NCL leaves passengers behind in Africa

[we"reofftoneverland]

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Not if the bus hasn’t left yet lol

 

[DCLMP]

Late is late. If you don't get your application in by 5:00pm on the due date, as advertised , do you expect it to be considered? If you don't get to the restaurant by 9:00pm, the advertised closing time, do you expect to be seated?

The late passengers were not considerate of others- the passengers already aboard. the ship's crew. and the coast guard, among others.

You don't know the ship's operational statius. Had she already pulled in the floating dock used for tendering? What about the time and hazards of the crew responsible for tender operations? They can't likely be released from their duty station with the portal open. They likely have other duties besides tender operations.

The coast guard crew may not have thought much about what it might actually take to get aboard the cruise ship. Many of them likely had limited experience with cruise ships and tendering.

Climbing up a rope ladder along the hull of a ship is not easy. nor is it fof the weak or faint-hearted, even when the ship is at anchor. I've done it on many occasions. Ships pilots do it regularly with the ship underway. Unfortunately, some fall to their deaths, fairly regularly. It was unrealistic to expect the passengers to climb such a ladder. Yes. the ship could have delayed retracting the floating tender dock, or redeployed it. If that became "normal" operations, where does it stop? The cruise ship was being transparent about time.

Your seriously comparing a job application and eating dinner to being left in a foreign port? That's hardly the same thing. You got to do better than that.

 

[mjkacmom]

what is this climbing up the hull malarkey? I saw photos of where they were literally stopped from walking onto the ship. And we know they were late. Thanks for the info lol. But guess what? The ship was still there. Its anchor was still down. It would have been 5-10 minute deal to get them in the boat. It’s not missing a meal at a restaurant. What a weird comparison. And yes, when people can act like compassionate human beings regardless of the “rules,” I do expect that. This is real life, not some artificial monopoly game. As I pointed out, I’ve literally been on other cruise ships where captains have announced at ports that they are waiting on late people. And on two of those occasions it was one or two people, so it wasn’t for cruise line excursions. So it does happen. There are captains who are not automations.

The ship was a mile off shore, the passengers were more than an hour late. They would not be able to board without the tender platform being put back. There has been zero blame from these passengers regarding the excursion company, there has been zero reports of an accident, traffic, etc., making me believe that some of the passengers themselves caused the delay. Cruise ships will sometimes wait, even for those on private excursions, if they can. This is not a port that gets a lot of cruise ships, very likely this was the coast guards first experience with late passengers.

 

[mjkacmom]

Your seriously comparing a job application and eating dinner to being left in a foreign port? That's hardly the same thing. You got to do better than that.

How about getting to your airline gate after it has closed, and the plane is still there. That gate will not be opened.

 

[mjkacmom]

what is this climbing up the hull malarkey? I saw photos of where they were literally stopped from walking onto the ship. And we know they were late. Thanks for the info lol. But guess what? The ship was still there. Its anchor was still down. It would have been 5-10 minute deal to get them in the boat. It’s not missing a meal at a restaurant. What a weird comparison. And yes, when people can act like compassionate human beings regardless of the “rules,” I do expect that. This is real life, not some artificial monopoly game. As I pointed out, I’ve literally been on other cruise ships where captains have announced at ports that they are waiting on late people. And on two of those occasions it was one or two people, so it wasn’t for cruise line excursions. So it does happen. There are captains who are not automations.

Could you please show that photo? Because the closest they got to the ship was on the coast guard boat, there wasn’t a ramp.

 

[hrhdhd]

My feeling is the passengers were late at no fault of their own, but the tour operators. The captain also seems like a complete asshat if he knew the situation and the ship was still anchored. I feel like the NCL just wanted to make a point about taking non shipboard excursions. They make a huge profit on excursions because they charge 40% more than booking it on your own. Hopefully the cruise line settles and they are reimbursed for their out of pocket expenses. This story won't stop me from booking my own tours.

This reminds me of my students blaming everything but themselves for late work. The printer didn't work, my computer crashed, I didn't have any paper, blah blah.

When I have taken private excursions, I ensure that we'll be back by 2 hours before sailaway. And I have a watch to keep my eye on the time.

Ultimately, the cruisers were late . . . and it's their fault.

 

[DCLMP]

How about getting to your airline gate after it has closed, and the plane is still there. That gate will not be opened.

Better example, but now a days most flights are refundable or you will be accommodated on another flight or you can easily book another flight.

