An Australian cruise line is clarifying its stance after passengers said crew members wore costumes reminiscent of the racist Ku Klux Klan group.
Videos and photos have surfaced online of eight cruise ship workers wearing all-white overalls with matching white cone-shaped hoods over their faces as they walk in line on the ship’s deck, according to Sydney Morning Herald.
The staff took part in the Christmas-themed event during a week-long holiday cruise aboard the Pacific Explorer, which set sail from Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 19 for Tasmania and Kangaroo Island, the release reported.
One passenger recalled the incident Daily Mail Australia. “There was a lot of excitement [for the competition] then everything went silent [when they walked out]” she said. “The lack of judgment was astounding.” She added that one passenger called it a “KKK cruise.”
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However, a spokesperson for P&O Cruises Australia denied any wrongdoing in an interview with radio station 2GB in Sydney, according to Morning Herald.
“They were taking part in a Christmas family fun day on board as part of our Christmas crew,” spokeswoman Lynne Scrivens said. “It was a tug-of-war event where the crew dress up and our hostess decided to dress up in snow cones.”
She added that the flight attendants had “no idea” their costumes could be considered offensive and were “horrified” when managers on board asked them to remove their costumes. She also noted that they were “profusely apologetic” after they realized what had happened.
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“Our crew is from different cultures all over the world. They are young and have never heard of the organization or what their clothes might symbolize,” Scrivens told 2GB.
“They live and work on a cruise ship. They won’t do it [Australian craft suppliers] Spotlight to buy loads of materials for fancy clothes. They have to make do with what they have,” she said. “And they were wearing their cleaning uniforms, and they put something on their heads that looks like a snow globe… [an] upside down snow cone.”
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P&O Cruises Australia did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the incident.
But the company echoed Scrivens’ sentiments in a statement to Morning Herald and AFP, saying the employees were “only in public for a short time before management … forced them to remove their costumes.” The company also noted that it was not the crew’s “intention” to cause passengers “upset”.
“We sincerely apologize for any offense this has caused to passengers and the wider community,” the company said. “Staff have been informed of this incident and we will ensure this does not happen again.”
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Source: HIS Education