Missed Port boarding

[Basil55]

So I’ve watched some of the videos of people missing getting back on the ship when it is leaving port.

 

I was wondering what do these cruisers do when they are stranded at a port without their luggage?

[coevan]

probably crying at the dock. Most pier runners miss the ship due to alcohol not shore excursions. You really have to be a moron to miss the ship.

[salty dingo]

They go see the port agent, who assists them. I imagine they can get the stranded passenger in touch with friends or family, or help them withdraw funds to get them back home, arrange for emergency passport to to be issued, housing, and transportation back home. The stranded person is in for a big hassle and big expense, but they get through it.

[jordanaire]

probably crying at the dock. Most pier runners miss the ship due to alcohol not shore excursions. You really have to be a moron to miss the ship.

Well said! We were pulling away from the dock in St. Thomas when two 30-something women came running towards the ship with arms loaded with shopping bags. Guess they should've both a watch! They sat there crying as we headed out to sea.

 

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[ryano]

Ive read stories of runners paying a local to take them out in their boat to meet the ship.

[aggie182]

We saw some folks on the Freedom a year or so ago that missed boarding the Vista which left just before the Freedom did. They rode the Freedom to Cozumel, which the Vista was also visiting. I'd assume they reboarded their ship then. That's probably the absolute best case scenario for folks who missed their ship.

[mskaufman]

In Nassau, one time, a police speedboat brought some passengers who were able to jump onto the ship. In Cozumel, we stand on deck watching folks who have had a little too much to drink come running for the ship.

[beachbum53]

Cozumel is well known for pier runners. On a previous cruise, when we were in Cozumel, my wife and I stood up on deck 10 watching for pier runners. Sure enough, just as the ship was pulling away from the dock, we saw two women running up the pier, shopping bags in hand, yelling "Wait! Wait for us!" Fortunately for them, the pilot boat came back and got them and gave them a ride out to the ship. I'd be willing to bet they were never late again getting back to the ship.

[ryano]

We saw some folks on the Freedom a year or so ago that missed boarding the Vista which left just before the Freedom did. They rode the Freedom to Cozumel, which the Vista was also visiting. I'd assume they reboarded their ship then. That's probably the absolute best case scenario for folks who missed their ship.

 

Im actually surprised that Carnival allowed that to happen. Wondering if it was a Carnival excursion that was late getting back but the ship still had to leave port at a certain time?

[Qchell]

If someone is not back on board, Carnival typically enters their stateroom to check for passports, ID's, etc. and leaves them with the port authorities. Sounds like some folks have gotten very lucky in being able to get back to their ships and did not have to arrange their own transportation. I have been on many cruises where folks are just arriving back at port 30 min+ after 'back on board' time and a number of times where it was obvious that Carnival was delaying leaving in hopes of someone showing up and it was an hour or more past back on board time. Harsh lesson to learn if left behind.

 

One time we were all standing on deck at Grand Turk, the entire beach was empty, the boarding line was nearly empty, and there was this family just sitting there chilling on the beach. They suddenly noticed that they were the only ones out there and ended up making a headlong dash to board the ship. Thankfully Carnival was paying attention to them and waited for them to board, though I would love to hear the conversation the security guard who had been waiting at the end of the pier had with the parents as they were walking up to board the ship.

 

A watch set to ship time is significantly cheaper than what it's going to cost to get back home or to the next port. Take your Fun Times, note the time you need to be back on board and keep an eye on the clock.

[Nuff_Said]

There was a post on Cruise Critic a while back which chronicled a man that was left behind and all the hassle he had to go through to get back to the ship a stop or two later. I don’t think it was on the Carnival boards. Maybe RCL?

 

 

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[Jenzshoppin]

We cruised the Valor last week and sure enough some people missed the ship in Cozumel. I didn't see it happen, but I believe it was some minor young men who were behind us during muster.

 

I wish I had watched the pier when we pushed off but I forgot. I did watch when we were in Progreso but nothing to see. Seems everyone got on.

[Kamloops50]

I’ve even seen this happen in Alaska. There they had to fly to the next port on their dime plus the cost of hotel and food.

 

 

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[teknoge3k]

probably crying at the dock. Most pier runners miss the ship due to alcohol not shore excursions. You really have to be a moron to miss the ship.

 

Exactly this.

 

1. Drunk, not paying attention to time or not being set to ships time

[crusinpsychRN]

In Nassau, one time, a police speedboat brought some passengers who were able to jump onto the ship. In Cozumel, we stand on deck watching folks who have had a little too much to drink come running for the ship.

 

That's an excursion in Cozumel--watching the runners.

[rpyne]

Cozumel is well known for pier runners. On a previous cruise, when we were in Cozumel, my wife and I stood up on deck 10 watching for pier runners. Sure enough, just as the ship was pulling away from the dock, we saw two women running up the pier, shopping bags in hand, yelling "Wait! Wait for us!" Fortunately for them, the pilot boat came back and got them and gave them a ride out to the ship. I'd be willing to bet they were never late again getting back to the ship.

I wouldn't bet on that. People who are late are usually habitually late for everything. A near miss rarely gets through to them.

[beerman2]

Pier runners are 1 of the reasons we enjoy our Balcony if docked pier side.

 

Grab a drink and watch people who have no business running TRY. It's hilarious!

[Purvis1231]

I have never scene a pier runner in all of my cruises so it is rare . I know I will not miss the ship due to alcohol but there is always a possibility of an accident that would require shore side medical care that would cause us to miss the ship. I buy travel insurance for situations like this. The travel insurance will help you reunite with the ship or get you home due to unforeseen circumstances.

[bakersdozen12]

If you want to know what happens, this is an EXCELLENT read.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2121215

 

 

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[hollyisu]

We were almost the people left behind on our first cruise at our first port 15 years ago. We were young and had not travelled very much. We were at a bar and realized it was getting really empty. We had no watch with us....I know...terrible planning. We quickly figured out it was dangerously close to time to be back on board. We flagged down a cab that rushed us back and ran down the pier and were some of the last people to get on board. We have never had that issue again.

 

 

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[Jim and Monika]

Many years ago on a Princess cruise, we heard multiple announcements for a couple before leaving Aruba. Well after our departure time, the ship started to pull away without them. We were on our balcony and saw the couple running down the pier. Back then, passengers were lucky enough to get a ride to the ship and board on the way out, this doesn't happen anymore. The rumor we heard was they had won a jackpot at the casino on the island and had won $35,00. They were delayed because of all the forms they had to fill out. I guess if they had been left behind, they would be able to afford getting to the next port.