NASSAU, Bahamas — Police in the Bahamas arrested five U.S. cruise ship passengers after a physical altercation at the Nassau Cruise Port escalated into a confrontation with officers, authorities said.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force said tourism police officers responded to reports of a fight involving several cruise ship passengers shortly after 4:45 p.m. on Monday, June 8. Officers intervened and took three women and two men, all United States nationals, into custody.
According to a police statement, the initial altercation occurred within the port area. The five passengers were transported to a police station, where a “violent struggle” broke out as officers prepared to search them, the force said.
Police said the suspects were charged with assaulting a police officer, fighting in a public place, resisting arrest, malicious damage and disorderly behavior in a police station. Four officers were injured during the confrontation at the station, authorities reported.
Details of what sparked the initial brawl at the port remained unclear. Police invited a complainant to the station to provide an official statement, the statement said.
The incident occurred as multiple cruise ships were docked in Nassau, including vessels from Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney, according to local reports. It was not immediately clear which ship the arrested passengers were traveling on or whether they were able to rejoin their vessel.
A police spokesperson said in the statement that additional personnel assisted in subduing the situation. “Officers responded and, with the assistance of additional personnel, intervened and took three females and two males into custody,” the release stated.
The five individuals remained in custody as of Tuesday, authorities said. No further information on their identities or court appearances was immediately available.
Bahamian officials have not released additional details on the extent of injuries to the officers or any property damage. The U.S. Embassy in Nassau could not immediately be reached for comment on consular assistance for the arrested passengers.
Such incidents are relatively rare but highlight the need for travelers to comply with local laws while visiting foreign ports, according to general cruise industry guidelines. The Bahamas relies heavily on cruise tourism, with millions of visitors arriving by ship each year.
Investigations into the case are ongoing, police said.
