Left Behind in Nassau on the Symphony of the Seas!

[Reader0108598]

40 minutes ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Best post to date in this thread. 👍

 

It's hard to have any empathy for late-returning passengers. While cases may vary, I'd bet lunch money 95%+ of the time it's because of self-induced lateness. A very few cases are because of return transportation delays. Everyone is told repeatedly when the ship departs and when passengers have to be back on board. The Compass also gives this information.

 

Have seen it on virtually every cruise - it's part of the "me generation" mentality that everyone else can wait for me, me, me to get back while I milk every last minute of my time off the ship. Gotta get those last half-dozen selfies...

 

What makes matters worse...is that many times those same people take their time lazily strolling back to the ship's gangway while the Captain is anxiously awaiting to depart...most don't even act as though they're in any hurry. We've even seen some laughing...like their extreme tardiness was a joke. If we had a nickel for every time we've seen that, we could pay for another cruise.

 

Our take is: leave the bozos behind and figure out how they're going to "fix" their own problem  that they created. My time and money is no less valuable than theirs.

 

Whew...felling so much better now... 

Agree would never laugh at or take pleasure in your pain  but come on people you were told repeatedly when to be back!!

[JillK]

56 minutes ago, South Shore 41 said:

I have a question - a bit off topic.  This is my first time cruising internationally.  The ship officers keep your passport when you leave the ship?  You do not take it with you?  

My first few cruises in the Caribbean back in the 1990's we (as Canadians - not sure if Americans did as well) did have to go through a process of dropping off our passports at the start of the cruise and then picking them up at the end. Before everything was digital I suppose it was the most efficient way to get everyone through passport control. 

 

We have been able to keep our passports for many years now but we did have a repeat of this handing in and picking up passports when we sailed on the Brilliance to the UK last year, and it was for everyone aboard regardless of nationality. Handed them over before making our first port and got them back toward the end of the cruise so it does still happen. The upside was that we got some great entry stamps!

[Gquie]

As part of the "me generation" I can attest that the majority of the folks in my cohort are very much entitled and don't appreciate that rules and policies apply to them. I cannot tell you how many times in my day to day that I hear the phrase "oh it won't happen to me" or "I'll talk my way out of it" or "it's fine they'll wait for us" or even "we can have another drink we'll only be 5 mins late". 

 

While I'm not saying that I know exactly the events that transpired here that caused this couple to be late, I have to say that even if it happened at no fault of their own, the rest of the guests onboard who were able to make it back on time should not be punished or inconvenienced either. A delay for whatever reason has downstream impacts that someone has to pay for in the end and the more the cruise lines enforce the all aboard time the more people will build the travel time and contingency time into their port day so they can get back on time. If this happened to me I'd think to myself "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" 

 

I have to admit that I was amused by the video but I'm also surprised at how well this couple handled the situation. There didn't seem to be any meltdowns or panicking and they seemed fairly composed. If I were to wager a guess I'd think that they fully expected this to happen and were already mentally prepared for it. 

[Snowbird_in_training]

Has anyone who missed the ship ever explained what they were doing to cause them to lose track of time?   I’d really like to hear that from the ones who missed the ship.  

[JTBCruiser]

Never seen anyone miss the ship as we have watched from our balcony but always ensure we are back at least 2 hours prior to the ship leaving.  We do realize traffic congestion is the know unknown and have been fortunate so far.

[Ourusualbeach]

2 hours ago, Snowbird_in_training said:

Has anyone who missed the ship ever explained what they were doing to cause them to lose track of time?   I’d really like to hear that from the ones who missed the ship.  

There was a thread on here a few tears ago about a father who missed the ship in Nassau.  He was looking for them at Atlantis not realizing they had already gone back to the ship.  

 

Found it.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2037767-i-missed-the-ship-last-week-allure-at-first-port-what-to-expect/

 

Edited February 18, 2019 by Ourusualbeach

[bakersdozen12]

On 2/17/2019 at 10:58 AM, Missymo said:

Alway take a copy or original passport when in Nassau if you want to get home quickly.  Shame these people thought they had all the time in the world.  Sucks. 

 

You cannot fly home on a copy of a passport. So there’s no reason to bring a copy with you. You would have to go to the nearest embassy to get a new passport and they don’t need to know your passport number to find you in the system. 

