The boat will leave without you!

[MND]

We leave in a few weeks for our first cruise, so I basically know nothing. If the itinerary says "1:00-5:30." does that mean that you have to be on the boat no later than 5:30 p.m., or does it mean the boat leaves at 5:30 p.m. so you better be on the boat no later than 5:00? Or....(and I do not want to push it) it means you could probably stroll up at 5:50 p.m. and be fine since they really aren't planning to leave until 6:30 p.m., but you do so at your own risk.

It means the boat leaves at 5:30 pm. As long as you get to the ship entrance b/4 then, you should be fine.

Mike

 

[DCSWO]

It is marked as a closed runway

I stand corrected.

 

[bumbershoot]

We leave in a few weeks for our first cruise, so I basically know nothing. If the itinerary says "1:00-5:30." does that mean that you have to be on the boat no later than 5:30 p.m., or does it mean the boat leaves at 5:30 p.m. so you better be on the boat no later than 5:00? Or....(and I do not want to push it) it means you could probably stroll up at 5:50 p.m. and be fine since they really aren't planning to leave until 6:30 p.m., but you do so at your own risk.

There's the itinerary and there's what the Navigators etc will tell you. Follow what you're told ON the ship.

Your Personal Navigator will have an "All Aboard Time" for each port. That is the latest you can walk up the gangway onto the ship. I have seen ships wait longer than that, but I'm sure there is no guarantee. Read and heed.

My two-cents:

Depending on the itnerary you have, make sure you know and understand "ship's time." And the fact that the "local" time at the port and the "ship's" time can be different. Therefore the time of departure from the port of call is "ship's" time.

We assumed they were looking for a couple who had missed getting back to the ship. We were wondering, how could you get lost on CC, anyway, it's not like a big populated island with traffic.

A couple? I kinda doubt they got lost....

Dh thought it was kind of silly to make a casino the last stop since some people really have no self control in them.

Your husband has a good point. Even I, a non-gambler, can see the allure of going to a casino in Monte Carlo...

 

[Laundress]

Our ship(Wonder) left a family in Mexico when we sailed. They repeatedly called, on the speakers, for them to contact a cast member. we left 2 hours late and were late getting back to LA the next day.

 

[lilpooh108]

Not exactly. For the most part, if you are on a ship's excursion, and are running late, they will TRY to wait for you. But, if port charges, or time to next port are important to them leaving before you get there, the cruiseline will assist you in getting to the next port to catch the ship.

Or, Disney will get you to the next port of call. They won't "assist" you, they take the lead and make sure you get there.

Lots of speculation here as to why they might choose to leave on time, knowing there are late excursions. I think they are all (educated) guesses. If it happens, it happens.

We returned to the port once 30 minutes after the advertised "All Aboard Time" on an excursion we booked through DCL. The ship was there waiting for us.

A number of people were really nervous about making it on time, and definitely not having a good time. Since that's one of those things you don't have any control over, we chose to enjoy the experience and look on it as an adventure if the ship had left (luckily it hadn't). We'd be seeing the local area more, flying on a new airline, and have a great story to tell later. Life is what you make it!

On the Med this summer we took a DCL excursion with a Port Adventures guide whose "only" assignment (according to her) was to make sure people got back on time, and to assist in getting to the next port if they were left behind. This was because in the 1st port, people were left behind.

The CM told me that she had her passport with her, and extra money b/c she was warned that she might very well get left behind herself if she needed to stay and help passengers.

 

[lilpooh108]

It seemed every night during dinner they paged people overhead frantically. I often wondered if we ended up leaving people behind.

I know on our Rome day, the ship waited until something like 7:30 pm when all aboard was 6:30 pm.

On Naples day, my brother/mom/aunt's DCL excursion was the last to arrive and they were late by over 40 minutes. I was on a different excursion and was frantic in trying to call them. When I saw the officers working the tender station get back on the tender boat and my relatives STILL weren't back yet, I was like well either they're back or they're not but the ship is leaving now

 

[iloverags2]

We sailed on the Ruby Princess this past April and ended up having to change our schedule slightly which caused a port call on Nassau on the day after we left Ft. Lauderdale. As time approached for final boarding in Nassau, there was a call for 16 people. That number finally dropped to 11 about 15 minutes later; then to 7 shortly after that. We finally set sail without four passengers. Since there were still six nights left for the cruise, I betted on them making the trip to our next port, which was St. Maarten although not sure what the outcome was since we couldn't find anyone who knew for certain.

 

[DMMarla07860]

In April 2012 we were late leaving St. Thomas because there were extra passengers on board. A queen bee and her swarm decided that a deck chair near the Mickey and Goofy pools was a great place to hang out. We had to stay in port while a bee keeper was called to capture the bees. It was interesting watching the process.

I was in the same cruise, it was interesting to see though I did hear another passenger got off for health reasons that port as well so. That was the reason why late as well

 

[DMMarla07860]

OMG! I guess I was skimming quickly and had to stop to reread because I couldn't imagine how someone got on the ship who wasn't suppose to be, and had her "swarm" around her.

I was on that cruise too, it was a lot I still want to know what caused it lol

 

[ludari]

With all the cruises I have taken I have never looked for people missing their ship. I've been on deck when we pulled away from ports but it never dawned on me to look to see if I notice anyone making a dash for the ship. I'm going to have a make a mental note to look next time.

 

[Cruisin'Nick]

We leave in a few weeks for our first cruise, so I basically know nothing. If the itinerary says "1:00-5:30." does that mean that you have to be on the boat no later than 5:30 p.m., or does it mean the boat leaves at 5:30 p.m. so you better be on the boat no later than 5:00? Or....(and I do not want to push it) it means you could probably stroll up at 5:50 p.m. and be fine since they really aren't planning to leave until 6:30 p.m., but you do so at your own risk.

