A violent altercation occurred among passengers of Carnival Cruise Line in Texas, resulting in over 20 individuals being placed on a no-sail list, effectively banning them from future cruises with the company. The incident took place on Saturday inside the boarding terminal in Galveston as passengers were disembarking from the Carnival Jubilee, following a Caribbean vacation.
Shocking footage of the melee shows a chaotic scene where men and women were seen kicking, punching, and screaming at each other. Multiple people were tackled and shoved to the ground amid the disorder, while security guards rushed in attempting to break up the fight and restore order. The cause of the disturbance remains unclear.
Trelle Ray, who shared the footage on Facebook where it amassed over 1.2 million views, captioned it: "It went down this morning ‼️" Witnesses described the event as unexpected and aggressive.
Responding to the incident, a Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson told DailyMail.com via email, "We will not tolerate such behaviour, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list." This no-sail status does not only exclude these individuals from future voyages on the Carnival Jubilee but also bans them from boarding any other cruises across the entire Carnival fleet.
The matter falls under the jurisdiction of the US Customs and Border Protection, and local police have been involved. Reports indicate that at least one person was arrested, though details about any charges have not been disclosed. The New York Post has noted the arrest but without further specifics.
The no-sail list used by cruise lines is a form of behavioural sanctioning, distinct from the No Fly List used in aviation, as it bans specific passengers from travelling with the company instead of across the wider travel industry.
Public reaction to the video was considerable, with over 4,300 people commenting. Many expressed shock and dismay at the violence taking place, sometimes in the presence of children. Comments ranged from calling the event "pathetic" to urging legal action and wider bans for those involved. Others shared that such incidents were not uncommon on this cruise line.
Carnival Cruise Line has previously dealt with severe unruly behaviour by passengers. An incident from June 2022 involved a mass fight on one of its ships that had to return to port prematurely. That brawl erupted following a jealousy-fuelled conflict stemming from a threesome scenario. Over 60 passengers were involved, with fights escalating from the nightclub area to other parts of the ship, requiring intervention from the New York Police Department and the Coast Guard. Despite the violence, no serious injuries were recorded in that instance.
The recent event in Galveston adds to a pattern illustrating the challenges cruise lines face in maintaining passenger safety and order during and after their voyages. The severity of Carnival Cruise Line’s response with lifetime bans highlights the company’s stance against violent behaviour aboard its ships and related facilities.
Source: Noah Wire Services