I’m not kidding here, if you don’t pay attention to the time and arrive at the port dock when required, your cruise ship may leave without you!
I had someone just ask this question less than a week ago, and my first response was, no way! I told them that a cruise ship would never leave a port without you, but as I did a little bit of research on this topic, I came across this great cruise information site, this is when I stumbled on a YouTube video that was showing a couple running for their lives as the cruise ship was sailing away.
Now this is the first time I have ever heard of this happening, so I’m not exactly sure how often passengers are left stranded at the port scratching their head wondering where their ride went.
As a travel professional I take this situation very seriously, because as some of you may find this quite humorous, I can’t imagine the expense it would cost someone to find their way to the next port of call, or the cost of a one-way flight back home. I question the fact that if the cruise lines keep possession of your passport, how are you able to obtain a flight without it if the airlines require you present one at time of boarding.
I encourage you to watch this video of this poor couple that missed the ship, and listen as the couple taking the video talk about the situation. It’s kind of surreal, but a reality in this case:
Here Are A Couple Of Valuable Tips So Hopefully This Doesn’t Happen To You!
Alright, you’re planning to go on your very first cruise, you just watched this video, and you’re thinking that now you don’t want to leave the ship. Don’t worry, because if you follow a couple of my tips, you can experience all that each port has to offer without the fear of your cruise ship setting sail and leaving you behind.
Tour Tip #1:
Even though it’s true that when you purchase excursions and tours from the cruise lines that they’re more expensive, but with that price comes a guarantee. It’s always best to verify with the cruise lines prior to purchasing your tours with them whether they have a policy to wait for you if you happen to be late or something goes wrong during your tour that causes delay. Most cruise ships offer this guarantee, and for the extra money you pay, is peace-of-mind.
Please Note: After reading some comments on the Internet, there was a case where a couple did purchase a cruise ship tour, however, even though the tour company did bring them back to the ship on time, this couple decided to venture off to take some pictures. The fact that this couple returned and were recorded by the tour company as being back, didn’t matter to the cruise company, because the fact they ventured off after the tour. The cruise company claimed they were not responsible for the couple not getting onboard the ship. Just keep this in mind if and when you do book a tour with the cruise ship.
Tour Tip #2:
If you’re not willing to pay the over inflated tour prices from the cruise company, and you’re more inclined to venture out to find a bargain, my best advice is to embark as early as you possibly can, preferably in the morning, and go find a tour or excursion you would like to do that will be completed early in the day. You see even if something were to happen where the tour was delayed, you will still have time to make arrangements to get back before the required boarding time.
Tour Tip #3:
You know the old say “ @#%$&! happens”, or “Murphy’s Law”, well take that to heart whether you’re on a cruise vacation or even a land vacation, because if something is going to go bad, you may not have control over the situation. Being prepared for a worst case scenario is the best medicine you can prescribe yourself.
- Take extra ID, I recommend that you take it with you while on you tour, along with a photocopy of your passport. If for any reason you need ID to get another passport issued or book a flight.
- Take a small bag with extra clothes and some personal amenities, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant. If you get stranded and have to overnight at your current destination, at least you won’t have to pay for extra amenities.
- Last but not least. Make sure you have cash on you, and possibly your bank card. Chances are the port you’re visiting will have access to a national bank that will allow you to do withdraw cash or cash transfers if needed.
In conclusion to this unfortunate incident is that proper planning and being aware of your time is extremely important, and if you happen to lose track of time and the ship leaves without you, well that’s an expensive lesson learned, right? However, there is a possibility where an unexpected situation occurs and it’s totally out of your control, so it’s always best to be prepared even though you may think it will never happen to you.
I hope you found this information helpful, and it will allow you to enjoy your next cruise vacation without the worry that the couple in the video had to experience.
