Man Jumps Off Cruise Ship: Gambling Debts Lead to Criminal Maneuver

The incident occurred on the morning of September 7, 2025, on the day of the scheduled disembarkation. Fortunately, González-Díaz did not jump on the open sea, but directly in the harbor. This allowed for a quick rescue by private individuals on jetskis. He was shortly after arrested by officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Upon his arrest, he was found in possession of $14,600 in cash and several identification documents, some of which were issued under a different name. The documents found indicate that the action was likely planned and that the man had previous experience with the justice system.

After the cruise line informed investigators about the accumulated gambling debts, González-Díaz was charged by the authorities. He is accused of attempting to evade the cash declaration requirement for entry into the U.S. For this, he faces up to five years in prison or a large fine. Royal Caribbean cooperated with the authorities but refrained from further comments. The cruise of the Rhapsody of the Seas was not affected by the incident.

This case shows that jumping overboard does not always have to be an accident or a tragedy. It also highlights the challenges the cruise industry faces regarding on-board security, financial management, and passenger verification. For cruise operators, on-board gambling is an important source of revenue, but incidents like this could lead to a review of credit policies and security measures in the on-board casinos.