Cruise vacations are all about fun and relaxation. People board Carnival Cruise Line ships expecting sunny decks, good food, and exciting stops at beautiful places. But sometimes, things go wrong. Fights, or Carnival cruise brawls, have happened on ships or at ports, shocking passengers and making news. These events raise questions about safety and how cruise lines handle bad behavior.
The 2025 Carnival Cruise Brawl in Galveston
On April 26, 2025, a huge fight broke out at the cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas. It happened as passengers were getting off the Carnival Jubilee. This ship had just returned from a seven-day trip to the Western Caribbean, stopping at Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatán.
The brawl took place in the luggage pickup area. A passenger named Trelle Ray shared videos on social media showing the chaos. People were pushing, punching, and kicking each other. One person was tackled to the ground and attacked by several others.
Suitcases were scattered, and barriers were knocked over. Security guards tried to stop the fight but struggled. One guard was even pushed back by the crowd. Kids and other passengers watched in shock, some filming the scene.
Carnival Cruise Line acted quickly. They said the fight happened in the disembarkation area, run by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The cruise line turned the case over to law enforcement. They also banned 24 passengers involved from ever sailing with Carnival again.
These banned passengers were added to Carnival’s “Do Not Sail” list. One 21-year-old was arrested, but no other arrests or injuries were reported. Court records gave more details about what started the fight.
The 2018 Carnival Legend Brawl
In February 2018, a 10-day cruise on the Carnival Legend turned chaotic. The ship, carrying over 2,000 passengers, was sailing from Melbourne, Australia, to New Caledonia. Multiple fights broke out onboard, making it a “cruise from hell” for some.
The trouble started early in the trip. Passengers said it began over something small—a flip-flop sandal being stepped on. One passenger told Australian radio station 3AW that a large family was causing trouble from the start.
The situation got worse in the ship’s nightclub. A huge brawl broke out early one morning. Videos showed passengers fighting and security guards trying to stop them. Some clips showed guards kicking and punching passengers on the ground, which caused outrage.
Passenger Lisa Bolitho said she and her son locked themselves in their cabin out of fear. Another passenger, Cindy Buglisi, called it a “bloodbath.” People were screaming, throwing glasses, and running in panic.
Some passengers stayed in their rooms for the rest of the trip. One man told 3AW his son called him from the nightclub at 1 a.m., saying people were bleeding around him. The chaos led to an unscheduled stop.
The Carnival Legend docked in Eden, New South Wales. Police boarded the ship and removed 23 members of a large family. This included six men, three teenage boys, and 14 others, including women and children.
The group was taken to Canberra to make other travel plans. No charges were filed at the time, but Carnival said they were working with police. The cruise line apologized and offered a 25% discount on a future cruise.
Some passengers, like Mark Morrison, said they would never sail with Carnival again. They felt the discount wasn’t enough. The incident left many feeling unsafe and disappointed.
Australian Newspaper Coverage of the 2018 Brawl
Australian newspaper coverage on Carnival cruise ship brawl was intense following the 2018 incident aboard the Carnival Legend. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that up to 30 people were injured during the altercation. News.com.au published graphic photos of a man with bruises and blood on his face and back.
The Australian Associated Press quoted passengers who claimed a particular family roamed the ship looking for fights. The coverage painted a frightening picture, with many passengers saying safety was a major concern and criticizing the ship’s management for not doing enough.
Some newspapers quoted the captain saying, “What do you want me to do about it—throw them overboard?” This made passengers feel their complaints were ignored. The story became a big deal in Australia, with headlines calling it a “nightmare cruise.”
Where Were The People From Involved In Carnival Cruise Brawl?
In the 2025 Galveston brawl, we don’t know exactly where the 24 banned passengers were from. The cruise left from Galveston, Texas, so many were likely from the U.S., possibly Texas or nearby states. These cruises often attract local passengers.
Court records mention Meritt-Clark but don’t say where he or the others were from. Without more details, we can only guess they were a mix of people from the Carnival Jubilee. The lack of specific information makes it hard to be sure.
In the 2018 Carnival Legend brawl, the 23 people removed were a large family from Melbourne, Australia. Australian newspapers, like the Sydney Morning Herald, called them a “big Italian family.” No official reports confirmed their nationality beyond their Melbourne connection.
Passengers said the family targeted Australians on the ship, causing tension. Since they were all from Melbourne, they were likely traveling together, possibly for a family event. This made the group stand out during the cruise.
Why Do These Brawls Happen?
Fights on cruise ships are rare, but they get a lot of attention. Several things seem to cause these incidents. Let’s break it down.
Alcohol is a big factor. Carnival ships are known as “fun ships,” where drinking is common. Cruise Law News, a blog by lawyer Jim Walker, says Carnival makes a lot of money from alcohol sales. When people drink too much, small arguments can turn into big fights.
The 2018 brawl started over a flip-flop, and a 2024 brawl on Carnival cruise involved “drunk girls from Tampa” fighting over pizza. Alcohol makes people act more aggressively. This is a problem in the close space of a ship.
Carnival’s affordable prices attract a wide range of passengers. Carnival’s chairman, Micky Arison, called this a “wider audience.” This includes younger people who like to party. Most passengers are there for fun, but a few can cause trouble.
In the 2025 brawl, the fight started during a basketball game. This shows how some passengers were already clashing. Small conflicts can grow in a crowded ship environment.
Security is another challenge. Carnival has guards, but they are often outnumbered. In the 2018 brawl, videos showed guards struggling to control the fight. Some even used force, making things worse.
How Carnival Handles These Incidents
Carnival has a strict code of conduct. Passengers who break the rules can be fined $500, confined to their rooms, or removed from the ship. In both the 2018 and 2025 brawls. Carnival took strong action.
In 2018, they worked with Australian police to remove the family. In 2025, they banned 24 passengers for life and handed the case to law enforcement. This shows Carnival doesn’t tolerate fighting.
John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, spoke about the 2025 brawl on his Facebook page. He has over 600,000 followers. He said he wasn’t surprised by the behavior. Comparing it to “a pack of starving hyenas.”
He stressed that Carnival bans anyone involved in physical fights. He also said 99.9% of passengers are there to have fun. Carnival wants to keep the focus on the positive.
Some passengers and critics say Carnival could do more. In 2018, passengers felt the crew didn’t act fast enough. In 2025, some thought the basketball game conflict should have been stopped earlier.
Others want better security training and stricter alcohol limits. These steps could help prevent fights before they start. Carnival is working on safety, but challenges remain.
The Bottom Line
Carnival cruise brawls, like those in 2018 and 2025, are shocking. They ruin the vacation vibe everyone expects. The 2025 Galveston brawl showed how tensions from a cruise can spill into the terminal. Twenty-four passengers were banned for life.
The 2018 Carnival Legend brawl was even worse, with a family causing fear and injuries. Australian newspapers called it a “cruise from hell.” The 2025 brawlers’ origins aren’t clear, but the 2018 group was from Melbourne. Royal Caribbean International
These incidents show that cruise ships can have problems when people don’t follow rules. Carnival bans troublemakers, but preventing fights is the real goal. By understanding these events, we can help make cruises safer and more fun for all.
