A Royal Caribbean cruise turned violent last week when a dispute over elevator behaviour escalated into a brutal assault, leaving one passenger unconscious and another in jail, according to court documents and law enforcement.
Michael White of Siler City, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery causing bodily harm following an incident aboard Liberty of the Seas, during a four-night Bahamas itinerary from Port Everglades.
According to a police report from the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), the altercation occurred last Thursday while the ship was at sea.
The victim and a female companion had asked a group of juveniles to stop jumping in the elevator, concerned that the motion was causing it to sway dangerously.
The group of youths reportedly became verbally aggressive, shouting, “B—-, who are you talking to?” when confronted.
The situation escalated when the elevator reached the eighth deck and the couple attempted to leave. The report states the group refused to move, prompting the victim to push past them.
“As soon as he exited, he was struck in the face multiple times… He staggered, fell to the floor, and was then kicked repeatedly until he lost consciousness.”
BSO Deputy Demetrius Williams
The victim later awoke in a pool of blood.
White and an unidentified co-defendant were arrested by BSO deputies on Friday, 18th April once the ship returned to Fort Lauderdale.
Court records indicate White was released the following day after posting a $5,000 bond. A judge has ordered that he have no contact with the victim.
No information about the second suspect was immediately available.
Lifetime Ban Presumed
Royal Caribbean has not publicly commented on the incident. However, the cruise line is known for taking passenger misconduct seriously.
In recent months, multiple reports have emerged of unruly guest behaviour aboard Royal Caribbean ships, prompting swift action by onboard security teams and, in some cases, permanent bans.
One notable case occurred aboard Navigator of the Seas, when a disruptive guest attempted to break into another passenger’s cabin, assaulting two crew members in the process.
He was subdued using pepper spray and restraints by ship security.
Cruise industry experts note that while rare, incidents of violence can and do occur aboard large vessels, which are essentially floating cities.
Security teams onboard are trained to respond to such situations swiftly, often in collaboration with federal authorities upon return to port.
As for the Liberty of the Seas, the ship completed its scheduled itinerary despite the mid-voyage disturbance, with the majority of guests unaffected by the isolated event.
White’s next court appearance has not yet been scheduled.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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