P&O Cruises Australia has expressed regret after costumes worn by its crew were perceived as resembling Ku Klux Klan hoods.

During a family Christmas event last month, crew members were dressed as snow cones, according to a company spokesperson. “P&O Cruises Australia recognizes that inappropriate attire on board the Pacific Explorer has led to distress, and we want to make it clear that this was not the crew’s intention,” the spokesperson mentioned in an email statement to YSL News.

The cruise, which took place between Melbourne and Tasmania, started on December 19.

This week, 7NEWS Australia aired video footage showing crew members in all-white ensembles with pointed hoods that resembled those associated with the KKK, as they followed an individual dressed as Santa Claus on an outdoor deck. A guest shared the video on Facebook, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.

The KKK is known as “the oldest and most notorious hate group in America,” primarily targeting Black Americans, Jewish individuals, and others, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“They were only visible to the public for a brief period before management swiftly intervened and had them change out of the costumes,” the P&O Cruises Australia representative added. “The crew members were appalled and genuinely apologetic upon realizing the potential offense their outfits could cause. We deeply regret any discomfort this has caused to our passengers and the wider community.”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter based in Nashville.