Plates and furniture were reportedly used as weapons after a mass brawl broke out on a British cruise ship.
The alleged fight took place as P&O’s Britannia returned to Southampton from a week-long trip to Norway’s fjords.
Good Morning Britain journalist Richard Gaisford, who was onboard the week long round-trip to visit the Norwegian fjords, said he had been told the incident was sparked by a passenger taking offence at another holidaymaker dressed as a clown. “One witness, part of a group involved in the trouble, explained to staff that things kicked off when another passenger appeared dressed as a clown. This upset one of their party because they’d specifically booked a cruise with no fancy dress. It led to a violent confrontation.”
Gaisford, reported that several staff members were injured after the incident in the ship’s buffet restaurant.
In a tweet thread he said “Britannia left Bergen at 1430 on Thursday, the violence occurred 12 hours later after a black-tie evening. It followed an afternoon of ‘patriotic’ partying on deck, with large amounts of alcohol being consumed by many guests.”
P&O Cruises confirmed the incident and Hampshire Police is investigating.
BBC reports that the people suspected of being behind the violence were confined to a cabin for the last day of the cruise.
A police spokeswoman said: “Officers are in attendance after a number of people were assaulted. “The incident took place during the early hours of Friday, 26 July on-board P&O’s Britannia while it was en route to Southampton from Bergen.”
BBC / I / Richard Gaisford Twitter
