Missed the boat?

[Mojomanny]

It seems everyone is obsessed with whether their flight will arrive in time for them to make the cruise, if they use a limo to port and they get stuck in traffic, if their flight is delayed, etc etc etc.

I am wondering if anyone on the boards has missed the ship? (I do not recall reading about someone waiving as the shipped pulled out)

Tell us your story so we can all understand "the worst case" of what might happen to our cruise.

Why did you miss it (flight delay, traffic....)

Who arranged your travel?

What did DCL do to try to help you?

Please tell us all the pertinent information, and thanks in advance for sharing your story with us.

 

[tstobb]

We didn't miss the boat but on our 9/7, we did leave some people (2 sepatate parties from the info we got) at St. Thomas. Our verandah was about 8 back from the wing brigde station & overlooking the boarding ramp & we watched as it got later & later and they even sounded the ship's horn an extra time before finally pulling down the ramp & pulling out. Not sure about the final result but if you read your docs, YOU are responsible for getting to the ship on time.
Pictures of the captain waiting to leave St. Thomas

 

[SQUIGGLE]

Your pictures are fabulous! Thanks for sharing.
Just 32 more weeks and I'll be taking that picutre!!!

 

[tstobb]

Thanks - we had a great time & you will too - just don't be too late! DW & I were discussing how we could NEVER take my Mom on the trip as that would have been her!

 

[Mojomanny]

Are the four people standing on the dock the ones who missed it

 

[tstobb]

No, they were people from the Carnival ship in front of us that left later.

 

[MnParrothead]

Excellent pix, Tstobb!

 

[tstobb]

Thank You!

 

[IrishCowboy]

Great Pictures!!

We had Juliano and Michala on our last cruise too! They were great!

 

[westjones]

I loved the pictures too! How did you get to the cable car? Could you just walk to it? Was it part of a Disney excursion.

We have never been on the Eastern cruise. We did the Western and have another Western booked for next year, but in 2004 will probably be doing the Eastern (we always go on our twin DDs birthday, so they just happened to be on the Western cruises this year and next, but if the schedule continues they will be having a birthday on the Eastern cruise in 2004).

What kinds of things are there for kids to do on the Eastern cruise (besides beaches)?
Debra

 

[westjones]

I loved the pictures too! How did you get to the cable car? Could you just walk to it? Was it part of a Disney excursion.

We have never been on the Eastern cruise. We did the Western and have another Western booked for next year, but in 2004 will probably be doing the Eastern (we always go on our twin DDs birthday, so they just happened to be on the Western cruises this year and next, but if the schedule continues they will be having a birthday on the Eastern cruise in 2004).

What kinds of things are there for kids to do on the Eastern cruise (besides beaches)?
Debra

 

[DreamsDoComeTrue]

Well Mojo, I guess no one has missed the boat!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by westjones

How did you get to the cable car? Could you just walk to it? Was it part of a Disney excursion.

Paradise Point Tramway (www.paradisepointtramway.com) is not part of any Disney excursion, but it is easily accessed via a 5-minute walk from the ship.

 

[tstobb]

The tram is a short walk from the pier - just say thanks anyway and walk on by the taxi drivers who tell you that you're wasting time, it's more expensive, etc.
We're not the excursion "type" so I don't know about these. We did take the tram & got off for a while in St Maarten (took the water taxi) but really preferred to enjoy the nearly empty Magic while in ports.

 

[Mojomanny]

You are right, I guess no one has missed the boat. So for everyones fretting and stressing over their flight times and accidents and all of that, there is really no concern.

Now, that is great news.

 

[albiats]

I didn't miss the boat, but it was very close, and my DW still says that the heel of my trailing shoe got wet as they pulled the boarding platform away on our first cruise.

Actually, it was 4:35pm as I passed thru the entrance way and boarded the ship. I was happy to see another family behind me by about a minute, and they also made it onboard. It was our first cruise and I didn't allow enough driving time to get to the port, and it was a very precarious situation, very glad we did make it. We missed the safety drill and we had a very official looking letter awaiting us when we returned from dinner. It advised us to seek out the assembly location on our own and to make sure we were familiar with it and with the life jackets, and we did that, very soon after reading the letter.

On our second cruise, the Captain decided it was safer to pull out of Port Canaveral early to avoid a storm approaching from land and we left Port Canaveral at 4:05pm, with the assembly drill at 3:50. Since I was a reformed man, we were already onboard by 1:30pm and had no problem with the early departure.

On our January 2002 cruise on the Magic on the Eastern Itinerary, they delayed leaving port and were calling the names of at least two families as we pulled away, so it appeared that some people didn't make it back in time. One of our servers said that a couple times a month someone doesn't make it back in time and has to find their own way home, despite all the warnings.

hth

 

[Mojomanny]

Thanks for the reply. Have a great time on next weeks cruise.


Any other close calls or misses out there????

 

[randytenn]

We were also on the 9/7 cruise, and heard the families being called. Our tablemates were in the room right next to them. They didn't make it, according to our tablemates.

During lunch the next day, we were talking about the incident, and someone mentioned the time the ship had to turn around and pick up the couple they left on shore, because their daughter was in the childcare on board. Our assistant server mentioned that the couple was at one of her tables on the cruise. She said the couple had their baby with them, but that they left their daughter in the children's program while they went ashore. They said they were up on one of the scenic overlooks, and saw the ship. The husband began taking pictures of it, and realized it was leaving. They hadn't chagned their watches to the correct time zone (according to the server). So, they rushed down to the dock (to no avail). Apparently, Disney charged them for the dock fee and the fuel it took to travel back.

So, lesson learned here is to change your watch.