What happens if you miss the boat at Port Canaveral?

[Tonka's Skipper]

Frankly, instead of guessing what a port Authority will do or if the vessel will wait , it would seem a lot easier to just NOT be late for the vessel.

AKK

 

[Sir William]

I've noticed numerous times when the ship doesn't leave "on time." Cruise lines try to be as accommodating as possible and will wait as long as possible for stray passengers, but the captain has a responsibility to get the ship to the next port on time and safely, and must take into consideration a number of factors, not the least of which are the weather and the distance involved. Sometimes the berth needs to be vacated by a certain time so another ship can use it.

Secondly, ports may or may not have a policy in how to deal with stranded passengers. However, since you are a foreign national, their assistance may consist of "take a taxi to the American Consulate/Embassy". There may be a cruise line representative (usually for the larger lines that have multiple ship visits every week) who can assist you in getting to the next port. How much help you get from the port official will depend greatly on his personality and whether he has the time or inclination to be helpful.

In short, it is the passengers' responsibility to report to the ship by boarding time (embarkation or port calls). The only time the cruise line has an obligation to wait is when you booked your transfers or excursions with them.

 

[Flossbolna]

When we were in Alesund in Norway last week, our DCL excursion was off to a late start (bus got damaged while waiting for us, another driver backed into it and smashed the windscreen). The port adventures manager came on the bus before we were off to tell us that they had extended our excursion to be back by 6:15pm. All aboard was at 5:45pm. He said tht the ship was not scheduled to leave until 7pm anyway. Not sure why they had the all aboard so much earlier then. But when we got back at 6:10pm there was the port adventures manager and the security head officer and they both counted people and once the last person was through they shouted that now everyone was aboard and they immediately started to close the gates of the port and packed in the last few things. Strange feeling to be one of the last people back on board!

 

[dmunsil]

The only time the cruise line has an obligation to wait is when you booked your transfers or excursions with them.

They actually don't have any obligation to wait for passengers on ship-sponsored excursions, as far as I can tell, at least not a legal one. They do it because it's good business. People have definitely been left behind when on ship-sponsored excursions in rare cases where the excursion got delayed really badly, and in every case that I've ever heard of the cruise company has arranged to transport those people to the next port, put them up in hotels at the cruise company's expense, etc. If the ship has to sail, they have to sail.

Obviously it's safer to take the ship's own excursions, since the ship will almost always wait for their own excursions, and is much less likely to wait for a third-party excursion or travelers who are exploring on their own. They are more likely to wait, though, if they know what's going on. If you're ever on a third-party excursion or are exploring and think you might be late, it's well worth calling the ship's agent and letting them know; if the ship knows you're on the way back and have an ETA, they might wait for you.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Not sure why they had the all aboard so much earlier then.

Because it is important that passengers make it back to the ship on time. If passengers were told to be on board at 6:30 or 6:45 there would be a lot more passengers getting left behind. The ship also has to be prepared for departure (lines removed, gangplank taken in, etc.)

 

[MUN]

Frankly, instead of guessing what a port Authority will do or if the vessel will wait , it would seem a lot easier to just NOT be late for the vessel.

AKK

Actually, the opposite is true. If the OP or anyone else really wants to know what would happen if they miss the boat, they should miss the boat on purpose to find out. Then they should report to us their experience.

MUN

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Actually, the opposite is true. If the OP or anyone else really wants to know what would happen if they miss the boat, they should miss the boat on purpose to find out. Then they should report to us their experience.

MUN

A interesting, if not expensive, trial and error method!

AKK

 

[jrabbit]

... But when we got back at 6:10pm there was the port adventures manager and the security head officer and they both counted people and once the last person was through they shouted that now everyone was aboard and they immediately started to close the gates of the port and packed in the last few things. Strange feeling to be one of the last people back on board!

Been There Done That.
Were on a DCL excursion and were racing like crazy through the streets of Puerta Vallarta (was worse than any video game I've seen - I still have the white knuckles). Once we got to the port, the first security person was waving us through, there were several more people along the route waving the van on, once to the ship, an officer met us and scurried us onto the ship and they closed the door behind us, and off the ship sailed. THEN they checked all of our ID's and KTTS (key to the SHIP cards) and we were off to our room to get unfrazzled and cleaned up. Several glasses of wine later we were OK.

 

[Michellynn]

OK. There is no need to lie to create hysteria. "Planes rarely ever arrive at the designated time"?

http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/press_releases/dot054_15

April On-Time Performance Up, Cancellations Down From Previous Year, March 2015

Press Release Number:
DOT 54-15
Date:
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Media Contact:
Caitlin Harvey, 202-366-4570


PDF

WASHINGTON – The nation’s largest airlines posted an on-time arrival rate of 81.8 percent in April, up from both the 79.6 percent on-time rate in April 2014 and the 78.7 percent mark in March 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report released today.

In addition, the reporting carriers canceled 0.9 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in April, an improvement over both the 1.1 percent cancellation rate posted in April 2014 and the 2.2 percent rate in March 2015.

Yeah...I don't think flights are late most of the time. I fly US Air...and it is extremely rare that they have been late for me (usually early or on time)....with the exception of late day flights out of Dallas to Philly ...those seem to be consistently late for some reason.

Now, slight tangent I just feel compelled to insert here (sorry..can't help myself...LOL).... US Air is in process of merging flights/schedules with American Airlines. In a previous steady (can't remember what it was off the top my head)...US Air was in the top five for being on time (which I believe based on personal experience).....American Airlines was in the bottom five for being on time. Sooooo...should prove interesting. LOL

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I can tell you that on my Disney Med cruise people seemed hysterical that I was daring to "go to Europe" without the Mouse taking care of everything. When we said we were "on ou own" and just going places hysteria seemed to break out LOL!

