A video shared online from Icon of the Seas shows yet another case of a guest completely losing it and taking a swing at the crew. This time, the person on the receiving end was a lifeguard just doing their job near the pool deck.
The male passenger wearing only swim trunks started to be aggressive while talking to a crew member who looks like security officer. A lifeguard steps in front of the guest to help keep things under control and that’s when everything goes downhill.
Out of nowhere, the passenger turns and punches the lifeguard, knocking him off balance and straight onto the deck. Right after that first hit, he tries to punch the officer too. The officer reacts quickly, grabs the guest, and the two end up on the ground for a moment before separating.
Royal Caribbean hasn’t released a statement yet. The cruise line usually highlights its zero-tolerance policy for violence, which means any guest or crew who assaults anyone onboard can be removed from the ship and reported to authorities, depending on the circumstances.
Not the First Time Guests Attack Crew Members
Sadly, this kind of behavior isn’t new. We reported on several Incidents when guests attack crew members
In September 2024, a guest on a Mediterranean cruise violently attacked a crew member over a dispute about a drink package. The guest struck the waiter in the face with a glass bottle, causing “permanent facial injuries.
In December 2024, aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, a drunk passenger reportedly began “terrorizing” crew. According to the report: the passenger chased people down corridors, punched one crew member, kicked another in the face (with steel-toe boots), and attempted to break into a closet where a crew member had locked themselves in. The ship’s security eventually subdued and restrained him.
Another serious incident involved a female crew member who was assaulted when a guest sprayed a chemical into her face. The injuries were severe enough that there were fears she could lose her eyesight. The passenger was arrested.
Crew Safety
Incidents like these are becoming more common, and it raises a serious question that many crew members talk about: What actually happens to these passengers after they attack a crew member?
Most of the time, the public only hears that the guest was “disembarked at the next port.” But is that enough? Are crew members encouraged to file police reports and pursue legal action? Or does everything simply get handled quietly onboard, with the passenger sent home and the crew left to deal with the aftermath?
For crew, these aren’t just traumatic moments caught on video they’re real workplace assaults happening during a job where staff are taught to stay calm, avoid physical retaliation, and protect guest safety above all else. When someone attacks them, the power balance is completely one-sided.
At the end of the day, crew just want a clear answer:
If a guest attacks us, will the company stand behind us, or the story end the moment the attacker is put off the ship?
