Cruise ships leaving behind late returners

[Clayton]

The recent news story about the Norwegian Cruise Line ship leaving behind passengers on an island off the coast of Africa because their privately organised tour returned after the return to ship deadline raises the issue of when have we felt it was safe to explore privately and when we didn't. Many experienced cruisers use independent cruise providers for various reasons pertaining to the cruise line's offerings, including price, quality of the tour offering, and not wanting to be immersed in a slow motion wander with 40 others, listening to a boring monologue. Could the experienced (or less experienced) contributors here share their advice on when this is worthwhile and when they would rule it out.

 

[p--and--t]

Over a dozen cruises in different places in the world only ever once bought a cruiseline organised tour.

Stopped in the Spanish Ceuta enclave of Morocco for a day and I wanted to go to Tetouan. Given the significant issues at the border and huge queues reported on various sites, wasn't willing to risk being back late due to bureaucracy. In addition organising to rejoin the cruise from another port would be a real pain in the butt.

All other ports organised through a carefully scrutinised third party operator at usually 50% or less than the cruiseline offering and usually a much richer experience.

I clearly recognise the risk I am taking and mitigate this with careful planning, questioning and research including "plan B".

If I am late back then I understand the rules and they won't wait for me.

 

[bashworth]

Having stood on my balcony watching the pier on several occasions it seems those that are late are typically those who wander into town and have a few drinks and forget the time.

You see them saunter back from town and then panic as they see the gangway being removed!

 

[drron]

There is something not right in the passengers complaints. Sao Tome and Principe is very poor. One town and only 5000 residents. Larger cruise ships have to tender into the main port but some visit the Bom Bom resort at the north end of the Island. Even small cruise ships of 100+ have to tender there.
The roads are terrible and you really can't drive fast. We have actually visited the island and we tendered into the Bom Bom resort. our excursion was walking into the one town. The only road was unsealed, winding and terribly pot holed with wash aways.
So anyone taking any but the most basic private tour did not do enough research.

As for the port boat taking the passengers out to the ship the only way to board would be the pilots ladder. To open up the landing for the tenders takes a fair bit of time. As they were an hour late the ship had almost certainly raised it's anchor making tendering exceedingly difficult. It would have had the egines running and quite possibly was already moving. On our current cruise sail away is usually less than an hour after last passenger reboarding time.

Typical reporting by the media. No real effort to get the real facts.

 

[Denali]

Every time I hear about people being left behind on a cruise, I think of the Pier Runner song

 

[bPeteb]

There is something not right in the passengers complaints. Sao Tome and Principe is very poor. One town and only 5000 residents. Larger cruise ships have to tender into the main port but some visit the Bom Bom resort at the north end of the Island. Even small cruise ships of 100+ have to tender there.
The roads are terrible and you really can't drive fast. We have actually visited the island and we tendered into the Bom Bom resort. our excursion was walking into the one town. The only road was unsealed, winding and terribly pot holed with wash aways.
So anyone taking any but the most basic private tour did not do enough research.

As for the port boat taking the passengers out to the ship the only way to board would be the pilots ladder. To open up the landing for the tenders takes a fair bit of time. As they were an hour late the ship had almost certainly raised it's anchor making tendering exceedingly difficult. It would have had the egines running and quite possibly was already moving. On our current cruise sail away is usually less than an hour after last passenger reboarding time.

Typical reporting by the media. No real effort to get the real facts.

They must have been at a pier/jetty for the wheelchair bound passenger to have debarked Ron? There's no way they could have lifted her up into the ship from the pilot boat when they attempted to reboard.

I'll guess the group decided if they couldn't get her onboard they would stick together as a group. They were then stuck until the ship docked somewhere.

We've taken private tours all over the place. We know how to plan for contingencies. Completely ridiculous expectations from this group.

 

[Pushka]

There is something not right in the passengers complaints. Sao Tome and Principe is very poor. One town and only 5000 residents. Larger cruise ships have to tender into the main port but some visit the Bom Bom resort at the north end of the Island. Even small cruise ships of 100+ have to tender there.
The roads are terrible and you really can't drive fast. We have actually visited the island and we tendered into the Bom Bom resort. our excursion was walking into the one town. The only road was unsealed, winding and terribly pot holed with wash aways.
So anyone taking any but the most basic private tour did not do enough research.

As for the port boat taking the passengers out to the ship the only way to board would be the pilots ladder. To open up the landing for the tenders takes a fair bit of time. As they were an hour late the ship had almost certainly raised it's anchor making tendering exceedingly difficult. It would have had the egines running and quite possibly was already moving. On our current cruise sail away is usually less than an hour after last passenger reboarding time.

Typical reporting by the media. No real effort to get the real facts.

Can't remember where it was but we've had that situation where the ship was moving, it had berthed so not at anchor, and a speedboat came zooming out with late passengers on board. Celebrity ship and somewhere in the med. The ship slowed, opened the tender area steps and they were allowed to board. But agree, it all sounds very strange, especially the wheelchair bound passenger.

 

[drron]

I have seen wheel chair passengers tendered into port to go on excursions from Silversea ships.

