Massive Cruise Scam Busted After Passengers Left Stranded

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on several significant developments within the cruise industry. A British man named Richard Lester received a five year prison sentence for operating a Ponzi scheme through his company, Cru direct UK LTD. Lester defrauded 184 victims of more than half a million dollars by selling fraudulent cruise vouchers. Many victims only realized they were scammed upon arriving at the pier and discovering they were not on the ship manifest. Additionally, Captain Johnny Favin is retiring from Royal Caribbean after a fifty year career. Favin began his journey in 1975 on the Song of Norway and achieved notable milestones such as sailing the Mariner of the Seas around Cape Horn. In other news, Carnival Cruise Line has implemented a new fee for a shuttle service at the Port of La Paz, Mexico. Passengers on the Carnival Panorama were notified of the ten dollar adult fee after the ship had already set sail. The report notes that other lines under the Carnival Corporation might implement similar charges. Finally, the segment concludes with a summary of recent declines in cruise industry stocks, including Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Viking.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.