Cruise leaves you in an island?

Question

I'm taking a first cruise soon, and I've heard some people say they were left behind and they saw their cruise leaving. I'm so nervous, since the countries I'm going have different time, and I wanna be prepared. So, What could u do if a cruise leaves you in an island or country? where do you go and what do you do? Remember you only have a picture ID and your sail and sign card!

Answer 1

First of all you need to just go ahead an get a passport so that you have all of the proper ID to get into the US.  Right now if your cruise leaves from a US port you don't need a passport, but starting in January 2008 you will need one regardless of how you go out of the country.  The passport will save you a lot of hassles in the long run and is good for 10 years.

Second, cruise lines generally go out of their way not to leave passengers.  If you go on a tour sponsored by the ship they will not leave you even if the tour is late getting back to the ship.  I experienced this on a cruise last year; we got back 1 hour late.  The people who get left behind are those who go off on their own, either just bumming around, or by getting a local taxi or tour and don't make it back in time.  The ships also make a concerted effort to make sure that you know the local time.  They tell you the night before when there is a time change and remind you when you leave the ship.  They pass our fliers of information about the port stops and it tells exactly what time you are to be back on board and what time the ship sails.  People who get left behind are just not paying attention and/or are too drunk to know and/or just don't care when they are late.  Yes the ships will leave you if you are not back.

Review the listing of tours offered on your cruise and decide whether you want to pay for a tour or go on your own.  On most Caribbean islands you can get a taxi or tour in port for much less than the cruise ship tours.   HOWEVER, the one big advantage of going on ship sponsored tours is THE SHIP WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU if your ship sponsored tour is late getting back to the ship.  If you will be in a port for 12 to 16 hours you are probably safe to go on your own for most anything.  But if you are only there for six to eight hours you may want to stay close to the ship or go on the ship tours.

Check out the web site below and go ahead and order  a passport.

Answer 2

Wear a watch, and if its the tours fault that is preventing you from making the ship the ship will wait, and more then likely you wont miss the ship if you are on a tour and if you are out and about yourself then watch the time but usually you are there a long time and you would call and go to a travel agent but thats just rare cases. Dont woryr everything will be fine. Just wear a watch and you should be fine or have your cell phone on or something but you will be fine.

Answer 3

First, if you are a US citizen, you should get a passport, not just a photo ID.  By next year you won't be able to get back in to the country at all without it (I think cruise ships & land travel are the only things exempt from the current rule).  Make sure you take a watch or phone with an alarm setting, before you leave the ship makes sure the time matches the ships, and then set the alarm with plenty of time to get back to make sure you're on that ship at the right time.  If somehow you don't make it back, hunt down the US embassy or consulate.

Answer 4

Here are some tips I have given to first time cruisers.

Always set your watch by ship time as that's the time everything goes by. That way you KNOW the time to get back and not try the "need to take an hour off the actual time, etc.

The second is as a first time cruiser, if you go on a shore excursion, book the excursion through the cruise line. They make sure you get to where you are going and back to the ship in time. If for some reason you are delayed, the shore excursion notifies the ship that it is delayed and they hold the ship and also know who is on the excursion.

If you go on a shore excursion that gets back way before the ship is leaving the port, take the time between the shore excursion and the time the ship leaves to shop close to the port (about every port is right within shopping areas). That way you won't be delayed long with traffic if having to take a cab, etc. Also, you can check with cruise line employees that are at the ports about the time (ask them when you go to shop how much time you have and if you can get to a certain shopping area and back within that time (they all have shopped there numerous times and know what it will take)).

Also, they will hold the ship for awhile for passengers. I've been on cruises that we've all looked over the rail on the top deck jeering the people coming back into the dock after the departing time...hahaha

Now, if the worse case happened and you got really delayed and the ship did in fact leave. Go to the airport and get the next flight to the next island (that you can make it to on time, that is) that the ship will be porting at. When you get to the island, go to the port and check back in the ship. Your ship Sail and Sign card is your proof that you are registered as a passenger on that cruise and your ID is still valid. Some have actually skipped islands doing this (of course they tell the cruise they are doing this ahead of time so they don't wait!) and spent an extra day at another island. It's rare, but is done.

Answer 5

Set your watch to cruise ship time.

If you book shore excursions through the cruise line and your tour is running late, they will notify the ship.

However, most of the cruise operators will shorten up your tour in order to get you back to the ship in time.

If you are on your own, just manage your time and return to the ship no later than 90 minutes before sail time.

We were on the Carnival Conquest last week.  We were running late from our tour and got back to the dock 15 minutes before the last tender.  There were over 750 guests waiting in line to tender back to the ship.  The ship delayed sailing about an hour until all of the guests were tendered back to the ship.

Answer 6

They will get you back to your ship at a price to you and just remember don't be late at the dock they don't wait.

Answer 7

Make sure you know what time it is when you leave the ship and adjust your watch accordingly.

If you miss your ship, you catch up on the next stop.

That's not going to happen because you are aware that you will be traveling in different time zones.

Relax and start packing.

Have a wonderful cruise

Answer 8

If you go on the cruise ships excursions they know where you are and will not leave the island without you

Answer 9

Of course you could be left behind but only if you go out on your own and don't come back on time. However if possible the ship will wait for you or inform the local ship's agent. He will be waiting for you and have your passport. Expect to pay the expenses to catch up with the cruise yourself.

I have been working on cruise ships for over 9 years and I've seen it happen several times. But if you join an excursion organized by the cruise line the ship will wait for you. Although I know it happened once that the excursion was late and the ship had to leave port due to low tide. The ship contacted the tour guide and the ship's agent waited on the pier with the passports. The cruise line organized transportation to the next port of call and a hotel.

DO NOT adjust your watch to the local time but keep ship's time, setting it to local time will only confuse you.

Bring a DAILY PROGRAM with the schedule for the day. It will tell you what time to be back onboard and often will have the contact details for the local ship's agent and/ or the phone number of the ship.

Take a copy of your passport with you when ever you leave the ship.

Any ship will ask you to be back onboard about 60 minutes before the ship actually sails.

Answer 10

No, that is not something to worry about. You are given the exact time when the ship leaves so you will have plenty of time to get back. I have been on 5 cruises and I never once heard of anyone being left behind.

If for some weird reason it does happen, contact the American Embassy. You will have your passport with you.