Pier Runners on Icon of the seas.

[Engineroom Snipe]

2 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Most people on this site show no mercy, when given a chance they will jump all over you. Sadly  par for the course on this site.  😞

 

I do not think many of them would say the same words directly to you in an environment such as the Crown Lounge.

 

But the anonymity of being behind a keyboard seems to make it happen more.

 

I notice the people who try to have conversation here more than I do the "hit and runs".

[time4u2go]

1 minute ago, smokeybandit said:

Clearly they did since they left the ship and port area. Maybe not a formal one but they did some type of touring.

How do you know they left the port area? 

[LEMJMcC]

Would it really matter if the ship was an hour or two late leaving port if the next day is a sea day?  If I was onboard, I probably wouldn't even notice that the ship was late leaving...arriving? yes, but not leaving.  And with the next stop being CoCo Cay, big deal!  I'd much rather give up an hour or two there (or even skip it altogether) than see someone's trip ruined.

Edited March 28 by LEMJMcC

[Engineroom Snipe]

2 minutes ago, LEMJMcC said:

Would it really matter if the ship was an hour or two late leaving port if the next day is a sea day?  If I was onboard, I probably wouldn't even notice that the ship was late leaving...arriving? yes, but not leaving.  And with the next stop being CoCo Cay, big deal!  I'd much rather give up an hour or two there (or even skip it altogether) than see someone's trip ruined.

Unfortunately, there are many moving parts.

 

Port fees are based on time at dock.

 

The dock might need to be cleared for another ship.

 

The harbormaster is normally reserved for a certain period of time and might be scheduled for another ship at a certain time.

 

Many variables involved in the decision.

[MiniChunks]

I really don't understand how anyone has sympathy for people missing the boat. When you step foot off the ship, and don't take an excursion with Royal, you're putting your fate in your own hands. If I leave the ship on my own, I plan to get back at least 2hrs before all aboard. That gives ample time for unforeseen issues, and if I don't make it back on time, I would expect to see the ship leaving without me. Royal can't sit around and wait forever for people who can't manage a clock. 

[time4u2go]

5 minutes ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

Unfortunately, there are many moving parts.

 

Port fees are based on time at dock.

 

The dock might need to be cleared for another ship.

 

The harbormaster is normally reserved for a certain period of time and might be scheduled for another ship at a certain time.

 

Many variables involved in the decision.

Also when they leave affects when they can open the shops and the casino onboard.

[LEMJMcC]

A statement made to me by someone to whom I was being rather hardhearted will haunt me for the rest of my life, "be kind".  Still hits me.  Kindness and sympathy are noble qualities that seem to be becoming more rare..

[bucfan2]

2 hours ago, blueslily said:

Ahhh. If they did not seem to be in a hurry to make it to the ship, I wonder if for some reason, their time was off by an hour. They arrived at 2:15 possibly thinking there were indeed on time? Just wondering since the above poster noted that no hurry was observed. 

Time change excuse wouldn't have worked....if anything, devices would have moved ahead an hour and they would have been early. 

[Dan83]

16 minutes ago, MiniChunks said:

I really don't understand how anyone has sympathy for people missing the boat. When you step foot off the ship, and don't take an excursion with Royal, you're putting your fate in your own hands. If I leave the ship on my own, I plan to get back at least 2hrs before all aboard. That gives ample time for unforeseen issues, and if I don't make it back on time, I would expect to see the ship leaving without me. Royal can't sit around and wait forever for people who can't manage a clock. 

No one is advocating that the ship wait on those that are late for whatever reason. It can’t. I’m just saying have a heart. Ship happens. 

[pcur]

2 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

No one here knows the story with those people. Am I surprised that some here have no sympathy? No, not surprised at all. It is a frequent occurrence with people here on CC on many different subjects. Those that actually enjoy seeing others in distress, whatever the reason may be and look at it as entertainment, what can I say other than it speaks volumes about yourself.

I agree: entertainment about someone else's misery is "bottom of the barrel" IMO.

