Fight Breaks Out on Carnival Horizon During Final Day of Cruise
A fight involving several passengers aboard Carnival Horizon is making the rounds on social media after video of the altercation was posted as the ship was wrapping up its September 20–26 sailing from Miami.
According to social-media posts, the incident took place on the final full day of the cruise, September 25, while the ship was at sea. Carnival Horizon's itinerary shows the ship returning to Miami on September 26 after visiting Celebration Key, Montego Bay and Grand Cayman.
Video posted by a passenger shows several women involved in a physical confrontation on the lido deck near the BlueIguana area. The fight appears to have been captured from at least two different angles, with other passengers watching and attempting to intervene. Another report on the incident says Carnival security eventually became involved and that some of those involved were taken away.
Exactly what started the confrontation remains unclear. A follow-up from the person who recorded the video reportedly said he spoke with some of the women afterward, and they told him they initially thought the other women were joking before the situation suddenly became physical. Some other comments imply a man may have been paying attention to another woman. These details have not been independently confirmed.
At this point, we have not been able to find an official police report connected to this incident, and Carnival Cruise Line has not publicly commented on the fight or confirmed what action, if any, was taken against the passengers involved. That means the details currently circulating should be considered unofficial.
The video has nevertheless generated considerable attention online, adding another cruise ship fight to the growing number of passenger altercations that have been captured on smartphones and shared across social media.
As of September 27, this remains a developing story, and additional information could emerge if Carnival or law enforcement comments on the incident.
Royal Caribbean Settles Lawsuit Over Passenger Death After Onboard Assault
Royal Caribbean has reached a settlement with the family of a passenger who died aboard Navigator of the Seas after a confrontation with crew members in December 2024. The settlement resolves the family's wrongful-death lawsuit, but the amount has not been made public and there was no trial to determine whether Royal Caribbean was legally responsible for his death.
Michael Virgil, 35, was cruising with his fiancée, their 7-year-old son, and other family members when they boarded Navigator of the Seas in San Pedro, California, on December 13, 2024. According to the family's lawsuit, Virgil was left at a bar while his fiancée went to check on their cabin.
The lawsuit alleged that crew members served Virgil at least 33 alcoholic drinks over several hours despite signs that he was becoming heavily intoxicated. That number comes from the family's complaint and was never established at trial.
Later, Virgil became agitated in a hallway and encountered other passengers and crew members. Witness accounts and cellphone video showed him kicking at a cabin door, while other reports alleged that he threatened people and assaulted crew members.
Security eventually restrained Virgil using handcuffs and zip ties, and pepper spray was reportedly used. The family's lawsuit alleged that crew members held him face down and placed pressure on his back and torso for several minutes, contributing to his death.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner classified Virgil's manner of death as homicide and listed the cause as the combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, an enlarged heart and alcohol intoxication. The family argued that both the alleged overservice of alcohol and the way Virgil was restrained contributed to his death.
Royal Caribbean did not admit liability as part of the settlement. A court order approving the agreement said the settlement was in the best interest of Virgil's minor son, but the financial terms remain confidential.
The case had attracted significant attention when the incident occurred because of the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and Virgil's death. Now, nearly two years later, the settlement brings the family's civil lawsuit to an end without a public trial determining responsibility.
Virgin Voyages Brings Back Status Match and Extends Loyalty Benefits
Virgin Voyages is celebrating a milestone of its own, and it comes at an interesting time for cruise passengers who are paying closer attention to loyalty programs.
The adults-only cruise line says it has welcomed two million guests since launching in 2021. To celebrate, Virgin is extending its current loyalty benefits through December 31, 2028, giving returning Sailors more time to take advantage of the perks available through its Sailing Club.
But the bigger news for some cruisers is that Virgin has also brought back its status-match program.
For one new booking made between September 24 and October 31, 2026, eligible cruisers can match their status from a number of cruise lines, airlines, and hotel loyalty programs to Virgin Voyages.
Several major cruise lines are included. Carnival guests with Gold status or higher can qualify, as can Royal Caribbean guests with Platinum status or higher, Norwegian guests with Gold or higher, and Princess guests with Platinum or higher. Other participating cruise lines include Celebrity, Holland America, MSC, Disney, Oceania, P&O, Azamara and Windstar.
