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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 2 of 2)
Joe Sep 9th 2009 6:19PM
I thought everyone would know of that "one way" scam.
It is common in Jamaica, the Virgin Islands and Mexico. The cab driver agarees to take you somewhere (the further the better) for a fixed price.
and then once you are there demands additional monies to take you back.
Often this is backed up by his "friends" (may I use the word thugs) who are waiting at the drop off point to "persuade" the suckers that it would be good for their health to pay the monies.
If you are a "rich Americano" in one of thlse poorer countries you had better watch your step.
That scam is one of the oldest - I thought everyone would be aware of it.
Inkling Sep 9th 2009 7:08PM
It is like that in many foreign ports including the Bahamas. They run the same taxi scam in Tijuana. The best thing you can do is stay on the ship, and stay out of the "taxis". The Bahamas is such a scam. They don't have to pay out anything in their "casino" . They are not sanctioned under US rules as far as payout on gambling, (nor are the cruise ships). I didn't see anything special about it, The "cab", (back of an old beat up station wagon with our feet hanging out the back), was ridiculously scary, expensive, and over crowded. I wouldn't repeat that excursion EVER! In Tijuana, the driver takes you everywhere BUT where you want to go. Then they try to overcharge you some ridiculous fee. When you refuse to pay they call the "policia" who conveniently plant drugs in the cab where you were sitting. Then you cool your heels in their filthy jail with NO rights. When all is said and done, days are lost, (and all of your money), trying to get out. Forget about the foreign countries south of here. (By the way...didn't it seem like those people were a little too old to be causing so much trouble???)
rstaiconsulting Sep 9th 2009 6:50PM
LMAO ... Stupid in Antigua! Let the group spend about 6 months in jail. That'll teach them a lesson.
Seth Sep 9th 2009 7:57PM
Yes, stupid Americans again. BUT, I recently went on a Carnival Cruise and it will be my last. Carnival caters to stupid Americans and my cruise was out of control with teenagers running the ship. They were in bars, night clubs and the casino. Embarassing for Carnival. Even the crew told me they are out of control and are understaffed.
Robin Sep 9th 2009 7:24PM
I have cruised at least 15 times with Carnival and obviously it was a great vacation for me to keep going back. We have always been treated with the utmost respect, and the crew works very hard to make sure you are satisfied. If you aren't, it's your "own damn fault." Like anything else before visiting the islands you should always do some research and read reviews from other passengers such as cruise critic particularly if it's your first time cruising. People report from experience where the problems areas are, and what taxis and tours are on the up and up.We continue to get the same drivers every time we visit St. Martin and St. Thomas. This incident is no different than the dumb asses that somehow fall overboard. There are a few idiots in every bunch!
Marianne Sep 9th 2009 7:52PM
The moral of the story is .........don't be stupid enough to take a taxi cab. Cruise Lines should warn their passengers of these scams. When the locals start losing money because of their greediness, maybe then they will charge a reasonable rate.
dan Sep 17th 2009 6:35PM
I wonder if they enjoyed their vacation
naoma Sep 13th 2009 7:17PM
Once on a small Caribbean island (shall remain nameless) two friends and I
were way overcharged on a rental car). We were charged for miles that would
amount to going around the island a number of times -- we went on just a short
ride up the mountain. We were polite and pointed out the discrepancy and all
was solved. REMEMBER YOU ARE NOT AT HOME. YOU ARE ON THEIR
ISLAND. BE NICE...
baby Oct 14th 2009 7:45AM
ok, i am american living in antigua, i work in the cruise industry, ppl i need to remember the difference between cruise tourist and other tourist, cruise is for 1 day only in most cases, others stay for a good while, and when i talk about tax cab ripping off ppl, ask caribbean cruise line over the yrs how many reports where giving to them to give to the tourist? how many cab drivers where live empty handed bcas ppl jump out the cab and over the line to go to the ship, remember taxi men are doing this for a living, now the case is completely over a whole other different story is protray here and we in the cruise line industry did offer to take them to a hotel with gaurded police officers and it was deny by miss. henry and the lawyer. they where at the best part of the station and only stay for 1 nite out the next day, didnt take our offer went to a woman house who teach them like crap as it was told,a frin of the lawyer's, and nuffin. and 1 question if six was in a cell how come 1 got mosquitoe bites? and if u watch the video u will see that she is telling false statement, caribbean cruise line has pulled out of antigua whats the real strory no one knws, but even other tourists saying they look super happy ( if u knw wat i mean). but wait if 11 went on the taxi and never made it how was sand on dem? and how was 6 arrested and not the others, and how was it reports been made by vendors saying some tourist came with hungry bird and hada problem with the prices for the drinks? they r alot more than what we see and hear. so plz stop spreading things dat r bad for both party and wait and see.
Chuck Brown Oct 26th 2009 3:21PM
The moral of the story is... if these people would have used a good travel agent non of this would have happened.
I wonder what became of the six?