A violent brawl erupted as passengers disembarked from the Carnival Jubilee in Galveston, Texas, resulting in 24 people being permanently banned from future Carnival cruises and one arrest.

At a Glance

• Massive fight broke out during disembarkation from Carnival Jubilee on April 26 in Galveston, Texas
• Video shows passengers shoving past barriers and engaging in physical altercations
• 24 individuals placed on Carnival Cruise Line’s “Do Not Sail” list
• Incident occurred in U.S. Customs and Border Protection controlled area
• One person arrested by Port of Galveston Police Department

Chaos During Disembarkation

The altercation occurred on April 26 as passengers were leaving the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship in Galveston, Texas. The ship was returning from a Caribbean cruise with stops in Mexico and Honduras when the incident erupted in the debarkation area under U.S. Customs and Border Protection authority. Video footage captured the chaos as passengers pushed past security barriers and engaged in physical confrontations with each other, sending luggage scattering across the terminal floor.

The Port of Galveston Police Department responded to what they described as “an altercation” at Cruise Terminal 25. Several individuals were detained by Customs and Border Protection officials during the incident, and port police arrested one person on related charges. The exact cause of the fight remains unclear, with no official explanation provided by authorities or the cruise line regarding what triggered the brawl.

Swift Response from Carnival

In the aftermath of the violent encounter, Carnival Cruise Line took decisive action against those involved. A total of 24 people have been placed on Carnival’s “Do Not Sail” list, effectively banning them from future travel on any of the company’s vessels. The cruise line made its position clear in an official statement addressing the incident and the subsequent consequences for those involved in the disturbance.

“The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of U.S. Customs and Border Protection,” stated Carnival Cruise Line in their official response to the incident.

The cruise line further emphasized their zero-tolerance policy for such behavior, stating, “We will not tolerate such behavior, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list.” This strong stance underscores Carnival’s commitment to maintaining order and safety for all passengers, particularly in an industry where customer security is paramount to business operations and reputation management.

Law Enforcement Involvement

The situation quickly escalated beyond Carnival’s internal security measures, necessitating intervention from multiple law enforcement agencies. After Customs and Border Protection officers initially responded, the Port of Galveston Police Department arrived at the scene to restore order. Security personnel were initially overwhelmed by the scale of the confrontation, as seen in video footage that has since circulated widely on social media platforms.

The matter has been turned over to law enforcement for further investigation and potential additional charges against those involved. This incident follows a similar situation on Carnival Paradise in June 2024, where another large fight broke out onboard, suggesting the cruise line may be facing increased scrutiny over passenger behavior and security protocols across its fleet.