On April 25, 2025, a violent incident occurred aboard Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas, leading to the arrest of an 18-year-old passenger, Michael White, from Siler City, North Carolina. This event, which occurred during a cruise to the Bahamas, has raised significant concerns aboat passenger safety while cruising.
Details of the Assault
The altercation involved Michael White and a group of others who assaulted another passenger, leaving the victim unconscious.
According to local news reports and the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place last Thursday while Liberty of the Seas was at sea.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office arrest report detailed a violent encounter in and around an elevator aboard Liberty of the Seas. During an elevator ride, a couple of passengers asked a group of teenagers and young men to “stop jumping up and down on the elevator” which was causing it to sway while in motion.
The report indicated this caused the group to reply, “Bitch, who are you talking to?”
When the elevator reached the eighth floor and stopped, the couple tried to exit the elevator but were assaulted
“Once (the victim) got out, he said he started getting struck by individuals in the face area, causing him to stagger backward. After staggering backward, he fell to the floor and that’s when he started getting kicked. Also, at this point, (the victim) said he blacked out and the next thing he knew, he woke up in a pool of blood on the floor.”
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Upon the ship’s return to Port Everglades, Broward County police boarded the vessel and arrested Michael White, charging him with aggravated battery causing bodily harm, which is a felony charge.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office records indicate he was released from jail sometime this past Saturday on a $5,000 bond.
