DISTURBING reports of violence have emerged from on-board a cruise that is due to dock in Melbourne tomorrow. Its’ be touted as the “Cruise from Hell”
Passengers on-board the 10-day Carnival Legend cruise have recounted terrifying clashes between two feuding parties, with one witness claiming a group threatened to stab passengers and throw them overboard.
The cruise ship is reportedly docking in Eden, New South Wales to remove the troublesome passengers this morning.
David Barko said his son George, 20, sustained head injuries in the bloody brawl which broke out before 1am this morning.
He told 3AW his son called him, begging him to call police.
“When he called, I could hear a lot of kids crying, screaming and swearing,” he said.
(Video from the 3AW Page)
“He said ‘All I can see is security …. up to 40 … bashing kids, bashing women, hitting them … arresting them, putting them into small rooms.
“A lot of people are bleeding, a lot of people are down.
“He said ‘security came in and took my phone and deleted a lot of images because I took pictures’.”
Another passenger, Kelly, said trouble had been brewing for days.
“We have been told to watch our backs by this group,” she told 3AW.
“They fought in front of my children in the pool … five of them surrounded my husband.”
“We’re scared to go anywhere alone in the ship.”
Kelly, who spent $8000 on rooms alone on the ship for her husband and three children, believes the large group joined the cruise in Melbourne.
“There is about 27 of them. A family group,” she said.
“(The trouble) started when they got onto the ship. They were trying to own the area.”
The mother-of-three said the Carnival Legend crew had not divulged information about the violence to all passengers.
“They haven’t divulged much to people at all,” she said.
“There hasn’t been an announcement.”
Kelly believes the violence has been caught on video.
The Australian Federal Police have been contacted for comment.
Another passenger told Nine News they were too afraid to leave their cabin.
“We are so scared after witnessing a traumatic experience with yet again the same offenders,” the passenger said.
“It was a bloodbath.”
READ MORE: 7 Guests disembarked from the P&O Pacific Explorer due to Fighting
“We will not be leaving our cabins and are truly scared for our safety and what could happen.”
The ship’s operator Carnival Cruise Line have released a statement.
“The vast majority of the guests on-board Carnival Legend are enjoying their 10-day cruise holiday to the South Pacific,” the statement says.
“The ship’s highly trained security staff have engaged with a small group of disruptive guests and ensured that they are fully aware of and are compliant with our zero tolerance policy.”
The ship is due to dock in Melbourne tomorrow morning.
