Key Aspects:
- A brawl broke out just outside the Long Beach cruise terminal on Thursday, August 7, as Carnival Firenze was in port.
- Security officials responded to the incident in less than a minute, but it is unknown if any charges have been filed.
- Carnival Cruise Line has not yet released a statement about the altercation or confirmed if any consequences have been meted out.
Cruise lines are fighting for their reputations as more and more fights are being recorded on ships and in cruise terminals among unruly and out-of-control guests.
On Thursday, August 7, 2025, a large brawl with at least a dozen participants broke out just outside the terminal doors in Long Beach, California.
Only Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Firenze was in port on Thursday, so it’s fair to suspect that those involved were all prospective Carnival guests.
Video footage of the incident was posted online to X by user @Rororowyaboatz, a self-proclaimed “world traveler” who recorded the altercation.
The 39-second video (which does include some strong language) clearly shows up to three different individual fights between both men and women, with punches, slaps, hair pulls, clothing flying, and more.
One of the fights was right at the doors of the cruise terminal dome where passengers enter to check-in for their sailings.
Given the proximity of the fights and how they all happened simultaneously, this is likely a larger group conflict and not three completely separate incidents.
As security approached the brawlers, several individuals who appeared to have been involved were seen running away from the terminal.
Cruise Hive has reached out to Carnival Cruise Line but has not yet received a statement on the incident. It is unknown if there were any injuries as a result of the obviously ferocious activity.
It is possible that the involved guests could have been detained by authorities, and they may face different charges depending on the circumstances.
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The cruise line could also impose its own penalties, such as not permitting the guests to set sail or even banning them from future cruises.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Code of Conduct specifically notes that such behavior is not tolerated.
“Consistent with our commitment to safety, disruptive behavior is not tolerated and any guest whose conduct affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety or well-being of other guests or crew will be disembarked at their own expense and banned from sailing on Carnival in the future,” the policy states.
Because the guests have not technically boarded the ship yet, it is unclear whether or not the cruise line can implement its own disciplinary action, including a $500 fine and removal from the ship.
Carnival Firenze was not delayed in her departure for the 5-night getaway. The ship is spending Friday at sea before a visit to Cabo San Lucas on Saturday and Ensenada on Monday, before returning to Long Beach on Tuesday morning.
The vessel joined the Carnival fleet in April 2024 and can welcome 4,208 guests aboard – but only if they behave.
Not the First Cruise Terminal Fight
This week’s incident isn’t the first fight in a cruise terminal rather than on a vessel.
In April 2025, a large group of guests had a fight in the Galveston cruise terminal luggage pickup area after debarking from Carnival Jubilee.
Following that incident, Carnival Cruise Line banned 24 people from ever sailing with the company again.
Fights don’t just happen on (or around) Carnival ships, however. Just days ago, on Sunday, August 3, a large brawl broke out in the Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool on CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.
In recent months, brawls have also been recorded on both Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean ships. Onboard, security teams respond to such incidents and guests may be confined to their staterooms, taken to the ship’s brig, or even debarked at the next opportunity.