 

I've experienced being panicked and stranded overnight at the end of a cruise, with a very sick husband.  Wouldn't wish that on anyone else, ever.

[bucfan2]

44 minutes ago, LEMJMcC said:

Would it really matter if the ship was an hour or two late leaving port if the next day is a sea day?  

And where would they draw 'the line'?  What if it was an hour or two plus only another 30min? Or four hours late...that's only a couple hours beyond the 'new' acceptable couple hours.  Airlines and trains hold to pretty tight departure times when able....are ships not afforded a schedule as well?  Let them incur expenses of additional port fees/increased fuel burn to make of time/etc due to stragglers?  I get the sentiment, but there's also practicality. 

Edited March 28 by bucfan2

[lovesthebeach2]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

In the end it's their fault, no matter the reason. They took a non-RC excursion and knew the risks.

How do you know they took a NON RC excursion? 

[lovesthebeach2]

45 minutes ago, LEMJMcC said:

Would it really matter if the ship was an hour or two late leaving port if the next day is a sea day?  If I was onboard, I probably wouldn't even notice that the ship was late leaving...arriving? yes, but not leaving.  And with the next stop being CoCo Cay, big deal!  I'd much rather give up an hour or two there (or even skip it altogether) than see someone's trip ruined.

Yes because of the port fees.  

[smokeybandit]

2 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

How do you know they took a NON RC excursion? 

Because they got left behind.

[lovesthebeach2]

41 minutes ago, MiniChunks said:

I really don't understand how anyone has sympathy for people missing the boat. When you step foot off the ship, and don't take an excursion with Royal, you're putting your fate in your own hands. If I leave the ship on my own, I plan to get back at least 2hrs before all aboard. That gives ample time for unforeseen issues, and if I don't make it back on time, I would expect to see the ship leaving without me. Royal can't sit around and wait forever for people who can't manage a clock. 

Using your logic:

so by “stepping foot” into your vehicle and having someone crashing into you causing you harm…..you dont want or need any “sympathy” or compassion for you since you “put your fate into you own hands” by “stepping foot” into your vehicle. Im a compassionate person and I would feel bad for you whether you caused the accident or someone else did.

[MiniChunks]

10 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

Using your logic:

so by “stepping foot” into your vehicle and having someone crashing into you causing you harm…..you dont want or need any “sympathy” or compassion for you since you “put your fate into you own hands” by “stepping foot” into your vehicle. Im a compassionate person and I would feel bad for you whether you caused the accident or someone else did.

 

This is not even a remotely a fair comparison. Nobody is subject to bodily harm, long term health issues or a lifetime of pain because they missed the ship. I would never wish pain, illness or even missing the ship on anyone. All I'm saying is that if you can't make it back to the boat on time, I'll sit on my balcony and waive with a drink in my hand while we pull away and still sleep like a baby at night. 

Edited March 28 by MiniChunks

[lovesthebeach2]

Just now, MiniChunks said:

 

This is not even remotely a fair comparison. Nobody is subject to bodily harm, long term health issues or a lifetime of pain because they missed the ship. I would never wish pain, illness or even missing the ship on anyone. All I'm saying is that if you can't make it back to the boat on time, I'll sit on my balcony and waive with a drink in my hand while we pull away and still sleep like a baby at night. 

Would you do that for members of your family too?  

[MiniChunks]

3 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

Would you do that for members of your family too?  

 

It wouldn't be fair to all the others if I didn't. 

[time4u2go]

23 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

How do you know they took a NON RC excursion? 

I wondered this too.  They may have taken an RC excursion that ended hours before the ship's scheduled departure, or they may have taken no excursion.

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, MiniChunks said:

I really don't understand how anyone has sympathy for people missing the boat. When you step foot off the ship, and don't take an excursion with Royal, you're putting your fate in your own hands. If I leave the ship on my own, I plan to get back at least 2hrs before all aboard. That gives ample time for unforeseen issues, and if I don't make it back on time, I would expect to see the ship leaving without me. Royal can't sit around and wait forever for people who can't manage a clock. 

Never mind.

