Left behind while at port

[mla2177]

What if you don't make it back to the ship by the time they leave port? Do they leave without you? Has this ever happened to anyone?

 

[Mrsjvb]

if you are on a DISNEY sponsored excursion they wait.

if not.. they have to weight waiting versus tides. they don't have to wait and most likely will NOT. it would be on YOU to get to the next port and meet up with the ship.

 

[Im_A_Princess]

Christiaan (Cruise Director) always says "Make sure you have your camera ready because the Magic (Wonder) sailing off into the sunset is a beautiful picture."

I really do believe they will sail without you unless the ship gets a message.
At all aboard time...They start announcing names and staterooms of non-logged back on the ship people to make sure people are not being left behind but... what else can they do?
If you are not on a Disney excursion and they have no contact with you and where you are they would have no choice but to leave.

 

[Morgey24]

It happens plenty often - there are lots of UTube videos about folks meeting up with ships from the back of speedboats, tug boats, etc.

Again, if you go with a DCL excursion, the ship will wait for you. If not, it is up to the Captain though if you ask the crew they will tell you plenty of stories of folks who didn't make it back and had to meet the ship at the next port.

Anecdotally, on our first DCL cruise, we waited in Nassau for 2 hours for a couple and the ONLY reason we did is that they had 2 kids in the children's programming. I do believe that the Captain had some words for them and there may have been some repurcussions as a result.

 

[lbgraves]

If the ship stays at the port later than their scheduled time DCL is charged hefty fines as well.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have seen this all too often and as said above its a different outcome between DCL shore trips and going it alone and private tours.

In Acapulco last year we left 45 mins late on the E/bound repo as one coach on a DCL shore trip went AWOL. They stayed in port to ensure they got back, those people would have had a very long trek to Cartagena our next stop.

In La Spezia Italy, in 2007, we had pulled out of port and were leaving the harbor area to the open sea. A pilot harbor launch can up at speed on the starboard side. I and others were having a nice drink on our verandahs and watched the chase unfold.

The Magic slowed down and in the rear doors of the starboard aft were opened, with ships crew their in life-jackets etc. The pilot boat pulled aside as we were moving slowly, and the lady jumped across into the ship.

She I understand was confused about local time and was delayed also on public transport. She might have been more embarrassed by the number of cruisers watching her jump aboard than being late.

Now I have also heard announcements at Grand Cayman, Cozumel when we had pulled out asking certain people and families to confirm they are onboard. I understand that whilst security is good, when they have a family party and they hand their cards ( say 4) all at a time, its easy for them to miss one, and that person is not recorded as getting back on ship.

So hand cards one by one and yes if on a private tour they will leave without you.

 

[starwood]

When we were in Cozumel we were having a drink by the harbor and watching another cruise ship pull out. The couple at the table next to us yelled "our ship" and ran out leaving all their bags behind.

 

[kcashner]

Yes, it happens. As above, on a DCL excursion you are safe--they will wait for you.

On a non-DCL excursion, we always plan on being back on board at least an hour before "all aboard;" this covers me if I somehow screwed up the local time calculations. In addition, take the Navigator with you. Each port day, there is an item in the Navigator of the "Ship's Agent." This is the number you would use in the event of an emergency to get a message to the ship, etc.

Say...worst case....you went off on your own on an island and ended up in a medical facility. Whether you will be sailing with the Magic that evening or not, you'd better let them know who you are and where you are. You'll need help getting your passports and other stuff off the ship if you're going to need to stay there, etc. The ship's agent is your starting place for all your contacts.

 

[poohmomof5]

Yes, it happens. As above, on a DCL excursion you are safe--they will wait for you.

On a non-DCL excursion, we always plan on being back on board at least an hour before "all aboard;" this covers me if I somehow screwed up the local time calculations. In addition, take the Navigator with you. Each port day, there is an item in the Navigator of the "Ship's Agent." This is the number you would use in the event of an emergency to get a message to the ship, etc.

Say...worst case....you went off on your own on an island and ended up in a medical facility. Whether you will be sailing with the Magic that evening or not, you'd better let them know who you are and where you are. You'll need help getting your passports and other stuff off the ship if you're going to need to stay there, etc. The ship's agent is your starting place for all your contacts.

That is good advice! I have been on numerous cruises and never thought of that!

I was with Andrew on the cruise referenced above and our verandah was on the Acapulco side of the ship. We all had a blast watching Cristiaan run out to the late arriving excursion and very quickly herd everyone on to the ship. They all got a standing ovation!

 

[gydell]

On the EBTA DCL left a couple behind and they had a small child on board. A CM had to stay with the child until the next day when the parents caught up with the ship. So I suggest you be on time if not early!

