We were at the Chankanaab National Park in Cozumel on the last stop of our Mexico Cruise. The ship’s bus had delivered us and would pick us up later. The guide told us that if we left early and took our own taxi back to the ship – and we were late – that we better learn Spanish because we would be stuck in Mexico.
When you are on a cruise ship, you need to be back when they say to be back.
This week, six American and two Australian passengers were stranded on an African island when a Norwegian Cruise Line ship sailed off without them. They have since returned to the vessel to continue their African voyage, as the cruise line revealed that the group missed their departure time by over an hour. Naturally, the group raised Cain because the ship didn’t wait for them.
Too bad. They were warned, they didn’t make it back and they got left behind.
Anytime a ship arranges travel on an excursion, they accept responsibility for getting you back on time, but when you go off on your own with a private guide or transportation, if you’re not back on time, it’s Hasta la Vista, Baby.
When at port, if the ship is to depart at 5 pm, they tell you to be back at 4:30, no ifs, ands or buts. That gives you a half hour leeway, then they probably will extend that by a few minutes if you contact the ship. A ship may have 4,000 passengers to consider, and they have strict schedules to meet.
I think that what happened is a good thing. Now, others on cruise ships will realize that when the ship’s captain says, “All aboard!” he means it.
Or else.