Costa Smeralda fight leads to charges for 13 passengers
Costa Cruises says those involved in the March 5 incident were added to its Do Not Sail List.
A fight involving two groups of Italian passengers ages 18 to 20 occurred aboard Costa Smeralda while the ship was sailing from Naples to Sicily, according to reports citing local media.
The altercation allegedly began after one guest made a joke directed at a woman in the other group. A verbal dispute near the ship’s nightclub reportedly escalated into physical violence.
Surveillance footage shared by local media reportedly showed several passengers throwing punches, one person throwing a chair and another individual apparently being knocked to the floor. One passenger was reported to have lost consciousness and received medical care before being discharged without serious injuries.
The ship’s crew filed a report and alerted Palermo Police, according to a local news agency cited in the reports. Police reportedly charged 13 passengers with aggravated brawling.
Costa Cruises said the incident occurred on March 5, 2026, and was addressed by the onboard security team before being referred to law enforcement in Palermo. The company said it does not tolerate such conduct and placed the individuals involved on its Do Not Sail List.