The purpose of a cruise trip is to lie down by the sea, eat food in abundance, and create incredible memories. Nevertheless, one passenger did something that captured millions of people’s attention. The viral video of the Carnival Cruise Line ship shocked users of social media who got grossed out and started wondering about hygiene while traveling.
The video made waves in the Internet and became very popular. However, it was neither the ship, nor the buffet, nor the ocean view that impressed people. It was the behavior of one of the passengers during the meal which became the hot topic for discussion.
The first video reveals a woman who scratched her leg repeatedly, a woman with a skin rash of some sort, after which she picks up one slice of pizza and eats it with the same hand, without even trying to wash or disinfect her hand after that.
Unfortunately, the situation got even worse.
As soon as the first clip was out, another one came out that made their image even worse. In the clip, it was said that the same woman was scratching her leg with the fork while being in a public dining room. As the instrument was used in a public eatery, viewers raised questions concerning the issues connected with sanitation and food safety.
The clip turned viral right after the release and got millions of new views and thousands of comments from users. People mentioned that the event made them feel nauseous and many of them asked whether the crew knew about it.
There were joking comments from some who said they would start taking their own forks with them while traveling. However, others did not find the situation funny at all, arguing that the fork was supposed to be removed and discarded without delay. A couple of commenters wondered whether passengers next to the lady noticed what was going on before they finished their meals.
Although responses on the Internet were either humorous or angry, the incident pointed out an even more important thing than the Internet drama. Hygiene is very important on cruise ships, because thousands of people share the environment every day.
Unlike hotels, where guests are separated in their rooms, cruise ships function as a floating city. Passengers dine at restaurants, press the same elevator buttons, hold the same banisters, people can go to the public toilets, and spend a long time at the entertainment venues. Therefore, bacteria and viruses can easily spread if hygiene is not observed properly.
Dining areas are particularly vulnerable as large quantities of guests use them for their utensils, serving stations, and tables on a continuous basis. Although cruise operators have strict cleaning methods, personal responsibility is equally important in terms of hygiene.
Simple habits can make a big difference in this context. Washing hands before meals, applying hand sanitizer after coming into contact with public surfaces, minimizing contact with shared utensils, and observing the basic principles of dining etiquette help minimize health threats for all passengers.
This is one of the reasons why cruise companies place hand-sanitizing units outside buffet restaurants and recommend their customers to clean their hands before entering the dining areas.
The viral video sparked a wider discussion about travel etiquette. Actions that in personal settings might seem trivial may turn out to be big concerns in public environments. However, in airplanes, hotels, trains, and cruise ships, travelers are always surrounded by strangers who depend on other people for the cleanliness of their surrounding.
Everywhere, social media is used for creating world-famous moments from unusual occasions that occur in life, and this is the case as well. A simple video taken in a cruise restaurant turned out to be an excellent reminder for everyone that good manners and hygiene matter just as much as travel planning.
In the end, most people go on a cruise thinking only about sunsets, interesting ports, and good food, but not about people who do not use cutlery as they are supposed to.
