Carnival Cruise Line has banned 16 passengers after a wild brawl broke out in a customs line at Port Miami, turning the end of a Bahamas cruise into complete chaos.
The fight happened around 8 a.m. Monday after the Carnival Conquest docked in Florida following a trip to the Bahamas.
Dramatic video from the port showed passengers waiting in the debarkation area when a fight suddenly erupted. According to reports, the chaos began when two women started swinging at each other while people were still lined up with their luggage.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
One woman, wearing a black strapless dress, appeared to duck under a line divider before going after another woman in polka dot pajamas. Moments later, a third woman in a yellow and white maxi dress jumped into the fight and grabbed another woman’s hair.
The two women wrestled and pulled at each other as shocked passengers tried to move out of the way. Suitcases, bags and other personal belongings were scattered across the floor as more people joined the melee.
Several men and women became involved before U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stepped in and tried to break up the fight.
At one point in the video, a man was seen holding a stanchion over his head as people screamed nearby.
The fight reportedly went on for several minutes before it was finally broken up. Afterward, passengers were seen trying to gather their belongings and continue through the customs area.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office stated that the fight involved two families. Officials said it remains unclear what sparked the confrontation.
No arrests were made because neither side wanted to press charges, according to police.
Carnival Cruise Line, however, took action of its own. A company spokesperson said 16 people involved in the brawl have been placed on the cruise line’s “Do Not Sail List.”
“The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol,” Carnival said in a statement. “We are appreciative of law enforcement’s swift response and handling of the matter. We do not tolerate such behavior.”
Bystanders could be heard in video from the scene claiming a child was involved, but that has not been confirmed.
According to Cruise Mapper, the Carnival Conquest arrived back in Miami at 8 a.m. Monday and later departed again around 3 p.m.
The Port Miami brawl comes just months after another reported fight involving Carnival passengers.
In March, two women were accused of slapping each other aboard the Carnival Spirit as it returned to Mobile, Alabama, from Nassau, Bahamas.
According to court documents cited by Fox 10, the fight allegedly began after 58-year-old Tonya Nelson confronted 51-year-old Lisa Horace and her husband, claiming they were standing in the wrong line to settle their cruise accounts.
Both women were issued federal court citations for simple assault and appeared before a judge in May. A magistrate judge reportedly said the case would be dismissed if the women stayed out of trouble and had no contact with each other for three months.
A final decision in that case is expected on August 12.
As for the Port Miami brawl, Carnival made it clear those involved will not be welcome back on board anytime soon.