Has anyone ever actually missed the boat in port?

[mzloolue]

My wife and I just got back from a cruise to both Freeport and Nassau. Makes me really happy that we didn't take any of those "taxis" to see more of the island than what we could see from the cruise terminal. Then again, I had read things on here before we went on the cruise so I knew to be weary....

 

We did do a ships excursion to Atlantis though....

 

If there was any warning on board about the taxis I have never heard it.

 

And actually I don't know what would be the best way to get around it.

 

But Junkanoo Beach was very nice and we enjoyed it a lot.

 

In comparison I really like the way they do the taxis in Cozumel.

Listed prices and an official taxi stand.

[OKCruiseMan]

A quick review shows 73% of "pier runners" are wearing back packs.

 

Coincidence?

 

87.5% of all statistics are made up....

[Rockee4055]

OMG....go to YOU TUBE and punch in "Pier Runners" you will see so many of them on video. Cozumel is FAMOUS for pier runners and people missing the ship. I guess it is the tequila.:eek:

 

Yes, there are tons of videos of ppl running for the ship as it pulled out. Now that's expensive.

 

We had met some ppl on one of our cruises that we always gathered on the Lido with them and a group. We wondered what happened to them one day. The next port...and I don't remember which ports they were. We were coming back from a day ashore and we saw them. They told us they just came from the airport and had to fly to the next POC. It cost them $900 each to fly.

 

Apparently they took a non carnival excursion and were late coming back because others on the excursion were from another ship who left two hours later and the driver misunderstood. They tried to tell the driver but he kept saying it's okay, we'll make it back. The driver thinking they were on the RCL ship that left later.

 

That is the reason I always book through CCL tour desk even if it is more expensive. I just look at it as my insurance policy.

[jvitatoe26]

I have to admit, as a first time cruiser (who has a passport but who is traveling with someone who does not and cannot obtain one) I am getting nervous reading this post! We are going to be on the Valor's southern Carib itinerary and had planned to take taxis around 9- 10am to a beach at each port except one (where we will be doing a carnival sponsored excursion) and head back to the ship about 1pm- 2pm each day, leaving a few hours to browse around the shops etc before we have to be back on the ship (5pm-6pm). I am kinda freaking out now about the various things that could go wrong...not being able to get a taxi, watch stopping etc! Realistically, what is the best way to avoid this? Heading back with a few hours to spare?

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[hank in ohio]

Really .... ? Heckling? :rolleyes: I hope this behavior isn't typical of Carnival guests ... if so, we should christen Carnival with a new nickname ... rather than 'The Everyday Man's Cruise Line' ... maybe we should re-name it 'The Pubescent People's Cruise Line"?

 

I'm guessing your not married to, or know any "everyday men", that's what we...errr they do.

[tammi0916]

We have not been left behind but on every one of our cruises some one misses the boat! A couple of years ago in St Thomas we were really late leaving and they kept calling a guys name finally left about 2 hours late. The next day at the behind the fun tour someone asked the captain why we waited so long to leave (because early we only waited 5 min at grand Turk) and

He told our group that a 16 year old boy was shopping with out his parents and didn't make it back to the ship

 

He really felt that he could not leave a minor in another countrym and it took that long to meet with his parents and tell them. I can't leave your son here but I can certainly have you pack your bags and get off my ship and find your son!

 

He told them he had a responsibility to the rear if his passages and that if the boy had been 18 he would have left 2 hours ago!

 

I thought that was a great response! Mother was out off ship to find her son as they had another child with them and the father stayed on board with her!!

 

My first reaction was "who lets their 16 year old wonder around by themslefnin another country". I guess everyone is different!!

Edited March 28, 2013 by tammi0916
Typos

[billie5]

Well...The source of this information is from cruise line excursion representatives themselves and not Cruise Critic. Sure, there's probably some very rare circumstances in which the ship must sail, but they would be extenuating circumstances and not the norm.

 

My personal experience has been several ships waited for ship sponsored excursions that were late (one was well over an hour) and none that were left behind.

 

Waiting an hour or more is not uncommon. Leaving before a delayed cruise sponsored excursion can return to the ship is certainly less common, but not all that rare. And this is from personal experience obtained on more than 30 cruises, not from an excursion rep (One has to laugh that this is given as the source of information :))

Edited March 28, 2013 by billie5

[Florissouri]

Waiting an hour or more is not uncommon. Leaving before a delayed cruise sponsored excursion can return to the ship is certainly less common, but not all that rare. And this is from personal experience obtained on more than 30 cruises, not from an excursion rep (One has to laugh that this is given as the source of information :))

 

Hahahahahaha!

 

You're really funny!

