I missed the ship last week! Allure, at first port... what to expect...

[beerman2]

Know the fear / panic that sets in . I forgot passports a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately we flew in early sat for a Sunday sailing and my brother was able to get them on a plane later that day.

 

Didn't get in until 10:30 Saturday night and I was in a panic all day.

 

 

 

 

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[Charger2008]

Well it did start from an earlier thread here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2114145

 

I read the other thread and my question is this, did his friend and the kids go back to the ship without their backpacks and left him there? So he was the only one left behind waiting but they were all already on the ship??

[TripleU]

I don't mean to butt into this post but the name and phone no of the port agent is on the bottom of your Daily Compass , we always take it with us when we go ashore

 

 

Excellent info!

 

I've always wondered what would happen. I can't wait to hear the rest of the story. Is the 'friend' helping with your additional expenses? Were you the only one left and your son and friends were actually on the ship? I'd be furious!!

 

 

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[spearmint]

Will be glad to hear from the OP.

 

Did he ever connect with the missing group? One assumes that having sent his wife and daughter back aboard the ship, and having been left with all sorts of backpacks etc. that the "lost" bunch did not make it back aboard either. So now we have the OP on his own in Nassau and presumably his friend and friend's daughter and the OP's son not in evidence but in Nassau as well.

 

And just how old is the son anyway? Is he a man or only a boy? I assumed a man, but I inferred from some other posters that they feel he is much younger than that. Imagine the panic for a child and the simultaneous rage at your friend that you would feel if the son were just a boy?

 

Then, if he is alone on the pier, did he try to connect with the missing group? Surely those people must have tried to make it to the pier as well!

Edited October 24, 2014 by spearmint

[Retired LEO]

I'm sorry the OP missed the boat and I'm sure he/she learned their lesson to add a buffer between the time you need to be back on board. I would just add 90 minutes to be on the safe side. If I were on an independent tour I would make it clear to the driver that I need to be back at least 90-120 minutes before the "all aboard". If not it will be the tour company's responsibility to get me to the next port.

 

Not a chance

[DonnaK]

Here is my problem with that. While its highly unlikely, things still happen. Transportation breaks down. Major traffic jam etc and so forth. Are the reputable companies gonna put you up for the night and get you to the next port on their dime? :)

 

I dont do excursions but if I decide to, I will book on the ship. My worst fear is being left behind and all the expense and headache it would cause me.

 

Each person has their own level of comfort though! Maybe Im just too paranoid about missing the ship :o Ive actually had nightmares about it.

 

In our experience, they have a backup vehicle, they monitor traffic, they are in contact with local police, etc. The private tours we book generally have a built in cushion of time for returning to the ship - for example morning tours that are due back in time for a late lunch onboard the ship or in the port area.

[Sunkissed Mommy]

Not a chance

 

Some tour companies guarantee they will get you back to the ship. I know one in particular that will do their best and if you dont make it back will pay for you to catch up with the ship. It's a fairly large well-known company.

Edited October 24, 2014 by smileyperry

[packedandready]

OK....Had errands to run, but I'm back now...you can finish....

[bouhunter]

Will be glad to hear from the OP.

 

Did he ever connect with the missing group? One assumes that having sent his wife and daughter back aboard the ship, and having been left with all sorts of backpacks etc. that the "lost" bunch did not make it back aboard either. So now we have the OP on his own in Nassau and presumably his friend and friend's daughter and the OP's son not in evidence but in Nassau as well.

 

And just how old is the son anyway? Is he a man or only a boy? I assumed a man, but I inferred from some other posters that they feel he is much younger than that. Imagine the panic for a child and the simultaneous rage at your friend that you would feel if the son were just a boy?

 

Then, if he is alone on the pier, did he try to connect with the missing group? Surely those people must have tried to make it to the pier as well!

 

It was either on this thread or the other one he reported the friend didn't report at their meeting spot but instead took the kids to the ship leaving him there waiting for them. The excuse was the friend didn't see them "from the slides" and assumed they had gone back to the ship. Everyone but him was on the ship. What kind of idiot wouldn't report to the meeting place to be sure? As someone else said, I'd be furious. The OP seemed to take it quite well, better than I would.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Will be glad to hear from the OP.