The timing is particularly interesting for Carnival cruisers. With Carnival recently changing how its VIFP loyalty program works, some longtime Carnival guests may be looking at what other cruise lines offer their loyal customers.
Virgin's status match gives eligible cruisers an opportunity to try the line without starting completely from the bottom of its loyalty program.
The status-match offer is currently scheduled to run through October 31, so cruisers interested in taking advantage of it will need to make a qualifying new booking before the deadline.
Royal Caribbean Buys 50% of Sandals Resorts
Royal Caribbean Group is making a major move beyond cruise ships. The company has agreed to purchase a 50% stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for approximately $3 billion, creating a new joint venture between the two vacation companies. The deal is expected to close in early 2027, pending regulatory and other approvals.
For now, Royal Caribbean says it will be business as usual. Existing cruise and resort operations will continue separately, and both companies' current loyalty programs will remain in place.
But that hasn't stopped cruisers from wondering what this could mean down the road.
One obvious possibility is some type of connection between the loyalty programs. Royal Caribbean already offers shared loyalty status between its Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Silversea brands, so some cruisers are wondering whether Crown & Anchor benefits could eventually connect with Sandals' Island Insiders Club. There has been discussion about the possibility, but no such reciprocal rewards program has been announced at this point.
The bigger opportunity could be combining cruises and land vacations. Imagine being able to book a Royal Caribbean cruise and add a Sandals or Beaches stay as part of one vacation package, potentially creating more options for travelers who want both a cruise and an all-inclusive resort experience.
It could also mean more investment in Sandals and Beaches. Royal Caribbean says the partnership is designed to accelerate resort growth and broaden its vacation offerings, while Sandals brings more than four decades of Caribbean resort experience to the partnership.
And there's another interesting angle for cruisers: Royal Caribbean Group isn't just investing in a resort company. It's expanding its reach into the entire vacation market, giving the company another way to keep customers within its broader travel ecosystem.
Exactly how much this changes the experience for Royal Caribbean and Sandals guests remains to be seen. But with $3 billion behind the deal, this is much more than a simple partnership—and it could be interesting to watch what happens to loyalty programs, vacation packages and the way cruise and resort vacations are sold in the future.
Spider Infestation Greets Royal Caribbean Guests After Debarkation
The end of a cruise can be chaotic enough without discovering that your car has become home to hundreds of tiny spiders.
That’s what several guests reportedly encountered recently after returning to their vehicles at a cruise parking lot near the Port of Galveston. An Uber driver who picked up two passengers said they discovered their car was covered in baby spiders and that several other vehicles in the same parking lot appeared to have the same problem.
The driver, Donnie L. Broussard, shared photos and his experience on the Galveston Talk Facebook group. He said he has been picking up cruise passengers from the parking area for about seven years and had never seen anything like it.
He ended up taking the passengers to Walmart so they could purchase pesticide before attempting to drive their car home.
There is an important clarification here: the spider infestation was not on a Royal Caribbean ship or inside the Royal Caribbean cruise terminal. The issue reportedly occurred in a parking area, which is operated separately from the cruise line.
The exact ship involved wasn't identified, although Royal Caribbean currently has Mariner of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas sailing from Galveston.
As strange as the story sounds, there may be a pretty simple explanation. September and October can be prime spiderling season in Texas. When spider egg sacs hatch, hundreds of tiny spiders can emerge at once. Some species even use strands of silk to disperse to new locations.
So if you're cruising from Galveston this time of year, you probably don't need to worry about getting off your Royal Caribbean ship and walking into a spider infestation. But if you're leaving your car parked outside for several days, it might be worth taking a quick look around before loading up and heading home.
We are Tim & Lori and are known as "The Cruising Together Couple"
Follow us on our Facebook page: Cruising Together Couple
Check out our Facebook group dedicated to Carnival Cruising at: Carnival VIFP - Very Important Fun Page
Check out our Facebook group dedicated to Royal Caribbean at : Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Fan Group
Check out our YouTube channel with new releases every FRIDAY! CLICK HERE
Help support us by checking out our cruise product page on our website CLICK HERE
Disclaimer:
By clicking on any links on this website, you acknowledge and agree that we may receive compensation or commissions from third-party partners or affiliate programs. This helps support the maintenance and operation of our site at no additional cost to you. We only promote products and services we believe may be valuable to our users.
No comments:
Post a Comment