Costa bars passengers after fight aboard Costa Smeralda
Thirteen guests were reported to authorities in Palermo following the 5 March incident during a Mediterranean cruise.
More than a dozen Costa Cruises passengers were placed on the company’s do-not-sail list after a fight aboard Costa Smeralda during a Mediterranean voyage.
CCTV footage released by the Palermo Maritime Border Police showed 13 people throwing punches and chairs. Local reporting said the altercation involved two groups of young Italian passengers and left one guest unconscious after being kicked. The fighting reportedly began near the ship’s nightclub following an unwanted joke directed at a woman, then spread through corridors and into the lift area.
The incident occurred on 5 March 2026 as Costa Smeralda sailed from Naples toward Sicily. The ship was operating a seven-night round-trip itinerary from Marseille, with calls including Barcelona and Palermo.
Costa Cruises said its onboard security team handled the incident before referring it to law enforcement when the ship reached Palermo. Authorities reported 13 guests for aggravated brawling.