Family left in Ketchikan

[frank808]

Just found out from Captain Merick(sp?) On Radiance that a family of 5 was left in Ketchikan.  

 

He stated that he waited as long as possible for them as there were 2 children in that group.

 

Let's hope they make it to Icy Straight to catch up with the shop.

[cb at sea]

What is up with that?  I mean...how do you miss the ship?  I don't get it! Some people are operating in the ozone, I reckon.

 

[BirdTravels]

Don't know what the situation was here...

 

In most ports, it is self-important people who disregard all aboard times and think that the ship will wait for them. You see it on many shore excursions, so every one sits and waits and loses out on tour time. Captains should just wave bye bye to all of the pier runners.

[RSLeesburg]

Ouch.  Icy Strait Point is not very accessible to get to.  I would imagine they would need to charter a flight to reach there from Ketchikan.  

[reallyitsmema]

They can fly from Ketchikan to Juneau.  There are ferries from Juneau to Icy Strait Point but they probably would be best to wait for the ship to get to Juneau.

[Cyn874]

Frank, out of curiosity, how did you find out from the captain? Does the captain make a ship wide announcement when someone is left behind? I've only cruised a few times so I don't know if that's typical.

[GUEST71919]

I have no clue what happened and so I am not ready to condemn them without a great deal more info. I try to imagine what I would be feeling in such a circumstance and that makes me a little less anxious to sling arrows (I know, very un-CC of me 🤭).

 

Some of the most popular routes for tourist and excursions from there include going to the Yukon Territory. It’s a good distance from the port and there are a multitude of dangerous areas if you get far off the well-beaten path. My brother-in-law is from British Columbia, and travels a lot in and around that area, and he has told me that many tourist are killed and lost every year in Alaska and the Yukon. Hopefully they are all well and will be able to complete their vacation.

Edited July 15, 2019 by 2Beeze

[frank808]

17 minutes ago, Cyn874 said:

Frank, out of curiosity, how did you find out from the captain? Does the captain make a ship wide announcement when someone is left behind? I've only cruised a few times so I don't know if that's typical.

Capt Merrick told the 50 people at the top tier party about it.  He mentioned he waited as long as possible for them.  He did leave the dock almost 1 hour after all aboard.  

 

Usually I dont hear about it till later from a ships officer if I ask.  I guess because the top tier party was right after we left dock, the Captain explained why we left late.

[reallyitsmema]

17 minutes ago, Cyn874 said:

Frank, out of curiosity, how did you find out from the captain? Does the captain make a ship wide announcement when someone is left behind? I've only cruised a few times so I don't know if that's typical.

 

They will make announcements trying to find people.  They will sometimes announce that we are waiting for X amount of people so they are delayed.  Really depends on the Captain.  We were on one cruise that waited over an hour in Cozumel because an excursion bus to Tulum had a flat tire and they held the last ferry for those on that bus.  Since the ferry was held, hundreds of people were late getting back to the ship.

[frank808]

10 minutes ago, 2Beeze said:

I have no clue what happened and so I am not ready to condemn them without a great deal more info. I try to imagine what I would be feeling in such a circumstance and that makes me a little less anxious to sling arrows (I know, very un-CC of me 🤭).

 

Some of the most popular routes for tourist and excursions from there include going to the Yukon Territory. It’s a good distance from the port and there are a multitude of dangerous areas if you get far off the well-beaten path. My brother-in-law is from British Columbia, and travels a lot in and around that area, and he has told me that many tourist are killed and lost every year in Alaska and the Yukon. Hopefully they are all well and will be able to complete their vacation.

The most common point to enter the Yukon on a land excursion would be Skagway in my experience.  It is a pretty far flight to Yukon from Ketchikan on the map.  I guess you could drive but that would not be possible to get to Yukon and back with the 9 hours in port.

[reallyitsmema]

6 minutes ago, frank808 said:

The most common point to enter the Yukon on a land excursion would be Skagway in my experience.  It is a pretty far flight to Yukon from Ketchikan on the map.  I guess you could drive but that would not be possible to get to Yukon and back with the 9 hours in port.

 

I agree, Skagway was definitely where people did excursions to the Yukon.  Ketchikan is too far away for anyone to try that.

[smplybcause]

19 minutes ago, frank808 said:

The most common point to enter the Yukon on a land excursion would be Skagway in my experience.  It is a pretty far flight to Yukon from Ketchikan on the map.  I guess you could drive but that would not be possible to get to Yukon and back with the 9 hours in port.

 

Ketchikan is on an island, so driving is not possible. They'd have to take a boat or flight to the mainland to then go to BC. I didn't see any excursion doing that when I was in Ketchikan, but I could have missed it as that would likely be a $$$$$ excursion and I was a $$$ and below on my cruise. 

[GUEST71919]

@reallyitsmema and @frank808  true enough - my main points were less about exactly where they went but instead that (a) it’s too early to judge and (b) there are many far flung places in that area, some of which are quite dangerous. Nighty night!

 

Frank - say hello to our family there in 808 - 90% of my husband’s family remain there 😊

Edited July 15, 2019 by 2Beeze

[Tljcruiser]

On our Radiance cruise last month a couple was late arriving back on board in Skagway.  The captain not only announced that we were waiting on 2 people who were late returning, but when they did finally show up he made a ship wide announcement that it was nice for John and Jane (can't remember their names) to join us.  The next day he made another funny comment stating their first names again something along the lines of we will be leaving at XXX time assuming John and Jane can make it back to the ship on time.  He did not sound assumed when he said it! Maybe his way of shaming them to teach them a lesson??  I am sure that waiting on people who can't make it back to the ship when they are supposed to gets old week after week.  

