Norwegian Cruise Line ship Left 8 passages at the dock

[Bekeart]

Cruise Ship Left 8 Behind, Nightmare Commences
Norwegian Cruise Line says they were late returning from an excursion

the captain wouldn't let them board even though the ship was still anchored.
The Coast Guard eventually took them out to the ship via boat,
but the captain turned them away, they say.

A Real Public Relations Disaster.

Norwegian Cruise Line says they were late returning from an excursion
By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff
Posted Apr 2, 2024 12:30 AM CDT
Updated Apr 2, 2024 5:14 AM CDT
Cruise Ship Leaves 8 Passengers Behind in Africa

Eight passengers who were left behind when their Norwegian Cruise Line ship departed from the African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe are scrambling to meet back up with the ship and rejoin the cruise. Jill and Jay Campbell of South Carolina tell WPDE and WMBF that a little more than a week into a 21-day cruise that left from South Africa on March 20, they were with six other passengers on an excursion on the island March 27 that ran late. They say they informed the tour guide, who got in touch with the captain of the Norwegian Dawn, but that when they returned, the captain wouldn't let them board even though the ship was still anchored. The Coast Guard eventually took them out to the ship via boat, but the captain turned them away, they say. Since then, they've been trying to get back to the ship.


More at the link
Cruise Ship Left 8 Behind, Nightmare Commences

 

[NYlakesider]

Very interesting! I have done a lot of cruising and seen people left behind. (Do to their own stupidity) Sounds like a rather good explanation is needed about this.-

 

[Alpo]

I wouldn't bother trying to get back on the ship. I would fly home so I can start the lawsuit just as soon as possible.


Now if I'm late getting back, I can understand them not waiting. Supposed to be back on the ship at 4:00 because we're leaving at 5:00 and I don't get back until 6:00. My fault. And I can even sort of understand not letting them on even though the ship is still there. But when they bring them out in a boat?


The captain is the King on board ship. Got it. So I wouldn't sue the captain. But I would definitely sue the cruise line. Might not win. But I would sue the hell out of them.

 

[Tom S.]

We are hearing only one side of the story. I suspect that not only were they late back to the ship but it probably wasn't the first time. Some people think the world revolves around them and then they get PO'd when they find out they're wrong.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

It was Juneau, Alaska, don’t you know?
The Cruise Ship arrival and departures are timed tight!
There were a couple of hundred of us at the bottom of the Gangplank and a Lady Officer on a Bullhorn was encouraging us to expedite!
A rather large lady got halfway up the gangplank and could go no mo.
The Lady Officer is now on her radio.
A couple of strong looking Oriental Sailors (I’m thinking Koreans) appeared with a metal chair.
They loaded her carcass on that chair and swiftly carried her onto the ship.
Back to the Bullhorn - Please Board Now!

 

[RobertJ.]

It sounds to me like it wasn't a cruise-line sanctioned excursion, which puts the blame on them, not the ship.

Otherwise, the ship would have waited.

 

[The Norseman]

Tarty

How come we never hear good things about
cruises? There appears always something
negative about cruises. For this reason I’m out.

One of my goals in life, as with Disney, is never
go there and spend my money on them.

When ever someone tells me there going on a
Cruise or Disney, I ask them can’t you do
something more original then that? You
should see their face.

Anyway, the Best to you and your Endeavors

 

[Nevada Ed]

Most ships blow their horns as a warning to load.
If this was done and the people were still late, so be it.

The ship has been doing this trip, many times and knows what has to happen to be on time, for it's arivals & departures.

Don't be late.

 

[CH4]

Ship happens...

 

[NYlakesider]

It sounds to me like it wasn't a cruise-line sanctioned excursion, which puts the blame on them, not the ship.

Otherwise, the ship would have waited.

Sometimes yes sometimes no. Your right about not being on a ship sponsored shore time.

Sometimes the ship will go even if its a ship sponsored shore visit.

Depending where you are tide or distance to the next port of call determines what happens.(A couple people Vs the thousands on board) they will depart! In those cases the cruse company will take care of costs like food, motels and travel cost to the next stop.

 

[Krogen]

The Coast Guard brought them out to the ship? That's pretty puzzling to start with. Next, how would they board the ship? I'm betting the cruise line wouldn't even consider taking on that liability. Passenger goes in the water and the lawsuits begin.

 

[BKLooney]

How come we never hear good things about
cruises? There appears always something
negative about cruises. For this reason I’m out.

One of my goals in life, as with Disney, is never
go there and spend my money on them.

When ever someone tells me there going on a
Cruise or Disney, I ask them can’t you do
something more original then that? You
should see their face.

Anyway, the Best to you and your Endeavors

Yeah..nah...never had any real desire to get on a cruise ship...I'm more of a Clark Griswald vacation kind of guy, much to my family's dismay..and Disney will never see another dime!

