Two women were banned from Carnival cruises after a slapping fight aboard the Carnival Spirit, and both appeared in federal court on Wednesday facing simple assault citations. Lisa Horace, 51, and Tonya Nelson, 58, are due back in court for a final decision on Aug. 12.

The confrontation began when Nelson challenged Horace and her husband over standing in the wrong line to settle their cruise accounts. Horace told federal agents she ignored Nelson at first, but said Nelson touched her husband's shoulder several times before the two women slapped each other in front of several bystanders. Carnival staff stepped in to break up the fight.

The court appearance put an abrupt end to a dispute that unfolded in public on a crowded ship and then followed the women ashore. Nelson told the court, “I’m just sorry that we’re here,” while Horace's attorney said, “We’re just glad it’s over.”

For Carnival, the fallout was immediate and costly. Both women lost their Diamond member status, a tier that requires passengers to sail 200 days and earn 200 VIFP points, according to Carnival's website. That level can take years and tens of thousands of dollars to reach, which makes the ban more than a temporary rebuke.

Horace also said her husband is a retired Navy veteran and that cruising together often gives them peace of mind, a detail that underscores how personal the disruption became. Her attorney later said his client and the other woman were both good citizens and he did not expect either to have any more issues, and he said he hoped Carnival would reinstate them so they could continue traveling with the line.

That hope now rests with the Aug. 12 decision. Until then, the case stands as a reminder that one argument in a checkout line can cost two seasoned passengers their status, their access and, for now, their place on Carnival cruises.