A former Virgin Voyages crew member has been charged in the U.S. after prosecutors said he assaulted female passengers while working on Brilliant Lady during a June Alaska voyage.
Prosecutors say 26-year-old Pranit Narayan Pawar, an Indian national who worked as a hairstylist on the adults-only ship, used supposed complimentary massages to get women alone before the alleged sexual assaults.
The case centers on a June Alaska voyage aboard Brilliant Lady. Court papers say the alleged offenses happened on or about June 26, 2026, while the ship was sailing in waters covered by the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The sailing had departed Seattle on June 23 and returned there on July 2.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
According to the criminal complaint, one passenger had a salon appointment on June 26 when Pawar allegedly offered her a massage, then moved her from the salon into an adjacent barber shop. The complaint describes that room as having “no windows on the outside door, dark flooring, dark walls, and dim lighting.” Prosecutors say he then placed his hand under her shirt and touched her inappropriately for about 10 minutes without consent.
A second passenger had seen Pawar the day before, on June 25, when he allegedly told her she could receive a complimentary massage if she booked two more appointments with him. She returned on June 26 for what appeared in the system as a “consultation,” but prosecutors say that entry was really used to set up a private meeting.
Court papers say Pawar then escorted her to the barber shop “for more privacy,” left briefly, came back, locked the door, and allegedly touched her inappropriately under her clothes without consent. The complaint also says he later asked the woman’s daughter about her mother’s relationship status.
That’s a key part of the case. Pawar was hired as a barber and hairdresser, not a massage therapist. During his FBI interview, investigators say he admitted that massage was not part of his job and that it was not a service offered in either the salon or the barber shop.
Virgin Voyages’ own spa materials show that legitimate massage treatments are offered in the Redemption Spa on Deck 5, not in Dry Dock or Stubble & Groom, where Pawar worked.
FBI Investigation Is Still Moving
Pawar was arrested after Brilliant Lady returned to Seattle, and federal prosecutors said he made his first court appearance in Tacoma at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 6. He has been charged with two counts of abusive sexual contact.
Because the alleged conduct took place aboard a cruise ship within U.S. maritime jurisdiction, the case is being prosecuted in federal court. If convicted on the current charges, he faces up to two years in prison on each count.
Investigators have suggested the case may not end with the two charges already filed. In the complaint, agents say Pawar admitted he had started offering massages on a previous voyage and had been doing so for the past 10 to 12 days. He also allegedly told investigators he had taken four to five women into the barber shop for massages.
Court papers also refer to a third woman whose alleged experience was not included as a separate count in the initial complaint. The same filing says Pawar told agents he believed he was giving massages for “therapeutic reasons,” but also said he felt guilty, regretted his actions, and understood how his behavior would be seen as harassing.
Federal prosecutors also used the case to remind cruise passengers to report suspected crimes right away. Federal prosecutors said anyone who is a victim of a crime on a cruise, or witnesses one, should alert ship security immediately. If they are no longer onboard, they should contact local police and the FBI.
What Virgin Voyages Says
Virgin Voyages has not posted a public press release of its own about the case, but the company did give a statement to People. A spokesperson called the alleged conduct “a profound violation of the trust and standards every person working onboard a Virgin Voyages ship is expected to uphold.”
The cruise line also said Pawar worked for a third-party concessionaire that handles onboard salon services, and that he was removed from duty after the allegations were reported to the company and then to the FBI.
The cruise line’s conduct policy is also clear on this point. Virgin Voyages says “Uninvited physical contact” and “Sexual misconduct” are prohibited, and adds that crew members are prohibited from engaging in physical relationships with or interacting with guests beyond their professional responsibilities. The same policy says criminal acts or allegations of them will be addressed onboard and reported “to the appropriate law enforcement agency.”
Meanwhile, Brilliant Lady is still operating its inaugural Alaska season and remains scheduled for more seven-night sailings from Seattle. For now, though, the bigger story is the federal case waiting ahead.
As with any criminal complaint, the charges against Pawar are allegations only, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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