Omari Gates
A 10-day Carnival cruise ship journey from Melbourne to New Caledonia in the South Pacific was cut short after violent brawls broke out, leading to 23 passengers being removed from the ship. The brawls, which were captured on cellphone video, involved a large family group who were accused of attacking other guests and crew members. Australian police intervened and removed the family group from the ship, with Carnival issuing a statement expressing regret for the incident and offering a 25% future cruise credit to all guests as compensation. While no charges were filed against the accused brawlers, the incident sparked investigations by both the police and the cruise line, with Carnival pledging to take corrective action.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of brawl | February 2018 |
| Location of brawl | South Pacific |
| Number of passengers removed | 23 |
| Number of passengers banned | N/A |
| Cause of brawl | Dispute over a thong |
| Injuries | Yes |
| Violence against security officers | Yes |
| Violence against other passengers | Yes |
| Investigation | Yes |
| Charges filed | No |
| Compensation offered | 25% credit for future cruise |
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What You'll Learn
A large family group was removed from the ship
A large family group of 23 people was removed from the Carnival Legend cruise ship by Australian police after violent brawls and disruptive behaviour. The ship docked early so that police could remove the family, with passengers cheering as the men were removed from the ship. The family was involved in several instances of unruly behaviour and physically attacked other guests. One passenger described the incident as a "bloodbath", with a "big Italian family" spending days attacking Australians aboard the ship. Another passenger, Kellie Peterson, noted that the group was looking for trouble and that five of them surrounded her husband.
The brawls took place during a 10-night voyage from Melbourne to New Caledonia in the South Pacific, ending in Melbourne, Australia. The ship operator, Carnival Cruise Line, apologised for the disruptive behaviour and offered a 25% future cruise credit as compensation to all passengers on board. In a statement, Carnival said they have a zero-tolerance approach to excessive behaviour and that they cooperated fully with local authorities to remove the family group.
NSW Police stated that six men and three teenage boys were removed from the ship at Twofold Bay, Eden, along with 14 other passengers, including women and children. As of Monday, no charges had been laid against the accused brawlers, and no one had been detained, according to police. However, investigations into the incident were ongoing.
The brawls were captured on cellphone video by passengers, showing violent scenes of passengers tussling with each other and security officers. Security officers were also seen kicking passengers who were down on the floor. One passenger, Jarrah, described how he was targeted by the offenders and had to flee and lock himself in the cabin with his mother. The violent nature of the brawls and the response from security have sparked criticism and calls for improved safety measures on cruise ships.
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No charges were filed against the accused brawlers
Cellphone videos from passengers on the ship captured the violent scenes, with security officers also kicking passengers who were already down on the floor. One passenger described the incident as a "bloodbath", with a "big Italian family" attacking Australians, including strangling and punching. Another passenger, Kellie Peterson, reported witnessing injuries, including people with cut heads and hands, and noted that the group had been looking for trouble.
In response to the incident, Carnival released a statement expressing their zero tolerance for excessive behavior and confirming their cooperation with local authorities in removing the disruptive family group. They also acknowledged that the actions of their security team were not in line with their values and policies and pledged a full investigation, offering a 25% future cruise credit as compensation to affected guests. Despite the violent nature of the brawl and the resulting inquiries, no charges were brought against those involved, highlighting a decision by authorities to focus on removing the offenders from the ship and preventing further disruption.
The lack of charges may have been influenced by the complexity of prosecuting crimes that occur in international waters, as well as the potential involvement of minors in the brawl. It is also possible that the accused brawlers were released due to a lack of evidence or the decision to prioritize calming tensions and ensuring the safety of the remaining passengers. The absence of charges does not diminish the impact of the incident, which caused significant distress to those on board, nor does it excuse the behavior of those involved. The decision not to pursue charges may have been a pragmatic one, allowing the cruise to continue and for those affected to move forward from the traumatic event.
