JUST Home from Crown ! They DO leave passengers behind !

[DugboatLarry]

There is also a little thing for the Cruise Ship Lines called docking fees and refueling charges. Unless ship sponsored, they will not wait. After that just watch them run for the ship in any port mostly on utube. It is more fun to watch from the ship as you sail away of course. Listening to people say, I demand you stop this ship now, as I can see you...:)

[caribill]

I can never understand why people feel the need to wait till the last minute to get back on board.

 

Some port stays are as little as 4 hours. That means between the time you can get off the ship and the time you should be back on it there are only three hours. I can easily see why some people would push the limit under these circumstances.

[jackieo]

We have seen two people left behind at Antigua the next stop was the Azores! The Capt had to leave as the tide was turning and I believe the channel is fairly shallow. Anyway couple came out on the pilot boat and had to use the rope ladder. Lots of cheering from the balcony and wine glass crowd! After seeing that couple having difficulty getting up that ladder I always get back in plenty of time!

[johnmik1]

If they were on the dock and the captain could see them he should have waited or at the least launched one of the rescue craft. If not on the dock then go ahead and go, but to leave them is just plain wrong and the captain should be ashamed of himself, and if I saw him anyother time on the crusie I would make sure he knew what I felt about the poor job he did and how little he felt about the saftey of his customers on the dock. He would have a rather worn out ear to be sure........:eek:

 

And if you arrive late to the airport,the Captain should taxi back to get you?

[DENNAS]

I have read this in several places.

 

If it appears a passenger is going to miss the ship, the ship sends security or hotel management to the cabin and search and obtain the passports (even opening the safe) and then they give the passports to the port agent. The port agents then look for the passengers when they arrive at the port and help them make arrangements to catch the ship at the next possible port.

 

I have read that several ports will not let the ship leave the port until the ship has verified that they have the passports and have turned them over to the port agent or have verified that the passports are not in the cabin.

 

This info helps a lot ! Thanks.

[cruzsnooze]

It's not true that the ship waits for their people on their own shore excursions. I've read many times where they were left behind.

[Ginnyfyr]

When we were in Curacao a few weeks ago on the Crown, I heard the Holland America ship docked "downtown" left several passengers behind. The floating bridge was open to allow ships to pass thru and a bunch of their passengers got stuck on the wrong side of the bridge. There was a ferry to get back across but apparently the lineup/wait time was over an hour long. How much would that suck to watch your ship leave without you when you've been stuck in line for an hour trying to get back to it?!

[tothemall&beyond]

Originally Posted by rtlk View Post

If they were on the dock and the captain could see them he should have waited or at the least launched one of the rescue craft. If not on the dock then go ahead and go, but to leave them is just plain wrong and the captain should be ashamed of himself, and if I saw him anyother time on the crusie I would make sure he knew what I felt about the poor job he did and how little he felt about the saftey of his customers on the dock. He would have a rather worn out ear to be sure........[

quote=Pam in CA;33358501]

There are a number of reasons why this sometimes can't be done. Schedule is one, which people have mentioned, but more important are tides, other ships waiting to sail because sometimes one ship has to sail before another can, and pilots. The harbormaster has control over which ship sails at what time, not the Captain, and if a ship fails to sail, the pilot might be reassigned to another ship and yours will have to wait even longer for a pilot to become available. A ship's sailing is not like pulling out of a parking space but is carefully orchestrated to take into account tides, currents, other ships, etc. Sometimes, the Captain has no choice and since it's the passenger's responsibility to be back on the ship on time, regardless of what has happened to them, the ship can, and will, sail. Or, are you saying that it's OK for two irresponsible people to cause the ship's sailing to be delayed and possibly have to miss or cut short the next port and the Captain should inconvenience all of the other passengers who were responsible?

 

In all three of the ports on our TA where this happened, the captain patiently and kindly held the ship far beyond the sail time, giving the people some leeway. But a deadline is a deadline, and people have to be responsible for their own actions. If deadlines are repeatedly stretched, they become meaningless.

[ginnynj]

I really have no sympathy whatsoever for people who miss the ship. They know exactly what time they have to be back on, and it really isn't that hard to keep to that time.

It is simple:

 

• Know what time the ship is supposed to leave, and get back half an hour before that time at the very least.
  
• Make sure all your watches/phones are set to ship time. I know one guy who very nearly missed the ship because he decide to use his phone, which he had forgotten to change.
  
• Don't get drunk! You will end up being part of the infamous 'running of the drunks' in Cozumel :D
  
• If you take a tour not organized with the ship, make sure it isn't scheduled to get back 15 minutes before the ship leaves, because it's sod's law that you will get stuck in traffic on the way back.
  

 

Ahhh Cozumel...many eves we have sat on our port side balcony next to, usually a Carnival ship, and watched the late and obviuously intoxicated , run down the pier to a closed up and moving away ship. Most times the ship has left port with the yelling and angry psx left on the concrete. This seems to increase proportionately during spring breaks. I am sorry that folks miss the sail away but agree there is that personal responsibility thing about being back on ship 30 minutes before sailaway. Someone in a party crowd needs to be the designated timekeeper for sure.