Usually the 5:30 time is all aboard and the ship leaves shortly after. It will all be on your navigator everyday, and they will make 10 million announcements before debarkation on port days about what time to be back on the ship. So they make sure everyone knows before you get off the ship, what time to be back.

 

[TDC Nala]

With all the cruises I have taken I have never looked for people missing their ship. I've been on deck when we pulled away from ports but it never dawned on me to look to see if I notice anyone making a dash for the ship. I'm going to have a make a mental note to look next time.

Used to keep busy in Europe when waiting for my train while watching persons running for the next train to leave. Those trains leave right on time and there were always folks who just managed to miss them.

Maybe on port days, listen for the announcements and then go watch the dock to see if they make it back.

 

[Seamama]

I maybe wrong, but I am pretty sure it your late enough and the vessel needs to sail to make the next port, they will sail with the kids onboard...........

There was a post along ago about that the vessel assigned a CM to watch and care for a child.

AKK

Yes, our head waiter told us a story of this happening... a dad traveling with his kid. Left the kid the kids' club onboard while he went into town at port. He was too late coming back. They waited as long as they could but had to sail w/out him. A CM was assigned to care for the child until reunited (I assume at the next port) w/ the kid. It does happen.

 

[paults]

That runway was used by drug runners before Disney bought the island. It definitely is not kept up to par now for a safe landing or takeoff.

Did you say drug runner or RUM RUNNER

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

We make it a practice to be in line for embarkation (from port days) no less than 20-30 min prior to all aboard time. If its 5:45, we don't get in line past 5:15.

We have never had to be a pier runner yet because we wear Whenzits (watches) the whole time and we keep moving along the whole time even if shopping.

It stinks when they have an early all aboard of 2pm. CCL did that to us, so we barely had time for our morning catamaran, a tortuga shop, and back on board about 1:30/1:40. I hear that do that so they can go slower and save on gas. Thank goodness DCL allows a later time. We loved that. We could stay all the way to the 4pm ferry at BL, shop at the markets, and still made it on time at 5:15.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Thankfully port running isn't really something I worry about since we rarely go far (or for long) away from the ship.

I think at some Ports DCL is really trying to encourage people taking their excursions by keeping the port hours short - and the more people on DCL controlled excursions, the fewer port runners...

On our upcoming Western Caribbean cruise we have 3 stops (outside of Castaway Cay) and for 2/3 of them, the port hours aren't long:

Grand Cayman - 11:30 to 4:45 (and that's a tender port! if you're not on a DCL tour and have to wait for a tender, you could end up with a very short time in port)

Costa Maya - 1:00 to 5:30

Cozumel - 8:30 to 5:30 (this is the only stop that I consider enough time to feel comfortable to leave and actually DO something in port).

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Last week (Sept 1 sailing), we were on the 4 night cruise aboard the Dream. We went into Nassau for about 90 minutes and then went back to our stateroom.

The Royal Caribbean was docked across from us. While sitting on the verandah we saw the RC gangway get pulled up and about 2 mins later a couple running to the ship. They got to the ship and pleaded to get on to the crew at the gangway doors, but the gangway was up and rope was off. They pleaded and pleaded but the crew shut one door and then shut the other. The guy yelled no really loud as they shut that second door.

They stood there in disbelief as their ship slowly left without them. We felt really bad for them, but all aboard time IS all aboard time.

They stood talking to another gentleman for about 20 mins before leaving on his golf cart towards the city.

Our 6-year-old saw the whole thing and was really nervous about getting off the boat in Castaway Cay the next day. We kept reassuring him that we would be back on the boat in time so we wouldn't be left behind.

I was on the same cruise you were on!!! Our verandah was facing the RC. We were up on the top deck in the adults only area when the RC pulled from dock. We didn't notice the incident. That's scary!!! We always made it a point to head back towards the ship 2 hrs prior to departure time. We made it back sooner at Nassau because we didn't want to get caught out in the storm.

Sent from my Galaxy SII

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

This is an advantage to book through DCL for tours, since I have heard of problems like buses breaking down etc.

However, our sea lion dropped us off at the island and you can take whatever ferry you want back, we took the latest at 4. I suppose if your tour is only 4 hrs long, and you still aren't back for all aboard time, and there wasn't a bus or boat break down by the DCL tour, I guess that is STILL on you to get your tails back on board...

 

[castlegazer]

yeah buses breaking down happens frequently!

In my days pre-kids my ex-husband and I were left by the side of that winding road in St. Thomas down to Megan's Bay with a broken down bus/taxi - we had no idea how we would get anywhere as everyone who passed zoomed by and there didn't seem to be a back up plan for the taxi bus operator - you know, one of those open air things. Let's just say we were freaked as we watched the minutes turn into hours sitting by the side of the road trying to get back to port and always have either a very reputable tour operator or excursion planned at all ports of call from thereafter.

I can't imagine having kids with us for that trip! It was awful! And I was pregnant!

That same cruise I stepped off the bus in Barbados taking us to the main port terminal area from the ship and twisted my ankle severely and had to be taken to the ship's doctor. It wasn't my most stellar cruise.

 

[Spwhoney]

All aboard at 5:30 (whatever time) means ALL ABOARD at 5:30, they are shutting the doors. Not start heading back to ship at 5:30. Don't be the annoying people that wonder back to ship at the last minute, having the port authority people hurry you along because you are late. There are 2000+ people waiting for you. Our rule is 1 hour BEFORE all aboard, no later. I always book the early excursions so we get back in time for a little shopping. Cant stand the people that wonder up at 5:27, look at their watch and argue with the port and ship people about being late.