 

Did he ever connect with the missing group? One assumes that having sent his wife and daughter back aboard the ship, and having been left with all sorts of backpacks etc. that the "lost" bunch did not make it back aboard either. So now we have the OP on his own in Nassau and presumably his friend and friend's daughter and the OP's son not in evidence but in Nassau as well.

 

And just how old is the son anyway? Is he a man or only a boy? I assumed a man, but I inferred from some other posters that they feel he is much younger than that. Imagine the panic for a child and the simultaneous rage at your friend that you would feel if the son were just a boy?

 

Then, if he is alone on the pier, did he try to connect with the missing group? Surely those people must have tried to make it to the pier as well!

In the other thread he said his friends and younger son WERE on board. Apparently that "sub group" looked from the slides, didn't see the OP and his "sub group", and assumed they want back to the ship.

 

I honestly don't know what I'd do in that situation. I think the smart thing to do his head back to the ship at ALMOST the last minute, then check on board and see if everyone is back. If not, I'd stay (thinking my son was still on the island). If so, meet up in the cabin or somewhere. That's easy to say having hours to think about it though.

[klfhngr]

Thanks to all those that understood why I waited... for my son. The not knowing.

 

I'll answer a few questions:

No, I did not have pp. Why? I've been on many cruises and 'assumed' that nothing would ever happen to me. Wrong!

Did it cause a HUGE problem, not having one, as someone mentioned? No! Reason: The embassy was close. I can imagine it being a HUGE ordeal if it was a larger country or if the embassy was far away.

Did I knock my friend out? No, lol.

What did I have in my belongings? Wallet, old pp, birth certificate and MONEY! In the past I would keep the majority of my cash onboard, for some reason I didn't this time. The cash and a credit card that I just purchased really 'saved' me. I prefer to pay cash or use debit, but for this trip I activated a new card that I let expire.

 

In a bit I'll post the rest of the story, the extra charges involved and the dilemma of getting back on the ship. Oh, and once your back on the ship, it's like you've been 'ERASED'! I'll elaborate.

 

Oh, and to those I was supposed to meet onboard: I went to the bar at 3:30, but no one was there on sail away, lol! I did see someone's post and saw that the party moved to another location! Bummer, maybe if we would've met, one of you would've jumped off the ship so it would come back, lol!

[dirtgirl]

No, the OP is not trying to get a following, and you are not being punked. I know him, and he is at work. ;)

 

And there he is!!! :)

Edited October 24, 2014 by dirtgirl

[bouhunter]

Some tour companies guarantee they will get you back to the ship. I know one in particular that will do their best and if you dont make it back will pay for your to catch up with the ship. It's a fairly large well-known company.

 

Of course they all "do their best".......:D

[Johalla]

Oh there he is!

Edited October 24, 2014 by Johalla
Nevr Mind

[rjrice1]

If he was carrying thre other back packs with their wallets, cell phones and etc;

Where was their sea passes? Usually you put "everything including sea pass all together"

Also if he didn't see his friends and son he should of just gone straight to the ship and hope that they were on board

We do not let anyone separate on their own... we all stay together unless we are just getting off the ship to explore the pier area but always always get back to the ship at least 45 minutes prior to the deadline time.

Just wondering how he got to take an international flight without his passport,

and says he flew to Florida then to another foreign port.

Cathy

[nolimits]

On the side subject some private tours do have same policy as cruise lines.The ones that don't /don't, Your on your own

[Peacemkr59]

Thanks to all those that understood why I waited... for my son. The not knowing.

 

 

 

I'll answer a few questions:

 

No, I did not have pp. Why? I've been on many cruises and 'assumed' that nothing would ever happen to me. Wrong!

 

Did it cause a HUGE problem, not having one, as someone mentioned? No! Reason: The embassy was close. I can imagine it being a HUGE ordeal if it was a larger country or if the embassy was far away.

 

Did I knock my friend out? No, lol.

 

What did I have in my belongings? Wallet, old pp, birth certificate and MONEY! In the past I would keep the majority of my cash onboard, for some reason I didn't this time. The cash and a credit card that I just purchased really 'saved' me. I prefer to pay cash or use debit, but for this trip I activated a new card that I let expire.