[BillOh]

9 hours ago, JamesEM said:

Cozumel is the best port to watch pier runners.

Our best experience was also in Cozumel, we were on one side of the pier on Navigator with balcony facing the pier and Freedom was on the other side.   It was more than an hour after ALL ABOARD time and people were still casually strolling back. We would yell, "The ship is leaving" to the stragglers to get them to run.  Soon the deck crew would pretend to pull up the gangway to get people to move faster.   It was fun!

[lovesthebeach2]

10 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Never mind.

My bubble of positivity for compassionate humanity is still full….I have my rose colored glasses on 🤩

[fla33023]

Very disappointing for sure. I do wonder where they were though. The thinning crowds would have surely made me check and double check the time. 

[Mum2Mercury]

11 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I don't feel sorry for anyone who gets left behind. They knew the rules.

Yeah, it's sad for them, but the ship posts the sail-away time very clearly -- it's about personal responsibility.  

9 hours ago, JamesEM said:

Cozumel is the best port to watch pier runners.

It's easy to get the idea from these boards that every cruise has "runners".  Not so.  Most people are smart enough /responsible enough to get themselves back on time.  

Cozumel probably is the worst because they have so much shopping /drinking right by the docks ... and people get the idea "I'm only steps away from the ship".  

3 hours ago, Dan83 said:

Tough crowd. I feel bad when someone misses the ship whether it was their fault or not. You don’t know their story. They could have had something beyond their control or they could have been drinking at the bar two blocks away. Either way if there’s kids involved it wasn’t their fault. 

Eh, it's almost certainly their fault -- or at least their responsibility.  

If they'd been in an accident or been delayed in some way, they'd have been scooting to the ship as quickly as possible, knowing they were in trouble.  From the description, this sounds like a family that was unaware of the time.  And it sounds like sail-away was quite early for this port ... makes no sense if, indeed, their next stop were Coco Cay.  

2 hours ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

I always take a shockproof old school watch with me ...Missing the ship is one of my pet fears.

I have an analog watch /carabiner, which I keep clipped on to my backpack.  I wouldn't leave the ship without it.  

Missing the ship is NOT a big fear of mine.  Oh, don't get me wrong -- I prepare.  I have rules.  I have a back-up plan to get back to the ship (like cab money and Google Maps).  I don't allow my family to split up -- if we go into separate bathrooms, I say, we're meeting back on that bench.  But I'm not AFRAID of it because I allow more than enough time, and I am prepared.  

1 hour ago, Dan83 said:

I can’t go along with this either. The cruise lines sell so so many overpriced and over crowded excursions based on this scare tactic. 

Totally true.  In all the years I've been reading this board, I've only read about one excursion missing the ship, and that had to do with a rock slide that blocked the road ... not poor service on the part of the tour guide at all.  If private excursions weren't returning their passengers to the ship on time, they'd be out of business immediately.  

Consider who's operating the ship's excursions ... they don't send their own people off the ship.  They contract local tour guides.  

Consider, too, that the ship excursions DO NOT promise to get you back to the ship.  They promise to get you back to the pier.  In Cozumel, as discussed above, if they get you back to the ship and you hang around shopping and drinking, they'll leave you.  

55 minutes ago, MiniChunks said:

I plan to get back at least 2hrs before all aboard. 

Setting foot on the gangplank 2 full hours before sail-away is my comfort level too.  As you said, if something happens, that's enough time to regroup and get back to the ship.  

49 minutes ago, LEMJMcC said:

A statement made to me by someone to whom I was being rather hardhearted will haunt me for the rest of my life, "be kind".  Still hits me.  Kindness and sympathy are noble qualities that seem to be becoming more rare..

Kindness and sympathy are positive qualities, yes. 

But how about also being kind to the people who managed to follow the rules?  Let them move forward with their vacation as planned.  Don't add to their port fees or push the crew because of a few people who can't follow the rules.  

[chengkp75]

57 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

Yes because of the port fees.  

This is an urban myth, port dockage fees are generally for a 24 hour spot.