So at least for some lines it's possible that the reason you don't get as many issues is that a LOT more of the cruisers are determined to do cruise sponsored excursions? Generally a lot of the people you see in the Caribbean seem not to have been on a cruise excursion (or one run by a 3rd party vendor)

That said I was just reading a thread on cruise critic where the author got left at a port in Europe so.. it happens!

 

[Flossbolna]

I can tell you that on my Disney Med cruise people seemed hysterical that I was daring to "go to Europe" without the Mouse taking care of everything. When we said we were "on ou own" and just going places hysteria seemed to break out LOL!

So at least for some lines it's possible that the reason you don't get as many issues is that a LOT more of the cruisers are determined to do cruise sponsored excursions? Generally a lot of the people you see in the Caribbean seem not to have been on a cruise excursion (or one run by a 3rd party vendor)

That said I was just reading a thread on cruise critic where the author got left at a port in Europe so.. it happens!

The interesting thing is that in many cases, the worst thing that happens to you is that you have to find a hotel and then just hop on a train the next day to meet your ship in the next port. A lot of the classical Med ports (in France and Italy) are really not far from each other at all. If you are left behind on St Thomas you are looking at having to book a flight and missing half of your cruise.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I can tell you that on my Disney Med cruise people seemed hysterical that I was daring to "go to Europe" without the Mouse taking care of everything. When we said we were "on ou own" and just going places hysteria seemed to break out LOL!

So at least for some lines it's possible that the reason you don't get as many issues is that a LOT more of the cruisers are determined to do cruise sponsored excursions? Generally a lot of the people you see in the Caribbean seem not to have been on a cruise excursion (or one run by a 3rd party vendor)

That said I was just reading a thread on cruise critic where the author got left at a port in Europe so.. it happens!

In 2014, Seven Med Ports, Seven private tours, and never late, its easy to organise and do it in the available time.

If the driver can see DCL Coaches in the rear view mirror your OK.

 

[bcwife76]

That video in post #4 was actually kind of heartbreaking to watch. I wonder what happened to them in the end But yeah, why even chance it? In this day in age of cell phones, apple watches and hell - regular watches - there is NO excuse for missing your all aboard time.

I'm so glad I only live 45 minutes from Canada Place.

 

[SillyInventor]

I can tell you that on my Disney Med cruise people seemed hysterical that I was daring to "go to Europe" without the Mouse taking care of everything. When we said we were "on ou own" and just going places hysteria seemed to break out LOL!

Well I saw several people not wanting to cruise in Europe because of the "Charlie" thing in Paris. This is about the same as Europeans not wanting to cruise out of Miami because of some people got killed in Washington. Fear is just irrational. Europe is a very big place, just like the USA. But I stopped arguing fear with reason as I just never win this. I will travel to Miami, even if there is a serial killer active in Los Angeles, which also happens to be within the USA.

 

[girlbomb]

OP here: Thanks to this thread, we're flying into Orlando the night before our cruise. I thank everyone for their helpful input!

 

[gumbypee]

OP that is a fantastic idea! Peace of mind that you will not regret! Thumbs up!

Have a great cruise!

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Since you are taking the Western, you get an "extra day" to make it to the ship a little cheaper.... You can catch a flight to Key West, FL and meet up with the ship and go from there. This is all at your own cost though... (Some trip insurance will pay in the event, there was a true reason you were late). On the other sailings, with passport in hand, you can meet the ship in the next port of call, but it is really $$$$ to buy a last minute ticket to a destination beyond the states. Just arrive early and you will not have anything to worry about. Actually, the ship will not wait for you, even if you have been on the ship and miss it in a port of call. I tell EVERYONE, always ask "What time zone is the ship on and what time is it" as you are leaving the ship. On the Western, DCL switches back and fourth. The ship DOES NOT wait. They get finned BIG TIME for every minute they are in a port late. Now, I have been on a cruise where there was an accident on the interstate and the DCL buses were late getting to port. Rachel or CD and The Captain, did wait for them. They announced it at the Deck Party. Did you know you can even be in the cruise terminal and not have come prepared with the correct documents and the ship will sail without you? Just arrive early, with the needed documents and have no worries.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Did you know you can even be in the cruise terminal and not have come prepared with the correct documents and the ship will sail without you? Just arrive early, with the needed documents and have no worries.

What documents do you need?

 

[clten]

Since you are taking the Western, you get an "extra day" to make it to the ship a little cheaper.... You can catch a flight to Key West, FL and meet up with the ship and go from there. This is all at your own cost though...

You cannot catch up to the ship in Key West if you sail from a US city and your first port of call is Key West. They cannot let you board there. The Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) prevents foreign flagged ships from transporting passengers between 2 US cities -- without making a distant foreign port call. (So if you got on in Key West and off in Port Canaveral, they have essentially transported you between 2 US cities without meeting the requirements of the Act.) So in this case missing the ship doesn't give you an easier way to catch up, it means you will miss more of your cruise because you have to wait for the first non-US port.

OP, I think you made the right choice of coming in the night before. Not only does it relieve the stress of possible delays, you don't have to get up at O'Dark Thirty to start your vacation and be falling asleep by dinner/show time.

 

[Ofinn]

Well I saw several people not wanting to cruise in Europe because of the "Charlie" thing in Paris. This is about the same as Europeans not wanting to cruise out of Miami because of some people got killed in Washington. Fear is just irrational. Europe is a very big place, just like the USA. But I stopped arguing fear with reason as I just never win this. I will travel to Miami, even if there is a serial killer active in Los Angeles, which also happens to be within the USA.

I have read countless posts on here from people that are afraid to get off the ship at certain ports for one reason or the other. I think it's kind of sad, but to each their own.