All aboard! How close have you cut it?

We always are back on the ship in plenty of time........except for this one time in St. Thomas. We got stuck in horrible traffic that would just not move and we were biting our nails.....

Similar story here. We used to live on St. Thomas, so whenever we're in port there we always arrange (ahead of time) for a rental car and then spend our day visiting fave spots and old haunts. We're well aware of the traffic on St. T, so we always allow at least one hour to get to Havensight (where the NCL Epic was docked) from our usual last stop (the K Mart where we stock up on liquor). We hit the motherlode of all traffic jams and came to a complete stop, then just crawled a couple car lengths/stopped; crawled a couple car lengths/stopped; etc. When it was a half-hour to final boarding time and we were still trapped, I thought that I was going to have to sedate my wife; when it got to 15 minutes, I thought I was gonna have to shoot her! She's a worrier and this had put her right over the edge. Anyway, I called the car rental firm and arranged to just leave the car on the dock close to their office so that we could just jump and run when we got there. We got there late and hustled to the ship (with two full liquor boxes and our beachbag & knapsack flailing all about us) and made it with only 5 minutes to spare before the ship was actually scheduled to leave (that is, 25 minutes AFTER the final boarding time). Fortunately the traffic jam had made some other passengers late as well so they kept the gangplank down for the extra half-hour and we made it, huffing & puffing, up the gangway and onto the ship just in time.

Now my wife wants to start heading back to the ship TWO hours before final boarding time. Yikes!!!

Too old! Too cheap! Too neurotic! Too out of shape to be a runner!

That's how I feel about it. It's bad enough I have nightmares about missing the ship. Not going to chance it when I'm awake.

This "missing passenger announcement" clip is pretty funny....features a couple who have been late three days in a row. The CD is not amused...

We usually do NCL excursions so the worst we have been is 15-20 min late - the tour started late, got back about 5 min late, then the bus would not start (new driver did not know how :confused:) New bus, older driver - got bus started on first try :mad:. ) We were 15-20 min late. They pulled the gangplank after we were aboard and we pulled away from the dock - I think they had the mooring lines already in and were holding the ship against the dock with the thrusters and pods.

The rest of the cruise, we were away from dock by the all aboard time - ie 1/2 hr prior to leaving time - we were always back on board at least 15 min prior to that time - as was the rest of the ship :D

I don't think the captain liked waiting for us

This "missing passenger announcement" clip is pretty funny....features a couple who have been late three days in a row. The CD is not amused...

 

Unbelievable! Thank you for sharing. :p

Reading through these posts has been informative and interesting. I do hope we don't run into any of these issues on our next cruise!

 

A little background information: I am a basket-case when it comes to traveling. I'm the one who, when we land in our connecting city, insist on going to the next gate to ensure that nothing has changed, because it so often does. And I insist on arriving to the airport at least 2 hours before my flight, no matter how big or small the departure city is.

Are you my Wife's long lost twin sister? :D

Between 2 and 5 hours before departure time.

Fess up, NCLers on Cruise Critic! Were you a runner? Are you the most "play it safe" person in world?

Bermuda- ship sails at 5pm.

I've taken other ncl cruises before. I know you SHOULD be aboard 1/2hr before sail.

but I interpret that as a margin of safety and MUST be back by 5pm at the latest.

so im leisurely strolling up the pier to the ship at 4:40pm.

noticed that one of the 2 gang planks has been pulled.

as I'm walking up the plank, I notice a couple running towards the ship.

that got me thinking that if the ship sails at 5pm, then they must make preparations to sail before that.

ie: pull both planks and close the doors.

so 5pm is NOT the latest time to board. it's earlier.

I wonder what time they pull the 2nd plank?

Fess up, NCLers on Cruise Critic! Were you a runner? Are you the most "play it safe" person in world?

On excursions we are usually really early. Once I was about half an hour before sailing.

Once while boarding we were literally the last people on the ship.

Similar story here. We used to live on St. Thomas, so whenever we're in port there we always arrange (ahead of time) for a rental car and then spend our day visiting fave spots and old haunts. We're well aware of the traffic on St. T, so we always allow at least one hour to get to Havensight (where the NCL Epic was docked) from our usual last stop (the K Mart where we stock up on liquor). We hit the motherlode of all traffic jams and came to a complete stop, then just crawled a couple car lengths/stopped; crawled a couple car lengths/stopped; etc. When it was a half-hour to final boarding time and we were still trapped, I thought that I was going to have to sedate my wife; when it got to 15 minutes, I thought I was gonna have to shoot her! She's a worrier and this had put her right over the edge. Anyway, I called the car rental firm and arranged to just leave the car on the dock close to their office so that we could just jump and run when we got there. We got there late and hustled to the ship (with two full liquor boxes and our beachbag & knapsack flailing all about us) and made it with only 5 minutes to spare before the ship was actually scheduled to leave (that is, 25 minutes AFTER the final boarding time). Fortunately the traffic jam had made some other passengers late as well so they kept the gangplank down for the extra half-hour and we made it, huffing & puffing, up the gangway and onto the ship just in time.

