Cruise Guest Charged in Choking Incident Departs His CEO Job
A Virgin Voyages guest charged with assaulting another passenger not only must contend with the legal ramifications of the alleged act but also with his new-found unemployment.
Kenneth DeGiorgio, formerly the chief executive officer of First American Financial Corporation, has departed the company, an April 15, 2025 statement from the California-based firm says.
While vacationing aboard Resilient Lady as she sailed off Martinique on March 31, 2025, DeGiorgio allegedly assaulted another guest, choking him after the guest made a rude gesture to the suspect’s wife, Nichol DeGiorgio.
The incident happened in the ship’s On the Rocks bar and was filmed by security cameras in the venue.
According to FBI statements, the victim of the assault, identified only as M.A., raised his middle finger and spewed vulgarities to Nichol DeGiorgio after she asked him to put his shoes back on — apparently M.A. was dancing barefoot.
Her husband then approached M.A. and attempted to choke him, the statement from FBI Special Agent William P. Waters says.
Security was called and Kenneth DeGiorgio was taken to his stateroom and confined there until the cruise concluded on April 1, 2025. He was arrested upon debarking the ship in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The 53-year-old suspect was charged with assault within the Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States. The misdemeanor charge could carry up to one year in jail if DeGiorgio is convicted.
In announcing the news, the financial services firm made no reference to a reason for the departure but stated: “We want to thank Ken DeGiorgio for his many years of service to First American.”
The 2,700-guest Resilient Lady had sailed from San Juan on March 22, 2025, operating a 10-night “Puerto Rican Daze & Caribbean Nights” cruise. No other guests were involved in the incident.
The ship has since repositioned to the Eastern Mediterranean and is sailing seasonal cruises roundtrip from Athens.
When Tempers Flare, Cruise Guests Face Ramifications
Assault charges stemming from confrontations on cruise ships happen from time to time but are considered uncommon, considering that 31 million people took a cruise vacation in 2024, according to Cruise Lines International Association.
Read Also: Eastern vs. Western Caribbean Cruise: Which Will I Prefer?
One recent incident unfolded on MSC Cruises’ MSC Seascape in October 2024, when a female guest and her son got into an argument with an elderly guest in the ship’s theater. According to reports, the woman and her son were seen, and apparently filmed, striking the guest.
The son was removed from the 5,800-guest ship at the next port of call, Falmouth, Jamaica, while his mother was allowed to remain.
However, she was ultimately charged with battery on a person 65 or older upon MSC Seascape’s return to PortMiami on October 12, 2024.
Sometimes, altercations aboard cruise ships involve multiple people, and if the incident is violent, the guests involved can be banned from sailing with the cruise line in the future. That was the case aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Paradise in June 2024.
A brawl, captured on video and posted on social media, erupted in the ship’s buffet line late in the evening of June 6, 2024. The ship, which was based in Tampa, Florida, was sailing a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise.
The fight involved around a dozen guests, who fought each other, threw chairs, and broke dishes. Security officials onboard the 2,100-guest ship broke up the fight and all those involved were banned from any future travel with the cruise line.
Cruise Guest Charged in Choking Incident Departs His CEO Job