A Royal Caribbean cruise had to make an unexpected return to port due to a fight that erupted on board, leading to injuries among guests.
On Monday, September 15, the Wonder of the Seas cruise ship was compelled to head back to shore shortly after beginning its journey for an unusual reason.
Royal Caribbean confirmed that the massive vessel made an unforeseen U-turn to Port Miami last night, just hours into its four-day trip to the Bahamas. The itinerary included stops at Coco Cay and Nassau, with a planned return to Miami on Friday, as per CruiseMapper.
The cruise line stated that the voyage was cut short after a fight broke out onboard, resulting in injuries to some passengers, with two individuals needing hospital care.
“Our team provided medical care to adult guests who were involved in an altercation onboard, and the guests are being treated for their injuries,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement, according to NBC Miami.
Medical assistance was reportedly sought from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue service at the 1000 block of North America Way when the cruise ship docked at the port.
“We notified local authorities and are working closely with them,” the cruise line continued. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we have no more information to share at this time.”
The ship, which is currently the fourth largest in the world, has a capacity for over 5,500 passengers and 2,300 crew members.
The specific injuries sustained during the altercation and the cause of the fight remain unclear.
A witness who spoke to local10 mentioned seeing passengers rushing to the pool area before the captain announced the sudden return to port.
Another individual told WSVN that about a dozen passengers were escorted off the ship upon its arrival at the port, where police and emergency services were present.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office characterized the incident as stemming from a ‘dispute’ between two passengers, stating: “According to investigators, a verbal dispute ensued between patrons, which became physical.”
“At which time the captain of the ship decided to return to port and contact authorities,” the statement added. “Both individuals were transported to a local hospital for minor injuries. Both individuals declined pressing charges.”
As noted by Cruise Fever, major cruise lines often strictly enforce codes of conduct for passengers, with severe incidents potentially leading to lifetime bans for those involved.
However, Royal Caribbean has yet to disclose if any passengers will be removed from the ship as a result, nor have authorities released the names of those involved or indicated if any arrests have occurred.
This event follows a previous incident earlier this year, where a brawl broke out on a Carnival Cruise ship, reportedly over chicken tenders.
In another cruise-related incident, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship globally, faced criticism last month after a passenger was injured going down a malfunctioning waterslide.