One unlucky person thought they were getting a good deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise, only to be defrauded out of over $45,000 and end up without a confirmed reservation.
Antonio Diaz, 65, and his wife, Maria Blasco Diaz, 64, of Miami, Florida, were arrested on April 7 for allegedly stealing over $200,000 from friends and family members under the guise of offering discounted luxury items, including high-end watches, jewelry, and travel packages, according to a press release from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO).
One of the victims asked Blasco Diaz for cruise advice since she was a frequent cruiser. She then allegedly claimed that she could get cruise discounts through a friend who works for Royal Caribbean.
"Ms. Diaz offered cruise excursions, drink packages, room upgrades, hotel stays, transportation, and travel insurance," said the arrest report cited by another media outlet. The victim then " paid Mr. and Ms. Diaz a total of $44,910 through Zelle, checks, and cash. Checks were all cashed by Ms. Diaz and the Zelle payments were sent to Mr. Diaz."
The victim believed the offers were legitimate and looked forward to their Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Odyssey of the Seas, scheduled to depart on July 9, 2023. However, none of the promised travel arrangements were ever provided or confirmed. Blasco Diaz went as far as claiming that her friend had even been fired by the cruise line.
Although the victim was given checks for partial repayment, they "were later determined to be drawn from a newly opened account with insufficient funds," an affidavit in the case reads.
Eventually, the victim contacted Royal Caribbean directly, who informed them that, although the reservation number was valid, it was not assigned to her or any of her family members.
Blasco Diaz also promised to repay the victim the remaining funds using a home equity line of credit. Per the arrest report, however, that never happened.
Travel wasn't the pair's only scheme. They reportedly took in nearly $139,000 in deposits for more than a dozen Rolex watches and a Patek Philippe watch, claiming buyers would receive a 50% discount through Diaz's job at a jewelry store.
Not the first cruise-related travel scam
(Credit: LongIsland.com)
This unfortunate story is just another example of why it's important to vet travel agents before handing over money.
In January 2026, Tavia Thomas, 47, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of grand larceny and schemes to defraud after stealing over $50,000 from clients, police confirmed.
Thomas was a Long Island-based travel agent and the CEO and Destination Travel Specialist of her company, Destiny Travel. However, she used that position to gain trust and defrauded families by taking payments for vacations and failing to book them.
One victim, for example, was planning to sail on a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Bayonne, New Jersey. They gave Thomas over $35,000 in cruise payments and assumed that they were good to go. However, when they arrived at the cruise terminal, they were told that the booking confirmations were fake and were denied boarding.
Travel agents are useful tools and can make your vacation planning process easier
Travel agents handle the meticulous details of planning a cruise, from confirming your stateroom to arranging transportation and booking add-ons. When done right, all you have to do is focus on catching your flight and having a memorable getaway.
They should never create problems for you or keep important booking details from you, like the alleged scammers in Florida and New York. As Diaz, Blasco Diaz, and Thomas proved, not all travel agents or industry professionals operate with the same level of professionalism or commitment to client care.
It also underscores your responsibility as a consumer to thoroughly vet any travel professional before giving your confidential payment information.
In the case of Blasco Diaz's victim, the situation could have likely been avoided had they inquired about the alleged Royal Caribbean employee to book with them directly, rather than having a middleman "handle" the arrangements.
If you aren't sure where to begin your travel agent search, I recommend asking friends and family members for recommendations. Another option is to find agencies affiliated with reputable organizations, like the American Society of Travel Advisors (the world's leading association of travel professionals).
Moreover, never let any friends handle your reservation on your behalf. If they recommend a travel agent, insist on working with them directly. And even then, you'll want to verify the agent’s credentials and avoid sending large sums of money through unsecured payment methods.