 

[Morgey24]

On the EBTA DCL left a couple behind and they had a small child on board. A CM had to stay with the child until the next day when the parents caught up with the ship. So I suggest you be on time if not early!

WHAT???!!!!
Wow. My heart goes out to that child.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

On our cruise in March, we were eating in Animator's Palate for Pirate Night (6:00 PM seating time). All aboard was 6:30 PM Ship Time (We were an hour ahead of Cozumel time). Anyway, during the middle of dinner we heard announcements for 2 or 3 people to report to guest services. They made the announcements twice in English and once in Spanish. We were probably delayed leaving by 30 minutes. Never found out if the people were on the ship or not. At every other port we actually left before the scheduled time as everyone was onboard.

If you do get left behind, you are responsible for getting yourself to the next port. DCL has ship agents in every port to help.

 

[itutorfortravel]

We were just on the Eastern itinerary on the Magic the week of April 11th. DH wanted to get some evening photo shots' of the Magic so he wandered around deck and on the pier until close to boarding time St. Maarten. Well, about 10 minutes before final boarding GS called our cabin and asked if he was onboard b/c they did not have a record of him getting back on the ship! I was looking over the verandah and did not see him anywhere on the pier so I was getting a little freaked! I started thinking about what should I do...go look for him or sail away without him? All these horrible thoughts started going thru my head!!! But he was onboard on time, he just waited until the last minute...by the way, GS also said they had no record of my being on board, though I handed the officials both my KTTW card along with DD's so maybe it's like an earlier posted said, it didn't get swiped.

 

[BethC1952]

if you are on a DISNEY sponsored excursion they wait.

That's why I think it's worth paying the extra money for DCL sponsored excursions. It's like insurance, only better--you KNOW that you're going to get back on that ship!

Beth

 

[Dizzyworld]

If the ship stays at the port later than their scheduled time DCL is charged hefty fines as well.

That's what I heard too. The CMs said it was something like $10,000 per extra minute of unscheduled docking time. At that point, we were all watching a couple running to the ship as we pulled away. The ship did return to the dock which the CM said was unusual.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

That's what I heard too. The CMs said it was something like $10,000 per extra minute of unscheduled docking time. At that point, we were all watching a couple running to the ship as we pulled away. The ship did return to the dock which the CM said was unusual.

It depends on the port and how busy they are and how flexible they are, often the piers are reserved for set times and another ship wants to come in and use it, maybe not a cruise ship, but container ships etc.

They will complain of any delay getting in ,and claim, -if they have perishable goods on board that can cause an additional issue.

I have stayed in port longer than agreed a few times, seems the port wasn't worried about us leaving, but yes costs can mount up quickly if they are busy.

 

[msmayor]

Here's one for you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-yrsXsJmbw&feature=related

 

[kcashner]

That's why I think it's worth paying the extra money for DCL sponsored excursions. It's like insurance, only better--you KNOW that you're going to get back on that ship!

Beth

Not all excursions thru DCL are more expensive. Some are, but some are the same cost when you do them thru a private operator. You just have to price them and see what's available.

 

[slindamood]

West bound transatlantic, leaving Canary Islands for six days at sea - someone missed the ship.

My DD boarded about 45 minutes before "all aboard" time and got to overhear all in the boarding area. The people sailing with the person were given the choice of continuing on the cruise, or packing all their stuff and getting off. The crew went to pack the belongings of the missing person and those who decided to leave. Shortly before the ship sailed they flew into a cab and headed out - probably to try to find the person.

We watched from deck 10 and they never showed up before sailing. We sailed no more than a half hour after the scheduled time. I am sure the docking fees were hefty.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

West bound transatlantic, leaving Canary Islands for six days at sea - someone missed the ship.

My DD boarded about 45 minutes before "all aboard" time and got to overhear all in the boarding area. The people sailing with the person were given the choice of continuing on the cruise, or packing all their stuff and getting off. The crew went to pack the belongings of the missing person and those who decided to leave. Shortly before the ship sailed they flew into a cab and headed out - probably to try to find the person.

We watched from deck 10 and they never showed up before sailing. We sailed no more than a half hour after the scheduled time. I am sure the docking fees were hefty.

Wait- so they started preparing 45 minutes before "all aboard" already knowing the person had "missed the ship"? It's not missed if it hasn't sailed yet- right? Or are you saying your DD boarding 45minutes early and then hung around the boarding area to hear all this LATER on once the person missed the boarding time? I'm confused by this...
Unless they already knew the person wouldn't make the ship- like they were in the hospital injured or something?