Cruise Ship Crew Member Arrested During Routine Check in Bremerhaven
A routine border exit check at the Columbus Cruise Terminal in Bremerhaven, Germany, led to the arrest of a 26-year-old crew member from a cruise ship on January 4, 2026. Federal police detained the man just before he was scheduled to board the vessel, which was set to sail to the Bahamas. The arrest was prompted by two outstanding warrants issued by the District Court of Augsburg and the District Court of Nördlingen.
During the identity verification process, officers discovered that the crew member had been wanted for several weeks. The warrants against him were related to serious offenses, including robbery-related theft and a violation of probation stemming from a prior assault conviction. Authorities have not released additional details regarding the specific incidents or the timeline of the offenses. Following his arrest, the man was transferred to the Bremerhaven state police and is expected to appear before a judge on January 5.
Previous Incidents Highlight Police Vigilance at Cruise Terminals
This incident is not isolated; German police have previously apprehended individuals with outstanding warrants during similar checks at cruise terminals. In September 2025, two crew members from the cruise ship Disney Adventure were arrested for offenses including drunk driving and fraud while attempting to board.
While the specific cruise ship the arrested crew member was attempting to join has not been disclosed, it coincided with the departure of the Disney Adventure from Bremerhaven on the same day. The Disney Adventure, which was officially delivered to Disney Cruise Line on December 16, 2025, is currently on a repositioning voyage to its new homeport in Singapore. The ship is the largest in Disney’s fleet, weighing 208,000 gross tons, and is on a transatlantic crossing with scheduled stops in Freeport, Bahamas, and Cape Canaveral, Florida.
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The Disney Adventure is expected to arrive in Cape Canaveral around January 14 or 15, 2026, for a media preview sailing. Following this, the ship will transit through the Panama Canal and make additional stops before reaching its final destination in Singapore, where it will begin its inaugural season on March 10, 2026. The ship will offer 3- and 4-night itineraries, marking Disney Cruise Line’s first long-term deployment in Asia, with plans to remain in the region for at least five years.
As cruise travel continues to grow, authorities remain vigilant at ports to ensure safety and compliance with the law, underscoring the importance of thorough checks for both passengers and crew members.
