Man Arrested After Jumping Off Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship to Allegedly Avoid Gambling Debt

There wasn’t enough water in the ocean to keep lawmen from netting a man they say jumped off a cruise ship to escape having to pay off a $16,000 gambling debt.

Jey González Díaz was riding aboard Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas near the Port of San Juan in Puerto Rico when authorities say he got the idea to steal himself some unexpected shore leave by bailing on the boat after racking up a hefty gambling debt in the ship’s casino, according to CBS News.

The passenger’s plan was all wet, they say — because video footage shows people on jet skis fishing the guy out of the water and reeling him in to shore.

Customs and Border Protection officers in Puerto Rico arrested González Díaz in the Sept. 7 incident, for which he was charged with a federal crime, according to the criminal complaint.

The cruise line said he had an outstanding bill of $16,710.24 that was “almost exclusively associated to Casino and Gaming expenses,” per the complaint.

González Díaz, who has been released on bail, faces up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $250,000 if found guilty.

Rhapsody of the Seas has more than 1,000 staterooms and has a 770-crew staff for up to 2,431 passengers. Gambling is available on Deck 5 in their Casino Royale, which includes slot machines, blackjack, roulette and poker tournaments, according to CruiseMapper.