Are you a "Pier Runner" watcher?

In Belize we sat in the Thirsty Lizard drinking Beliken waiting for the tender line to go down. Suddenly it DID go down and we had to rush to catch the last tender. We were applauded as it pulled alongside the ship. That's as close as I EVER want to come to almost missing the ship.

In Nassau we watched the crew from one of those huge NCL ships actually come down onto the pier and take passengers by the arm and escort them onto the ship because they had stopped to dance on the pier.:rolleyes:

Guilty!! :D Have seen guys actually carry a female on -have seen the Pier Runners a few times. Last cruise on Oasis, we actually saw a couple get left behind. The bus driver was flying down the pier, but we were already untied and moving. We also saw a fist fight on the dock last time in Jamaica...

I do both. Watch, yell, and clap! In St Thomas some from the frogg bar was on a mega phone cheering them on! It was so funny! I love to watch and yell! It is what makes the sailway fun!

I did some watching by chance in St. Thomas. I was on deck 3 taking photos of the surrounding areas including the dock side when I noticed some late comers. They all made it. The last couple arrived just as the maintenance workers were dismantling the gangway.

I must admit we are "Pier Watchers" however, we are not the yeller's. On our NCL Sky cruise, we were in Nassau and the ship had just pulled away from the pier and we saw 3 runners yelling at the ship to stop.....which it did not.

 

OceanDreams

hahaha, I think someone video-taped it!!!

 

Cruise lines should get smart and "plant" an actor or two to come running for this show! :cool:

Oh man, that would be so awesome LOL then everyone could watch! We saw the YouTube videos and we went up to try to watch for runners our last cruise but everyone was responsible and back in time LOL Maybe next time. I agree it would be fun to watch in Cozumel. I'd feel bad if they really didn't get on the boat though. I guess I'd rather watch them run and then make it just at the last second.

Cozumel is great for watching the antics on the pier. You never know what you’ll see.

In 2010 we were on the Legend in the very first balcony on the port side of the ship, deck 7. This provided a great view of the pier. The Elation is sharing the pier with the Legend.

The wife, daughters and I were on the balcony after returning from a family friendly, fun filled day in Cozumel. We’re watching the typical Cozumel pier crowds; you know the balloon hats, the sun burns, the teenage boy slung over his dad’s shoulder, etc.

Standing near the bend in the pier is a Mexican officer. Suddenly this Mexican officer starts blowing his whistle and start running down the pier toward the shore. We spot a young man swimming next to the pier. Evidently the long walk was to hot and he decided to jump in the water to cool off.

He climbs up the ladder back onto the pier to be greeted by the Mexican Police. At this point I assume he will be getting some spend more time Cozumel, but he is escorted to Ship’s Officers from the Elation. They did not look amused. After what looks to be a very serious tail chewing, he is allowed to board.

Now it is time for sail away. The Legend has been untied, but is still at the dock with the gangway out. We are waiting for this young couple staggering down the pier. They are completely clueless the ship is waiting on them. The Mexican officer is trying to hurry them along by hollering “vamonos”. The ship passengers are screaming “run Forrest, run”.

They reach the bend in the pier and the young lady decides she needs a photo of the two them in front of the ship’s bow. She is trying to solicit help from the dock hands in the area. The Mexican officer is steadily becoming more agitated. The passengers of both ships are encouraging them to board the ship. They are still oblivious to all the commotion they are causing. Fortunately Wee Jimmy arrives. He comes running from the gangway and escorts them to the ship. The Legends finally leaves Cozumel.

Unfortunately, they did not get their photo in front of the bow of the Legend.

Like some have said, this is one of my favorite activities on board! It's always nice to be able to watch from onboard, knowing you're good to go!:D

One of the best pier runner stories I have is last year on the Miracle we were in Curacao and they kept paging 2 guys names. Pretty soon 1 of them come running towards the ship and gets on. They are still paging for the 2nd guy and not long before we see him running and by this time they had closed the gates so he is jumping over them to get to the ship. We found out later that night that they were the comedians that the ship was picking up in port which would explaing why they waited longer than they normally would. Both comedians made it part of their act. They said they were both delayed at the airport and traffic trying to get to the ship.

I love to watch the pier runners, and I just giggle and stay quiet.

What is more fun to watch is to watch the security people chew them out as they get onboard..one security person actually waited at the gate at Roatan for this woman and, judging by his gestures at his watch and his arm waving, he was giving her a good lecture on being on time....

One cruise leaving Cozumel two young women didn't even bother to run after the horn blasted for the sixth time and they didn't think much of it when they turned the corner and saw the gangway being pulled in. Only when they saw the ship start to move did they start to walk a little faster. The captain didn't go back for them....

