Two people just got left behind as Harmony sailed away

Just my thought on missing the ship. We have been cruising since the early nineties and seen many left over the years. It seems in the last few years it has gotten to be and in your face situation with many passengers. You can understand that there may me a medical, transportation problem, etc. and most skippers wait a reasonable amount of time ,usually around 30 minutes, but with the emergency situations the Captains have relayed in their bridge tour conversations, that they get notification from port master of a problem if a large group or transportation often.

I have watched people sit at bars at pier in cozumel and start walking over after they are about 25 minutes late, take their time pose along the way for a few pictures, etc.

Maybe I grew up in the time with a little self discipline , Having served in The United States Marine Corps & a 30 year career in law enforcement, and a little more consideration for fellow passengers. If you are in the Service and they say be back off Liberty by .....hour you best be back or you may miss a movement or face punishment.

It works the same way as the ones that stroll in 30 minutes late for dinner, shows, etc. as I think some think the rules are for someone else and they are special . Well I have made my statement for the month and getting ready to board the Freedom for a 2 week back to back and will probably witness a few waving wait for me on the pier. I think they should film a departure with the late ,late returners shown just before the first show or on TV to let the Special Few know it can and will happen.

Ensenada is not a crap hole! There is some great shopping, and good restaurants/ bars in town. For a great excursion go to La Bufadora or wine country.

 

La Bufadora is one of the three largest blow hole in the world and if you can get there when the tide is coming in it is truly amazing! the shopping there is also pretty good and cheaper than downtown, but the vendors are very aggressive. Great churros from the street vendors as well. There are a couple of pretty good restaurants there also.

 

Wine country is fun, there are some really good wineries there, it is about an hour and a half away from the port. There is also a nursery in the area that serves an amazing lunch.

 

A lot of people go to the FOX studios (if it is still open),but that is a complete bust IMHO.

 

I have only been one one cruise the Ensenada, but have family that live there so I have been there many times!

 

 

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No offense intended. Just having read so many threads about people complaining about cruises leaving from Ensenada here at CC that I figured that there was nothing near the actual ships port, that would distract people from starting their cruise. I guess there are some cruises along the west coast that are not the starting destination and are an actual stop, that was why I was surprised by MM's response. I have never been to Ensenada.

JC

If you book your tours with RCCL you are guaranteed not to be left behind. The ship is required to wait on all passengers on an official RCCL shore excursion.

 

 

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Not really. RCCL will get you to the next port to meet the ship, at their expense.

There can't be a guarantee the ship will wait.

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To the overwhelming majority of those who miss the ship I say "oh well... To bad.. Be back on time"..

 

Medical emergencies and a catastrophic mechanical breakdown are the exception to the rule.. But the overwhelming majority of the folks who are late in my experience is because of their carelessness.

 

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Frequently it's shopping. Dithering about what to buy and getting into a long line to pay. I was on a tour bus that waited for two women who their friends said they were shopping. Our escort went and found them. They got on the bus upset at having to leave their purchases and threatening to write the tour company about the escort. Very loudly.

When it happened again the next day, after waiting 20 minutes, we left them. We were on the first week of a two week tour of the Alps.

We never saw the two ladies again.

We did leave their luggage in Strasbourg France.

I hope they got no refund.

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Here's a link to that post. Well worth reading. After a lot of early posts by others, the OP gets into the details around post #165.

Thanks for finding it. Well worth rereading!

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I was on a cruise that we had the same itineray as The Liberty of The Seas - We were at Grand Caymen tendered - the Liberty of the Seas pulled out early and asked our ships captain to bring a couple that was still on the dock to the next port since both ships were going to port at another island together again - a little while later we saw the Liberty do a turn around and come back - The Port Authority of Grand Caymen made the RCCL ship come back for them since they pulled out early. I have never seen this before, but I thought it was pretty amazing!

Hard to believe. That would mean your ship would have an extra stateroom to put them in, would have to feed them, and the people wouldn't have their toothbrushes, let alone anything else. When it was time to disembark the next day, the people wouldn't have a sea pass to check off your ship......the whole thing just wouldn't work. I wasn't there, so I have no idea what happened, but it just doesn't ring true.

No offense intended. Just having read so many threads about people complaining about cruises leaving from Ensenada here at CC that I figured that there was nothing near the actual ships port, that would distract people from starting their cruise. I guess there are some cruises along the west coast that are not the starting destination and are an actual stop, that was why I was surprised by MM's response. I have never been to Ensenada.

 

JC

Cruises don't originate in Ensenada.

"In the old days", RC's Hawaii cruises bussed people from San Diego to Ensenada to get around the PVSA, popularly (and inaccurately) known as the Jones Act.

Ensenada is a port of call on the short cruises out of LA. RC doesn't do it any more, but Carnival Corporation does.

Cruises don't originate in Ensenada.

 

"In the old days", RC's Hawaii cruises bussed people from San Diego to Ensenada to get around the PVSA, popularly (and inaccurately) known as the Jones Act.

 

Ensenada is a port of call on the short cruises out of LA. RC doesn't do it any more, but Carnival Corporation does.

