Left Ashore??

We have taken several cruises but always used the Cruise Excursions. This time we want to join some of the Cruise Critic groups but are concerned about getting back to the ship on time. Do the Cruise Lines (specifically HAL) generally wait for groups who may be a few minutes late getting back to the ship?

We are booked on the Dec 20th sailing on HAL's Zaandam out of Santiago.

Thanks

MaltCan

If you set your WATCH to ship's time, you will NOT be late! No worries! Only those who aren't paying attention to the time get left behind! Do NOT attempt to use a cell phone for the time...it will show local time which may not be the same time that the ship is on!

We NEVER do ship's excursions...have never missed the boat!

As usual, the above poster did not bother to read your post correctly or answer your question. Been doing so for a long time. :rolleyes:

To answer your question, no. They will not wait fro those on independent excursions. Having said that, we book independently a lot and have never had a problem. But we only book with vendors who get very high reviews here and on Tripadvisor and have been in business for awhile.

Never count on the ship waiting for you. It will usually wait if one of it's tours are late.

We have taken 150 or so private tours and never missed the ship. These tour operators depend on their reputation to get bookings. They get their tours back on time.

As usual, the above poster did not bother to read your post correctly or answer your question. Been doing so for a long time. :rolleyes:

 

To answer your question, no. They will not wait fro those on independent excursions.

Not entirely true.

I have seen the our cruise ship wait for passengers that were late.

I do not know why they waited, but I can surmise that somehow they contacted the ship or port authority and let them know they were enroute and would be arriving about 15 minutes past sailing time.

This was on Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Sea in Bermuda a couple of years ago.

However, I would say that in the majority of cases the ship will not wait.

It would be a HUGE mistake to assume that the ship would wait even 10 minutes for you if you were late and were not on a ship sponsored event. I am not saying that sometimes they will wait for a little while because we have seen this happen but to count on it would be a mistake.

In the last 15/20 years or so we have only taken one ship sponsored excursions. The rest have been with private, well researched and well recommended locals. Never had a problem.

That the ship will wait if one of its tours returns late is the only significant advantage in taking a ship's tour, it very probably won't wait for others unless there are dozens or hundreds involved, such as a broken-down train.. (Sometimes it can't wait even for ships tours, because of tides, pilots, berth required for a waiting ship etc.. But for those on ship tours the onus is on the cruise line to arrange and pay for accommodation, catchup at the next port, compensation etc.)

The other main advantage of ship tours is that it's one-stop shopping, no need to research, you are led by the hand.

But I find the disadvantages - poor value, cattle-driving production line, slow travel, set itinerary, unwanted stops at places that give the cruise line commission etc, usually far outweigh the advantages.

As other posts, a local operators' reputation would be ruined if they failed to get a group back on time.

I have never ever seen on Cruise Critic a single post about a private tour group missing their sailing. Plenty of instances of individuals on DIY who foul-up, mainly due to drink :rolleyes:

JB :)

Not entirely true.

 

I have seen the our cruise ship wait for passengers that were late.

 

I do not know why they waited, but I can surmise that somehow they contacted the ship or port authority and let them know they were enroute and would be arriving about 15 minutes past sailing time.

 

This was on Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Sea in Bermuda a couple of years ago.

 

However, I would say that in the majority of cases the ship will not wait.

Were these passengers on private excursions? Or ship's ones? Typically they are more included to wait for ship sponsored excursions that are running late, but not so much for private ones.

It may be possible for a ship to wait, even for passengers that are just running late, if the port fees are not too costly, and there's the option to remain tied up.

BUT, even with ship's excursions, if the time and tide are a factor, they will not wait. That happened on our recent cruise. There were 3 busses (ship's excursion) that were late and the ship had to leave due to the tide.

Not entirely true.

 

I have seen the our cruise ship wait for passengers that were late.

 

I do not know why they waited, but I can surmise that somehow they contacted the ship or port authority and let them know they were enroute and would be arriving about 15 minutes past sailing time.

 

This was on Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Sea in Bermuda a couple of years ago.

