A 67-year-old man from Malaysia has been convicted of sexually abusing a child while cruising aboard the world’s largest cruise ship.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, a federal jury in Miami has convicted passenger Lay Ong for abusive sexual contact of a minor while cruising aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas this spring.
The press release states that Ong was found guilty on October 23, 2025 for the crime. According to WPLG Local 10 News, the federal criminal complaint reports the incident took place on April 2, 2025 while Icon of the Seas sailed through international waters, en route to PortMiami.
The Justice Department stated, “According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lay Ong, 67, was walking down a stateroom corridor when he encountered two boys, ages seven and nine, playing outside their cabin. Evidence showed that Ong began speaking with the children while touching the seven-year-old’s head and chin, then reached down and squeezed the child’s genitalia before walking away.”
NBC6 South Florida reports that, according to the affidavit, the boys told the 7-year-old’s parents about the incident. The parents then notified cruise ship security to investigate the crime.
Additionally, the affidavit states that the boys told investigators Ong asked whether they were boys or girls, then said “let me check” before inappropriately touching the child. After the encounter, Ong supposedly walked away from the children.
The affidavit reports that Icon of the Seas’ security cameras also captured the encounter, according to NCB6 South Florida. Ong said he was “playing” with the boys when the incident took place, and claimed he only touched the 7-year-old’s stomach.
Ong was found guilty of abusive sexual contact with a minor and faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison for the crime. A judge will determine his sentence at a later date after reviewing federal sentencing guidelines. Authorities said Ong will also be subject to deportation after serving his sentence.
“Abusing a child is an unforgivable act,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones in the press release. “This verdict makes clear that anyone who preys on a child—anywhere, and under any flag—will be held to account.”
The FBI’s Miami Field Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ilana Malkin and Yeney Hernandez prosecuted it.
According to Gangwaze, Icon of the Seas was sailing a 7-night Western Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise from Miami, Florida when the crime occurred. The Icon class vessel departed from PortMiami on March 29, 2025 for the sailing. The itinerary included two sea days and visits to Roatan (Honduras), Costa Maya (Mexico), Cozumel (Mexico) and Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in the Bahamas.
