24 passengers were banned from sailing with Carnival Cruise Line after a massive fight broke out in Galveston's cruise terminal while collecting their luggage.
Trelle Ray shared a one-minute video of the incident on Facebook, saying, "It went down this morning." The clip shows a large group of guests shoving past barriers inside the terminal. At least one person was pushed to the ground and punched while security guards tried to break up the brawl.
The guests had just disembarked Carnival's newest ship, Carnival Jubilee, after a weeklong Western Caribbean cruise from Galveston, Texas. The 7-night itinerary called at Cozumel, Mexico; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Roatán, Honduras.
According to the video, the fight began near the Zone 7 luggage pick-up area. However, as tensions escalated, the group traveled away from the suitcases. They knocked over signs and barricades, causing more disruption to those trying to leave the terminal. Even when security tried to intervene, the group kept fighting.
“The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of U.S. Customs and Border (Protection),” Carnival Cruise Line said to USA TODAY in an emailed statement.
“This matter has been turned over to law enforcement. Meanwhile, we will not tolerate such behavior, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list.”
Read more: 10 Reasons You Could Get Banned From A Cruise Ship
John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, also spoke out about the fight on his popular Facebook page, saying, "I can tell you that anybody involved in physical altercations will never be cruising with us ever, ever again and that is a good thing."
He also confirmed that the 24 people involved in the incident in Galveston were banned from cruising with Carnival again.
One man was arrested
Ethan Merritt-Clark, 21, from Chicago, Illinois, was charged with injury to the elderly and reckless serious bodily injury after he pushed an older guest in the luggage area of Galveston's terminal, as reported by The Daily News, Texas's oldest newspaper.
According to the case’s probable cause affidavit, two Port of Galveston Police officers responded to Cruise Terminal 25 after receiving a report of a disturbance. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers had stopped the fight by the time they arrived.
When Merritt-Clark was first interviewed, he claimed the fight started because of an onboard conflict during a basketball game the previous day. However, he later recanted his original statement, saying that he pushed the elderly man, which is when other passengers began repeatedly hitting him.
The alleged victim told Galveston port police that he observed Merritt-Clark watching him in a "hostile manner" while in the luggage area.
He then claimed to exchange words with the angry-looking Merritt-Clark, telling him, "Don't do what you're about to do." Afterward, Merritt-Clark struck him on the right side of his head, according to the affidavit. Luggage broke the victim's fall. In response to the attack, the victim's family began hitting Merritt-Clark.
The victim's story was corroborated by two witnesses, who said the victim tried to de-escalate the tension before being hit by Merritt-Clark.
The 21-year-old Merritt-Clark is facing first-degree felony charges and is being held on a $5,000 bond.
Carnival Jubilee is the line's newest ship and sails exclusively from Galveston, Texas
Carnival Jubilee launched in December 2023 and is the third in the line's Excel Class, joining Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.
Jubilee features six themed zones designed for fun, innovation, and relaxation. Onboard, guests will find a variety of dining and entertainment options, including fan favorites like Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, and more.
Sailing from Texas means much of the entertainment is infused with Texan flair, including the Texas Tailgate Party on the pool deck. Additionally, the ship sports tons of Texas-themed merchandise in the onboard shops.
Read more: How does Carnival Jubilee compare to Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras?
The ship measures 183,521 gross registered tons and can accommodate over 5,360 passengers at double occupancy.
Carnival will welcome two new Excel Class ships in 2027 and 2028, respectively. However, they will feature a brand-new zone called Sunsation Point. In place of BOLT, the only roller coaster at sea, Sunsation Point will be home to Carnival's largest WaterWorks waterpark.
Additionally, Carnival's Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse and the company's Food and Beverage team are creating brand-new dining concepts, including a new restaurant that will replace the Mexican-Asian hybrid ChiBang!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