 

However, I would say that in the majority of cases the ship will not wait.

Were these passengers on private excursions? Or ship's ones? Typically they are more included to wait for ship sponsored excursions that are running late, but not so much for private ones.

 

It may be possible for a ship to wait, even for passengers that are just running late, if the port fees are not too costly, and there's the option to remain tied up.

 

BUT, even with ship's excursions, if the time and tide are a factor, they will not wait. That happened on our recent cruise. There were 3 busses (ship's excursion) that were late and the ship had to leave due to the tide.

I'd agree that, if the ship waited for passengers, they were most likely on a ship-sponsored excursion. We had that happen a few years ago, on Celebrity Solstice. Our (X-sponsored) boat tour to Jost Van Dyke ran late. When we arrived, the ship was already steaming up, and ready to go. There were some anxious shore excursion folks waiting on the pier, to escort us onboard. They pulled up the gangway, right behind us!

We were on Freedom of the Seas back in 2011. After a day of touring we were having a drink over looking Falmouth. They kept asking over the intercom for three women (called by individual name) to check with guest services. This went on for at least 30 minutes. We were already late leaving port. Pretty soon the shop was turning up the engines and brought in the gang way. We were probably no more than 50 ft away from the dock when the 3 ladies come running. We all waved good bye as we kept going. Never heard if they caught up with the ship at the next port. It does happen.

For our first 3 cruises we used ship excursions. But we leave on Friday for Alaskan cruise and all of our excursions are independent. I think it comes from a little experience and a lot of advice on cc.

We have sailed on HAL a lot and HAL will not wait for private tours.

The majority of the private tour operators will get you back to the ship with time to spare. After all they don't want their reputation ruined. Of course there is always the chance that a bus may break down or something else happens which is a very small %.

We met an older woman who had been on a tour with her husband. When they came back she wanted to do some shopping, he didn't. So, he went back on the ship. She thought she had to be back by 5 so got to the pier at 5 and saw the ship way out there! It had left!

She was taken to a hotel she had to pay for then pay for her dinner & breakfast. This was in Nassau. The next morning she was flown to the next port-half moon cay. She was flown by sea plane. It cost them $1800 for her to miss the ship!

WE always plan to be back on the ship at least an hour before have to be. Venders want to make sure you don't miss the ship or they would lose customers and $$$!

That the ship will wait if one of its tours returns late is the only significant advantage in taking a ship's tour, it very probably won't wait for others unless there are dozens or hundreds involved, such as a broken-down train.. (Sometimes it can't wait even for ships tours, because of tides, pilots, berth required for a waiting ship etc.. But for those on ship tours the onus is on the cruise line to arrange and pay for accommodation, catchup at the next port, compensation etc.)

 

The other main advantage of ship tours is that it's one-stop shopping, no need to research, you are led by the hand.

 

But I find the disadvantages - poor value, cattle-driving production line, slow travel, set itinerary, unwanted stops at places that give the cruise line commission etc, usually far outweigh the advantages.

 

As other posts, a local operators' reputation would be ruined if they failed to get a group back on time.

I have never ever seen on Cruise Critic a single post about a private tour group missing their sailing. Plenty of instances of individuals on DIY who foul-up, mainly due to drink :rolleyes:

 

JB :)

Most of the time we sightsee or beach it on our own (I'll research the ports, we double check our watches against ship's time, and I always take the daily newsletter with us so there's no doubt about all aboard time, which we always try to beat by about an hour to be sure...certainly we're not traveling half across an island while on a cruise).

But when it comes to excursions, we'll usually stick with the ship's excursions. We just seem to have better luck with them. We must be lucky from the sound of some posts too as we haven't been on cattle calls (even been on tours with less than ten passengers total), haven't been herded to special shopping stops (I don't recall having anything like that on the excursions we've taken), and often the excursion is the same that's offered by the same company if you're a hotel guest booking it (and really not for a big difference of $). Probably just the ones we've selected so far.

