From news.com.au

A PASSENGER has told of his horror after his family was targeted in a night of violence on board a cruise in the South Pacific.

A SYDNEY man has reportedly been left with facial fractures and is stranded on Vanuatu after he was beaten by a man who threatened to kill him on a cruise ship in the South Pacific.

Nine News reports the injured man, Anthony Titow, was travelling with brother David and David’s family on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, which left Sydney on February 25.

David Titow, 42, told 9news.com.au the incident started when a man approached him and made sexually inappropriate comments about his wife.

Two days later, the same man approached Anthony, 45, in a nightclub.

“He pulled up a chair and told my brother he had a knife and was going to kill him,” David told 9news.com.au.

“He continued to threaten my brother and then the fight broke out.”

David said the man had Anthony on the ground and “kicked him in the face and kept kicking and punching him”.

David said Anthony pulled the first punch but only after he was threatened. “Of course it takes two people to fight but we are rational people,” he said.

Witnesses helped break up the fight and Anthony and the man were detained in the ship’s holding cell.

“My brother at this stage had blood all over him,” David said.

“He’s was in a lot of pain as you can imagine.

“They would not get us ice for his swelling, they told us they would not administer any medicine.

“He’s got a broken nose, a fractured jaw and bruising all over his face. My brother can’t speak because of what happened to his jaw.”

Anthony remained in detention for two days, before he was kicked off the ship at the next port at Vanuatu, David said.

The brothers, along with David’s wife and daughter, are still in Vanuatu and hope to return to Sydney before the weekend. The family told 9news.com.au they have spent thousands of dollars in hotel bills since becoming stranded on Vanuatu.

“It’s been a trip from hell,” David said.

The family said they intended to take legal action against Royal Caribbean.
In a statement to news.com.au a spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean confirmed an altercation had taken place on-board.

“During Voyager of the Seas’ 14-night South Pacific cruise, which departed Sydney on 25 February 2018, an altercation was reported between two guests,” the statement said.

“Our security staff investigated the incident and medical treatment was provided to the guests.

“Pursuant to our Guest Conduct Policy, the decision was made to disembark the guests to ensure the safety, security and an enjoyable cruising experience for our guests. The guests were disembarked at the next port of call.

“At Royal Caribbean, the safety and security of our guests and crew is our highest priority. We have a zero tolerance policy to any form of violence or crime onboard our ships.”

The incident comes weeks after violent brawls was reported on board Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Legend ship in the South Pacific.

Passengers said they were “scared for their safety” as a series of violent clashes broke out on board the vessel.

The cruise was on its way back to Melbourne after a 10-day trip but was forced to make an unscheduled stop in the NSW coastal town of Eden to offload passengers.

IMAGES:
Anthony was sent off the ship at Vanuatu.Source:Channel 9
David Titow said the late-night fight broke out at the High Note nightclub on the Voyager of the Seas.Source:Supplied
Anthony, David, and David’s wife and daughter got off the ship at Vanuatu.Source:Channel 9
Mr Titow’s blood-soaked shirt following the fight.Source:Channel 9
Anthony Titow was reportedly injured in a nightclub fight on the Voyager of the Seas.Source:Channel 9

For more on this story go to: http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/sydney-man-reportedly-injured-in-cruise-ship-fight/news-story/e718118df89db7cecaafbb9a4e4a376c