Fernando Saises fronts court over indecent assault on cruise ship

A cruise ship worker infatuated with older women used a surprise towel birthday cake to get into a passenger’s cabin where he sexually assaulted her.

Fernando Saises indecently assaulted a 61-year-old passenger on her birthday in her cabin on board the Royal Princess.

A cruise ship worker who repeatedly tried to force himself on a passenger inside her cabin on her 61st birthday after telling her she was “attractive” has avoided jail.

Fernando Saises, 46, shoved his tongue into the passenger’s mouth on board the Royal Princess on its way from New Zealand to Australia while his wife was dying of cancer back home in the Philippines, the court heard.

Saises entered the victim’s room on her 61st birthday in March 2024 shortly after putting a birthday cake in her cabin while she was away.

The Filipino national was sentenced by the County Court on Monday to six months’ imprisonment but was released on a recognizance release order to be of good behaviour for three years.

Judge Daniel Holding said Saises grabbed the passenger’s face with both hands and his tongue in her mouth shortly after entering her cabin.

Fernando Saises was sacked by the Royal Princess after he indecently assaulted a female passenger. Picture: Supplied

He then put his hands up and over the back of her head and down her backside while she, a US national, told him to stop and tried to push him away.

Saises left the room but returned shortly after, grabbed her face with both hands and kissed her on the lips.

After running his hands all over her body, he then lifted her up off the ground and squeezed her so hard she felt her back crack.

He slammed her down after she became hysterical and smacked her on the buttock.

The passenger repeatedly told him to leave and that she married to which he said he too was married but that he liked “older women” and thought she was attractive.

The matter was reported to the ship security and Saises was arrested when the ship docked in Melbourne three days later.

In her victim impact statement read out in court, the victim said she has been diagnosed with PTSD and received counselling to cope in life.

“I recently tried to celebrate my 62nd birthday with friends and family and all I could feel was the trauma I suffered from his assault the previous year,” she said.

The 61st birthday cake that Fernando Saises gave to a female passenger on board the Royal Princess before indecently assaulting her.

“I struggle to think I will no longer be able to travel so far away from home again. I am no longer able to trust people I did before.”

Judge Holding said Saises’ behaviour was “nothing short of disgrace”.

“Despite her clearly indicating how upset she was with your conduct, you returned to satisfy own sexual gratification without any regard for her welfare,” Judge Holding said.

“You physically manipulated her despite her resistance and your behaviour was nothing short of disgrace.”

He said Saises, a father of two teenagers, lost a job of nearly 20 years that helped provide for his family back home — all for a crazy act of lust.

Judge Holding said a recognizance release order was appropriate given Saises’ guilty plea and lack of priors.