[jordanaire]

Once, we were getting ready to depart St. Thomas. The captain had blown the ship's horn several times, indicating our departure. We noticed these 2 college-age girls running towards the ship with arms full of bags. Suddenly, they ran into a gift shop. By now, the gangway had already been pulled in and the ropes as well. These girls came running out of the shop and ran into another shop! When the came out of this shop, the ship was several hundred feet from the dock and began turning to head out to sea. The girls finally arrived to where the ship was once docked, screaming and waving their arms. I didn't feel sorry at all for them, as they should have paid attention to the time and a little less shopping.

This was one of many times we've witnessed passengers being left behind.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

4 hours ago, Gquie said:

I have to admit that I was amused by the video but I'm also surprised at how well this couple handled the situation. There didn't seem to be any meltdowns or panicking and they seemed fairly composed. 

The meltdown came soon thereafter...at SeniorFrog's (bar) next to the Pier Area...and rumor has it...it wasn't pretty.

[hallux]

19 minutes ago, jordanaire said:

I didn't feel sorry at all for them, as they should have paid attention to the time and a little less shopping.

 

I wouldn't either.  They were already late, the ship was sounding a warning and they STILL made stops along the pier?  Yup, good luck getting to the next port ladies.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

42 minutes ago, bakersdozen12 said:

 

You cannot fly home on a copy of a passport. So there’s no reason to bring a copy with you. You would have to go to the nearest embassy to get a new passport and they don’t need to know your passport number to find you in the system. 

Not entirely true.  With a copy, you can get an expedited replacement passport so you can actually go home - that advice comes right from the local Passport office Director.

[AlanF65]

I think they confused my time dining with my time departure, both are MTD. One is rare, the other is common

[Reader0108598]

11 minutes ago, AlanF65 said:

I think they confused my time dining with my time departure, both are MTD. One is rare, the other is common

Ok I laughed at the comment and yes that was mean guilty as charged from an above post!

 

Edited February 18, 2019 by Reader0108598

[clean1owner]

18 hours ago, roadburner said:

True Story:

 

On our first-ever cruise, aboard the NCL MS Skyward in 1979, we sailed out of Miami.  Our first stop was San Juan PR where we booked a ships excursion (didn't know you could book independently) tour of the city of San Juan.  The only pier at that time was a wooden pier in Old San Juan.  On our tour were two couples traveling together who were on their own time.  If the guide said to be back on the bus in 30 min, they were 40 min.  This went on for all four stops until everyone else on the tour were totally fed up!  When the tour finally returned to the ship we didn't hesitate to board and eat dinner.  All aboard was 11:30 for sailing at midnight.  The DH & I were up on deck watching the pulling in of the pier structure, the lines and finally the gangway.  After the gangway was in the captain blew the horn to signal departure.  The doors of the casino at the end on the pier crashed open and the two always-late couples came running out.  By this time everyone on deck knew about them and most everyone on deck waved "good-bye".  They rejoined us the next day in St. Thomas and were never late again.  They also kept a very low profile.  This was before the computerized sea-pass cards and the crew had no way to know that not everyone was on board.  I don't think that the ship would have waited even had they known.

 

 

My first ever cruise was also on the Skyward! But in 1984.

 

We had a guy miss the ship in Cancun. Lucky for him the next stop was in Cozumel, so he was able to get a ride to Playa Del Carmen and then take the ferry to rejoin the ship. By the end of the day, I swear every other passenger on board knew who Roger was and that he missed the ship in Cancun. The Cruise Director razzed him pretty good, and when they announced we could get off in Key West, and what time to be back on board, the last thing they said was "Roger, are you listening?" Before leaving Key West, "Has anyone seen Roger?"

 

Roger had a great sense of humor and took it all in stride. 

[clean1owner]

4 hours ago, Snowbird_in_training said:

Has anyone who missed the ship ever explained what they were doing to cause them to lose track of time?   I’d really like to hear that from the ones who missed the ship.  

 

 

The guy who missed on my Skyward cruise took full responsibility. Was hanging out in one of the local clubs and simply lost track of time.

[pstone1]

On 2/17/2019 at 1:15 PM, Aquahound said:

I say this knowing full well I'm going against the grain, and I do have my flame retardant suit on (tailored that thing years ago here on Cruise Critic), but I do think its a little childish to laugh at people like this.  I'm not supporting them because they messed up, but they did have to learn their lesson the hard way.  

