A violent fight involving multiple cruise passengers broke out at the Port of Miami after a Carnival cruise. Carnival has banned 16 passengers involved in the incident.
Cruise passengers ended their trip with a massive fight at the Port of Miami. Members of two families threw punches, shoved each other, and engaged in violent behavior in the port’s disembarkation area. Carnival has since banned 16 passengers involved in the incident, and the video has shocked viewers online.
It is not known what sparked the brawl on June 22. The passengers had been sailing aboard the Carnival Conquest, which departed Miami on Friday and returned after a three-night cruise that included a stop at Celebration Key, Carnival’s private destination in the Bahamas. The altercation occurred in the disembarkation area, which is managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. As tensions escalated, customs officers appeared to intervene and separate those involved.
The video shows men and women aggressively striking each other while passengers wait to collect their luggage. A man can be seen holding a child, while screams ring out in the background as punches are thrown and people are dragged across the floor.
@nypostSixteen would-be vacationers were banned from Carnival Cruises after a massive brawl in the Florida customs line on Monday. The knock-down, drag-out fight involved more than a dozen people of all genders throwing wild punches, sending stanchions and luggage flying at a customs checkpoint in Miami-Dade County, video on social media shows. More details at the link in bio.♬ original sound – New York Post | News
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responded to the disturbance and said that “the incident was deemed a mutual combatant incident.” It also noted that the families did not wish to press charges against one another.
Continue Reading Article After Our Video
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Related: Don’t Be *That* Cruiser: 13 Things You Need to Know About Cruise Etiquette
However, the incident will not go unpunished. A Carnival spokesperson said the company does not tolerate such behavior and has placed 16 people on its “Do Not Sail” list. The company also thanked law enforcement for its response to the incident.
Carnival Corporation owns several cruise brands, including Costa, Princess, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Seabourn, Cunard, and Carnival Cruise Line. It is likely that all of those brands are now off-limits to the travelers involved.
This is the second such incident reported this month. Earlier, authorities in the Bahamas arrested five cruise passengers—two men and three women—following a brawl at the Port of Nassau. According to reports, the group later became violent with police officers, injuring several. A local newspaper reported that six individuals—Gabriella Aguilar, 27; Irvin Castro, 26; Jose Duran, 50; Daniella Duran, 22; Jaeyln Duran, 19; and Andrew Tapia, 21—were collectively fined $50,000 for disorderly conduct, property damage, obstruction, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, and other offenses. The passengers claimed they had been intoxicated.
Party cruises remain a popular way to celebrate at sea, but responsible alcohol consumption is essential for safety. A recent lawsuit filed against Carnival Cruise Line and one of its excursion vendors alleges that a young graduate lost both legs in an accident during a Bahamas excursion after being provided complimentary alcoholic drinks by staff. She claims the accident would not have occurred had she not been intoxicated.
Unfortunately, unruly behavior has also become increasingly common on commercial flights, with multiple incidents reported each month. Airlines frequently ban disruptive passengers and may refer cases to authorities, who can issue fines, revoke travel privileges such as TSA PreCheck, or pursue criminal charges.
Alcohol is often cited as a contributing factor in disruptive passenger incidents. Low-cost carrier Ryanair, which has sued passengers responsible for flight diversions, has even proposed a two-drink limit at airports.
Related: What Flight Attendants Are Authorized to Do When Passengers Cross the Line