 

[DCLMP]

This reminds me of my students blaming everything but themselves for late work. The printer didn't work, my computer crashed, I didn't have any paper, blah blah.

When I have taken private excursions, I ensure that we'll be back by 2 hours before sailaway. And I have a watch to keep my eye on the time.

Ultimately, the cruisers were late . . . ansd it's their fault.

We were an hour late coming back from a DCL excursion because of an accident on a freeway. Sometimes things happen that are out of your control.

Have you never been late for anything because of circumstances beyond your control?

People have been left behind on ship excursions too. They just get their transportation to the next port paid for.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

How about getting to your airline gate after it has closed, and the plane is still there. That gate will not be opened.

There’s always another plane to get on and by the time the gate has closed they’ve already given your seat away anyway because planes overbook. So not really comparable.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Could you please show that photo? Because the closest they got to the ship was on the coast guard boat, there wasn’t a ramp.

Will try to find
Saw it when story first broke

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

The ship was a mile off shore, the passengers were more than an hour late. They would not be able to board without the tender platform being put back. There has been zero blame from these passengers regarding the excursion company, there has been zero reports of an accident, traffic, etc., making me believe that some of the passengers themselves caused the delay. Cruise ships will sometimes wait, even for those on private excursions, if they can. This is not a port that gets a lot of cruise ships, very likely this was the coast guards first experience with late passengers.

Still no excuse not to just let them on.
If the ship has left, fine. You missed it. But if the ship is still there and you’re in AFRICA and there is a paraplegic and a relatively large group of passengers trying to get on the ship? What is wrong with this captain? I still haven’t heard anyone answer why it is okay to pick up randos out of the ocean— sometimes diverting the ship to do so— but not let passing cruise passengers back on when they ship is there?! I mean it is mind boggling to me. The same argument can be applied to them. You shouldn’t be in the middle of the ocean, buddy. Should have planned ahead lol.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

This reminds me of my students blaming everything but themselves for late work. The printer didn't work, my computer crashed, I didn't have any paper, blah blah.

When I have taken private excursions, I ensure that we'll be back by 2 hours before sailaway. And I have a watch to keep my eye on the time.

Ultimately, the cruisers were late . . . ansd it's their fault.

Good grief. Take off the nitpicking teacher hat for a moment and realize that this is not the same thing as homework shenanigans.

 

[mjkacmom]

Better example, but now a days most flights are refundable or you will be accommodated on another flight or you can easily book another flight.

We fly united basic economy with backpacks, I think you can get a credit for your flight if you miss it or reschedule for $99. That’s the price we’d have to pay, but if we paid more for regular economy, it would be free. If these folks were on a more expensive ship excursion, the ship would’ve either waited or ncl would’ve arranged and paid for their return to the ship. Instead they had to pay their own way (and now are on the ship, they only lost 2 days and not the whole cruise).

 

[DCLMP]

Still no excuse not to just let them on.
If the ship has left, fine. You missed it. But if the ship is still there and you’re in AFRICA and there is a paraplegic and a relatively large group of passengers trying to get on the ship? What is wrong with this captain? I still haven’t heard anyone answer why it is okay to pick up randos out of the ocean— sometimes diverting the ship to do so— but not let passing cruise passengers back on when they ship is there?! I mean it is mind boggling to me. The same argument can be applied to them. You shouldn’t be in the middle of the ocean, buddy. Should have planned ahead lol.

My issue with the whole thing is the tour operators and passengers notified the cruise line and the emergency line. I have seen DCL wait well past the onboard time for straggling passengers. Every port I’ve been to they provide you with an emergency line if something should happen. Most cruise lines will do everything they can to make sure their passengers get back onboard. If they hadn’t contacted the ship that there was an issue I would side with the cruise line.

 

[DCLMP]

We fly united basic economy with backpacks, I think you can get a credit for your flight if you miss it or reschedule for $99. That’s the price we’d have to pay, but if we paid more for regular economy, it would be free. If these folks were on a more expensive ship excursion, the ship would’ve either waited or ncl would’ve arranged and paid for their return to the ship. Instead they had to pay their own way (and now are on the ship, they only lost 2 days and not the whole cruise).

Hardly the same thing. There’s plenty of flights to get on and you are not being stranded without your belongings.

