Cruise - Family discovers hidden camera in Carnival cruise cabin

A Florida family was shocked to discover a camera hidden among wires in their CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE cabin. The Pensacola couple, along with their 10-year-old son, found the device while searching undusted areas of the room after the father suffered an allergy attack during the second night of their journey from Mobile, Al., to Mexico, the MIAMI NEW TIMES reported.
That scenario noone want to experience and is especially problematic in hotel rooms, Airbnb rentals, and other vacation properties, and where most people assume a certain level of privacy.And a great number of personal posted videos and photos and more so those posted by others, and shared in social media go viral ... and the World Widw Web does not forget.

by Earl of Cruise

A family aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship discovered a camera hidden in their cabin. (surpasspro/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

According to the father, who was not identified by name, securing his privacy, the camera was placed behind a TV in their room. The lens was sticking out a bit, pointing directly at the bed.
"In the dystopian world also known as "2017," there are a lot of things to be afraid of. Election meddling," wrote Peter Thiel from MIAMI HERALD.

The man claimed the device was "warm to the touch" and appeared to have an antenna, which leads him to believe it may have been transmitting information to a third party. "It was a WTF moment, you know?" he says. "I asked my wife, 'What is this? Is that what I think it is?' We both just went white as ghosts," the man expained.
"Among the scariest developments is the steady technological improvement of spy cameras. Smaller than ever, camera lenses can now be hidden in everything from tissue boxes to electrical outlets to shampoo bottles. Product developers have gotten so good at hiding spy cams that one manufacturer recently told a Houston TV station that everyone should `always assume you’re being watched, no matter where you are´."

Source MIAMI NEW TIMES

"The concern was that somebody had been recorded and we've got a child. My main concern is there is video of him online now. And I'll never know," the father told MIAMI HERALD in an interview. "I'm also concerned for anybody else who might have stayed in the cabin before us and anybody else who might be victims and don't realize it."

Family finds hidden camera pointing at their bed in their Carnival cruise ship cabin - Source: YouTube

He and his wife contacted CARNIVAL security who sent an onboard crew to inspect and dismantle the device. Video shot by the father shows him questioning whether one of the crew members may want "to put gloves or something on so you can fingerprint it?"

The crew member's response is not shown.

The father said he was told the camera was equipped with a transmitter similar to the ones on drones.

He spoke with Customs and Border Protection officers at port, according to the publication, but was told they did not have jurisdiction over the matter. The father claims he was not told whether the incident had been reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or any other officials.
But when it comes to sexual harrasment, forbidden touching and such things ... the officials are quick into action and throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The MIAMI NEW TIMES reported that CARNIVAL confirmed in a statement to them that the incident was handled thoroughly and appropriately.

"After review by the ship's technicians, it was determined that device was not operational," spokesperson Vance Gulliksen said.

"A full investigation was conducted by the shipboard team in tandem with CARNIVAL's shoreside security personnel, who also notified U.S. law enforcement."

The family has been in contact with maritime lawyer Jim Walker and is hoping to use him as a mediator with CARNIVAL to get more information about their case. They don't believe the crew was thorough enough and say they haven't been contacted by CARNIVAL since.
This seem to me as another covering by CARNIVAL as it may ruin their reputation. Such news ar never good for business, especially it is tailored on minimal revenues and margins. "Their (CARNIVAL) goal was to quiet everything down and not make a big deal of it, to not alert other guests," the father says. "I'm learning that when you're a victim of a crime onboard a ship, the individuals that are there to help you and investigate work for the cruise line, so they're not necessarily going to have your best interests at heart."

Still, the family is not rushing to file a lawsuit.

"We weren't trying to get any money; we weren't trying to get a free cruise. I just wanted to have action taken on it," the father said.

It remains unclear whether a previous guest or crew member placed the camera inside the room.

This is what happens in your room when you leave it on Carnival Cruise Ships - Source: YouTube
This video is made by a passenger and is a similar case as with the family.

Miami attorney Jim Walker: "The more I was thinking about it, it got me thinking: How often does this happen?" he says. "How many other passengers are being secretly recorded?"
Having made my own experiences with CARNIVAL, knowing of security issues in general on big boats (10% missing lifeboat capacities on board!) and now this spy cam ... I would think more than once for taking a cruise within the CARNIVAL group.