The 10-day cruise through the South Pacific soured as members of the unruly family threatened and assaulted other passengers and clashed with security staff. More than 20 members of the family were booted off the ship on Friday after the vicious brawl forced the vessel to make an unscheduled stop in Eden on the NSW south coast. Six men and three teenage boys were removed by police. Another 14 passengers, including women and children, also left the ship. They were taken ashore and then to Canberra where they made other travel arrangements, police said. The vessel docked at Melbourne's Station Pier on Saturday, much to the relief of holidaymakers who described their trip as the "cruise from hell". Passenger Michael Haddara claimed security staff were the aggressors. He said security guards punched men, women and teenagers with handcuffs, and intimidated passengers with broken bottles.

"They put handcuffs around their hands, as knuckle dusters," Mr Haddara said. "They were punching women, 16-year-old kids, everything. We saw it, we saw it. "They called up the mechanical people from down the bottom, the big boys, to intimidate and basically do what they want." He said staff confiscated mobile phones from passengers who were filming the fights and erased videos. An image taken from mobile phone footage of the violent brawl on board the Carnival Legend. Credit:Neil Mitchell's program on 3AW

Naomi Summers also said security was extremely aggressive and crew members snatched phones from passengers. "They would just snatch [your phone] straight out of your hand and you couldn't get it back 'til the next day and they would just delete everything off it - videos, photos, everything," she said. However, Jarrah Bolitho said security staff did what they could to protect other passengers from members of the family who were "roaming the decks looking for people to fight". He said security did what they could under tough circumstances. "There's not much else they could have done. They had to do something."

Brandon and Ashleigh said the troublesome family group, members of whom spat in the pool, ruined their honeymoon. The couple, like other passengers, locked themselves in their cabin and paid for room service to avoid the family. "They just made it hell from day dot," Brandon, a plumber, said. "It was just terrible, it was just crap, so I’m hoping they can do something about it 'cause they’ve stuffed everyone around." A bleeding passenger after a brawl on the Carnival Legend cruise ship. Credit:David Barkho via 3AW

The melee broke out in the early hours of Friday morning, after days of rising tension. Confronting footage of the brawl obtained by Melbourne radio station 3AW shows dozens of people fighting each other, as well as security guards and other staff. Several guards and at least one staff member can be seen kicking a passenger while he is on the ground. People can be heard crying and screaming in the background. An internal investigation into the incident has been launched, Carnival president Sture Myrmell said on Friday. He would not be drawn on the actions of staff or passengers until it was complete, but said "excessive behaviour" was not tolerated by the company.

Onlookers and police waiting for the arrival of the Carnival Legend cruise ship at Melbourne's Station Pier on Saturday. Credit:Joe Hinchliffe In Melbourne on Saturday, one woman who was waiting to pick up her relative at the pier said he had locked himself in his cabin. "He said it was a nightmare," the woman said. "He locked himself in the cabin for most of the time." The retired teacher told his relatives that one family group had been the cause of the disturbances. "From the moment they got on all they did was cause trouble, " she said. "The other passengers were petrified. "

Another person waiting to collect a relative suggested the ship should be renamed UFC Carnival, after the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Yet, others said their family members had been oblivious to the drama. Mobile phone footage shows security guards kicking a passenger during the fight. Credit:3AW Carnival general manager Jennifer Vandekreek issued an apology to passengers on Saturday, saying the company's "care team" was helping those affected. "We sincerely apologise to our guests who were impacted by the disruptive behaviour of the group removed from the ship," she said.

"With regards to the guests who were involved in the incident, we are fully cooperating with the NSW police. We are also conducting a full investigation and will take appropriate corrective action as necessary."