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The Wonder of the Seas, considered the largest cruise ship in the world, had to unexpectedly return to PortMiami just hours after setting sail due to a fight among passengers that got out of control in the kids' pool area.
The altercation began as a verbal argument between adults and quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, leaving at least two people injured. According to official statements collected by NBC Miami, the captain of the ship decided to return to port and activate the emergency protocol after assessing the severity of the incident.
Upon their arrival at PortMiami, around 7:00 PM (local time) on Monday, September 15, personnel from the Miami-Dade rescue and fire department were already at the dock to greet the injured, who were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital for medical care.
Local sources indicated that the injuries were minor to moderate, and that the injured are two adults whose names and ages have not been disclosed for medical privacy reasons.
Royal Caribbean issued a statement assuring that its medical team provided immediate care on board and that they notified local authorities with whom they are actively cooperating in the investigation.
So far, no legal charges have been filed, and some passengers involved were escorted off the ship upon its return to Miami, although the exact number has not been specified.
Witnesses reported tense moments, with passengers running towards the pool, staff cordoning off the children's area, and an announcement from the captain explaining that the decision to return was due to a medical emergency.
The cruise had a planned itinerary of four nights to the Bahamas, with stops in Coco Cay and Nassau, which was partially affected.
The Wonder of the Seas, from Royal Caribbean, is a floating city with the capacity for over 7,000 passengers. Although such incidents are not common, the port authorities indicated that safety measures and emergency protocols functioned correctly.
Recent incidents on cruises with routes through the Caribbean
This is not the first time that a large-scale cruise has faced chaotic or emergency situations on routes near Cuba or departing from Miami.
In the past two years, several incidents on board have made headlines, spotlighting safety and passenger behavior at sea.
In September 2023, a 19-year-old American fell into the sea from the Wonder of the Seas, the same cruise ship involved in the recent incident, while sailing near the Cuban coast.
Despite the joint efforts of U.S. and Cuban authorities, the young man was never located. His disappearance triggered a maritime search operation that lasted for several days.
In November 2024, images of a violent brawl aboard the luxurious Icon of the Seas were leaked, showcasing a fight involving several passengers in one of the party lounges.
More recently, in August 2025, a cruise route from Miami to the Caribbean became the scene of a massive fight in the buffet over a tray of fried chicken. The incident forced the temporary suspension of the ship's activities while order was restored.
These cases have reopened the debate on onboard safety protocols, overcrowding on large-capacity vessels, and the responsibility of shipping companies in the face of violent behavior by their passengers.
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