P&O Cruises faced outrage after crew members on the Pacific Explorer dressed in costumes resembling the Ku Klux Klan during a Christmas event. Passengers were horrified, describing the apparel as “aggressive.” The crew, who were cleaning staff, wore white cloaks and pointed hoods while participating in a “Sports Battle Day.” Despite the initial excitement, reactions turned silent as guests expressed shock. A passenger, Terry, sought an explanation but received none. P&O Cruises later claimed the costumes were intended to represent “upside-down snow cones,” acknowledging the misunderstanding while emphasizing the crew’s innocence and regret over the incident.
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P&O Cruises passengers were horrified to see the ship’s crew dressed in costumes that closely resembled those of the Ku Klux Klan during a Christmas-themed event.
The cruise ship says the disturbing incident on board the Pacific Explorer during its Christmas voyage turned a fun day for its staff into a disaster.
Videos and photos show crew members wearing what one female passenger described as “aggressive KKK costume.”
The crew appear to be part of the ship’s cleaning staff, with one member of the crew pictured holding up a cleaner sign.
The crew, wearing white cloaks and white masks with pointed tops and eye holes cut out, similar to those worn by the KKK, competed in a Christmas-themed “Sports Battle Day.”
Passenger Terry, who did not want to give his last name, told Daily Mail Australia there was a lot of “excitement” about the event, which had been widely advertised on board the previous day.
However, once the cleaning team arrived at the ship’s outdoor area known as the lido deck, all was “quiet.”
Terry, who was on an eight-day trip with her husband, was urged by her spouse to “bring the camera” so they could take pictures.
P&O Cruises passengers were horrified after the ship’s crew appeared to be dressed as members of the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan during a Christmas-themed event (pictured)
The Ku Klux Klan was a racist organization founded by Confederate remnants and other disaffected zealots in the aftermath of the Civil War, and was notorious for its white-hooded lynch mobs (members (seen standing next to an airplane with a swastika on its tail)
“We asked for an explanation, but we received no response,” Terry said.
“This is unacceptable in the current environment and education is desperately needed.”
The incident occurred as the ship was returning to Melbourne at the end of an eight-day voyage to Hobart and the Bass Strait Islands.
Terry then showed the video to others and shared it in a Facebook group.
“I was so excited and then everything went quiet…the lack of judgment was amazing,” she said.
“Everybody was there, everybody was there, there was a lot of publicity, there was a lot of noise, and then it just fell silent.
‘The woman sitting in front of me just dropped her jaw and was like, “What the hell?” and everyone was like OMG. They called it the “KKK Cruise.”
A P&O spokesperson said a man dressed as Santa Claus was seen walking alongside other staff members dressed as “upside down snow cones”.
Pacific Explorer is a popular experience for families and other vacationers (pictured)
“They went all the way through this ship dressed as the KKK, parading around the lido deck in front of almost every passenger, but that was the only time a senior crew member saw them and took off their hats. It was.”
“I…spoke to one of the (housekeeping) staff members, and they were all men. And he said to me, ‘We didn’t see anything wrong.’ .
“When I asked them, they didn’t say they weren’t dressed as Ku Klux Klan, but I truly believe that was an innocent mistake.
“It’s scary to think that this was done with malicious intent, but I don’t think that’s the case. All the staff seemed kind.”
Terry said he expected a senior crew member to offer an apology or explanation, but received none.
A P&O Cruises Australia spokesperson insisted the crew were dressed as “upside-down snow cones” rather than the Ku Klux Klan.
“We regret if any guests were offended by the recent incident on board the Pacific Explorer cruise,” a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
“Several crew members dressed up as snow cones for a family Christmas event, but didn’t realize how their costumes could be misunderstood.
“Although they were only in public for a short period of time, management acted quickly to have the costumes removed.
“The crew members were horrified and extremely sorry to learn of the distress their clothing could cause.”
The Ku Klux Klan was a racist organization first founded by Confederate remnants and other disaffected zealots in the aftermath of the Civil War, and was notorious for its white hooded lynch mobs.
Gangs of Klan members terrorized black communities using lynchings and other vigilante measures, and intimidated opponents by burning crosses, in order to suppress African-American voting and civil rights.
Membership soared during the Great Depression and the civil rights movement.