Two women have reportedly been barred from sailing with Carnival after an alleged altercation aboard a Spirit cruise ship.
Lisa Horace, 51, and Tonya Nelson, 58, appeared in federal court earlier this week after receiving federal citations for assault.
The incident is said to have started when Nelson approached Horace, claiming Horace was in the incorrect line while trying to close out her onboard account.
According to reports, Horace did not respond at first. The situation escalated when Nelson allegedly touched Horace’s husband on the shoulder multiple times.
The exchange then turned heated, and the two women allegedly began slapping each other before Carnival employees intervened to break it up.
Records also suggest Nelson told authorities she had previously been embarrassed by standing in the wrong queue and believed she was trying to help.
Court filings say the two women were strangers before the confrontation.
Speaking in court this week, Nelson said: “I’m just sorry that we’re here.”
Following the incident, both women have allegedly been banned from Carnival cruises and stripped of their Diamond status.
Diamond is the top tier in the cruise line’s loyalty program, typically offering perks such as priority boarding, complimentary drinks, unlimited laundry, and potential cabin upgrades.
Nelson’s attorney, Buzz Jordan, argued the confrontation was the result of packed conditions onboard, saying: “Things happen sometimes on a crowded ship. You know, we’ve got big crowds involved, so that’s how I think this happened.
“I’m hoping that Carnival will reinstate both of them so they can continue traveling with Carnival.
“My client and the other lady are both great citizens and you know, I don’t expect they’ll ever have any more issues.”
The incident comes after other cruise disruptions linked to onboard fights, including one last year involving a Royal Caribbean ship that turned back to port after a brawl reportedly left passengers hurt.
The cruise operator said the trip was cut short following an altercation that allegedly caused injuries, with two guests said to have needed 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.
One witness told local10 they noticed passengers rushing toward the pool deck shortly before the captain announced the unexpected return to port.
Another person told WSVN that roughly a dozen individuals were escorted off the ship when it arrived, where police and emergency crews were waiting.