Did it in 2004. Flew to Honolulu, boarded Serenade for a Hawaii cruise that ended in Ensenada. Arrived at O dark 30. Bussed to the US border where we had to get off the bus, collect our carryons, and walk through immigration before boarding the same bus to San Diego. Not the best way to end what was a wonderful cruise.

Did it in 2004. Flew to Honolulu, boarded Serenade for a Hawaii cruise that ended in Ensenada. Arrived at O dark 30. Bussed to the US border where we had to get off the bus, collect our carryons, and walk through immigration before boarding the same bus to San Diego. Not the best way to end what was a wonderful cruise.

That is what I remembered from the old days here at CC. Lots of unhappy people being bused over the border to start and end Hawaiian cruises. I remember lots of grumbling and bad things said about the entire process. Good to know that the port is not as bad as I had thought.

JC

Then there was the infamous cruise when the staff at the San Diego hotel failed to put the cruisers' luggage on that bus.

:o :o

That’s a shame

 

 

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Myth:

They don't throw Passports. Documents are left with cruise officials at the pier...

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No speed boats or water taxis.

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The most dangerous moment even for the Harbor Pilot is when he comes aboard.

They don't allow late passengers to enter the ship while it's moving. Too dangerous and liabilities. They have to re-board at the next stop....

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Here's a link to that post. Well worth reading. After a lot of early posts by others, the OP gets into the details around post #165.

This is excellent and worth the read. My advice, go to post #403 as the whole story is summarised their

Myth:

They don't throw Passports. Documents are left with cruise officials at the pier...

-

No speed boats or water taxis.

-

The most dangerous moment even for the Harbor Pilot is when he comes aboard.

They don't allow late passengers to enter the ship while it's moving. Too dangerous and liabilities. They have to re-board at the next stop....

 

 

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Myth. Ports have taken people out to ships after they've left. But they did stop moving.....

This is why I always book my excursions through the ship. I know I pay a little more, but it is for his piece of mind.

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Maybe they were Divorce papers. :D

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I have not been there, but what is in Ensenada that would keep anyone from being on the ship? I figure it was a crap hole, and that everyone could not wait to leave. Is it just cheap beer in a bar????? The best for me has always been in Cozumel, and the Spring break cruise there a couple of years ago was a classic. On TAs we have twice been last port of call at Madeira and one time on a Sunday when nothing was open, it was amazing how many people who would next see the ship in 6 days in Florida show up an hour after scheduled departure time. One of which was on our roll call. Classic. Doing a TA next October for the first time since 2009. There is only one port on the Symphony. People are talking about renting a car to go to Alhambra and I am like the ship doesn't hit land again for 10 days. Take a ships tour. I expect that will be a late departure, but I will be on the ship watching the pier...

 

JC

We did an excellent wineries tour in Ensenada. One place also produced olive oil and the other brandy. I ended up bringing home some wine and quite a bit of olive oil!

Myth. Ports have taken people out to ships after they've left. But they did stop moving.....

Agree, I have witnessed it one time.

JC

When on Grandeur I saw two passengers that missed the departure brought out in a small boat and loaded on board using the hatch and platform these use when doing tendering..

This is excellent and worth the read. My advice, go to post #403 as the whole story is summarised their

There are a lot of forum navigation bugs going on today, no jumping to a certain page.

If you book your tours with RCCL you are guaranteed not to be left behind. The ship is required to wait on all passengers on an official RCCL shore excursion.

Not true.

But if they leave without you, they are responsible to get you to the ship at the next port. All costs (air fare, hotels, meals, etc).

Also, once the lines are in, if the ship comes back to dock, they get to pay docking fees again.

And in many ports, they pay a per hour fee to dock, so staying late costs money.

No, they do not want to strand passengers, but there is a limit.

Is there a difference between normal time and ship time?

Is there a difference between normal time and ship time?

There can be a difference and you have to pay attention. I was once on a Freedom cruise that stayed on Eastern Standard time for the entire cruise. St Thomas and St Martin were on Atlantic time, which is an hour ahead. It was confusing. Always have a real watch. The time on cell phones and other devices doesn't necessarily match the official ship time, which is the only time that matters.

There can be a difference and you have to pay attention. I was once on a Freedom cruise that stayed on Eastern Standard time for the entire cruise. St Thomas and St Martin were on Atlantic time, which is an hour ahead. It was confusing. Always have a real watch. The time on cell phones and other devices doesn't necessarily match the official ship time, which is the only time that matters.

At least in that case, you would get back to the ship early. Cozumel was the one famous for pier runners when the ships stayed on local time (ships departing out of Florida) People would be in sight of the ship at Senor Frogs thinking they had another hour left and the ship would sound its horn causing a mad scramble.

I want to say that this post contains some awesome advice for all cruisers! Well done! And Thank you all!

 

1 - Carry the port agents phone number with you

2 - have a "standard" watch - set to ship's time

3 - if you're nervous about an excursion - stick to the cruise line's excursions - where there is some sort of guarantee - even if to meet up at the next port

4 - get back to the ship at least an hour before "all aboard" if you are on your own

 

and I would like to add - BE NICE! Karma will follow you, and if you are assuming the ship won't leave without you - oh, it will.....

 

Happy sailings everyone!

One more thing to add.... Always turn your Cell Phone settings to set the time Manually, not Automatically. Then set your cell phone to the correct time (ships time) and it won't update to local time.