Sixteen people have been banned from Carnival Cruise Line after a fight broke out among passengers while they waited in a customs line at Port Miami, Florida. The incident occurred on Monday, June 22, at around 8 a.m., after the Carnival Conquest docked following a trip to the Bahamas.
How the Fight Started
Two women allegedly started the altercation. One, dressed in a black strapless dress, ducked under a line divider and began swinging at another woman wearing polka dot pyjamas. A second woman, wearing a yellow and white maxi-dress, then joined the scuffle and grabbed one of the women's hair.
Several men and women quickly became involved as US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers attempted to break up the fight. Footage captured the chaotic scene, with suitcases and personal belongings hurled around. At one point, a man was seen holding a stanchion over his head as people screamed.
Aftermath and Consequences
The brawl was broken up after a few minutes. It remains unclear what sparked the outburst between two families. No one was arrested, as neither party decided to press charges. However, as a result of the fight, 16 individuals have been placed on Carnival Cruise Lines' "Do Not Sail List," a company spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
Carnival Cruise Line commented: "The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of US Customs and Border Patrol. We are appreciative of law enforcement's swift response and handling of the matter. We do not tolerate such behaviour."
Previous Incident
This incident comes just months after a fight on another Carnival cruise ship, where two women are accused of slapping one another as the ship returned to Mobile, Alabama, from Nassau, Bahamas. Both women faced federal court citations for simple assault and appeared before a judge in early May. US Magistrate Judge Bert Milling Jr told the women their case would be dismissed if they did not get arrested or have contact with one another for three months, according to Fox 10. A final decision on that case is set for August 12.
