Passengers on board Carnival Panorama’s recent sailing through the Mexican Riviera were left shaken when the ship suddenly tilted to one side — and viral videos captured the chaotic scenes.
Clips circulating on social media show images of dishes and glasses that slid off tables in the dining room, merchandise that tumbled off store shelves, water pouring out of an elevator, and children screaming as the vessel listed during a storm.
Carnival confirmed to USA Today that the ship “encountered wind and rain that led to a listing,” the nautical term for when a vessel tilts to one side. A spokesperson said the incident was brief, the captain steered into calmer seas, and crew immediately began assisting passengers and cleaning up. “There were no serious injuries and no significant impact to the ship’s systems and features,” they added.
Still, the incident left passengers rattled, and the video footage astounded observers on social media.
Poster kaisigrow on TikTok shared footage, along with a caption that credits the crew. “Such a wild night leaving Mazatlan. I have to hand it to the crew of the Carnival Panorama. Things happen every day that are out of our control and this happened fast,” the poster wrote, noting that the crew pulled everything together swiftly and efficiently. “For this, they deserve MAJOR credit. Still wild and terrifying!”
Another TikToker, queens_roost, shared that the storm was “wild and absolutely gorgeous,” noting medics were called during the incident, “so I hope everyone is OK,” the poster wrote.
The eight-day cruise, which departed Los Angeles on August 16, included stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, La Paz, and Cabo San Lucas before returning to California on August 24.
Despite the mid-voyage scare, the itinerary wasn’t affected. Cruise experts note that weather-related listing is rare — but not unheard of.