A cruise line in Australia is facing heavy criticism after its staff members were seen wearing costumes that closely resembled the attire associated with the white supremacist group Ku Klux Klan. The incident took place on December 19 aboard a P&O Cruises Australia vessel during a Christmas-themed event. Despite the company’s denial of any malicious intent and a subsequent apology, many passengers remain unconvinced.
In a video that has since gone viral, several staff members dressed in white outfits with pointed hats can be seen walking behind an individual dressed as Santa Claus. A passenger aboard the cruise shared their shock with Daily Mail Australia, stating that the excitement during the competition turned to silence when the staff appeared. The passenger described the incident as “astounding” and mentioned that a fellow traveler dubbed the event the Ku Klux Klan “KKK cruise.”
Public Reaction and Outrage
Social media users were quick to condemn the incident, expressing disbelief and outrage. Comments flooded online platforms, with one individual stating, “They knew exactly what they were doing,” while another posted, “This is absolutely shameful. Who thought this was a good idea?” Others questioned how such an oversight could occur, wondering if anyone had considered the implications of the costumes before the event.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
NEW: Cruise line staff dresses up for a Christmas costume party, cruise line insists they were dressed up as “upside-down snow cones.”
Travelers on a P&O Cruises Australia ship were horrified to see staff walking around with white hoods on.
Communications director Lynne… pic.twitter.com/Kc9Oqc6oFE
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 22, 2025
Company’s Response and Explanation
In response to the backlash, P&O Cruises Australia issued an apology, clarifying that the costumes were intended to represent snow cones as part of the Christmas festivities. Lynne Scrivens, a spokesperson for the company, explained to People magazine that the crew, who come from diverse cultural backgrounds, were unaware of the potential resemblance to the controversial group. “They were simply participating in a tug-of-war event dressed in what they believed to be festive attire,” Scrivens said.
She further elaborated that the crew, given their limited resources on board, crafted their costumes from available materials, using their cleaning uniforms with added headpieces meant to mimic upside-down snow cones. “Our crew members live and work on the ship; they don’t have access to specialized costume shops. They did their best with what was available,” Scrivens added.
Despite the company’s clarification, many remain skeptical and have called for better oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future. Critics argue that greater cultural awareness and sensitivity training should be implemented to ensure such mishaps do not recur.
