Will Cruise Ships Leave Without Me?

[Staplerman]

If you are a new cruiser or an idealistic person at heart and believe that your cruise ship won't leave port if you're a few minutes late getting back, here's a heartwarming video...

 

 

You can fast-forward through the first 90 seconds or so if you want.

[sparks1093]

youtube has many pier runner videos.

[AttilaTheFun]

Can you say "schadenfreude"? The video also takes wayyy too long (3 minutes!) before we even see the couple! There wasn't even the frantic running and screaming to the ship. D+

[jlacy1987]

So what happens if you miss the ship? Can you get back on at the next port if you can make it there? Or are you screwed until the cruise is over?

[JohnIreland]

If you have your passport you have the option of getting yourself to the next port.

 

If you don't then you have other worries.

[che5904]

So what happens if you miss the ship? Can you get back on at the next port if you can make it there? Or are you screwed until the cruise is over?

 

If you can catch up to the ship, you can definately get back on. But that would completely depend on where your ship's next docking is. If you think about the Caribbean cruises for example. Let's take the Eastern Caribbean. Your ship leave St. Maarten (your first port) at 6PM, so in reality you have to catch a flight after 6:30pm in St. Maaren to St. Thomas and be in St. Thomas before 4pm the next day when the cruise leaves again. And if you couldn't make that happen the next place to meet up with it is 2 days later in Nassau (your last port).

 

Edit: as the above poster stated as long as you have your passport, which in the above scenerio, I assumed you to have it on you.

[biker@sea]

On our last cruise to Bermuda a couple missed the ship.

 

The H.D. told us that their luggage and passports from the cabin safe were sent to shore on the pilot boat at their request.

[jlacy1987]

On our last cruise to Bermuda a couple missed the ship.

 

The H.D. told us that their luggage and passports from the cabin safe were sent to shore on the pilot boat at their request.

 

If they can do that, why couldn't they just bring the couple back to the boat?

[time2cruise1]

Can you say "schadenfreude"? The video also takes wayyy too long (3 minutes!) before we even see the couple! There wasn't even the frantic running and screaming to the ship. D+

 

This one remains one of my favorites.

 

[biker@sea]

If they can do that, why couldn't they just bring the couple back to the boat?

 

The pilot boat was at sea with the ship picking up the pilot when the request came from shore for the belongings.

[time2cruise1]

If they can do that, why couldn't they just bring the couple back to the boat?

 

Passengers have hired a boat to catch up assuming they have enough CASH. Be prepared to climb a rope ladder.

 

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=AEXE9Dk4Y0M

[che5904]

If they can do that, why couldn't they just bring the couple back to the boat?

 

Biker does give the reason for this particular situation and yes according to some videos this has taken place depending on the circumstances. But something that would have to be seriously taken into consideration for this to happen. Is a small boat to large ship transfer could be extremely dangerous for those unexperienced in doing this transfer and those that were trying to help them.

 

[xenagurl]

And this is where my evil side comes out because seeing these always gives me a chuckle. I need to stop before one of these days I'm the pier runner! LOL

[jlacy1987]

And this is where my evil side comes out because seeing these always gives me a chuckle. I need to stop before one of these days I'm the pier runner! LOL

 

I'm very paranoid about planning for excursions because I don't want to be left behind.

[sparks1093]

Biker does give the reason for this particular situation and yes according to some videos this has taken place depending on the circumstances. But something that would have to be seriously taken into consideration for this to happen. Is a small boat to large ship transfer could be extremely dangerous for those unexperienced in doing this transfer and those that were trying to help them.

 

 

Heck, it's extremely dangerous for those of us experienced in doing this type of transfer:eek:.

[xenagurl]

I'm very paranoid about planning for excursions because I don't want to be left behind.

Don't blame you. I'll be honest in some places where they only stop for a day I've started only using ship excursions if I'm going any distance, just to be on the safe side. I've no desire to spend the cost of my trip in travel expenses just to get back there or perhaps even fly back home.

 

Last May in Tortola hubby and I along with a few other people grabbed a cab to get to a beach a little ways away. We all decided on a time to start heading back. It gave us about 15/20 extra minutes. Well when it was time to go, we were there, another family was there, but couple number 2 (sour duo) was missing.

 

We all waited and searched finally the driver said we had to go. Well searching for these "missing" people (that we found out later had simply left in another cab without saying a word) and the traffic we encountered literally had us as the last passengers on the gangway. Not cool. So it's ship excursions for me or renting a cab just for me/us. I'd never share again, people can be too flaky. Wouldn't have been to nerve wracking but Tortola was the last island, so we would have been flying to New York in our swimsuits! LOL

[jlacy1987]

Don't blame you. I'll be honest in some places where they only stop for a day I've started only using ship excursions if I'm going any distance, just to be on the safe side. I've no desire to spend the cost of my trip in travel expenses just to get back there or perhaps even fly back home.

 

Last May in Tortola hubby and I along with a few other people grabbed a cab to get to a beach a little ways away. We all decided on a time to start heading back. It gave us about 15/20 extra minutes. Well when it was time to go, we were there, another family was there, but couple number 2 (sour duo) was missing.