 

[Mango7100]

My issue with the whole thing is the tour operators and passengers notified the cruise line and the emergency line. I have seen DCL wait well past the onboard time for straggling passengers. Every port I’ve been to they provide you with an emergency line if something should happen. Most cruise lines will do everything they can to make sure their passengers get back onboard. If they hadn’t contacted the ship that there was an issue I would side with the cruise line.

There’s also the whole aspect of NCL leaving a woman behind who had a medical emergency (stroke) while on a NCL excursion for medical care with the other passengers. Read an article where they interviewed the woman’s daughter. She has not heard from NCL at all. They never even told her that her mom was in the hospital.The first notification she got was one of the other stranded passengers calling her to say they were with her mom and they were all left off the ship.

This whole thing sounds a bit sketchy. I don’t buy the “but why should all the other passengers be inconvenienced to wait for late passengers”. The other passengers are already in the ship enjoying all the amenities (except maybe the casino). How are they inconvenienced by the ship waiting an hour? I would not even notice if I was on the ship except maybe glancing at my watch and thinking “huh guess there is a delay leaving, oh well” Would an hour cause them to miss a port the next day…hardly. It sounds like the captain wanted to make this group an example and scare people into only buying NCl excursions because “look this could happen to you”. But I think the publicity is more negative and just makes NCL look bad.

 

[hrhdhd]

Good grief. Take off the nitpicking teacher hat for a moment and realize that this is not the same thing as homework shenanigans.

It was a comparison, dude. And goes to show that unless someone learns that being on time is important, it'll bite him in the bum eventually.

 

[mjkacmom]

Hardly the same thing. There’s plenty of flights to get on and you are not being stranded without your belongings.

Unless there are not, my friend just spent the night at LGA on a chair with her husband and children. There’s usually last flights of the evening.

 

[mjkacmom]

My issue with the whole thing is the tour operators and passengers notified the cruise line and the emergency line. I have seen DCL wait well past the onboard time for straggling passengers. Every port I’ve been to they provide you with an emergency line if something should happen. Most cruise lines will do everything they can to make sure their passengers get back onboard. If they hadn’t contacted the ship that there was an issue I would side with the cruise line.

I actually call bs on the tour contacting ncl, at one point they said they sent emails. I believe there is a number for the port agent posted in the dailies, I assume he was called since ncl was kind enough to tender their passports to him. Passengers get left behind all if the time, since this crew is blaming ncl for following their well published policy and not the tour, I’m guessing the tour wasn’t actually at fault of they’re looking for more $.

 

[SteveMouse]

There’s also the whole aspect of NCL leaving a woman behind who had a medical emergency (stroke) while on a NCL excursion for medical care with the other passengers. Read an article where they interviewed the woman’s daughter. She has not heard from NCL at all. They never even told her that her mom was in the hospital.The first notification she got was one of the other stranded passengers calling her to say they were with her mom and they were all left off the ship.

This whole thing sounds a bit sketchy. I don’t buy the “but why should all the other passengers be inconvenienced to wait for late passengers”. The other passengers are already in the ship enjoying all the amenities (except maybe the casino). How are they inconvenienced by the ship waiting an hour? I would not even notice if I was on the ship except maybe glancing at my watch and thinking “huh guess there is a delay leaving, oh well” Would an hour cause them to miss a port the next day…hardly. It sounds like the captain wanted to make this group an example and scare people into only buying NCl excursions because “look this could happen to you”. But I think the publicity is more negative and just makes NCL look bad.

Actually, in quite a number of situations leaving on time is important for making the next port on time. Ships often take advantage (or need) tides to be at certain positions to navigate a channel safely. Currents can vastly improve or reduce fuel consumption. On the ship's revenue side, casinos and shops may be required to remain closed while in territorial waters, reducing revenue. Not to mention the frustration of passengers who are focused on gambling.

To my mind, we, as individuals have a responsibility to carry emergency contact info and have that readily available in case we become incapacitated. I have a medic alert bracelet and a wallet card with information. My backpack has a copy of the card in an inner compartment. My backpack has a tag on the outside that mentions the information cards and where to find them. I used to maintain a voicemail number that had a recording of my emergency contact information. Today, I have a web page.

When on travel, we usually have set check-ins with a point of contact via text or email to document status for cruises. Key points are going ashore and reboarding the ship. We share our detailed itinerary with friends and family so there's some knowledge of where we planned to be. We usually leave a copy on the desk in our cabin in case of emergency.