Nassau Police Arrest Cruise Guest Who Blocked Traffic for ATVs

One cruise ship guest in Nassau recently learned just how expensive it can be to try to direct traffic when he wasn’t authorized to do so.

According to The Tribune, the guest was arrested for breaking a car window while he was attempting to block traffic on West Bay Street, the busy main street through downtown Nassau and a popular thoroughfare for tour groups, tourist shopping, and resident businesses.

Video of the incident shows the male guest in the middle of the street, blocking a vehicle and even putting his hands on the hood in order to wave a convoy of ATVs into the flow of traffic. The blocked vehicle slowly inches forward, and eventually the guest moves aside.

As the vehicle passes the guest, however, he punches the driver’s side window, breaking the glass. A retired police officer was nearby and witnessed the altercation, and called the police.

The guest, identified only as a “US tourist” and a “cruise ship passenger,” was arrested. Rather than face charges for his behavior, he was given the opportunity to pay the driver for the damage, a total of $1,100.

He did choose to pay to repair the damage, but reportedly had to ask his fellow cruise ship guests to donate to raise the cash, as he did not have the full amount available at the time. It is not known who contributed to the amount and whether they may have been the man’s family members, friends, or traveling companions.

The driver of the damaged vehicle, who declined to be named in media reports, noted that the guest had been yelling aggressively as he blocked traffic.

“I told the guy that if I had done what he did in his country I probably would have got shot,” the driver commented.

The incident took place at the corner of West Bay Street and Dorchester Street, roughly a half-mile from the Nassau Cruise Port, across the street from the Margaritaville Beach Resort.

It is unknown whether the ATV convoy was part of an excursion group directly from a cruise ship or an independent company, or if the involved guest was actually part of the ATV group or just trying to offer assistance in the congested traffic. ATV tours are common in Nassau and give visitors the opportunity to enjoy a unique sightseeing option when visiting the capital of the Bahamas.

No cruise line has released any official statement on the incident, and it is unknown what cruise line the man had sailed with to visit Nassau. Similarly, the exact date of the incident was not disclosed, though local media reported it on Monday, October 5, 2026.

On that day, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas were both in port, along with MSC Cruises’ MSC Seashore. Ships from Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line had also visited Nassau over the previous weekend, but it is not clear which line or ship the guest may have been associated with.

Cruise Guests Are Subject to Local Laws

This is not the first time cruise guests have been arrested and fined while visiting Nassau.

Cruise Hive previously reported that six cruise guests were involved in a brawl at the cruise terminal on June 8, 2026, which continued at the police station and resulted in property damage and injuries to officers. Ultimately, those passengers were fined a combined total of more than $52,000.

Guests on cruise ships are always subject to local laws when visiting ports of call, regardless of their citizenship or status as cruise tourists.

According to Royal Caribbean’s Guest Health, Safety, and Conduct Policy, “guests are required to comply with all applicable laws of the various countries that they visit.”

Similarly, MSC Cruises’ Guest Conduct Policy states, “Guests are also expected to comply with applicable laws of the various countries their cruise visits.”

Most cruise lines have similar clauses in their codes of conduct or cruise ticket contracts.