A passenger was arrested after an alleged assault on an elderly man aboard the Norwegian Encore, according to authorities. The incident took place on Saturday, November 22, and the passenger, Phillip Ortiz, 38, was arrested the same day.
Ortiz has been charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 or older, according to an arrest report obtained by NBC Miami. The victim, 67, was also a passenger aboard the ship.
According to the arrest report, the victim told Ortiz and his wife they were not allowed to enter a hallway because it wasn’t open to passengers. Ortiz responded, “Who the [expletive] are you to tell me what I can and can’t do,” and then pushed the victim.
A scuffle between the three ensued. The victim went into the hallway and closed the door to get away from Ortiz. According to the arrest report, Ortiz followed the man into the hallway and the two men got in a physical altercation. Ortiz tripped the victim, who fell and hit his head with the full weight of Ortiz on him.
The victim lost consciousness and passengers in the area performed CPR on him while they waited for ship medical and security staff to arrive. Ortiz reportedly did not stay with the victim after he lost consciousness. The victim was taken to a local hospital in Miami.
Ortiz’s lawyer, Stephan Lopez, submitted a plea of not guilty on behalf of Ortiz. Lopez told PEOPLE, “My client is a VIP guest and Norwegian had a duty to protect him and his family, but it didn’t.”
How Norwegian Cruise Line failed to protect Ortiz is unclear at this time.
Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed the incident occurred in a statement to PEOPLE, “On Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 while the ship was docked in Miami, Mr. Ortiz was arrested by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office after assaulting a 67-year old male guest who was later transported to a shoreside hospital for further treatment. We have zero-tolerance for violence of any kind on our ships and are committed to providing a safe cruising experience for all aboard. The safety and security of our guests and crew remain a top priority.”
Ortiz, a lawyer admitted in Florida since 2012, was released on bond. The FBI is reportedly investigating the incident.
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