A Carnival Cruise Line passenger was forcibly removed from a ferry boat in the Bahamas after refusing to disembark. The incident occurred near Nassau as the boat prepared to take guests to a private island excursion.
The passenger reportedly lacked the required wristband needed to access the excursion. Ferry operators informed her she could not travel without the band.
Other passengers on board became increasingly frustrated by the delay caused by the woman's refusal to leave the vessel. Passenger dragged off ferry after refusing to leave over missing wristband.
Despite claiming she had paid for the excursion, the woman did not have the physical proof required by the tour operators. Security personnel and later local police were called to the scene.
A police officer boarded the boat and physically removed the passenger. Footage shared online showed officers carrying the woman off the ferry as other passengers watched.
Carnival Cruise Line issued a brief statement regarding the incident. The company said there is "more than meets the eye to every story" but deferred further comment, citing the potential for legal action..According to reports, the passenger later stated that Carnival had refunded her money. However, she had also reportedly threatened to sue the cruise line.
Cruise line passenger contracts frequently include clauses that require disputes to be settled through arbitration rather than traditional court proceedings. Legal implications suggest guests often sign away rights to a jury trial unless severe bodily injury is involved. Leslie Silva, a principal at McCall Sweeney and Silva, noted guests are often bound to arbitration unless it is an extreme case of bodily injury.
Online reactions to the incident have varied, with some criticizing the passenger's conduct and others questioning the cruise line's handling of the situation.
