What happens if you miss the ship?

In the past we have tended to fly out at least a day in advance, just in case there's a problem with the flight. What happens if a flight is severely delayed or cancelled and the ship sails without you? Has this ever happened to anyone?

I am reminded of a charming Australian couple who missed the boat. They were sitting at home having a farewell dinner with their daughter when the phone rang.

Where are you? The ship sails in an hour!

They were in Queensland and the ship in Singapore. They had miscalculated the time changes and had booked the flights on the wrong day.

Their first thought was to cancel the trip. However their daughter persuaded them that all was not lost. Some nifty work with a PC and they flew the next day to Singapore-KL-Kuching. An overnight in an oil workers hotel and onto the quay to watch the ship arrive at its first port of call. A successful cruise followed.

So allow the extra day, but if the worst happens all is not lost.There is usually a solution.

You either lose your money (even if you have insurance) or you spend a few extra $$$$ and catch up to the ship in the next port. I would call the ship to make sure they know you're on your way! Hope it NEVER happens to you...or me! Always best to fly a day early in months where there can be bad weather or from a place where there are not flights every hour. In good weather months, I would book the earliest flight possible if you're not too far from the port of embarkation.

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This is why, if I'm flying to a distant port embarkation, I always allow at least two days prior to arrive. Usually more if the port warrants exploration.

And if Seabourn arranged the flights, would that make any difference?

Well I do know on our Antarctica trip a couple from SFO missed the ship (flight delay) but because they booked with SB they were taken to a hotel in Santiago for the night and a flight was arranged to fly the into Castro three days into the cruise. So yes SB took care of them but they missed three days of the cruise.

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It depends on the reason why you missed your flight. If it was circumstances beyond your control then Seabourn will usually help you catch up (at their cost). If it was your fault, poor planning, etc, then bad luck, you'll have to pay for it. This is why travel insurance is so important.

If SB arranged the flights then it is their responsibility to get you to the ship, and they will, so you have no worries.

Well yes, but that depends on how you see it. In the case of my friends SB took care of them but it took them three days to get them to the ship. So to me that is not "no worries" to miss three days of the cruise.

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Well, if you have three or more days at sea after embarkation now what do you do? My motto is alway come in the day or more before. Why stress?

Dee

All good advice. Thanks,

This is one of the reasons why i wake up in the middle of the night. Call me a worry-wort, but this is my life. We usually arrive a day before the cruise departs. If the plane flight is short and there is frequent service, I would accept a flight on the same day as the cruise departure, but I would be biting my nails and have sleepless nights. We did fly the same day Oakland to Los Angeles for a departure on Seabourn from Los Angeles. But honestly, there are bunches of flights each day from Oakland to Los Angeles, or even San Francisco to LA if we were in serious trouble. But, you get the picture. Take the safe route.

A few years ago we had a very risky connection to the ship in St Martin. We knew ahead of time that we were taking our chances, but due to professional obligations we had no choice. It was so close that we had a "plan b". Our travel agent had asked for authorization to board the ship 2 days later in St Barths as part of our "plan b".

Regardless of our late departure from CDG and strong head winds, we decided to go directly to the port instead of heading to "plan b hotel". When we arrived at the port, the ship was still there but we couldn't get past the security gate! When requesting permission from Seabourn to board 2 days later, our travel agent failed to inform them that would try to make the scheduled departure and therefore we were no longer on the departure list in St Martin.

The story had a happy ending. Security contacted the ship and we were escorted to the gangway for a memorable last sailing on one of the little sisters.

A few years ago we were sailing out of Athens. Departure was supposed to be at 5. We were still in port after dinner. We went to the deck after 10 pm and saw a taxi pulling up to the ship. A couple, with one small bag, rushed out, boarded the ship and we took off 10 minutes later. We found out that there had been major delays for their connection in Paris and they notified Seabourn immediately. They had not booked their air through SB. SB did hold off departure until they arrived.

Since the couple's luggage did not make it, SB gave them credit in the shop and they wore SB logo clothing for the next three days. Their luggage finally caught up with them three days later in Dubrovnik.

I am sure SB would not be able to do that in every port, and that this was extraordinary. So give yourselves a day or two before you sail!

A few years ago we had a very risky connection to the ship in St Martin. We knew ahead of time that we were taking our chances, but due to professional obligations we had no choice. It was so close that we had a "plan b". Our travel agent had asked for authorization to board the ship 2 days later in St Barths as part of our "plan b".

 

Regardless of our late departure from CDG and strong head winds, we decided to go directly to the port instead of heading to "plan b hotel". When we arrived at the port, the ship was still there but we couldn't get past the security gate! When requesting permission from Seabourn to board 2 days later, our travel agent failed to inform them that would try to make the scheduled departure and therefore we were no longer on the departure list in St Martin.

 

The story had a happy ending. Security contacted the ship and we were escorted to the gangway for a memorable last sailing on one of the little sisters.

Whew! That is a nice ending for you. Bottom line, if you are not sailing from your home port don't risk it.