A Massive Cruise Fight Got 24 Travelers on the ‘Do Not Sail’ List

There's one quick way to ensure you never get to go on a cruise again, and that's by punching a fellow passenger right in the face. 

In late April, 24 passengers aboard a Carnival Cruise ship quickly found themselves on the “Do Not Sail” list after they took part in a massive brawl in the cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas.

“It went down this morning,” Trelle Ray, who shared footage of the incident on Facebook, wrote in the caption, adding that the event occurred as passengers were disembarking. It took several security guards to break up the fight. 

“The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of U.S. Customs and Border (Protection),” Carnival shared in an email statement with USA Today. “This matter has been turned over to law enforcement. Meanwhile, we will not tolerate such behavior, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list.” The statement added that Customs and Border Protection “detained several individuals,” and port police arrested and charged one traveler. 

However, as People explained, this isn't the first time Carnival has experienced a brawl like this. Another huge fight broke out between passengers in June 2022 on the dance floor in a club on Carnival Magic. That one was even larger, with a reported 60 people taking part in the fight. People added that the Coast Guard had to escort the cruise ship to Pier 88 following the fight. 

But fighting isn't the only way to get yourself barred from sailing. As Carnival's code of conduct explains, “Our experience has taught us that everyone has a better time when children are supervised, noise in the hallways is kept to a minimum, guests follow queues, and that a spirit of community and neighborliness is shown by all. Consistent with our commitment to safety, disruptive behavior is not tolerated, and any guest whose conduct affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety, or well-being of other guests or crew will be disembarked at their own expense and banned from sailing on Carnival in the future.”

It added that all guests must agree to the code of conduct during the check-in process, ensuring the rules are clear and presented to everyone. Though if you violate these rules, the punishment doesn't end at the “Do Not Sail” list. As the code of conduct states, “any violation may result in a fine of $500, possible stateroom confinement, and removal from the ship. Guests may also be liable for reimbursement of expenses incurred by Carnival as a result of the detainment or disembarkation.”

So maybe just enjoy your vacation and turn the other cheek when another passenger rubs you the wrong way. That way, you can enjoy sailing forever.