police interviews, it is understood Readous insisted the sex was consensual, while Flowers refused to comment. Magistrate Abigail Farrington denied the men bail, and they were remanded in custody. Their next court appearance is scheduled for March 26.
A Pattern of Cruise Ship Incidents
This alarming case casts a renewed spotlight on security and crime aboard massive cruise ships. It comes just six weeks after the tragic death of Florida teenager Anna Kepner, who was found asphyxiated under a bed on another Carnival vessel, the Horizon, on November 7.
Furthermore, recent months have seen a spate of concerning events across the industry:
- In December, an Oklahoma grandmother, Mary Robinson, 69, smuggled a loaded pistol onto Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas.
- In April, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas returned to port after a poolside brawl hospitalised two passengers.
- A viral video from the same month showed buffet guests on Carnival Sunshine brawling over chicken tenders.
Official data underscores the issue. The US Department of Transportation reported 48 crimes on board cruise ships in the first quarter of 2025 alone, including 23 rapes and 10 sexual assaults.
Industry and Official Response
A Carnival spokeswoman stated: ‘After being notified of an alleged assault involving a guest, our onboard team immediately conducted a medical evaluation, collected evidence, and provided support to the guest. The matter has been turned over to law enforcement authorities in the Bahamas, and we will defer to their investigation for any further comment.’
The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed in a statement they are investigating an ‘alleged sexual assault’ involving American nationals, which was reported shortly before 6:00 pm on December 16.
As the legal process continues, this case serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for robust safety protocols and passenger vigilance, even in the seemingly carefree environment of a holiday cruise.
