13 passengers aged between 18 and 20 have been charged following a fight aboard Costa Smeralda.
According to Sky TG24, the incident involved two groups of young passengers - one from Lecce, who had boarded in Civitavecchia, and another from Sicily, who had embarked in Palermo.
The confrontation reportedly started near the nightclub after a comment was directed at a young woman. A verbal dispute subsequently escalated into a physical altercation, with tables, chairs and other objects used during the fight.
The disturbance later spread through the corridors and into the elevator area.
Reports stated that one passenger was assaulted while lying unconscious on the floor. The injured passenger was taken to hospital for medical examinations, where doctors reportedly determined that there were no serious injuries.
The ship's security personnel intervened to bring the confrontation under control and contacted the authorities.
After Costa Smeralda arrived in Palermo, officers from the Maritime Border Police began an investigation.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the ship to reconstruct the sequence of events and identify those allegedly involved.
The 13 passengers were subsequently charged with aggravated brawling.
For more Costa Smeralda incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page