UMVA has learned that a shocking on-board brawl has led to two women being banned from future Carnival Cruise Line trips. The altercation, which involved a slap fight between 51-year-old Lisa Horace and 58-year-old Tonya Nelson, took place on the Carnival Spirit ship as it was returning from Nassau, Bahamas to Mobile, Alabama.
The incident began when Nelson approached Horace and her husband, Alfred, while they were standing in line to settle their trip. According to information obtained by UMVA, Nelson started telling the couple they were in the wrong line, which led to a heated argument between the two women.
The situation escalated when Nelson put her hand on Alfred's shoulder, prompting Horace to put her arm out to stop her. Nelson then slapped Horace on the left side of her face, and Horace retaliated by slapping her back. The fight continued, with crew members intervening as Nelson attempted to kick Horace.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that Nelson told authorities she had been embarrassed for standing in the wrong line before and "wanted to be helpful." However, her actions clearly crossed a line, and both women were issued simple assault tickets after an investigation that included witness interviews and surveillance footage review.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that both women appeared in federal court in Mobile, Alabama, last week, where they sat side-by-side during their hearing. U.S. Magistrate Judge Bert Milling Jr. told them the case will be dismissed if neither of them is arrested or has contact with each other for three months.
As a consequence of their actions, both women have been banned from all Carnival Cruise Line trips and have lost their Diamond-member status. A final decision on the case is slated to be made on August 12, leaving both women to face the repercussions of their actions.
