Man Allegedly Jumps From Cruise Ship to Avoid $16,700 Casino Bill

A dramatic scene unfolded in San Juan last week when a passenger reportedly leapt from Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas as the ship disembarked — allegedly to avoid repaying more than $16,700 in casino losses. The moment, captured on surveillance and bystander video, shows a jet-ski rider scooping the man from the water and ferrying him ashore. What looked like a movie stunt has since become a federal matter.

Two side-by-side images show a rescue scene on a body of water. The left image captures a person in a red life vest helping a swimmer into an inflatable rescue boat equipped with a jet ski, while another person watches from the side. The right image shows the same boat speeding away across the water with two people on board, suggesting the rescue has been completed. — Credit: *Federal Prosecutor’s Office*

What happened

According to court papers, the passenger, named as Jey Gonzalez-Diaz in the complaint, joined the Vision-class ship on 31 August for a Southern Caribbean cruise. On the morning of September 7th, as passengers were going through routine US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) checks, he reportedly jumped overboard at about 9:15am local time.

Shortly afterwards, a jet-ski rider picked him up and took him to shore. CBP officers say they later located Gonzalez-Diaz near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building. Officials report he was carrying $14,600 in cash, two mobile phones and five different forms of identification when found — details that raised immediate questions for investigators.

Royal Caribbean told authorities the passenger had been booked under the name “Jeremy Diaz” and that the cruise line’s records showed an outstanding balance of $16,710.24, “almost exclusively associated with casino and gaming expenses.” The booking-name discrepancy and multiple IDs were noted in the federal complaint.

The charges and legal angle

Federal prosecutors have charged Gonzalez-Diaz with attempting to avoid US monetary-reporting requirements — the rule that travellers must declare amounts over $10,000 when entering the United States. The complaint quotes him, in Spanish, telling officers he jumped because he “did not want to report the currency on his possession because he thought he was going to be taxed duties for bringing the currency.”

If convicted, the offence can carry serious penalties, including substantial fines and a possible prison term. Local reports say he was later released on bail; we’ll update the story as court documents become available.

The 'Rhapsody of the Seas' cruise ship from Royal Caribbean International elegantly navigates the calm blue waters with a backdrop of distant mountains under a clear sky. The vessel's white exterior, multiple decks with balconies, and distinctive blue and white funnel are visible, conveying a sense of adventure and luxury travel at sea. — Rhapsody of the Seas

Why this matters to cruise passengers

First, the safety issue: jumping from a cruise ship into a port area is dangerous. Ports are busy with traffic, currents can be unpredictable, and even short jumps risk severe injury or worse. Cruise lines and port authorities take overboard incidents seriously; ships have protocols for mustering, reporting and coordinating rescue efforts, but deliberate jumps in port complicate rescue options and carry legal ramifications.

Second, the incident highlights how onboard disputes, especially around casino credit and bills, can escalate. Cruise ship casinos offer a variety of wagering and credit arrangements; disagreements about charges sometimes lead to passengers disputing bills on return. In rare cases, those disputes can spill into the public eye, as appears to have happened here.

Finally, there’s the customs element. Carrying large sums of undeclared cash across international borders can trigger a criminal investigation. The requirement to declare more than $10,000 exists to prevent money laundering, tax evasion and other illicit activity; ignorance of the rule is not usually a successful defence.