[sparks1093]

We have not been left behind but on every one of our cruises some one misses the boat! A couple of years ago in St Thomas we were really late leaving and they kept calling a guys name finally left about 2 hours late. The next day at the behind the fun tour someone asked the captain why we waited so long to leave (because early we only waited 5 min at grand Turk) and

He told our group that a 16 year old boy was shopping with out his parents and didn't make it back to the ship

 

He really felt that he could not leave a minor in another countrym and it took that long to meet with his parents and tell them. I can't leave your son here but I can certainly have you pack your bags and get off my ship and find your son!

 

He told them he had a responsibility to the rear if his passages and that if the boy had been 18 he would have left 2 hours ago!

 

I thought that was a great response! Mother was out off ship to find her son as they had another child with them and the father stayed on board with her!!

 

My first reaction was "who lets their 16 year old wonder around by themslefnin another country". I guess everyone is different!!

 

Well, St Thomas is a US territory so it's more like "who lets their 16 year old wander around by themselves in another state".

[sparks1093]

What cruiseline excursions guarantee is that the cruiseline will take full responsibility to return you to your cruise, even if it requires overnighting and flying to a further cruise destination.

 

This is what is in writing in the contract:

 

"Carnival, in arranging for the services called for by the physician or nurse, all on board concessions, all shore excursion/tour tickets, all pre and post cruise airline flights or other transportation off of the ship and its tenders, does so only as a convenience for the Guest and Guests are free to use or not use these services. Guest agrees that Carnival assumes no responsibility, does not guarantee performance and in no event shall be liable for any negligent or intentional acts or omissions, loss, damage, injury or delay to Guest and/or Guest's baggage, property or effects in connection with said services. Guests use the services of all independent contractors at the Guest's sole risk."

 

Doesn't sound like a guarentee at all that they will get you to the next port. They might very well get you to the next port but it doesn't look like they are legally liable to do so.

[atnick11]

We were in Belize on a Carnival excursion to the Mayan Ruins. We were 45 minutes late getting back to port. People were freaking out, I was trying not to, about missing the boat. They waited for us. Im not sure they would have if it had been a non Carnival excursion.

On the same cruise when we left Roatan there were a lot of pier runners and after we pulled away we watched a very fast motor boat chasing after the ship. I couldn't see if someone was able to get onto the ship but a short time later we saw the boat heading back to Roatan.

[ski_mom]

I have to admit, as a first time cruiser (who has a passport but who is traveling with someone who does not and cannot obtain one) I am getting nervous reading this post! We are going to be on the Valor's southern Carib itinerary and had planned to take taxis around 9- 10am to a beach at each port except one (where we will be doing a carnival sponsored excursion) and head back to the ship about 1pm- 2pm each day, leaving a few hours to browse around the shops etc before we have to be back on the ship (5pm-6pm). I am kinda freaking out now about the various things that could go wrong...not being able to get a taxi, watch stopping etc! Realistically, what is the best way to avoid this? Heading back with a few hours to spare?

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

That's what we usually do - most port days, we go to the beach and just like you said, plan on heading back with plenty of time to spare!

[DevCruise]

If there was any warning on board about the taxis I have never heard it.

 

The only warnings I heard were the ones on here......

[wannago35]

Really .... ? Heckling? :rolleyes: I hope this behavior isn't typical of Carnival guests ... if so, we should christen Carnival with a new nickname ... rather than 'The Everyday Man's Cruise Line' ... maybe we should re-name it 'The Pubescent People's Cruise Line"?

 

I just watched some pier runners on youtube and heckling was happening on other lines too - one of the worst seemed to be on an RCI cruise where the person who posted/commentated the video seemed to really enjoy embarassing these women.

 

[alexspepa]

I just watched some pier runners on youtube and heckling was happening on other lines too - one of the worst seemed to be on an RCI cruise where the person who posted/commentated the video seemed to really enjoy embarassing these women.

 

 

the ones in this video got off pretty light if you ask me...

 

yay - only a few more days before i get to view Pier-running!!!

Edited March 28, 2013 by alexspepa

[deadmoney]

On our very first cruise we messed up and was watching the clocks in Mexico and when we caught the ferry back to Cozumel we realized we were running late:eek:

We made it back just in time, let me tell you that ferry ride and the stress of possibly missing the boat put a fear in us that to this day has us back at the ship at least an hour before we need to be.

 

And yes we were heckled...........and have since joined the hecklers;)

Edited March 28, 2013 by deadmoney

[Caribbean_Dreamer37]

People mention about passengers maybe drinking too much in port, and missing their ship because of that, but the only time we've drank a lot, was in Roatan at the 'Fat Tuesday'..... still, we had more than an hour to get back on the ship when we were finished there, and the ship was just a few minutes walk from that bar. People need to check their watches/cell phones for the correct 'ship time' before debarking in port, and plan accordingly.

