Will the ship wait for me?

[cdngrl]

i'm not very patient, i don't think i'd like to be the captain and make that call. i'd leave on time ready or not.

[m steve]

once in St. Martin as the rental car place was outside the pier and a long run w/ our boxes and again in St. Thomas where we hit a traffic jam and a 30 minute drive took 2 hours. We just dumped the car and called the agency to pick it up. They were paging us and another couple at 4:30 as we ran down the pier.

[rlmosher]

I was on a Carnival cruise in April 04, in St Martin. The ship had pulled away and was on its way. A small boat with flashing light was racing towards the ship. As it got close I saw it was the harbor patrol. The boat pulled up next to the ship with a woman on board. The side door opens and they tie a rope around the woman and pull her up and in. The ship moved along as if nothing had happened. All of the folks watching gave her a big cheer as she was hoisted up.

[rjm1cc]

Interesting. I guess the one thing I do not enjoy about crusing is having to get back to the ship on time. That is why I almost always use the ships tours.

[ActiveTraveler]

Interesting. I guess the one thing I do not enjoy about crusing is having to get back to the ship on time. That is why I almost always use the ships tours.

 

I was thinking the same thing, but then I started reading threads about how awesome a few Italian private tour companies are. The people who raved about those companies on the Italy Ports forum kept saying how they are better than ship tours because cars can go to the front door and other places buses are too big to reach so you can see more. I thought hiring a private tour company is a no-brainer after reading all that and how tours in a private car also are more personalilzed. But if I have to choose between on my own and a ship tour (Rome In Limo obviously is not everywhere), I will look into the ship tour options. Let me know if you think the ship tours are worth the amount of money spent - some people said they are overpriced and private tours are much cheaper.

[Aussie Gal]

Last month, we were on the Ocean Princess a couple were late back to the ship in Spanish Morocco (Ceuta) which is a small port and not one that you can really get lost in.

 

Captain Ravera did wait for them, over an hour, for a couple of reasons I suspect. One was that we didn't have a long way to get to our next port which was Cadiz. Secondly, we had put our watches forward the night before we docked in Ceuta so they could have got the time wrong and thirdly the most important reason I suspect, was that they had left their only child behind on board, a little girl of about 5 years.

 

They were always late getting back but never as late as this time.

 

Jennie

[Pam in CA]

I was on a Carnival cruise in April 04, in St Martin. The ship had pulled away and was on its way. A small boat with flashing light was racing towards the ship. As it got close I saw it was the harbor patrol. The boat pulled up next to the ship with a woman on board. The side door opens and they tie a rope around the woman and pull her up and in. The ship moved along as if nothing had happened. All of the folks watching gave her a big cheer as she was hoisted up.

I've seen this happen several times. The people who board the ship this way pay mucho $$$ to risk their necks. It's not an easy transfer and almost impossible for someone who isn't agile.

 

I was thinking the same thing, but then I started reading threads about how awesome a few Italian private tour companies are. The people who raved about those companies on the Italy Ports forum kept saying how they are better than ship tours because cars can go to the front door and other places buses are too big to reach so you can see more. I thought hiring a private tour company is a no-brainer after reading all that and how tours in a private car also are more personalilzed. But if I have to choose between on my own and a ship tour (Rome In Limo obviously is not everywhere), I will look into the ship tour options. Let me know if you think the ship tours are worth the amount of money spent - some people said they are overpriced and private tours are much cheaper.

I frequently take ship's tours but I've taken some private tours that have been outstanding. If your port is Naples, Cannes or Monaco, Revelation Tours is fabulous. (http://www.revelation-tours.com/cruise-passengers/) You'll see a lot more in less time for a lot less $. On our tour, we were tendering in Monaco and had the owner as our driver. He timed our stops so we were in Monaco for the last two hours, plenty of time to see the palace, cathedral, and casino, and get back to the dock.

 

Same thing for "Driver in Rome" (http://www.driverinrome.com/civitavecchia-shore-excursions-rome-italy.html) I've used them several times in Rome and a couple of times in Florence. In Rome, I picked their "Rome What You Wish" twice and it worked out very well. We put together a list of the sights we wanted to see and the driver planned a route and timing. They met us right at the gangway so it couldn't have been easier.

[Loonbeam]

I know the ship offers day care, but to me, if I am cruising with kids (if we had any) they are part of the excursions too..

 

I know is strictly an anecdotal case with no details, but constantly late people who leave their kids in the hands of other people on vacation do not sit well with me.

 

Regarding the video linked above. I did some rough math back when I first saw it. Based on physics and the shape of the ship, slowing it to a stop and reversing would take about 2.4 times as much energy/fuel as pulling out (assuming a flat aft). That would cost a LOT of money. Realistically, once the ship has been moving for more than a minute or two, a small boat is the only option to catch up.

 

 

 

 

Last month, we were on the Ocean Princess a couple were late back to the ship in Spanish Morocco (Ceuta) which is a small port and not one that you can really get lost in.

 

Captain Ravera did wait for them, over an hour, for a couple of reasons I suspect. One was that we didn't have a long way to get to our next port which was Cadiz. Secondly, we had put our watches forward the night before we docked in Ceuta so they could have got the time wrong and thirdly the most important reason I suspect, was that they had left their only child behind on board, a little girl of about 5 years.