We have been late back to ship sailaway times while on ship excursions due to traffic in small towns or ports, but at least on a ship's tour, they have waited..the captains have never been all too happy, but they've waited.

Thanks for sharing the thoughts about the Cozumel crowd, it brought back some memories. Meanwhile, take a watch and passport on shore, and designate a timekeeper, just to be safe.

[Coral]

It's not true that the ship waits for their people on their own shore excursions. I've read many times where they were left behind.

 

It would be an unusual situation when the ship leaves their people on a shore excursion behind. I have also read a few situations and the ship took responsibility getting people to the next port.

 

One time was an awful storm and it would have been too dangerous to get the people back.

 

I have had the ship wait 1.5 hours for me on a shore excursion. I was the only one from our Princess ship on this shore excursion

[watergal]

There was a very interesting program on 'Mighty Ships' and it profiled Oasis of the Seas. There were several people who took their time returning to the ship and specifically a 'millionaire couple' who were late. The captain was in the process of making the difficult decision to sail without them when they sauntered back.

The program highlighted several reasons why the captain has to adhere to his very tight schedule and it included not only losing its spot in the departure roster but also because it now has to speed to get to the next port - it uses more fuel which is costly to the cruiseline. There are legitimate cases of passengers not making it back to the cruiseline in time, but overall I would suggest it's just a general lack of apathy with a very selfish attitude. If the majority of passengers understand the rules, what's the matter with the 'odd ones?' :p

[KENANDPAT]

We will never forget an unfortunate couple almost left behind on the Sea Princess in Isla Margarita one time.

 

We were tendered and the captain actually made an announcement that they were sending a tender back to look for the missing couple. When they found them, he came on the speaker to explain that they found them shopping on the pier and would be coming along side shortly.

 

He suggested it that we should all come to the side to greet them back onboard.

 

Well they had taken up the tender docks and made them climb the rope ladder to get back up on board. With a couple of helpful boosts:eek: from the crew of the tender and very loud cheering(leers) they made it up the ladder. To say the least I'm sure they were never late again. Neither was anyone else on the ship.

 

It certainly was the subject of discussion at dinner.

[RickEk]

It's not true that the ship waits for their people on their own shore excursions. I've read many times where they were left behind.

 

Well, the ship will wait for Princess excursions until they can't... if the ship needs to leave because of tides or the dock is needed by another ship, they will leave. The caveat is, of course, that they will then get you to the next port on their dime. If you're on a non-Princess excursion, that cost is up to you...

 

On my first cruise, we were on a very long Princess excursion into the Costa Rican rainforest. We hit some unexpected traffic on the way back and were about an hour late... the ship was waiting for us and it was certainly interesting to walk the dock with everyone onboard cheering us on... :D

[cruisingpeople]

But, how would they fly without a passport?? Just use another i.d. ??

 

Even though we leave them in the safe on board, DW and I always keep a color photo copy of the information page of our passports in our purse/wallet. This way, if something happens, we have an I.D. without risking the chance of having the passport lost or stolen. Unless, of course, we are specifically required to have it with us for a particular tour or excursion.

[DENNAS]

When we were in Curacao a few weeks ago on the Crown, I heard the Holland America ship docked "downtown" left several passengers behind. The floating bridge was open to allow ships to pass thru and a bunch of their passengers got stuck on the wrong side of the bridge. There was a ferry to get back across but apparently the lineup/wait time was over an hour long. How much would that suck to watch your ship leave without you when you've been stuck in line for an hour trying to get back to it?!

 

WOW, I never even thought of that.

 

Funny story... on Tuesday, while we had JUST started our walk over the floating bridge to get back to the ship, the ferry horn blasted and my 17 year old daughter started RUNNING to get to the other side. We had seen what appeared to be locals running in the other direction so we followed their lead, lol. We made it fine, as did everyone else, but one woman was sauntering and the gentleman selling water on the "ship's side" helped her out. We watched this and did see that right near the end of the bridge, there is a concrete landing only about 2 feet below. She stepped on that and the man helped her up and off. She would have been fine another minute or so..... once it really seperates, you are in trouble !

[dutchess43]

Last July we sailed on the Ocean Princess & was on a Princess shore excursion for Brugges & Ghent. While we were in Ghent one of the passengers decided to get money out if an ATM. Now mine you we have no knowledge where the bus is picking us up because drop off was a different place. We were all told to stay together. The bus is pulling out & one woman in the back yells out by the way my husband is missing. The poor tour guide ran like a flash to find him. We waited & waited & waited, he could not find him finally the shore excursion manager from the ship told him to leave. Of course we were the last bus to return. Turns out the husband took a cab never contacted his wife & was having a cocktail & waiting for us to return. You have no idea if it is a cruise line excursion or independent tour what the manager of the shore excursion goes through when you are missing. The port people must be informed, then the police with a fax picture of you along with calls to hospitals to try & locate you. Once you step off of the ship you become the responsibilty of the shore excursion manager. I try to be back by a least an hour before sailing I too have seen to many passengers running & missing the ship.

