A vacation on the high seas turned confrontational when a passenger was arrested for allegedly choking another passenger aboard an adults-only Virgin Voyages cruise during a recent Caribbean cruise.
The incident, which occurred in international waters on March 31, 2025, has now led to federal assault charges with authorities and the accused preparing for a courtroom showdown.
The incident took place in the early morning hours in the cruise line’s Resilient Lady’s 360-degree “On the Rocks” bar, the vessel’s largest bar located below The Roundabout. The bar features a small stage for live performances and a dance floor.
Reports say a dispute escalated when Kenneth DeGiorgio, the 53-year-old CEO of First American Financial, a Southern California mortgage lending company, attacked another passenger, identified only by the initials M.A.
The altercation apparently began over a request by DeGiorgio to M.A. to wear shoes on the dance floor, leading to threats and a physical confrontation.
According to the criminal complaint filed, DeGiorgio grabbed M.A. by the neck and threatened his life, which was captured on the ship’s security cameras.
The altercation took place 70 nautical miles off the coast of Martinique’s Ford-De-France during a 10-night “Puerto Rican Daze & Caribbean Nights” cruise, which had departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 22, 2025.
DeGiorgio was confined in his RockStar Suite by order of Resilient Lady’s Captain Hannu Haaponiemi until he could be arrested by FBI agents when the vessel returned to its homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on April 1, 2025.
The suites are Virgin Voyages’ most luxurious accommodations and include a 24/7 RockStar agent and a fully stocked in-room bar.
Dance Floor Confrontation
According to an affidavit filed in Puerto Rico, FBI Special Agent William P. Waters of the San Juan Division said surveillance footage from the 110,000-gross-ton Resilient Lady shows M.A. dancing and at one point raising his middle finger to DeGiorgio’s wife, identified as Nichol DeGiorgio.
DeGiorgio is then seen walking up to M.A. and placing his hands around his neck, causing M.A. to stumble.
In interviews conducted by the FBI, Nichol DeGiorgio said M.A. was dancing barefoot and said, “Look, we are all grown-ups here, can you put your shoes on?”
She says he responded with vulgarities, which caused her husband’s reaction. She also said she should not have told the man to put shoes on and admitted he had not touched her.
A bartender at the ship’s bar contacted security, and DeGiorgio was contained.
The incident took place after the journey’s final call in Kingstown, St. Vincent. The roundtrip sailing from San Juan had previously visited the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, St. Kitts, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Barbados.
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During DeGiorgio’s in-room confinement, Resilient Lady spent the day at sea, and he was arrested upon arrival in the early morning hours of April 1, 2025.
No other passengers on the 2,700-guest ship were involved in the altercation.
Agent Waters says DeGiorgio violated 18 U.S.C. 113(a)(4) Assault within the Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States, which is an assault under federal jurisdiction.
DeGiorgio requested an attorney during his arrest and did not answer any questions, according to the affidavit.
Considered a misdemeanor, the violation comes with a maximum imprisonment of one year.