[jodyndavid2004]

He’s the best Captain trust me I’m sure he did wait long as he could. That Captain is definitely a people person he had a passenger pass away and we was  two hours out of Galveston and he returned to the dock instead of the three days to San Juan keeping the family in mind. You can tell by the crew he’s a great Captain 

[Merion_Mom]

4 hours ago, frank808 said:

Just found out from Captain Merick(sp?) On Radiance that a family of 5 was left in Ketchikan.  

 

He stated that he waited as long as possible for them as there were 2 children in that group.

 

Let's hope they make it to Icy Straight to catch up with the shop.

 

3 hours ago, frank808 said:

Capt Merrick told the 50 people at the top tier party about it.  He mentioned he waited as long as possible for them.  He did leave the dock almost 1 hour after all aboard.  

 

Usually I dont hear about it till later from a ships officer if I ask.  I guess because the top tier party was right after we left dock, the Captain explained why we left late.

 

Captain Marek Slaby

[eddeb]

go to youtube. punch in pier runners and missed the ship.

when we are in cozumel it is a sporting event to watch all

the drunks running and the captain sitting on his horn

like a cabbie in  nyc. it seems it is happening more and more

with self absorbed cruisers...

[papaflamingo]

Not sure it's "happening more and more," but it does seem to be picking up a bit.  In the old days (we started cruising in 1998), they didn't have the computer boarding systems so the really didn't know who was not on board.  Seem people missed the ship on many cruises back then.  I remember watching pier runners in nearly every port, especially those with lots of bars.  Today they know.  And in the old days the ship didn't wait at all unless it was for a ship sponsored tour.   But today they seem to wait as much as possible, and they call the police, hospitals, and cab companies (at least some of the Captains do that) to see if they can find the passengers and how far out they might be. So if you ARE going to be late, take the number given at each port and be sure to call or have the driver you're with call, to let them know you're coming. 

It costs a lot of money to make up for delays. People don't realize that.  The ship needs to get back on schedule and it can cost thousands of dollars in fuel money to run faster.  

Edited July 15, 2019 by papaflamingo

[birdylady]

LOVED Capt Marek.  He had great announcements each day.  Whether wishing different crew members a happy birthday or as another person mentioned, welcoming back Jane and John after their much needed extra shopping time while he delayed departure.   And that was followed the next day suggesting they get their shopping done early the next day or they were welcome to meet up with the ship in the next port, home port. LOL  Then we found out that we would be getting escorted into the home-port after a different ship as the harbor master changed the order.  Needless to say, he wasn't happy about it. He even went to the disembarkation area an apologized to passengers and thanked them for sailing.  Definitely one of my favorite captains.

Hoping the family are safe and sound whether whatever the reason.
Erika

[spookwife]

9 hours ago, 2Beeze said:

I have no clue what happened and so I am not ready to condemn them without a great deal more info. I try to imagine what I would be feeling in such a circumstance and that makes me a little less anxious to sling arrows (I know, very un-CC of me 🤭).

 

Some of the most popular routes for tourist and excursions from there include going to the Yukon Territory. It’s a good distance from the port and there are a multitude of dangerous areas if you get far off the well-beaten path. My brother-in-law is from British Columbia, and travels a lot in and around that area, and he has told me that many tourist are killed and lost every year in Alaska and the Yukon. Hopefully they are all well and will be able to complete their vacation.

ran into a CG officer once who used to be stationed up there.  he said cruise passengers on their own are notorious for  getting into scrapes that require rescue and for missing the ship due to poor time management skills.  

[Snit13]

Been 10 or more years since we spent 2 nights in Ketchikan.  I don't recall much to do or see there except cruise line sponsored jewelry stores.  Hope the family is ok.  We did a fishing charter while there and walked around, stopped for a few adult beverages and had lunch/dinner.  What else was there to do?  

 

Had ship held for over an hour when 2 bus loads on ship sponsored tour in Patagonia were late due to some private tour vehicle getting stuck and blocking road.  We all got a big cheer.  Some  ship officers were on the bus with us and I guess they were needed back on ship so captain and passengers waited for us.

[Joseph2017China]

People who are normally late for everything in life will not change once on the ship.  They just don't get it.  They have no problem expecting others to wait for them.  Many people are like that.  It's very common.  So the best way to handle it is start without them, leave them behind and let them figure it out.  Hopefully this is just a careless act and not some injury or bad thing.  Most likely, it is carelessness and they will learn a lesson.

[Lady Hudson]

Hope all is well with the family.

[GUEST71919]

42 minutes ago, spookwife said:

ran into a CG officer once who used to be stationed up there.  he said cruise passengers on their own are notorious for  getting into scrapes that require rescue and for missing the ship due to poor time management skills.  

I am sure there are many like that! 😊  But I think that basic empathy should allow us to not make that assumption without more information. There are a lot of irresponsible people, but there’s other things that can happen. Instead of allowing for that possibility so many people with zero real information conclude that those cruisers are just jerks. I don’t know a whole lot about the statistics on pier runners, but I do know a lot about human behavior, and it seems to me fair to at least not immediately jump to the worst opinion of them. I don’t quite understand why so many can’t at least consider the other option.

Edited July 15, 2019 by 2Beeze

[CRUISEFAN0001]

10 hours ago, smplybcause said:

 

Ketchikan is on an island, so driving is not possible. They'd have to take a boat or flight to the mainland to then go to BC. I didn't see any excursion doing that when I was in Ketchikan, but I could have missed it as that would likely be a $$$$$ excursion and I was a $$$ and below on my cruise. 

Ketchikan is a very small port stop...so it's really difficult to understand how anyone could be so late to return - the ship docking area is close to virtually 90% of any shore activities.

 

Hopefully there is nothing serious that caused their delay - getting to another stop will be a challenge and likely very expensive.