Content warning: Violent footage

More than a dozen passengers have been banned from a cruise liner after an unruly brawl erupted at a ship port in Florida.

The chaotic fight broke out shortly after passengers disembarked a Carnival Cruise Line vessel at Port Miami on Monday following a cruise to the Bahamas.

Dramatic footage of the rowdy brawl, which has made the rounds on social media, shows a group of travellers waiting in a customs line before one woman wearing a black dress and silk bonnet in her hair begins throwing her hands in the air and raising her voice.

Seconds later, she charges under the retractable belt being used to organise the line and barrels towards other passengers waiting further at the back of the queue.

All hell breaks loose when a woman dressed in a polkadot pyjama set attempts to shield herself from the woman charging towards her but is bowled over in the process.

A large group of passengers begin piling on top of the pair as holidaymakers start throwing punches and kicks, pulling hair and wrestling each other inside the terminal.

At one point, a woman wearing a yellow dress starts throwing her fists at the woman in the polkadot pyjamas’ head before they grab each other by the hair in a violent tussle.

Several US Customs and Border Protection officers are then seen scrambling to try and diffuse the violent outbreak as luggage goes flying and bollards are shoved to the ground.

After a few minutes of mayhem, the chaotic scene is broken up and tensions begin to settle.

It is not clear what led to the violent dispute, but according to a statement Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office provided to Daily Mail, the fight was between two families.

Carnival Cruise Liner confirmed 16 passengers have since been banned from its ships.

“The incident occurred in the debarkation area under the authority of US Customs and Border Patrol [sic],” the company said in a statement to news.com.au.

“We are appreciative of law enforcement’s swift response and handling of the matter. We do not tolerate such behaviour.

“We do not tolerate such behaviour, and 16 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail List.”

The cruise drama comes after passengers on board Carnival Splendour were issued with a warning to dress appropriately or face the consequences.

The ship’s master, Eduardo Ferrone sent a letter to passengers the day before embarking on the eight-day cruise to the South Pacific, warning them to wear “very modest” swimwear in Lifou, New Caledonia, or future visits could be jeopardised.

“To observe the local customs of the island, a respectful dress code is essential,” Mr Ferrone wrote in a letter that was later posted on Facebook.

“Swimwear should only be worn at the beach or by a pool and should be very modest in nature.

“G-strings, thongs, monokinis or mankinis should not be worn (even on the beach) and topless sunbathing is also not permitted at any time.”

The Nightly has contacted Carnival Cruise Line for comment.