2 women who slapped each other on Carnival cruise over line dispute now face federal charges

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) — An argument on a Carnival cruise ship turned into a physical fight that ended with federal citations for two women.

According to FBI interview summaries filed in federal court, the fight started over a dispute about whether a couple was standing in the correct line.

Investigators said the incident happened in March as the Carnival Spirit returned from the Bahamas.

According to FBI interview summaries, the trouble started when Tonya Nelson confronted Lisa Horace and her husband while they were in line to settle their cruise account.

Court records said Nelson told investigators she was trying to be helpful to the couple and told them they were in the wrong line, pointing to a sign showing it was for diamond and platinum members.

In her statement to federal agents, Horace said she ignored Nelson at first, but the encounter escalated when Nelson touched Horace’s husband on the shoulder multiple times.

Documents show the two got into a heated argument.

Horace told agents that Nelson had threatened to slap her first, and Horace slapped Nelson back.

From there, the fight escalated.

Horace told agents that Nelson tried to kick her as crew members moved in.

Nelson told investigators Horace jumped on her back.

Federal court records said Carnival staff had to intervene as the struggle played out in front of several bystanders.

Nelson told agents she had previously been embarrassed while standing in the wrong line on a cruise and said she was trying to be helpful when she first spoke up.

Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage before both women were issued federal citations for simple assault.

The documents also show the women did not know each other before the encounter.

Both women are scheduled to appear in federal court in Mobile on Wednesday.

Carnival Cruise Line did not respond to a request for comment about whether anyone was banned or faced disciplinary action after the fight.