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Carnival security guards were accused of using excessive force
In 2018, a violent brawl on a Carnival cruise ship resulted in 23 passengers being removed from the ship. The incident, which took place on a 10-day cruise in the South Pacific, led the ship to dock early so that Australian police could remove a large family group of 23 people. Cellphone video footage from the ship showed passengers fighting with each other and with security officers.
In response to the accusations of excessive force, Carnival released a statement expressing regret for the unruly conduct of the passengers involved and affirming their zero-tolerance approach to disruptive behavior. They also stated that their security team had responded to extremely unruly behavior and that the actions seen in the video were not in line with their values and policies. An investigation was promised, and appropriate corrective action was to be taken.
While Carnival did not disclose details about any disciplinary actions taken against their security personnel, they did offer a 25% credit towards a future cruise as compensation to all passengers on board. However, some passengers criticized this offer as inadequate. This incident highlights the challenges faced by cruise lines in maintaining order and ensuring the safety of passengers and crew while at sea.
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Passengers were critical of Carnival's compensation offer
Passengers were highly critical of Carnival's compensation offer of a 25% future cruise credit. Many passengers felt that the offer was unacceptable, especially given that some had experienced trauma during the voyage and did not wish to travel with Carnival ever again. One passenger, Mark Morrison, stated that "I won't be travelling Carnival ever again so a 25% off a future cruise in my eyes is unacceptable".
Some passengers also accused security personnel of being heavy-handed in their response to the brawls. Video footage posted online showed security officers kicking passengers who were already down on the floor. Carnival acknowledged that the actions of its security team were "not in line with our values and policies" and promised a full investigation.
The brawls, which occurred during a 10-night South Pacific voyage, involved a large family group who allegedly physically attacked other passengers. The violence was described by one passenger as a bloodbath, with people being "strangled and punched up". The family spent days attacking Australians aboard the ship, and passengers reported feeling scared and traumatized by the experience.
In addition to the criticism of Carnival's compensation offer, some passengers also questioned the ship's management during the brawls. One passenger quoted the captain as saying, "'What do you want me to do about it - throw them overboard?'" This indicated a potential lack of leadership and control during the violent incidents.
Overall, the passengers' criticism of Carnival's compensation offer reflected their dissatisfaction with the company's handling of the brawls and their desire for more meaningful accountability and action from the cruise line.
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Brawls may have been sparked by a dispute over a thong
A Carnival cruise ship was forced to dock early so that Australian police could remove 23 passengers after brawls and disruptive behaviour. The ship's operator apologised for the "disruptive behaviour" and offered a 25% future cruise credit as compensation. Passengers criticised the offer, with one saying, "I won't be travelling Carnival ever again so a 25% off a future cruise in my eyes is unacceptable".
Cellphone video footage from the ship shows passengers tussling with each other and security officers, with alarmed onlookers shouting and screaming. Security officers are also shown kicking passengers after they were already down on the floor. One passenger described the scene as a "bloodbath".
The Herald and several other local news outlets reported that the brawls may have been sparked by a dispute over a thong. Carnival described the behaviour as ""extremely unruly" and said that it had a "zero-tolerance approach to excessive behaviour that affects other guests". The company said it was cooperating fully with local authorities to remove a large family group that had been involved in disruptive acts and physical attacks on other passengers.
One passenger, Kellie Peterson, described the group as looking "for trouble from the minute they got on the ship". She said that five of them surrounded my husband, and that her children witnessed it and are now scared. "We've been told to watch our backs by this group," she said.
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Frequently asked questions
The cause of the brawl is unclear, but it may have been sparked by a dispute over a thong.
Australian newspapers reported that a "big Italian family" spent days attacking Australians aboard the ship. The brawl was described as a bloodbath, with people getting strangled and punched up.
Carnival issued a statement saying, "We have a zero tolerance approach to excessive behavior that affects other guests. In line with this policy, we cooperated fully with local authorities in Australia to remove a large family group who had been involved in disruptive acts aboard Carnival Legend." Carnival also offered a 25% future cruise credit as compensation to all passengers.
