CARNIVAL CRUISE BANS 16 PASSENGERS AFTER MIAMI PORT BRAWL
Sixteen passengers have been banned from Carnival Cruise Line following a violent altercation at Port Miami, Florida on Monday, 22 June. The brawl erupted at approximately 8am whilst holidaymakers waited in a customs queue after the Carnival Conquest vessel returned from a trip to the Bahamas. Video footage recorded the moment passengers threw punches and struck one another, with one man wielding a stanchion above his head during the confrontation. US Customs and Border Protection officers intervened to restore order as suitcases and personal belongings were scattered across the debarkation area.
The altercation allegedly began when two women engaged in a physical confrontation, one wearing a black strapless dress and the other in polka dot pyjamas. A third woman in a yellow and white maxi-dress then joined the clash. Several other passengers subsequently participated in the brawl. No arrests were made after both parties declined to press charges. The circumstances that triggered the initial confrontation between the two groups remain unconfirmed.
Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that the 16 individuals involved have been added to the company's "Do Not Sail List". A company spokesperson stated that the incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of US Customs and Border Patrol, and expressed appreciation for law enforcement's response to the matter. The company has not announced further action regarding the incident.