We have been on one excursion that did get back to the ship after sailaway time, due to weather, but the guide kept in touch with the ship, and the ship waited...the gangway came up just minutes after the passengers got back on. Don't know if the ship would have waited if it was a private excursion.

Most tour operators will do everything they can to get you back to the ship on time, their livelihood depends on it. They also coordinate with other providers for help in an emergency.

However, a lot depends on conditions. In Panama there may be a delay in getting through the locks, one cruise we were on the ship waited an hour for 7 busses of ships excursions to return to the port, if not for that, anyone on a private excursion would have missed sail away.

Going to the Mayan Ruins and returning on time when in Mexico is dependent on the seas and road conditions. Also, in Alaska, taking the private ferry to Haines is sea dependent with the ferry running on a set schedule. If that ferry you need to take cannot cross then you are SOOL.

There were reports a year ago about the roads in St. Maarten being blocked by protesters and the ships were advising guests to be aware if they were on a private excursion, several ships excursions were cancelled for that reason.

We always base our decisions on how long the tour is and how far from the port it goes. After 14 cruises and many private excursions we have not had any problems.

Not entirely true.

 

I have seen the our cruise ship wait for passengers that were late.

 

I do not know why they waited, but I can surmise that somehow they contacted the ship or port authority and let them know they were enroute and would be arriving about 15 minutes past sailing time.

 

This was on Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Sea in Bermuda a couple of years ago.

 

However, I would say that in the majority of cases the ship will not wait.

Yes, if you can contact the ship or their agent, and the delay won't be long, they might wait, perhaps even will, if the wait is "short".

If you do not make contact, they will not wait.

Quick lesson, folks: Waiting costs money. A delayed departure means going faster to the next port, and a ship's "gas mileage" is in feet per gallon. Going just one extra knot to make up for lost time could cost thousands of $$$$.

Independent excursions will save you a lot of money, just be cognizant of the time and the tour operator you choose. If delayed, be sure you have either a number for the ship or their port agent. Communication with the ship would be essential in such a situation.

Were these passengers on private excursions? Or ship's ones? .....

There were only two of them. They arrived in a taxi, so, I am sure they were on their own.

No, the ship will not wait for you if you're on a private excursion (after all, they don't know you're on that excursion; they just know you're not on the boat).

However, they also will not wait for YOU if you're on a ship excursion. What I mean by that is, they'll wait for the excursion to return ... but they will not account for every passenger. If the excursion returns to the pier, but you personally decide to wait a bit ashore to drink a $1 beer or shop, they will not wait for you.

Having read this board for more than a decade, I've never once heard anyone talk about anyone missing the ship because a private excursion was late. Not one. I have, however, heard of individuals who were shopping or drinking and missed the bus. And I have heard of individuals who went out on their own and didn't make it back -- but tour guides take great, great care to get you back on time.

I'd book private excursions even if they weren't cheaper. Small groups, more opportunity to do what you want (rather than stopping at places that give the ship a kickback). Yes, the ship's excursions I've taken have been like cattle calls.

General rules of thumb for on-shore safety:

- Pay attention to the excursion time. Book a morning time and return to the ship two hours before the ship is scheduled to sail (not start towards the ship two hours ahead, but BE ON THE SHIP two hours ahead). We're always pooped by mid-afternoon anyway.

- Know how you're getting to /from your excursion meeting point. Have a backup plan in case things go wrong; have enough money in your pocket to take a cab -- just in case.

- Be sure you know exactly when the ship's going to sail and keep your watch (not your cell phone) to ship's time.

- Do not return to the port and lose track of time drinking or shopping right next to the ship. It takes time to walk that looooong pier and re-board. You can be left while you're within sight of the ship!

- Choose excursions (ship or private) that keep you moderately close to the pier. The worst excursion has to be the Tulum ruins. This requires that you travel (without your guide) across the island, take a ferry to the mainland, then take a two-hour bus trip to the ruins. Even for a ship's excursion, it's just too much for a 6-8 hour island stop. Too many modes of transportation, too many opportunities for trouble. The moral: Every option isn't really cruise-friendly. Don't set yourself up for failure.