 

I'll admit....I've heckled pier runners before, but never those who totally missed the ship.  I just can't imagine taking a 6 minute video of someone like this, laughing at them on the video, and then posting it on social media.  

 

I know, I'm in the minority on this thread.  Let me have it.  

 

I also agree with Paul!  I try hard not to judge people without knowing the story.  An unfortunate way to end to a cruise.

[GetToLivin]

I feel so bad for them -- I can't imagine seeing the ship right there without any way to get on as you come to terms knowing you've blown it! Seriously my worst nightmare, which is why we leave to go back to port at least 2 hours before all aboard, my paranoia has kept us safe thus far 😎 

[rkkunk]

1 hour ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

The meltdown came soon thereafter...at SeniorFrog's (bar) next to the Pier Area...and rumor has it...it wasn't pretty.

Just curious as to how you know this. Were you on the Bliss and someone witnessed it? 

 

For the record, I would have had a meltdown right on the pier. 

[CRUISEFAN0001]

2 minutes ago, rkkunk said:

Just curious as to how you know this. Were you on the Bliss and someone witnessed it? 

 

For the record, I would have had a meltdown right on the pier. 

It was a rhetorical bit of humor.

 

People making poor choices don't deserve a meltdown for the consequences. Being on time results in no need for any meltdown.

Edited February 19, 2019 by CRUISEFAN0001

[rkkunk]

4 minutes ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

It was a rhetorical bit of humor.

 

People making poor choices don't deserve a meltdown for the consequences. Being on time results in no need for any meltdown.

Duh! Got it! 

 

We do book non-ship excursions sometimes and that always worries me a little. If we missed the ship because our excursion was delayed getting back somehow, I am sure I would have a little bit of a breakdown watching the ship pull away!

 

For an Alaskan cruise one time we were going to book an excursion on a float plane. The only time they had left was a late afternoon flight. They were reassuring us that we would make it back to the ship on time. We politely declined. Just made me too nervous.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

7 minutes ago, rkkunk said:

Duh! Got it! 

 

We do book non-ship excursions sometimes and that always worries me a little. If we missed the ship because our excursion was delayed getting back somehow, I am sure I would have a little bit of a breakdown watching the ship pull away!

 

For an Alaskan cruise one time we were going to book an excursion on a float plane. The only time they had left was a late afternoon flight. They were reassuring us that we would make it back to the ship on time. We politely declined. Just made me too nervous.

You make some valid points.

 

Now that we are more "experienced" cruisers...we have been primarily booking our own excursions every time.  We did so in December in Australia/New Zealand, and a couple years ago in the Western Mediterranean.

 

We have zero concern with using our own choices of reputable excursion companies. We've found them to be professional, very sensitive to punctuality to return to the ship, and often add great insights and information not found on "standard" excursions (and often less expensive ironically).

 

[davekathy]

Hope the took pictures of their ship leaving.  Pictures most of us never get. 

[cindivan]

Happened on the symphony December 28 in nassau as well. We were on the symphony and had left port at least 15 minutes and a couple comes running down the pier yelling at the ship, yelling at ferries to stop and (guessing) bring them to the ship. 

 

The traffic in nassau was horrible so we wondered if that was a part of it. Regardless, apparently everyone else was able to figure it out 

 

We felt bad for them, but would have been pretty mad (I’m sure along with a lot of other passengers) if we arrived late to MIA the next day and missed our flight because we waited for a couple late passengers. 

[clean1owner]

 

 

Reading this thread made me wanting some good humor, so the wife and I just spent 2 hours watching pier runner videos. 

 

Much better than anything on TV.

[tutzig]

5 hours ago, bakersdozen12 said:

 

You cannot fly home on a copy of a passport. So there’s no reason to bring a copy with you. You would have to go to the nearest embassy to get a new passport and they don’t need to know your passport number to find you in the system. 

 

Actually..

 

if you can get past customs at the foreign airport and get on the plane, a US citizen will not be refused entry. You will go through enhanced screening, but make it.

 

i know this from personal experience.

 

i wasn’t the one traveling without, but the travel agent who had to assist the clients that didn’t listen to my advice.