Late Cruise Passenger Sparks Backlash After Gestures in Ensenada

A cruise guest who returned late to her ship in Ensenada, Mexico, has gone viral after being filmed making offensive gestures towards fellow passengers watching from onboard.

The incident, shared on social media, shows an unidentified woman walking slowly towards the gangway while raising her middle finger at guests gathered on open decks and balconies.

The footage was reportedly captured during a recent Carnival cruise call in Ensenada.

What Happened on the Pier

According to passengers who witnessed the scene, the woman arrived well after the advertised “all aboard” time and was part of a small group returning late to the ship.

“This lady was the last to board in Ensenada and spent even more time flipping everyone off,” one passenger wrote in a post shared on Reddit.

Other guests said that two passengers ahead of her had sprinted back to the ship and were met with cheers after shouting apologies to those onboard.

The final pair, however, were met with boos due to their behaviour.

“I was here booing them… It was a group of four, the first two ran so we started cheering them and these two were flipping us off and getting booed. Think it was about 20 minutes past the time we were supposed to depart,” another cruise guest commented.

While the ship has not been officially confirmed, the sailing is believed to have been Carnival Firenze, which visited Ensenada on 17th November 2025.

Why ‘Pier Running’ Is So Controversial

So-called “pier running” has long been a flashpoint among cruise passengers. The term refers to guests who return to the ship at the very last minute, or even after departure time, often forcing a delay.

There’s often an almost pantomime element to these instances – people who are gathered on open decks to watch the ship sail away will cheer as the pier runners make their return as a light-hearted way of embarrassing the late guests, typically without it being mean-spirited.

And while some late arrivals are cheered as light entertainment, the reality is that delays can disrupt sailing schedules, increase port costs and cause frustration for thousands of guests who returned on time.

Industry rules are strict. If passengers are not back before the all-aboard time, ships will usually sail without them, unless they are on a cruise line organised excursion.

Could There Be Consequences?

Carnival Cruise Line, like most cruise operators, enforces a Code of Conduct that governs guest behaviour. Breaching it can result in onboard fines, restrictions or even removal from the ship in serious cases.

It is not known whether any action was taken against the guest involved in this incident.

Pier runners may be spoken to by crew members to remind them of their responsibilities – the antagonistic approach of these runners could get them a sterner talking-to.

Online reaction to the video has been overwhelmingly critical, with many saying the behaviour crossed a line.

“I wonder if she is drunk? If I was security I would be kicking her off the ship for doing that and making the ship wait on her,” one commenter wrote.

Another joked that they would have been tempted to hurry the gangway up themselves.

A Risky Game

Beyond etiquette, returning late is a genuine risk. Guests who miss their ship must organise their own transport to the next port of call or back home, often at significant personal expense.

In this case, the guest was fortunate to make it back onboard. The reaction from fellow passengers, however, shows that being late is one thing but the attitude shown afterwards can leave an even worse impression.

For most experienced cruisers, the unwritten rule remains simple: enjoy the port time, but be back early and let the drama stay on shore.

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