A Carnival cruise turned chaotic when a disagreement between two women quickly turned into a slap fight over line privileges for elite passengers.
Lisa Horace, aged 51, and 58-year-old Tonya Nelson found themselves in court on Wednesday after a tense exchange aboard the Carnival Spirit in March spiraled into a physical confrontation.
As the cruise ship journeyed back to Mobile, Alabama, following a trip to the Bahamas, Horace and her husband joined a queue to settle their expenses, according to a report by Fox10.
Court records reveal that Nelson approached Horace, pointing out that she was in a queue reserved for the highest tier of Carnival’s loyalty program members.
As reported by AL.com, investigators claimed that Horace threatened to slap Nelson, sparking the altercation.
Unfamiliar with each other prior to this altercation, the women reportedly began exchanging slaps and kicks near the cruise liner’s customer service area.
According to KTVU, Horace allegedly jumped on Nelson. But Nelson claimed that Horace jumped onto her and grabbed her leg.
Carnival employees attempted to separate the women as bystanders looked on in horror, officials said.
The women were on board the Carnival Spirit as it was one it’s way back to Mobile, Alabama
Tonya Nelson, 58, claimed that Horace began to fight with her after she tried to correct the woman for standing in the wrong line
Because the fight happened in international waters, the FBI took jurisdiction and both women provided statements.
Horace allegedly told investigators that she wanted to press charges.
Nelson claimed she was only trying to help and attempted to apologize to Horace and her husband before things escalated, documents alleged.
She allegedly told investigators that she believed both of them were at fault.
Horace and Nelson were each charged with simple assault and both pleaded guilty. They appeared side by side in court this week with their attorneys.
The judge agreed to drop the case on the condition that neither woman is arrested or has contact with the other for the next three months.
Horace and Nelson are expected to return to court for a decision on August 12.
Horace and Nelson were regretful and apologetic during their hearing, noting that they had earned consequences far beyond the courtroom.
‘I’m just sorry that we’re here,’ Nelson told the courtroom.
Both women have been stripped of their Diamond-level status and have been banned from all Carnival cruises.
The top-tier VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) level requires passengers to sail for 200 cumulative days and can cost thousands of dollars.
Lisa Horace, 51, was standing in line with her husband when Nelson confronted them
However, Nelson’s attorney is confident that Carnival will reinstate their statuses and the women will be able to move on without issue.
‘I’m hoping that Carnival will reinstate both of them so they can continue traveling with Carnival,’ Buzz Jordan said.
‘My client and the other lady are both great citizens and you know, I don’t expect they’ll ever have any more issues,’ he added.
Horace’s lawyer declined to speak to the press, simply saying they were ‘just glad it’s over,’ reported WLOX.
The Daily Mail contacted Carnival, the FBI and the women’s attorneys for comment.