 

Now my wife wants to start heading back to the ship TWO hours before final boarding time. Yikes!!!

Well, this is my warning:eek: I too lived on St. Thomas and am going back on the Escape. I think rather than renting a car, we'll taxi to a couple of my favorite spots. make our last stop Paradise Point & take the tram back.

It's my dream to someday get pictures or video of people running towards a departing cruise ship, preferably while carrying or dragging shopping bags full of whatever. I don't wish that fate on anyone in particular, I just recognize that it's a thing that happens and I want to get it on film....because it's funny.

This should had been in the background -

I love Yackety Sax! It makes any video hilarious.

Are you my Wife's long lost twin sister? :D

Ha ha! I only have an older brother who flies by the seat of his pants for just about everything. I suppose we are kindred spirits!

A long time ago we were the second to last to board. Walked up to the rep and she said you are either the Weese's or the Smith's. That was at 2:30 pm and I think the ship sailed at 4.

Cozumel and a rented Jeep, ship's time was on my watch in my bag - Jeep time on the dashboard. Husband says to me we have plenty of time let's take the main road the opposite way of the ship. Something told me to look at my watch!!! We had a 20 minute drive and ten minutes to make it!!! Needless to say, we were passing chicken trucks and farm vehicles and doing 55 (as fast as that Jeep would go). We got to port, skidded to a stop in front of the rental office, tossed a guy the keys as he shouted keep running!!!! They were pulling the main lines off the dock and had only one gangway down. We boarded got in the elevator and the ship was already moving. By the time we got to our cabin on deck 6, we were yards from the dock. Never want to repeat that stunt!

Cozumel and a rented Jeep, ship's time was on my watch in my bag - Jeep time on the dashboard. Husband says to me we have plenty of time let's take the main road the opposite way of the ship. Something told me to look at my watch!!! We had a 20 minute drive and ten minutes to make it!!! Needless to say, we were passing chicken trucks and farm vehicles and doing 55 (as fast as that Jeep would go). We got to port, skidded to a stop in front of the rental office, tossed a guy the keys as he shouted keep running!!!! They were pulling the main lines off the dock and had only one gangway down. We boarded got in the elevator and the ship was already moving. By the time we got to our cabin on deck 6, we were yards from the dock. Never want to repeat that stunt!

I like to be on board at least 30 minutes early. Last week on our New England cruise on Monday 9/28, two passengers were on the gang plank that had already been pulled away from the ship. They were left. I asked security if they really left them and the answer was yes. They would not tell me if they caught the pilot boat or made it back on ship at the next port. Not worth it to me to cut it too close.

Thank you to everyone who shared! Loved every bit of it - especially the videos!!!

Always aim to be back around a hour before unless on a ship trip x

Me too.

Always safe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yalgeQRDlV4

Whew!!! :confused::rolleyes:

Wow. Seriously needs to rethink his alcohol consumption. Sad.

On Nassau we were on the last boat back from the blue lagoon and got chatting to one of the officers we met earlier in the trip, on he dock. We all looked up and the gangway furniture was being prepped to be hauled up. QUICK! made it with about 90 seconds to spare.

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This should had been in the background -

A great running tune.

This "missing passenger announcement" clip is pretty funny....features a couple who have been late three days in a row. The CD is not amused...

 

I wonder if the Rossis did finally arrive, or were they left waiving good-bye' from the pier?

Fess up, NCLers on Cruise Critic! Were you a runner? Are you the most "play it safe" person in world?

Twice we almost missed our embarkation but neither time was it our fault.

First time we'd booked air to land a day ahead of time. Airline cancelled that flight. Only option was 5am flight same day as cruise. Since we also had a connecting flight and a two hour time difference against us we were not happy with that solution but no room on other flights.

Got to airport only to learn 5am flight cancelled for mechanical reasons. Only possible flight was 7am. As apology we were put in first class on the connecting flight. That, and Carryon luggage got us to the taxies first. Luckily for us the Coast Guard had chosen to do a thorough review of ship and crew so boarding had been delayed for two hours. We ran through checkin as they were literally putting up the gangway.

Second time was international flight, booked through cruiseline since airfare was significantly cheaper. That meant arriving in London morning of cruise with cruise bus transfer to Dover port. Should have been plenty of time.

First a couple didn't make their connection so we had a twenty-minute delay while their luggage in the cargo hold was found and taken off.

Then, while taxiing out their was a malfunction in the cockpit's instrument panel and we had to return for maintenance which first necessitated a half hour wait for a gate, then an hour for repair, and a necessary topping off fuel. During this time I phoned the emergency air number to let them know of our two and a half hour delay.

In London we had to circle airport for about twenty minutes. At landing hubby's wheelchair escort zoomed us through immigration, customs, and rushed us out to the transfer bus. We got to the ship as muster drill was starting. But at least we were aboard.