What happens if you are late for your cruise

[roadtowhoknowswhere]

DD has just returned from a cruise around the Caribbean.
On the second to last day 6 people were not back in time. Told to be back at 3.30pm.
DD said that they were running down the pier at 5pm and the ship had already pulled away.
Just wondering what will happen to those people. Do they get taken to the next place or what.

If you miss it, you miss it. You have to make your way to the next port of call, at your own expense. It is made abundantly clear what the timings are and that the ship is unable to wait for late comers. They will hang on until the last possible moment, but that’s it.

No, they can rejoin the cruise if they get to the next port at their own expense. The only time a cruise ship will wait is if it is an excursion run/ organised by the cruise line. Hence the excursions are more expensive than doing your own thing but you have that safety factor/ piece of mind.

Plus it is made quite clear what the last boarding time is and the ship won't wait. The 'daily newsletter' on board, announcements, signs as you leave the ship and scan your cruise card. When the ship's excursions are sold they stress 'the peace of mind that the ship will wait'.

People are so stupid. I’ve never been on a cruise and even I know don’t be late! It’s like a plane, it isn’t going to wait for you.

You have to pay to reach the next stop, though if it was an organised tour the cruise company would make those arrangements. The cruise company is used to dealing with these problems

Another reason not to use a floating hotel!

What do you mean? Do you mean that the ship should wait an extra 90 minutes, inconveniencing everyone on board because a few people can't be arsed to follow the time schedule that has been made abundantly clear?

You have to swim out and catch the ship up 😆 seriously though, why cant people just abide by the rules like most people? Its the same at airports, how many times do they tannoy "final call for Mr&Mrs Bloggs"
When they are just roaming around the duty free totally oblivious. These kind of people should be blacklisted by the airline/shipping companies 😬

This happened to a couple in Belgium when I was on a cruise.
We were in the same facebook group and they were giving a minute by minute account of their journey to try and get to the port in time. Unfortunately they didn’t make it and had to make their own way back to Southampton port where their belongings had been packed and stored for them.

I have absolutely no sympathy for these complete idiots

Strange take!
It's a reason to be on time and follow the guidelines you were informed of well in advance.

I'm glad the cruise line don't ruin or delay my holiday for idiots.

Why? Just return on time.

Wow, won’t all their personal stuff like passport’s etc be in their rooms?
I get it though, how long do they expect you to wait?

The whole 15:30/5:30 confusion. Can see how it might happen.
Takes me back to the time I went on a very memorable first (and last) Caribbean cruise at (almost) 21 with my 17 year old friend who was absolutely wild. There was no stopping her and she used to lead me astray. I was a last minute replacement for her sibling. She disappeared off with some bloke in Jamaica and came careering down the pier on the back of a moped at the last possible moment. I’d been rehearsing how I was going to explain her disappearance to her parents and grandparents over dinner. 😱

You may be able to travel at your own expense to the next port. How easy this will be if it’s in another country and your passport is still on the ship is another question!

This has never happened on the cruises I’ve been on but my mum and dad have had that same experience, seeing someone sauntering along the pier as the ship moved off.

Passports are handed to the port authority staff. The latecomers are then provided with them and general travel advice to help them get to the next next port and meet up with the ship.

I think there are quite a few videos in YouTube if people missing their boats. Is there a name for it (can't remember just now)

I've always thought who has the audacity to be late

YouTube is full of videos of people running down docks, late for their ship.
Also people sauntering down docks, late for their ship.

If I were on said ship, on time, I'd be annoyed that eg I might miss a sunset view dinner because the ship was still moored up waiting for idiots

This.

You generally take your passport with you, as you have to go through immigration and customs at the port when you get off.

Pier runners. Lots of videos on YouTube

We were cruising in Alaska and the departure time from one of the ports was 11pm. At midnight we were sat on our balcony watching taxis pull up and people SPRINTING down the dock to board…. It was midnight, in a small Alaskan town where pretty much all the activities involved getting a smaller boat or plane to go sightseeing. We’d got back from our excursion at 5pm, had a stroll around the small town, got dinner in a local restaurant and were comfortably back on board at 8pm. WTF were they doing and how did they manage to be late?!

I once fell down a rabbit hole of watching YouTube videos of people running for their cruise ship as it left. They do have to leave and everyone on the boat laughs and waves.

If they arrived 90 minutes late to the airport, they would miss their flight-it’s hardly an isolated situation.

Exactly! It isn’t any different from missing a flight, is it?