Latest time to be on board leaving st. Thomas

[dis2cruise]

The Patter says we are in port 7 am to 4 pm so does the ship leave at 4 pm or we need to be on the ship by 4 pm?

[flamomo]

The ship departs at 4, so you will need to be back onboard by the time posted in the Patter and on the sign at the disembarkation point as you get off the ship.

[paul929207]

Normally, you need to be on board 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. So in this case, 3:30pm

[geoherb]

Although in some ports we've seen passengers madly running down the dock to make it before the gangplank is removed. I always aim to be back at least 90 minutes before sailing. The only time I've seen someone left behind was on a HAL cruise in Curacao. The woman ended up on the wrong side of the pontoon bridge. But I have heard them paging passengers over and over again. On our Star Princess cruise, we were a few cabins down from one of the cabin numbers that they had been paging. I noticed their mail piled up in their box, so they must not have made it back.

[Colo Cruiser]

3:30.

[Nukesailor]

If you are out on your own, keep in mind traffic in St. Thomas can be very heavy in the late afternoon. Don't cut the time too close. Also, bring your copy of the Patter for that day with you - it has the name and phone number of the Port Agent on it. Should you miss the ship, contact the Port Agent for assistance; that's what they're there for. They may even have your passport (if you haven't checked onto the ship by sailing time, ship security may be able to get into the safe in your room and deliver your passport to the agent).

 

A few years ago we left a lady at the dock in St. Thomas. She showed up in a taxi just as the ship was moving away from the dock (once they start moving, they will not stop or go back). Turns out she was shopping and lost track of time. Just before the ship left, her husband, who was on board, was given the choice of staying in St. Thomas to be with his wife, or staying on board. He elected to stay on board. Their reunion a few days later must have been interesting.:rolleyes:

 

Art

[fnewman]

On at least some Princess ships they have stopped announcing a departure time. Instead, they tell you when you are to be back on board and that the ship will sail "soon thereafter". They had to do that becuase some people tend to ignore that 'on board' time, figuring they have another 30 minutes.

 

P.S. - on a recent T.A. cruise, we know that at least one couple was left in the Azores becuase they did not return before sailing. Just before the gangway was pulled in, a staff member was seen handing thier passports to an on-shore official. Not a small error in this case because the next (and final) port was 5 days away! :eek:

[Essiesmom]

This young couple was very lucky in Grenada on Emerald Princess. They are sending the gangway back out for them.

 

EM

[Colo Cruiser]

This young couple was very lucky in Grenada on Emerald Princess. They are sending the gangway back out for them.

 

EM

 

 

So they still had lots of time then. ;)