This story has been updated after the passenger passed away. You can read the updated story here.
A Royal Caribbean cruise turned chaotic just an hour after departing San Pedro, California, when an allegedly drunk passenger caused a violent scene aboard Navigator of the Seas, leaving passengers and crew scrambling for safety.
Christopher Mikhail, who was celebrating his and his wife’s birthdays and anniversary with family and friends, said the incident began shortly after the ship set sail for Ensenada, Mexico, over the weekend.
“The gentleman that was drunk said he was going to kill us,” Mikhail told reporters. “He started chasing us down the hallway.”
Cell phone video captured the shirtless man kicking doors and shouting profanity and racial slurs while other passengers and crew tried to avoid him.
Mikhail described the terrifying moments when a crew member was attacked and another passenger was punched with enough force to be thrown several feet.
“The crew member that I was running with locked himself in one of the towel rooms,” Mikhail said. “I was scared because I was stuck in this hallway. Everyone else was hiding.”
The ship’s security team ultimately contained the situation. Armed with pepper spray, handcuffs, towels, and zip ties, they waited for the man to tire out before subduing him. “They kind of acted like a SWAT team,” Mikhail said, describing the organized response.
The passenger was taken into custody and placed in one of the ship’s two onboard jails for the remainder of the trip.
“It just sucks that it happened in the first couple hours of the vacation,” Mikhail said. “He kind of ruined it for his family.”
Royal Caribbean has not yet issued a statement about the incident. Following the episode, the FBI was reportedly involved in talks with management and passengers.
The Navigator of the Seas continued its voyage to Ensenada as scheduled, but for some, the chaotic start cast a shadow over the weekend getaway.
This is the latest in a series of fights within the cruise industry. Recently, a fight broke out on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Additionally, over the summer, Carnival Cruise Line experienced issues with fighting when a brawl at the lido buffet sent chairs flying.
Navigator of the Seas sails short cruises to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.
