Rough weather hit a Carnival Cruise Line ship during a Mexican Riviera cruise, causing the ship to tilt.
Matt Lupoli, a spokesperson for the cruise line, told USA TODAY that the ship “encountered wind and rain that led to a listing” – or leaning to one side – on Aug. 20. Passenger video footage from the Carnival Panorama appears to show broken dishes in the dining room, items strewn on the floor in an onboard shop and water spilling from an elevator, amid lightning strikes outside.
The ship was sailing an eight-day cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico at the time, according to CruiseMapper.
“The incident was over quickly and as the captain maneuvered to calmer seas, crew members quickly turned their attention to assisting guests and clean up,” Lupoli said in an email. “A small number of guests were checked by our medical team on board. There were no serious injuries and no significant impact to the ship’s systems and features. The ship's itinerary was not affected and it's now sailing its next voyage.”
Listing is caused by a shift in weight and balance, according to Joanna Kuther, a travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants. “In the case of a cruise ship that does not carry cargo, it is usually weather-induced,” she told USA TODAY in an email.
