What to do if you miss your cruise
Standing at a port watching your cruise ship head out to sea because you’ve dawdled on your own independent shore excursion truly is the stuff of holiday nightmares.
But what happens if this nightmare becomes a reality?
Are you really stuck out there without a paddle (or rather cruise ship) or is there a way to get back aboard? We’re going to look at what to do if you miss your cruise.
What happens?
Cruise ships have strict rules for passengers in relation to getting back on time and there is an onus on the passengers to be punctual. Which is understandable, as many of the larger cruise ships have to process hundreds of passengers at every port stop.
The American couple featured in the dramatic footage above made headlines this year when they failed to make it back to their Norwegian Breakaway cruise liner.
The ship sailed away with their young children onboard. According to media reports and a spokesperson from Norwegian Cruise Line the ship went beyond standard protocol, waiting an extra half hour for the couple before setting off on the three-day journey back to New York. The children had their uncle onboard, but the parents had to make their own way back.
How can I avoid this?
When it comes to missing cruise stops, the best thing you can do is try to avoid it happening altogether. We recommend taking the following precautions.
- Know when your ship is departing – Pay attention to announcements that inform you when the ship has arrived at port, and, most importantly, when you’re due back. If at any time you feel unsure about these times, check in with the crew when leaving.
- Allow for extra time returning – This is particularly important for busy, urban ports. You never know when a taxi is going to be stuck in traffic, a bus doesn’t show up or you get stuck in a line. Building a cushion can take a lot of anxiety out of your return.
- Bring a credit card and ID – This is obviously a worst case scenario precaution, but if the ship has gone you may have to make your own plans. Having your credit card and ID handy at least gives you the opportunity to make your way to the next port. Port agents at the cruise terminal can help you figure out the best way to re-join your cruise.
If I’ve missed my cruise, what should I do?
If the unfortunate has happened, you may have to make your own way to the next spot or call the trip off entirely. We recommend taking the following actions.
- Contact a port agent – In many cases if a cruise leaves port without a passenger they’ll leave the passenger’s essential items (think passports, mobile phone, medication) with a port agent, which can help you make travel arrangements.
- Contact your cruise line – Depending on the stage of your trip, you may have to book a flight to the next port, or call the whole thing off and head home. Contact your cruise line’s customer service department to review your options.
- Retrieve your possessions – If you’ve decided to head home rather than re-joining your ship, you will need to retrieve your possessions. The cruise line will likely be able to have these shipped to you, but be aware that this might be expensive.
Have you ever had a close calls in terms of making it back on a cruise?
Please let us know in the comments!
Related links:
5 things you MUST do to avoid seasickness on a cruise
10 things you must never do in a cruise cabin
P&O’s first cruise around New Zealand