A fight that broke out on a Costa cruise ship in the Mediterranean has ended with 13 passengers permanently blacklisted by the line. CCTV footage released by the Palermo Maritime Border Police shows the group trading punches and hurling furniture aboard Costa Smeralda, the 337-metre flagship that can carry up to 6,554 guests across 20 decks.
According to Italian outlet Palermo Today, trouble started at sea during a Naples-to-Sicily leg after one passenger allegedly directed an unwanted joke at a woman near the ship's nightclub. The scuffle then spilled through corridors and into the lift area, with one guest reportedly kicked unconscious. When the ship docked in Palermo, the case was handed to local law enforcement and all 13 were reported for aggravated brawling.
Costa Smeralda was midway through a seven-night round trip out of Marseille, with calls at Barcelona and Palermo, when the violence flared on 5 March. A Costa spokesperson confirmed onboard security had dealt with the incident at the time and referred it to police in Palermo, adding: the line does not tolerate this behaviour and everyone involved has been placed on its Do Not Sail List.
It's been a rough stretch for the Carnival-owned Italian line's public image. In May, guests on selected sailings were told that taking buffet food back to their cabins could trigger a €60 (about £51.50) cleaning fee, which Costa framed as a hygiene and sanitation measure.
For anyone eyeing a Mediterranean cruise this season, the story is a useful reminder of how these ships actually handle trouble. With thousands of people — often plenty of them young party groups — packed onto one vessel, security teams and shipboard CCTV do the heavy lifting, and serious incidents get handed to police at the next port. A lifetime ban from a whole cruise brand is a real consequence, not just a slap on the wrist.
Practically speaking, not much changes for well-behaved travellers: Costa's Mediterranean itineraries keep running as normal, and the Do Not Sail List has no effect on bookings. If anything, it signals the line is willing to be strict rather than shrug off rowdiness. Worth noting, though, if you're travelling in a large group or sailing during peak summer when party atmospheres peak — debrief your crew before you board, because one bad night can cost you the sea, the ship and every future sailing with the brand.
