The Worse Possible Happening

[jaschem1]

Have you or do you know anyone who missed getting back on their ship in time? Either they got off on their own too far out on shore or they just forgot to watch their time. What happens once the ship leaves and they get to the dock too late?

[teacp]

It almost happened to our friends that we cruised with in January. A younger couple they decided to get off the ship and go to a local bar while we did a shore excursion. Well while Ken and I were standing on our balcony as the ship is getting ready to sail here they come running down the pier. That is the closest we have come to leaving someone behind

[SCIROCCO]

No me and Annie always plan to be back a hour or two ahead and know what we want to do in each Port! We always book tours through the Ship, it might be a little higher but we dont have to worry whether we will be left behind and anyways we want to beat everyone to the Buffet LOL! Just Kidding but not a bad Idea HUH!

[agentjoey]

I have never had that happen. I try to get back a few hours before sailing.

I once heard that a storm came through (I think it was Cozumel) and the ship had to get out to sea to prevent damage. They actually sent crew out on small motor vehicles to gather people in the streets so they wouldn't miss the ship sailing early. I don't know how this worked out but I heard it did happen.

Of course we have all seen the last minute folks trying to make it back. (lots of them barely able to stand)

Especially those that go to Carlos n Charlies. Lol.

[SMB]

I'm not sure you have read any of the LONG stories I've posted, but I AM the person you are talking about... two cruises and three times of barely making the ship... 15 minutes from all aboard departing Port Canaveral, 30 seconds from all aboard in St. Thomas, and I missed the ferry in Cozumel, which means I should have missed the ship leaving by 5-10 minutes (got really lucky on that one, the cruise gods smiled.. or messed with me).

With so may close calls, I have inquired about missing the boat. There have been ships that will send a tender craft back to the dock if the ship is already leaving when someone pulls up. Otherswise, you are SOL! Talked with several cruise personel who have witnessed passangers being left on the dock. One Cab driver told me he had to drive a couple from Port Canaveral to Ft. Lauderdale to catch a plane to the Bahamas so they could get on the ship they missed by 10 minutes (wonder what the total was for that ride?).

Moral of the story, if your heart races just watching the Amazing Race, do not cut it close.

[Gregswife]

I don't think there has been a single cruise that we have been on that we weren't standing on the balcony, either on the initial departure after embarkation or in one of the ports, and saw a boat racing out to the ship to deliver a passenger. I think it normally happens upon the sailing from the original point of departure. We always watch as it pulls up alongside the ship, close to the rear (so guess there is a door back there and someone boards the ship from the small boat.

[frostyboy64]

never happen to me but a friend that i know went on a 7day cruise to mexico and

was stoped by the police and held for 4 hours and he missed the ship

he had to wire for cash to book a flight home and it took 3 weeks to get

his bags sent to him from the ship

and he had to go back to mexico to court and was found not guilty of stealing

it cost him $1200 to fly home & $900 to fly there and back for the court case

just to be found not guilty of the crime.

a note to all keep your bill of sales <] at all ports

[smw0621]

That actually happened to a friend of ours on our cruise last week. When we were in Antigua he was in the casino, winning and drinking a little too much and lost track of time (our ship was Jewel of the Seas and the Norweigan Jewel was in port too), he asked someone in the casino what time the ship left and they sayd 6:00, but we were leaving at 5:00.

Anyway, as we were pulling out of port here he comes running down the pier waving his arms at us. But, because we weren't completely out of port he was able to pay someone who owned a smaller boat to bring him to the ship. The ship threw a life jacket to him, and put down a rope ladder, the guys on the smaller boat hoisted him up. And of course, he never lived it down from our group of 50 and the staff.

Someone with the ship said that if we were completely out of port he wouldn't have been able to get onto the ship, he would've had to fly to our next port.

[KeithnRita]

We always leave plenty time for us to get back to the ship. We have observed others running to get back on the ship. One person in particular was running and stopping every few feet to take another drink of his beer. They had to lower the gangway to let him on.

[SMB]

Oh God, Mexican jail !!!! Is that not one of your worst nightmares! OK, any jail. With my track record, these stories are really frightening me. I must give props, however, to the commitment of the beer drinker.