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Carnival cruise passengers spend weekend in Antigua ... in jail
It looks like Carnival could use some new passengers. Not even a week after banning a family for life – and then reversing the ban – six passengers on one of its ships have been detained in Antigua. Now, if you're going to get stuck someplace, Antigua isn't bad, but I'd rather be in a resort than involved with the criminal justice system – it just seems more fun.
Dolores Lalanne, 25, Mike Pierre Paul, 24, Joshua Jackson, 25, Shoshonnah Henry, 24, Nancy Lalanne, 22, and Rachael Henry, 27 have been charged with assault, battery and malicious damage. A fight over cab fare got out of hand and turned into an altercation with the local police. They are being held in Antigua until trial.
The alleged fight broke out on Friday, when the Carnival Victory passengers got off the ship for a 10-hour port call. The passengers refused to pay a cab driver, claiming they were being overcharged. Original reports of the story say that the cab driver quoted a $50 price for a tour that would end at a beach. He later told them, supposedly, that it would cost more to get back to the ship. The driver drove the passengers to a police station, which is where the fight is said to have broken out.
After spending the weekend in jail, the passengers were released on $5,000 bail but had to give up their travel documents and check in with the court regularly. Apparently, jail is unpleasant in Antigua, particularly because of the mosquitoes.
Gallery: The 10 most common foreign cities in which Americans are arrested
Gallery: Ten more dumb tourists
Filed under: Antigua and Barbuda, News, Cruises, Caribbean
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Scott Sep 9th 2009 3:36PM
Hello? Dumb ass American rednecks, please remember when traveling in another country, you are subject to that country's laws. If you get into an altercation with a native of that country, it doesn't really matter much if you are right or not, because it is highly likely that local authorities will take the side of the native over the side of the stupid redneck(s). This has been a public service announcment for dumb asses. Thank you for reading.
greg Sep 10th 2009 1:21AM
Agreed. These morons would undoubtedly say that when people from other countries are in the U.S., they should follow the laws here. Well guess what idiots, when you're in another country you have to obey their laws just the same. That includes trying to assault POLICE officers. Get a grip on reality you overpriviliged babies.
Dude Sep 10th 2009 7:53PM
wow, what a stupid comment you just made... how do you figure they're rednecks... do you even know what a redneck is? It is true some people do tend to think that they're above the law when traveling abroad, but this doesn't mean that all Americans think this way, and you still can't look away at the fact that people from third world countries try to take advantage of tourists in general (not just Americans) just because they may not be fully aware of the value of a local currency... so you can't just blame the Americans, it is VERY LIKELY that the cab driver did try to pull a fast one on them just because they were American... they may have not handled the situation as wisely as they should have, but who's to tell what exactly went down?
draconis Sep 9th 2009 3:37PM
This has nothing to do with carnival and everything to do drunk people.
???????? Sep 10th 2009 10:52PM
you really need to shut up n get a grip
mesaman Sep 9th 2009 3:45PM
Let's see now, $50 for a cab, another $50 to get back to the ship, $5000 for bail at local pokey, knowing they will spend their vacation in the slammer, PRICELESS.
allan weagle Sep 9th 2009 3:53PM
My wife and I visited Antigua on a cruise ship about seven years ago- we were warned before docking about the locals and the "unsolicitated and sponsored" cruise tours. I assume a similar admonishment was given to this trip. I personally would never go back to Antigua
YLG Sep 9th 2009 3:56PM
Um... Being overcharged 50 bucks in a foreign country or going to jail in a foreign country.....Ummm...I'd pay the 50 bucks and get my a$$ back to the shipl.
catherine Sep 9th 2009 4:12PM
Scott, I'm sorry, where in the article did it mention these people are rednecks? I'll go so far as to guess that there's at least one dumb ass named Scott out there!
Makundi Sep 9th 2009 4:22PM
It would be amazing (but suck too) if the Ship had to leave and continue the cruise, gets caught in a severe storm causing it to sink and the only survivors were the ones sitting in a cell waiting for their court date while getting bit by mosquitoes. HAHAHAH ! HAHAHAHAHA !! HAHAHAHAAAA!!!
Brad Sep 9th 2009 4:42PM
After living in the Caribbean for eleven years, I wouldn't go to any of the islands again. They have low value for human life if you weren't "born there." As for Carnival Lines.... it's like the greyhound bus of the sea. Horrible cruise lines unless you like your alcohol more than anything else. Worst cruise lines in the world.
SUE Sep 9th 2009 4:55PM
I was on this ship and this cruise in July. I took all cruse sponsored tours while on the trip. We had no problems at all. I would suggest to anyone to take the sponsored tours even if they cost more. Don't forget, all of these people were young. They were probably drinking and "know it all" Americans. That doesn't fly in a lot of places.
Glenn Sep 9th 2009 5:22PM
Catherine, they had to be rednecks.
Charles Queen Sep 9th 2009 9:28PM
many people who have never left this country to visit another country are very ignorant to the laws in a lot of other country's.In many country's you are guilty until proved innocent
rlau Sep 9th 2009 5:22PM
Aside from that.... I wonder how they enjoyed the trip??
Muffbudget Sep 10th 2009 9:41AM
Makundi, you are one sick person....who could even to begin to think like you?..
Life is what you make it and so is your Carnival cruise...We have always been treated very well and respected, but then, we acted in such a manner that we deserved to be treated that way.
son Sep 9th 2009 5:29PM
it is amazing how the majority of you think these tourists were drunk, because they are young. takes one to know 6. find yourself being driven to an unmarked building and then approached by two unidentified men. guess you all will be smart and negotiate $100.US
LR Valle Sep 9th 2009 5:31PM
Personaly I hate cruise ship travel if nothing else it is like a floating can of sardines. This is realy not NEW this type of things happens a lot and the local police is in it. Also the tourist could and should have reacted differently
J ritter Sep 9th 2009 6:03PM
I guess they must be Redneck from NY!
vacation-from-hell for six New Yorkers accused of battling Antiguan cops isn't over yet -- they go on trial today for charges that could land them two years in jail.
The pals from Brooklyn -- who had been on a Caribbean cruise to celebrate a birthday -- are accused of battering police officers on Friday night after allegedly stiffing a cabdriver.
ALICIA SIMMONS Sep 9th 2009 6:27PM
I LIVED IN ANTIGUA FOR 30 YEARS....1970-2000. BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE IN AN ISLAND PARADISE.
I AM SO SORRY TO READ OF THE TROUBLES THESE TOURISTS FROM THE CRUISE SHIP HAD. I THINK THERE IS MORE TO THE STORY.