- Keep your group together.

I have seen the our cruise ship wait for passengers that were late.

 

I do not know why they waited, but I can surmise that somehow they contacted the ship or port authority and let them know they were enroute and would be arriving about 15 minutes past sailing time.

... Quick lesson, folks: Waiting costs money. A delayed departure means going faster to the next port, and a ship's "gas mileage" is in feet per gallon. Going just one extra knot to make up for lost time could cost thousands of $$$$.

 

... Independent excursions will save you a lot of money ...

It's not only the gas money; the ship pays port fees, and if they stay an extra 15 minutes, they owe more. After all, the harbor pilot is waiting to take the ship out to sea and the pier staff is working as long as the ship's in port. While 15 extra minutes sounds like nothing to us, it's big money to the ship.

Yes, independent excursions will save you money, but the real reason to choose them is that they're a better experience.

Thing is, from a passenger's perspective, we never really know the whole story. For all we know, the captain may not've been ready to sail for some reason ... they may've been loading something onboard ... the harbor pilot may have been busy with another boat. We just don't know the whole story -- but no one should count on the ship waiting even one minute.

NO, they were waiting for that cab and the two passengers.

Soon as they showed up, that gangplank was pulled, and the lines were cast immediately.

We have taken several cruises but always used the Cruise Excursions. This time we want to join some of the Cruise Critic groups but are concerned about getting back to the ship on time. Do the Cruise Lines (specifically HAL) generally wait for groups who may be a few minutes late getting back to the ship?

 

We are booked on the Dec 20th sailing on HAL's Zaandam out of Santiago.

 

Thanks

 

MaltCan

Santiago is not a maritime port. There's an airport there and the closest ocean port is Valparaiso, which is about 70 miles away.

Over many years, we have helped an awful lot of folks (primarily here on CC) who asked for advice and specific instructions how to do ports on their own. DW and moi seldom take tours, although we still cruise regularly on 6 continents. Most recently, we completed a 55 day HAL cruise that went to 31 ports (in Europe) of which we did zero tours. In every port we did our own thing whether it was just staying in the port, taking trains, using rental cars, or local/regional buses.

When folks ask us for help, and they mention they are very concerned about missing the ship (like the OP) our usual advice is, "take the ship's overpriced excursions." We all have our own levels of risk tolerance and some folks are simply too risk adverse to be able to enjoy independent (or even private tours) travel.

In about forty years of extensive cruising, we have done our own thing at hundreds of ports...sometimes traveling hours from the port. In all that time (having spent more then 3 years on ships) we have never missed a port (knock on wood) although we have come close a few times. Like most independent travelers we usually do our pre trip homework and usually have a "Plan B" and even a "Plan C" which is what we do when things go wrong. Even if we were to miss a ship (in many places) we have a plan on who to contact (usually the ship's agent) and how to catch the ship at the next port.

Hank

Santiago is not a maritime port. There's an airport there and the closest ocean port is Valparaiso, which is about 70 miles away.

HAL lists the cruise as Departs: Valparaiso (Santiago) Chile.;)

We have taken several cruises but always used the Cruise Excursions. This time we want to join some of the Cruise Critic groups but are concerned about getting back to the ship on time. Do the Cruise Lines (specifically HAL) generally wait for groups who may be a few minutes late getting back to the ship?

We are booked on the Dec 20th sailing on HAL's Zaandam out of Santiago.

Thanks

MaltCan

If it's a ship tour they'll wait.

If private possibly not.

Seldom do they leave dead on time so a minute or two you MAY be safe, but don't count on it.

However most tour operators are smart enough to know that their future business depends on getting back on time.

NO, they were waiting for that cab and the two passengers.

 

Soon as they showed up, that gangplank was pulled, and the lines were cast immediately.

Might have been Capt and Mrs Capt, entertainers joining the ship or other VIPs, or passengers who had enough noise to ring the port and say our taxi broke down we've got another and are just 5 mins away and the Capt was prepared to wait.