Bahamian authorities arrested the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity late Friday night in waters near the port in Freeport, Bahamas over non-payment of fuel.
The two Crystal Cruises ships owe $4,600,000 in fuel and attempted to avoid seizure after risking arrest in Aruba and docking in Bimini. The Crystal Serenity was at sea on Thursday, off the coast of Florida in international waters after leaving Bimini in the Bahamas.
Both ships stayed away from US Ports after a federal district court judge in Miami entered an order last week against the cruise line and its ships.
Passengers from both vessels were ferried to Florida.
It is unclear how the two Crystal ships were seized, which are registered in the Bahamas.
Captain of the Crystal Symphony stated over the intercom that local authorities (in the Bahamas) seized the ships “over unpaid bills.”