 

We all waited and searched finally the driver said we had to go. Well searching for these "missing" people (that we found out later had simply left in another cab without saying a word) and the traffic we encountered literally had us as the last passengers on the gangway. Not cool. So it's ship excursions for me or renting a cab just for me/us. I'd never share again, people can be too flaky. Wouldn't have been to nerve wracking but Tortola was the last island, so we would have been flying to New York in our swimsuits! LOL

 

I don't like sharing either, so whatever shore excursions we don't we'll be doing transportation just the 2 of us.

[softsands]

SilverSea left my bride and I behind in Juneau (to their credit they actually delayed their departure by 90 minutes waiting for us) but, alas, we were up a mountain at the time (I swear I thought it said a 5pm departure). As we returned from altitude I wondered from a distance why the ship looked a little out of sync with the dock, and as we got closer it was apparent they weren't coming back. I refused to swim after them (I have my pride), instead choosing a late evening flight to Ketchikan (well, not really choosing since that was the only way to catch up). I greeted the ship at the dock the next morning with my morning Latte. We were sheepish for the rest of that trip.

[rondb]

On our last cruise to Bermuda a couple missed the ship.

 

The H.D. told us that their luggage and passports from the cabin safe were sent to shore on the pilot boat at their request.

 

weren't you on the Oct 7 cruise? I was too but didn't hear anything about this. Interrrrrrrrrrrestingggg!

[che5904]

Heck, it's extremely dangerous for those of us experienced in doing this type of transfer:eek:.

 

Sorry Sparks, I didn't mean to insinuate that it was easy for anyone, including those that had experience. I just meant those with no experience not only would be in danger themselves but could put the ones trying to help them in more danger than what they would be in normally in this kind of work.

 

And really, for the most part, for what reason. Because they needed that one more drink at the local bar, 5 more minutes on the beach or more time to haggle over the price of that what-cha-ma-callit. I realize there have been valid reasons for some to be late, but I'd have to bet most of them are running last minute for no valid reason.

[biker@sea]

weren't you on the Oct 7 cruise? I was too but didn't hear anything about this. Interrrrrrrrrrrestingggg!

 

Yes Oct.7th and Sept. 16th The ship paged 4 people time after time after all-aboard 2 showed up. The ship paged again then sailed.

 

At least I think it was the 7th it could have been a couple of weeks earlier.:confused:

[sparks1093]

Sorry Sparks, I didn't mean to insinuate that it was easy for anyone, including those that had experience. I just meant those with no experience not only would be in danger themselves but could put the ones trying to help them in more danger than what they would be in normally in this kind of work.

 

And really, for the most part, for what reason. Because they needed that one more drink at the local bar, 5 more minutes on the beach or more time to haggle over the price of that what-cha-ma-callit. I realize there have been valid reasons for some to be late, but I'd have to bet most of them are running last minute for no valid reason.

 

Didn't think you were insinuating anything che, just adding a little clarification. I agree with the whole lateness thing. I can understand a car accident happening and tying up traffic, a cab breaking down, etc. but for the most part I think you are spot on (and I can only imagine trying to climb one of those rope ladders after having one more at the bar;)).

[honeybee100]

Passengers have hired a boat to catch up assuming they have enough CASH. Be prepared to climb a rope ladder.

 

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=AEXE9Dk4Y0M

 

This happened on an Eastern Med cruise I was, a family of 4 was late getting back at Nafplion, and the Cruise Director informed all that they had to pay to have the ship turnaround as well as a local boat to bring them to the ship. Don't want to know how much that cost them! :eek: (and of course climb the rope ladder).

[mking8288]

One young lady last on our RCCL EOS cruise in Bermuda was very, very, very lucky b/c the Captain waited 15 minutes for her past departure time at King's Wharf (Dockyard) - with the NCL Dawn scheduled to sail 30 minutes behind our ship at 5:30 pm - he came over the PA to announced that one (1) person hasn't returned & they are still waiting for her. All abroad was supposed to be 4:00 pm (3:30 pm for off-duty crew) so the lady we saw running back shortly after the news with a shopping bag had 4,300+ people to be thankful for (pax & crews) - she ran up & security was waiting on the pier to get her up to the Gangway & 30 seconds later, the horn sounded & we're on our way soon with the cables being released on the pier (we had bird's eye view of the whole incident from our starboard window above it all)

 

Tugboat isn't used but rather a smaller & much faster pilot boat to "escort" ships out thru the shallow blue waters to head out to the deep Atlantic - climbing the ladders would be out of the question, I think. But, the EOS has a helipad upfront - or - to get home & the next port being NYC, the young lady could've easily ended up looking at $$ on the next available JetBlue flight from BDA airport instead. (it probably cost more to find/charter a helicopter on the island than to just fly home/to NY)

[kocruiser]

I'm very paranoid about planning for excursions because I don't want to be left behind.

 

When booking an excursion for our last day in Bermuda on our June 29 cruise, the reservation agent booked us for a three hour excursion that gets us back to the ship thirty minutes prior to departure. I hesitated and questioned what would happen if our excursion was delayed and we were late getting back? I mean look what happened to Gilligan! The agent informed me that "we would be fine, as we had booked through NCL the ship can't leave. If you don't book through NCL they will not wait." I am not sure I want to test this:eek: and we are going to rebook once on board.