 

[Muss Muggins]

The Coast Guard brought them out to the ship? That's pretty puzzling to start with. Next, how would they board the ship? I'm betting the cruise line wouldn't even consider taking on that liability. Passenger goes in the water and the lawsuits begin.

You have to remember that it wasn't the United States Coast Guard. I've been on several cruises, and the instructions regarding excursions are very clear. If it's not an excursion you purchased thru the cruise line, you're on your own. We've seen more than one group running down the dock, drink in hand, as the ship pushed away . . .

 

[swsig]

In the early '80s, we were part of a group of passengers who were returning to our ship by train after an all-day excursion to San Jose, Costa Rica, when there was a nationwide power blackout. The locomotive was electric, and it lost all power. Night had fallen and we were in the jungle-covered mountains of western Costa Rica coasting downhill. The only light was from the feeble headlight on the locomotive, apparently powered by a backup battery. We coasted for about 20 minutes, but eventually we hit a flat spot and slowed to a halt. And there we sat in the dark, in the middle of the jungle, going nowhere. You literally could not see your hand in front of your face. No cell phones in those days to use as flashlights! We sat for nearly an hour until a diesel switch engine arrived from the port to tow us in. Needless to say we were way late for our ship's departure. Fortunately, it was a ship-sponsored tour, so the captain waited. He had every onboard light lit, (and was blowing the horn). The glow from our big white ship was the only source of light in the port. So it turned out well for us, but if we'd freelanced our shore excursion, there's a good chance we'd have been left behind.

I've been on 15 cruises, and my family and I have always been conscientious about getting back to the ship on time. As to the passengers in the OP's post, I suspect they were thoughtless rank amateur cruisers who were habitual violators of departure time deadlines, and the captain decided to teach them a lesson. The experienced cruisers on board probably applauded.

 

[MelvinWalker]

I wouldn't bother trying to get back on the ship. I would fly home so I can start the lawsuit just as soon as possible.


Now if I'm late getting back, I can understand them not waiting. Supposed to be back on the ship at 4:00 because we're leaving at 5:00 and I don't get back until 6:00. My fault. And I can even sort of understand not letting them on even though the ship is still there. But when they bring them out in a boat?


The captain is the King on board ship. Got it. So I wouldn't sue the captain. But I would definitely sue the cruise line. Might not win. But I would sue the hell out of them.

Diamond member on Royal Caribbean here...It doesn't work like that at all. A lawsuit will fail...If the rule is to be back at 4:30PM, then be back at 4:00...There are ten thousand things out of your control to make you late and only one thing that can make you early....YOU.

More importantly, I read this article in another publication and it seems this group booked an excursion through a secondary agency besides the ship itself...NEVER book anything on your own because they have no obligation to get you back to the ship on time.

 

[Dave.357]

While in the Navy if you miss
ship movement you are in deep
DO-DO !
And the Captain will not listen to
BS excuses.

 

[Rule3]

Every watch the TV show Mighty Ships?


Ships are on a very strict time line. If you miss the boarding time, it's to bad so sad. They must depart on schedule.
Imagine if they just stayed at port waiting for everyone that was late to arrive.


Do airlines wait for people when the door are closed and beginning to taxi.?


Mighty Cruise Ships - TV Series | Smithsonian Channel

 

[LVSteve]

The question is does the captain PO 1800 passengers because 8 made them miss the tide and shortened the visit at the next port. As for a boat to ship transfer, I can well understand why the captain wouldn't take on that risk.

Never been on a cruise, but my bus tour left a family behind at Chichen Itza because they were late. It probably had something to do with getting back to the tourist area of Cancun before nightfall. Some wag on the bus asked the tour guide if abandoned tourists were sacrificed to keep the old traditions going.

 

[Bald1]

How do we know it wasn’t the US Coast Guard? They are overseas as well. I would think the cruise ship would have to allow them to board. They enforce domestic and international laws in domestic and international waters……… a Coast Guard boat from an African nation to me would scream Pirates lol

 

[Hair Trigger]

My daughter was part of the entertainment cast for 5 years aboard various NCL ships , including the Dawn. NCL clearly states their policy on returning from excursions when you get your tickets, and they are given a specific time they have to be back by when disembarking in a port, so passengers have no excuses when they are late returning.

There are two kinds of shore excursion; ones you get through the ship (ship sponsored) and those you arrange on shore when you get to a port of call. The ship sponsored ones are safe, if you are late, the ship will wait as you are being led by a crew member. If you arrange a private excursion, it is on you to return by the appointed time, or you will be left. In a very few cases, even the ship sponsored excursions have been left behind and it is up to the passenger or crew member to find a way to the next port of call or to wait until the next cruise, which can be 5 days to a couple of weeks, depending on the ship's cruise schedule.

I think it's pathetic for some people to feel so entitled they expect the ship to wait on them if they're running late. They knew ahead of time what would happen.