I love that idea! Hahaha!

I am on board with this too!!!

I love to watch the pier runners, and I just giggle and stay quiet.

 

What is more fun to watch is to watch the security people chew them out as they get onboard..one security person actually waited at the gate at Roatan for this woman and, judging by his gestures at his watch and his arm waving, he was giving her a good lecture on being on time....

 

One cruise leaving Cozumel two young women didn't even bother to run after the horn blasted for the sixth time and they didn't think much of it when they turned the corner and saw the gangway being pulled in. Only when they saw the ship start to move did they start to walk a little faster. The captain didn't go back for them....

I guess they learned their lesson!

I can't believe after all the cruises we have been on that I have never heard of pier runners. It makes me laugh out loud every time I think about it. We are booked for September and our group will definitely have a drink and a good spot to watch the entertainment!!:p

We always try and spread the word to people who don't know about it. For those who have never seen it or know about it, if the gang plank is still out after everyone is "supposed" to be onboard, start listening for names and count the number of names called, this way you will know how many people to look out for!

Wow that has to be a bad feeling standing there and watching the ship leave a port. OK stupid newbee question. If you're suppose to be in port from say 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM what time are you suppose to be back?

I admit that I do have a little fun with watching the peir runners. I am not however one of the "yellers", and I do always hope that they make it back to the ship!

Funniest time or times for me have been in Cozumel. You all know how long that peir is. Last cruise, I was out watching for the runners, and sure enough, there were several, mostly hurrying, as they knew they were late. Then about 15 mins after we were supposed to have left, we see these two guys sauntering down that long peir. They were young, maybe early twenties from what we could see, but they were sauntering, and laughing, and yes, there were yellers aboard, calling them to get the lead out! but they didnt hear and were oblivious. Then the ship's horn sounded! One long blast! The two goofs looked at each other and realized they were late and started to run. Obviously feeling no pain, and no longer sauntering, but zigzagging run down the rest of the peir. They made it though! I was just afraid one of them would end up going over the side of the peir. Lots of hoots, laughs and jeers from the "watchers" though. Im just glad they made it, and hope they learned a lesson.:D

Wow that has to be a bad feeling standing there and watching the ship leave a port. OK stupid newbee question. If you're suppose to be in port from say 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM what time are you suppose to be back?

It is always posted in the Fun Times and when you leave the ship on the gang plank. The staff also remind you as you leave. If the ship is scheduled to leave at 5, I believe they want everyone on board by 4:30. All I know, is that I am on board at minimum of 1 hour before departure. Have seen too many left behind!

I'm usually one of the people yelling from our balcony for those people to hurry up and get on the ship so that we can leave. For once I would LOVE to see the ship pull away with all of those people on the dock - it would teach them a lesson to watch the time and to not take anything for granted!

I agree completely. They should cut those idiots absolutely no slack. If they are running down the pier at 3:01 and they ship is due to leave at 3:00, the ship should depart and leave them.

DON

On a Christmas Cruise we watched an entire family with little children miss the ship. The kids were crying and they were all waving. When we got out to open water, we stopped and a small boat brought them out to the ship. We watched them get loaded onto the ship. I was surprised that they were able to get out to us, but the captain must have made an exception.

I do love to watch the last min. runners though.. ;)

I agree completely. They should cut those idiots absolutely no slack. If they are running down the pier at 3:01 and they ship is due to leave at 3:00, the ship should depart and leave them.

 

DON

Quite honestly, I think they should charge the late passengers per 5 minutes they hold everyone else up! Don't forget that sometimes you have a nice Captain who will wait; and thus making everyone else late for their next port.

We booked a cove, port side on the Dream. Can't wait to sit on our balcony & watch the pier runners. I just hope it is never us they are hollering at.

It happens on a ship almost every day

I hope it never happen to us...but when we were in Cozumel (I heard this port is famous for pier runner)...we watched and nothing happen. I feel guilty for watching and hoping to see one though.:o

Quite honestly, I think they should charge the late passengers per 5 minutes they hold everyone else up! Don't forget that sometimes you have a nice Captain who will wait; and thus making everyone else late for their next port.

Too easy on them. If they are late and the ship waits for them, they should be made objects of shame for the rest of the cruise. They should have to wear special shame clothing and special shame body paint. They should also automatically be at the end of every line on the ship and anyone else on the ship should be allowed to cut in front of them or steal their poolside chairs.

No level of degradation is sufficient for these people.

DON

Guilty of both, watching and yelling. Favorite port to watch is Cozumel. :D

I was just thinking that! Cozumel has never failed to produce runners for my cruising entertainment. I root FOR them, though... karma!!!

We pour ourselves a drink, watch, and yell. Great entertainment!