Authorities say two Miami residents took nearly $45,000 for a Royal Caribbean trip victims were never booked on.
Two Miami residents allegedly defrauded friends and friends’ family members out of nearly $45,000 for a Royal Caribbean cruise they were never booked on, along with other luxury goods.
Antonio Diaz, 65, and his wife, Maria Blasco Diaz, 64, were arrested on April 7 and allegedly stole a total of $200,259.85, according to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
One of the victims asked Blasco Diaz for input on a cruise since she often sailed on them. Blasco Diaz allegedly said she could get discounts through a friend who claimed to work for Royal Caribbean.
“Ms. Diaz offered cruise excursions, drink packages, room upgrades, hotel stays, transportation, and travel insurance,” the arrest report said. The victim “and her family 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 cruise was scheduled to set sail on July 9, 2023, on the cruise line’s Odyssey of the Seas ship. Blasco Diaz had not provided the victim with travel documents by late June, according to authorities, making multiple excuses and claiming that her friend had been fired from the cruise line.
She provided checks for partial repayment, according to an affidavit in the case, with a promise to repay the rest using a home equity line of credit. However, those checks “were later determined to be drawn from a newly opened account with insufficient funds,” the affidavit said.
When the victim contacted Royal Caribbean, the cruise line said the reservation number was active but not assigned to her or any of her family members. Blasco Diaz and Diaz did not follow through on further promises to repay the funds, per the arrest report.
Royal Caribbean Group, the cruise line’s parent company, and an attorney listed for the couple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The pair also allegedly accepted deposits for sixteen Rolex watches and one Patek Philippe watch for nearly $139,000 beginning in 2022, claiming the victims would receive Diaz’s 50% discount since he worked at a jewelry store, as well as “discounted” diamond earrings for $3,000. None were delivered.
Other jewelry purchases made by the victims’ family totaled more than $13,400. Antonio Diaz invoked his right to counsel, while Blasco Diaz confessed to the alleged crimes and said her husband “had nothing to do with it,” according to arrest reports.
Both defendants later pleaded not guilty.
This story was updated to refresh headlines.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].
