British couple arrested in Ibiza: 3,200 euros in cruise debt!

British couple arrested in Ibiza: 3,200 euros in cruise debt!

A British couple have been arrested at Ibiza airport on suspicion of fraud after trying to avoid paying a bill of around €3,200. The two, a 23-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman, had left their cruise ship early while the ship was docked in the port of Ibiza. According to information from moin.de Crew members took the incident seriously and immediately informed Spanish police after the couple disappeared without luggage.

On May 21, 2025, when the cruise ship docked in Ibiza, the two passengers hastily attempted to leave the ship at around 3:00 p.m. They reportedly had not provided any means of payment to settle their onboard bill. This could have increased significantly due to shore excursions or the lack of a drinks package. A comparison with the maritime schedules shows that either the Costa Toscana or the MSC Grandiosa were in the port of Ibiza that day, which leaves the identity of the cruise ship open.

Arrest before departure

Spanish authorities, responding quickly to tips from the crew, conducted an operation to locate the couple. The couple were arrested at Ibiza Airport around three hours after leaving the ship, around 6 p.m. The charges related to their crime relate to several items and consumptions that they had not paid for, according to information from Cruise Fever indicates suspicion of fraud.

Guests can check their expenses on board at any time, but many vacationers quickly lose track of the multitude of options and expenses. The ship's crew had to react alarmed by the couple's suspicious behavior. The couple are now facing criminal proceedings in Spain and it is very likely that they will not be allowed to take any further cruises with the shipping company in question in the future.

Background and consequences

In a scenario where early disembarkation should be avoided, attempting to avoid the responsibilities could have serious legal consequences for the two vacationers. Such incidents, particularly in tourist hotspots such as Ibiza, highlight the financial management of cruise tourists and the risks of unsupervised spending on board.

The case now remains under observation as the couple wait to appear in court and the exact circumstances of their behavior, as well as the identity of the cruise ship, remain unclear. The operators of the shipping company affected will certainly have to learn from this incident.