[lois1112]

I was on the Sapphire in Shanghai in 2006. We were suppose to sail at about 830pm...we were at dinner, not near a window...thought we had sailed. finished dinner and did some things on the ship then went to our room. My traveling companion was tired and wanted to go to sleep...I wasn't and decided to go to the casino...when I got there it was closed, so I decided to see what was going on. when I got to the main deck (by the gangplank area) the captain and a chinese gentleman (in full uniform) were standiang by the open gang plank door...there was a white grease board by them that had four names on it. When I asked what was going on I was told to go to my room.

I found out the next day that the Chinesse goverment would not let the ship sail without all passangers on board...the US embasy (the missing were from the us) was contacted. the 4 were found in a hotel room, apparently they thought they missed the ship...found a hotel and didn't call the port people (lesson do this) they were found after midnight and brought back to the ship. I heard they were fined a very hefty amount.

[tailspintom]

We likewise saw a couple in Ephesus miss the ship. They were running down the Peir with shopping goods in hand. It is a life lesson. We take the ship's tours for that reason.

[A Sixth?]

Well, the ship will wait for Princess excursions until they can't... if the ship needs to leave because of tides or the dock is needed by another ship, they will leave. The caveat is, of course, that they will then get you to the next port on their dime. If you're on a non-Princess excursion, that cost is up to you...

 

On my first cruise, we were on a very long Princess excursion into the Costa Rican rainforest. We hit some unexpected traffic on the way back and were about an hour late... the ship was waiting for us and it was certainly interesting to walk the dock with everyone onboard cheering us on... :D

 

Come to think about it, on our Caribbean Princess cruise this past January, about 75 of us were on a ship tour to Jost Van Dyke and we were 45 minutes late returning to Tortola where the ship was waiting for us...

 

One of the ladies in our group was getting very anxious about the situation.

 

 

[MustangGT]

And if you arrive late to the airport,the Captain should taxi back to get you?

 

Excellent point!! :D

[Terry in NJ]

 

We were tendered and the captain actually made an announcement that they were sending a tender back to look for the missing couple. When they found them, he came on the speaker to explain that they found them shopping on the pier and would be coming along side shortly.

 

He suggested it that we should all come to the side to greet them back onboard.

 

 

That captain is a crack up! What a hoot!

[PLW0520]

We have seen two people left behind at Antigua the next stop was the Azores! The Capt had to leave as the tide was turning and I believe the channel is fairly shallow. Anyway couple came out on the pilot boat and had to use the rope ladder. Lots of cheering from the balcony and wine glass crowd! After seeing that couple having difficulty getting up that ladder I always get back in plenty of time!

 

This happened to a friend of ours. He was off the ship to play golf and the tour was booked through the cruise line. There were only three of them and only one fellow had his own clubs. After the game they went for drinks while they were waiting for their driver to get them back to the ship when one of them checked the time and knew that they might to late. Well the driver finally arrived and they had to use the rope ladder. It wasn't too bad for the two without clubs but I guess it was fun watching the fellow trying to get himself and his golf clubs up the ladder!

[paddingtonbear]

I've been late getting back, only once and it was a ship-sponsored excursion. It was my first cruise too, in Hawaii. We were the last tour to get back, but as it was a ship's tour we had a ship waiting for us (about 8 or so of us) when we got back; we got caught up in traffic that the driver hadn't anticipated.:rolleyes: I wonder what it would cost the tour company to get all of us to the next port.

 

7 years later I'm still not real comfortable taking non sponsored excursions, although on my next cruise, in June to Alaska, I'm taking two excursions semi on my own.

 

A few of the Alaska private tours have a guarantee that they will get you back to the ship even if they have to pay to get you there. :)

[paddingtonbear]

Even though we leave them in the safe on board, DW and I always keep a color photo copy of the information page of our passports in our purse/wallet. This way, if something happens, we have an I.D. without risking the chance of having the passport lost or stolen. Unless, of course, we are specifically required to have it with us for a particular tour or excursion.

 

Unfortunately this won't be any good to you if you miss the ship. You have to have your real passport to travel. Maybe it would be better to take the real passport with you and keep the copy on the ship.

[cruisemom42]

We likewise saw a couple in Ephesus miss the ship. They were running down the Peir with shopping goods in hand. It is a life lesson. We take the ship's tours for that reason.

 

Many cruise tours let passengers off in Kusadasi for the shopping, so I'm not sure how this example is necessarily a "life lesson" to only take ship's tours.....

 

Unfortunately this won't be any good to you if you miss the ship. You have to have your real passport to travel. Maybe it would be better to take the real passport with you and keep the copy on the ship.

 

You can get a replacement passport in most countries much faster with a copy that if you have no copy.

 

Also, most cruise lines will attempt to locate your passport and leave it with the port agent if you are not onboard the ship at the time of departure.

 

Taking your passport or not is a personal choice. I happen to believe there's a much higher chance that it may be lost or stolen than that I will miss the ship. However, it's an assessment that each person needs to make for him/herself.