 

They were always late getting back but never as late as this time.

 

Jennie

[rdsqrl]

Last month, we were on the Ocean Princess a couple were late back to the ship in Spanish Morocco (Ceuta) which is a small port and not one that you can really get lost in.

 

Captain Ravera did wait for them, over an hour, for a couple of reasons I suspect. One was that we didn't have a long way to get to our next port which was Cadiz. Secondly, we had put our watches forward the night before we docked in Ceuta so they could have got the time wrong and thirdly the most important reason I suspect, was that they had left their only child behind on board, a little girl of about 5 years.

 

They were always late getting back but never as late as this time.

 

Jennie

And this is where they would have totally lost me. I'm sure the fact that they left their kid onboard/short distance to travel coming in second/ is why the captain decided to remain, but he really should have just left them. Being consistently tardy is unacceptable; a complete lack of consideration for others that needs to have consequences. They should at least have been charged for that extra hour of waiting, even if the ship didn't incur any additional fees.

[Av8tor]

The only guarantee that the ship will wait for you is if you are the CAPTAIN!!!!! :D

[Pam in CA]

The only guarantee that the ship will wait for you is if you are the CAPTAIN!!!!! :D

Not quite. :) I was on a cruise when the new Captain was flying in and was delayed by weather. He caught up with the ship at the next major port, a few days later. :)

[hughdm]

once in St. Martin as the rental car place was outside the pier and a long run w/ our boxes and again in St. Thomas where we hit a traffic jam and a 30 minute drive took 2 hours. We just dumped the car and called the agency to pick it up. They were paging us and another couple at 4:30 as we ran down the pier.

I think I remember you!:eek:

[Buddy604]

The only guarantee that the ship will wait for you is if you are the CAPTAIN!!!!! :D

Nope! I was on the Golden last year for her last Hawaii trip before drydock. A new captain was scheduled to board and the old captain head off on vacation. The new captain missed his flight so the old captain took us to Hawaii where the new captain joined the ship and took over. :p

[rugbypopsie]

Planes dont wait, trains dont wait, why would anyone expect that a ship would?

 

That said, I think there is a lot of scare mongering to convince people to take the overpriced ships tours. It perfectly safe to do your own thing as long as you allow a suitable amount of time before sailaway in case you are delayed for any reason.

[Av8tor]

Pam & Buddy,

 

The fellow they didn't wait for was A Captain, not THE Captain!!! ;)

 

He's not THE Captain until he's physically there and assumes COMMAND from the out-going Captain. There is only ONE Captain of the ship and if he got off at a port, I don't think they can legally leave without him.

[Pam in CA]

Pam & Buddy,

 

The fellow they didn't wait for was A Captain, not THE Captain!!! ;)

 

He's not THE Captain until he's physically there and assumes COMMAND from the out-going Captain. There is only ONE Captain of the ship and if he got off at a port, I don't think they can legally leave without him.

Got it. I just remember all the jokes onboard about the ship not waiting. :)

[Nancyquilts]

The only guarantee that the ship will wait for you is if you are the CAPTAIN!!!!! :D

Actually, I have heard that the only indispensable person that they wait for is the doctor.

[Pennyscandy]

DH and I along with 2 couples were on our balconies watching the crew pull up the gang planks. They then untied the ropes and here comes a young couple running towards the ship. They ran to the second gang plank and the woman looked like she was going to jump, the dock worker stopped her then extended a hand and helped her on the floating dock. The man jumped. We thought all was well. Then they re-appeared and we helped to the pier. The woman looked upset. Two men came over and talked to them as we pulled off. Days later we saw them in the elevator and they told us they were on their honeymoon. They said they were not allowed on the ship because the ship had been untied. They took a taxi to Dublin. The woman said she had spent too much time in the gift shop on the pier. Her husband was very calm, but like I said they were honeymooners. A story for their grandchildren!

[billie5]

Husband has learned an important lesson toward improving their relationship: set wife's watch ahead one hour.

 

Bill:)

[Pam in CA]

DH and I along with 2 couples were on our balconies watching the crew pull up the gang planks. They then untied the ropes and here comes a young couple running towards the ship. They ran to the second gang plank and the woman looked like she was going to jump, the dock worker stopped her then extended a hand and helped her on the floating dock. The man jumped. We thought all was well. Then they re-appeared and we helped to the pier. The woman looked upset. Two men came over and talked to them as we pulled off. Days later we saw them in the elevator and they told us they were on their honeymoon. They said they were not allowed on the ship because the ship had been untied. They took a taxi to Dublin. The woman said she had spent too much time in the gift shop on the pier. Her husband was very calm, but like I said they were honeymooners. A story for their grandchildren!

I feel badly for them but not sympathetic. There are laws and regulations they would have violated, not to mention being a lawsuit waiting to happen should they have been hurt. The ship was absolutely in the right to deny them boarding. They could have paid to be boarded via the pilot boat but that would have been very expensive. Lesson learned: leave a good margin of time for getting back to the dock and the ship.