Edited March 28, 2013 by Caribbean_Dreamer37

[Caribbean_Dreamer37]

I just watched some pier runners on youtube and heckling was happening on other lines too - one of the worst seemed to be on an RCI cruise where the person who posted/commentated the video seemed to really enjoy embarassing these women.

 

 

Wow! That would have been embarrassing, with so many watching. Thank goodness the ship knows who's missing.

[alexspepa]

On our very first cruise we messed up and was watching the clocks in Mexico and when we caught the ferry back to Cozumel we realized we were running late:eek:

We made it back just in time, let me tell you that ferry ride and the stress of possibly missing the boat put a fear in us that to this day has us back at the ship at least an hour before we need to be.

 

And yes we were heckled...........and have since joined the hecklers;)

 

heh...nothing like a convert!:D

[FlaGrl4Evr]

A girlfriend of mine was in high school with her class on a cruise (yes it was supervised, hmmm), and her and her friend was actually standing on the end of the pier watching their ship sail away. I don't know what the chaperon did, or told the ships officers, but the cruise ship turned around and got them. They had the worse chewing out from what I understand, but I would have also blamed the chaperon for allowing the ship to take off. I have fear of missing the ship, so that's why we mainly do the beach scene of shop. We are not really excursion people anyway.

 

 

 

I would have blamed the chaperon for letting the high schooler's go out on their own. 18 years old or not, they are still in high school. The chaperone does not have the authority to "hold-up" the ship but certainly has the authority to have the group dispersed in port with a responsible adult in the event of an emergency or unforseen situation.

 

 

 

.

[Sarrish]

This is related. We were on a cruise delayed at St. Thomas, when the port authority showed up and escorted two people off the ship. The ship very quickly pulled up the ramp shoved off and headed out to sea. About an hour later the captain announced that we're turning around and heading back to St. Thomas. The ship pulled up to the dock, let the ramp out, and the port authority grabbed two more people, stuck them in the waiting car. The ramp came up and we were out to sea again.

 

Later we realized it was the people in the two cabins across from us. The night before we could smell the distinctive aroma of marijuana emanating from their room.

[dburdan]

This is the exact reason I'm bringing a watch with me to Cozumel, as we have booked Nachi Cocum and I am NOT risking getting left behind! LOL.

 

Been to Nachi Cocum. It was fantastic and the people there would not let you miss the ship. They right on top of it. They knew when the ship left. They knew when we wanted to leave. Before it was our time the guy came up to me and asked if we were ready. He immediately got on his cell phone to call the taxi. By the time we walked out front, the Taxi was there waiting for us.

[KFinTx]

Thanks for the first hand account. You have made up my mind as to whether we will carry out passports with us when we get off in ports in Europe. We will have them in a money belt with us (copies left on ship)

 

Your passports should always be on your person. Not in a purse. I'm not sure a money belt is wise either. Pick pockets can easily get to those. You can buy wallets to wear around your neck & under your clothes, or you can do what I did once in Paris after being targeted by a pick pocket---I got a plastic baggie somewhere & put the passport in it, then put the whole thing in my boot. Yes, I "wore" my passport after that point.

 

You can put your money & your credit cards in those wallets as well, keeping out only some "walking around & gum" money in your purse/money belt. That way, if you do get robbed, they only get about 20 euros, not your whole life.

[billie5]

This is what is in writing in the contract:

 

"Carnival, in arranging for the services called for by the physician or nurse, all on board concessions, all shore excursion/tour tickets, all pre and post cruise airline flights or other transportation off of the ship and its tenders, does so only as a convenience for the Guest and Guests are free to use or not use these services. Guest agrees that Carnival assumes no responsibility, does not guarantee performance and in no event shall be liable for any negligent or intentional acts or omissions, loss, damage, injury or delay to Guest and/or Guest's baggage, property or effects in connection with said services. Guests use the services of all independent contractors at the Guest's sole risk."

 

Doesn't sound like a guarantee at all that they will get you to the next port. They might very well get you to the next port but it doesn't look like they are legally liable to do so.

 

I am sure you are right. However, to my knowledge we have never been involved with a cruise line which did not assume total responsibility for getting you back to the ship after a cruise line excursion. The cruise lines certainly appreciate this is the #1 reason passengers pay the higher fees, whether or not there is an actual legal requirement.

Edited March 29, 2013 by billie5

[sparks1093]

I am sure you are right. However, to my knowledge we have never been involved with a cruise line which did not assume total responsibility for getting you back to the ship after a cruise line excursion. The cruise lines certainly appreciate this is the #1 reason passengers pay the higher fees, whether or not there is an actual legal requirement.

 

I would guess that they do everything that they can because if they didn't excursion sales would plummet. And they probably wait for late returning excursions because it is less expensive to pay the extra port fees than it would be to get that many people to the next port (and I have actually read about few excursions running so late that the ship had to leave).

 

Still as a selling point goes it is interesting that what is written is at such odds with actual practice.