A cruise passenger has gone viral after she was caught repeatedly scratching her foot before eating with the same hand at a restaurant aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship, leaving fellow travellers disgusted.
The incident was captured on video by another passenger and shared on Instagram, where it has racked up more than 11 million views, sparking heated debate over hygiene and public etiquette.
In the viral clip, the woman appears to be suffering from a foot condition that caused persistent itching. While seated in a shared dining area, she was seen repeatedly scratching her foot before picking up a slice of pizza and eating it without washing or sanitising her hands.
A second video, uploaded by Instagram user @lucky_charmedcourt, showed the same woman using a fork to scratch her foot while dining. The clip, which appears to have been filmed discreetly, has also gone viral, attracting more than 7 million views.
The videos quickly drew thousands of comments from social media users, many expressing shock and disgust over the woman’s actions, especially in the enclosed environment of a cruise ship where passengers share dining areas and public facilities.
One user wrote, “This is why I never walk barefoot in hotel rooms, public pools or hotel showers.”
Another commented, “Now I want to start bringing my own silverware to restaurants.”
Others questioned why no one alerted the ship’s staff, with one person writing, “Please tell me you informed the staff.”
Another user joked, “You were supposed to tell security so they could throw that fork away.”
The incident also reignited discussions about hygiene on cruise ships, where thousands of passengers share enclosed spaces, restaurants and common facilities.
Health experts have long warned that viruses and bacteria can spread quickly onboard through frequently touched surfaces such as handrails, lift buttons and buffet utensils. As a result, maintaining good personal hygiene and following sanitation practices are considered essential to reducing the risk of illness while travelling on cruise ships.
