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.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
Don’t miss the latest Royal Caribbean offers…
Related Posts
- Passenger Dies After Violent Rage on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
- Cruise Destination Removed From Schedules AGAIN Due To Unrest
- Do Cruise Ships Have Police? How Cruise Ship Security Deal With Crime at Sea
Royal Caribbean Changes Ovation Of The Seas Alaska Homeport At Last Minute Due To Seward Construction
Guests boarding Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas in Vancouver on Friday, 15th May 2026 faced a last-minute change to their Alaska cruise plans after the line confirmed the sailing…
Ceiling Collapse On Norwegian Luna Injures Guests During Caribbean Cruise
A dinner service aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship was interrupted after ceiling panels suddenly collapsed inside one of the vessel’s busiest dining venues, leaving several passengers injured during a…
MSC Seashore Debuts Two New Complimentary Grab-And-Go Dining Venues
MSC Cruises has expanded the dining line-up aboard MSC Seashore with the launch of two new complimentary grab-and-go venues designed to give passengers more casual meal choices during their holiday….
P&O Cruises Introduces New Sun Lounger Covers Warning Guests Against Reserving Beds
P&O Cruises has introduced new warning covers on some of its sun loungers as the long-running battle over reserving poolside beds continues to frustrate holidaymakers. The cruise line has not…
Why won’t RC release more information. It leaves people guessing about the “thugs” that resorted to calling someone a B____, blocking the doors, then punching followed by group kicking while down. Who does this kind of thing? Maybe dey felt “disrespected”……..did anyone axe ’em?