Royal Caribbean Boots Livestreamers After Fight on Harmony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean removed two guests from Harmony of the Seas during an early-November 2025 Western Caribbean sailing after a physical fight that was captured on livestream video.

The guests were identified in reports as livestreamers David Ryan and Dave Willis, who were part of a larger group creating live content onboard. The ship continued its scheduled cruise after the removals, and Royal Caribbean has not issued an official public statement in the available reports addressing the incident or any broader disciplinary action.

Fight in an open-deck smoking area led to removals in Roatan

Reports said the altercation took place in a public open-deck area described as a smoking section. Video posted online showed an extended argument before the confrontation escalated into punches, followed by the two men grappling and going to the ground.

Harmony of the Seas sailed from Galveston, Texas on Nov. 2, 2025, on a seven-night itinerary. After two sea days, the ship called in Roatan, Honduras on Nov. 5, where Ryan and Willis were taken into custody by ship security and removed from the cruise.

Both men were left to arrange their onward travel at their own expense, consistent with how cruise lines typically handle mid-sailing removals for serious conduct issues.

Videos from Roatan and a response from one livestreamer

After being put off the ship, Ryan and Willis each posted separate videos from Roatan discussing what happened and acknowledging that the fight occurred. In his video, Ryan said he attempted to keep the situation from escalating to the point of being removed.

“I didn’t want to get kicked [off],” Ryan said. “I literally talked to security and said, ‘Hey, me and this guy can resolve it and it will be all good. Let us talk.’”

Complaints tied to group filming and passenger interactions

Ryan and Willis were described as members of the Cx Group, a livestreaming circle organized for the sailing by streamer Paul Denino, who uses the name Ice Poseidon. Clips shared online from the cruise showed multiple interactions that drew negative reactions from other passengers, including recording guests without consent and confrontations linked to filming in public spaces.

One video showed a streamer standing to film during an event in the ship’s Studio B arena while blocking sightlines and provoking nearby guests. Additional footage showed streamers walking corridors, knocking on cabin doors, and asking questions tied to upside-down pineapple door magnets while recording interactions.

In another incident described from the sailing, an argument escalated after a passenger asked a streamer to sit down because a filming position was obstructing the view, with the exchange escalating into profanity and slurs, according to the account.

Claims of additional removals and disputed travel-cost details

Denino said the incident expanded beyond the initial fight, claiming five additional members of the group were later contacted by ship staff, interviewed by security, and instructed to leave the cruise. He attributed the broader removals to passenger complaints about filming and behavior that made other guests uncomfortable, including an incident he described in an elevator.

“A woman said, ‘I didn’t like the camera,’ and that was it,” Denino said. “Literally, the sight of a camera will get you kicked off of the boat now.”

Denino also said the group was required to pay for ground transportation after being removed, describing an $800 taxi ride to reach an airport area near Playa del Carmen, Mexico, before each person arranged flights home at personal expense. Another report similarly described local transportation being arranged at the streamers’ expense. Royal Caribbean has not confirmed the number of additional removals or verified the travel-cost details described by Denino.

How Royal Caribbean’s conduct policy can be enforced onboard

Royal Caribbean’s Guest Conduct Policy prohibits disruptive behavior, including abusive language and actions that interfere with other guests’ experience. Reports on the incident noted that cruise lines can apply a range of measures depending on severity, including the following steps.

• Immediate security intervention: Security can break up incidents, detain participants, and restore order in public areas.
• Limits on onboard privileges: Guests can face restrictions, including being instructed to remain in their stateroom.
• Removal at a port of call: Guests can be disembarked mid-sailing, typically with responsibility for onward travel and related costs.
• Future sailing restrictions: Consequences can include restrictions up to and including a ban, depending on the case.

In this case, Ryan and Willis were removed in Roatan. As of the information available in the reports, there was no confirmed statement from Royal Caribbean on longer-term restrictions for any removed guests.

Itinerary continued with Costa Maya and Cozumel calls

After the Roatan call, Harmony of the Seas continued with its scheduled stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel before returning to Galveston on Nov. 9. Reports indicated there were no itinerary changes or delays tied to the removals.

A wider debate over livestreaming at sea

The incident renewed debate over livestreaming on cruise ships, particularly when content creation crosses into filming strangers, provoking reactions, or escalating confrontations. Some passengers and commenters have called for blanket bans, while others point to the practical difficulty of restricting personal vacation recording without focusing on conduct and interference instead.

The Harmony of the Seas incident also comes amid occasional fights reported across the industry, including a separate recent fight incident on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas, underscoring that physical confrontations are not limited to one ship or itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can a cruise line remove passengers during a sailing?

Yes. Reports noted that cruise lines can remove guests at a port of call for serious violations of conduct rules, and removed guests are typically responsible for their own onward travel and related costs.

What started the Harmony of the Seas removals in this case?

The initial incident described in reports was a physical fight between David Ryan and Dave Willis in an open-deck area described as a smoking section, which was captured on livestream video. They were removed when the ship called in Roatan, Honduras.

How many people were removed from the cruise?

Two removals, Ryan and Willis, were consistently reported. Ice Poseidon, Paul Denino, claimed five additional group members were later instructed to leave as well, but Royal Caribbean has not confirmed any additional removals in the available reports.

Was Harmony of the Seas’ itinerary changed after the incident?

No. Reports said the sailing continued with scheduled calls in Costa Maya and Cozumel and returned to Galveston as planned, with no indicated port or timing changes tied to the removals.

Were the removed guests banned from future Royal Caribbean cruises?

There was no confirmed statement from Royal Caribbean in the available reports about future sailing restrictions for any of the removed guests, including whether a ban was applied.