 

 

 

In a bit I'll post the rest of the story, the extra charges involved and the dilemma of getting back on the ship. Oh, and once your back on the ship, it's like you've been 'ERASED'! I'll elaborate.

 

 

 

Oh, and to those I was supposed to meet onboard: I went to the bar at 3:30, but no one was there on sail away, lol! I did see someone's post and saw that the party moved to another location! Bummer, maybe if we would've met, one of you would've jumped off the ship so it would come back, lol!

 

 

Klfhngr, yeah by 3:30 all of us had moved to the bar on the other side of the ship, the Sky Bar, because the sun was just too much. Sorry we never got to meet!! Can't wait to hear the rest of your story.

 

 

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[MPH711]

Don't drag it out...just tell us the story...we can handle it!

 

Also, I'm a little confused - you say:

Why did I wait? Because my son was with him and his daughter.

 

Then later you say:

At 4:15 I sent my oldest son and wife back.

Are these your son and his daughter...or was your "oldest son and wife" 2 other people?

[KBS1607]

What a story! Can't wait to read the rest.

[rjrice1]

On the side subject some private tours do have same policy as cruise lines.The ones that don't /don't, Your on your own

 

Totally agree. We were in St. Thomas and took a private tour with "papa bear"

airforce tours.. long story short the roads were closed due to a resident to resident shooting.. OMG my heart was racing.

Well papa bear found another route, BUT had the local police on stand by for an escort back to ship.. as others said if the local tourist has cruisers miss their ship then they just lost their business and etc.

We did not have the police escort .. :( lol would of been sort of cool :cool:

got us there with some time left.

[klfhngr]

Thanks DC, yes, I'm at work and posted this reply during lunch. I'll post the rest in a few hours so that you are not all left hanging.

 

Quickly: You are not being punked. A group of us headed to Atlantis on our own. My wife and two boys, 22 and 16 y.o. My friend and his 12 y.o. daughter. Once we arrived at Atlantis, my wife, my 22 yo and myself decided that we would chill at the beach, while my 16 yo would go in the water park. Hence, that's where it all began.

Why did my friend not come back? He said he didn't see us, I find that hard to believe.

Yes, I did have 3 backpacks, with their sail and signs. They headed to the ship and were able to get on. If I would've told my son to be there at 330, he would've. I never relayed that to him.

Why didn't my wife call me? She, my sons, my other 10 or so friends on the ship did. When I'd answer, the phone would disconnect. When I'd call back, it would not go thru. Which now reminds me: As your PRE cruise planning, FIND OUT HOW TO DIAL OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.A. WITHIN THAT COUNTRY!

Why did I wait? Idk, parent instinct. I couldn't leave w/o my child, period! All the 'what ifs' start going thru your mind.

 

I'll post more shortly.

[klfhngr]

And no, I'm not trying to drag this on.. I want to keep my job so that I can pay for all of the incidentals incurred!

[GTO-Girl]

We were on another ship in St Martin, but saw the Oasis leave a young couple. Seems they were using their phone as their clock (NEVER DO THIS!!!) because St Martin doesn't recognize Daylight Saving Time so they were an hour off!!!!

 

The ship had been gone at least 20 min when they arrived and it really was a sad sight. The girl got so upset she literally passed out. I really do think in this instance it was a "rookie mistake" of using their cell phone.......

 

Which is completely different than someone wearing a balloon hat waving a "yard long" drink as they run down the dock......:eek:!!!!

 

Those I do NOT feel sorry for!!!!

Edited October 24, 2014 by GTO-Girl

[skillet]

Klf. So sorry to hear about your terrible ordeal. Yes as Anna told u we did move to the other side due to the angle of the strong Soflo sun. We did post Gman at the mast bar to advise all of the move. So sorry we missed you. Maybe we can sail again together one day.

 

 

Let The Party Begin

[kaylynn723]

And no, I'm not trying to drag this on.. I want to keep my job so that I can pay for all of the incidentals incurred!

 

Looking forward to hearing rest of the story!! I leave in 15 days on the Brand spankin new Regal Princess!!!