 

[RooFlyer]

I have seen wheel chair passengers tendered into port to go on excursions from Silversea ships.

On my recent Antarctica cruise, there was a wheelchair pax who went on zodiacs! Although I didn't see her actually board them - may have been like my sister who gets around in a wheelchair but can hobble short distances.

 

[jb747]

Sounds like the duty free shoppers at airports.....

 

[Pushka]

I have seen wheel chair passengers tendered into port to go on excursions from Silversea ships.

Yes I think that's a requirement these days. But it does prevent challenges in those countries as per the above port, where able bodied people face challenges let alone someone in a wheelchair.

 

[odysseus]

I have seen wheel chair passengers tendered into port to go on excursions from Silversea ships.

I've seen it too.. but it's a given the ship is anchored, and has been supported by gangway staff.

Whereas this is a ship in motion, and no expectation for the staff to give extra assistance.

 

[Pushka]

I've seen it too.. but it's a given the ship is anchored, and has been supported by gangway staff.

Whereas this is a ship in motion, and no expectation for the staff to give extra assistance.

I've seen wheelchair access on a tendered ship. QM2. Took a lot, and I mean a lot, of crew effort though. And then there's the tender boat.

 

[Two Aussies]

I have travelled on many, many cruises and I have done both the cruise ship tours and the private tours. And I understand the ship does not wait. BUT I am careful to chose what I do now, as I have seen passengers left behind. For me, now that I lost my husband and I travel on my own, I find it safer to travel on the cruise ship tours as I know I do not have to stress to get back to the ship on time. In Egypt our tour was 3 hours late returning to the ship (Queen Elizabeth) and all was good and safe. And they kept the restaurants open so we could have dinner! It was so lovely after such a long day. We were told, just go straight to the restaurant. I am off to Ireland and Norway next month and again, as I am on my own I have booked the cruise ship tours.

 

[Quickstatus]

Welcome @Two Aussies

 

[oz61]

I also have done many cruises and used cruise line and private excursions. I only use cruise line excursions if it is a tender port as too much can go wrong. Tenders can be cancelled due to wind or sea conditions.

If I ever use private ones, I allow a very large buffer time zone to return - as much as three hours. Some private providers also guarantee transport if you are held up.

In third world and disorganised places I would always use ship excursions as “island time” can be very relaxed.

Anyone who cruises (and these people were experienced cruisers) knows that ships will not wait unless on a cruise ship excursion and this is stressed onboard. Port fees are very expensive and there are port schedules, tugs, port staff etc.

It is quite annoying these people are trying to gain sympathy. They may have saved a few dollars on their shore excursion and now it has bitten them back.

NCL packages also include a $50 per room rebate which for a solo traveller make them very reasonable and for a couple, similar to private prices.

 

[petef]

I have seen wheel chair passengers tendered into port to go on excursions from Silversea ships.

I have done half a dozen cruises with Norwegian, they do assist people with mobility issues to board tenders using 2 crew members.

I have just looked at the FAQ, and they seem to have lowered the weight to 100lbs now. Would need to be a child or very fragile person to fall into that weight range shame this has changed.

I rarely do ship tours, unless the place I want to visit very far and the traffic can be bad. The last ship tour I did was in December for the Củ Chi Tunnels and Ho Chi Minh City tour from Phu My port, which is 80km south of Ho Chi Minh city. I wasn't going to risk it there.

But generally most people should know what they are risking. I've seen ship wait only 1 hour before for late comers. Late departures can affect the arrival time in the next port. Best not to hold up thousands for the sake of a few.

 

[Two Aussies]

I have done half a dozen cruises with Norwegian, they do assist people with mobility issues to board tenders using 2 crew members.

I have just looked at the FAQ, and they seem to have lowered the weight to 100lbs now. Would need to be a child or very fragile person to fall into that weight range shame this has changed.

I rarely do ship tours, unless the place I want to visit very far and the traffic can be bad. The last ship tour I did was in December for the Củ Chi Tunnels and Ho Chi Minh City tour from Phu My port, which is 80km south of Ho Chi Minh city. I wasn't going to risk it there.

But generally most people should know what they are risking. I've seen ship wait only 1 hour before for late comers. Late departures can affect the arrival time in the next port. Best not to hold up thousands for the sake of a few.

And of course one of the reasons they leave on time is to save fuel costs and to run at their optimum speed for fuel efficiency. Leave late, they have to go faster to get to the next port and use more fuel!

 

[petef]

And of course one of the reasons they leave on time is to save fuel costs and to run at their optimum speed for fuel efficiency. Leave late, they have to go faster to get to the next port and use more fuel!

Sure, but the late runners are not the ones who would pay for the fuel, additional port charges, extended standby tugs, late pilot etc.

 

[Clayton]

Sure, but the late runners are not the ones who would pay for the fuel, additional port charges, extended standby tugs, late pilot etc.

Perhaps this should be the case. If cruisers were reminded that they will be held accountable for all costs associated with their irresponsibility , and which wouldn't be covered by travel insurance, then perhaps attitudes would change.