Everything travelers should know about getting left behind at port.
April 11, 2024
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It’s a sight that most cruisers dread: Watching their ship sail out of port as they sprint down the pier. But for one reason or another, missing a cruise ship is a situation that travelers could easily find themselves in.
The most recent example is a group of eight Norwegian Cruise Line passengers who were left behind in São Tomé and Príncipe off the western coast of Africa after their private tour ran long, causing them to miss the ship’s scheduled departure time. Those passengers spent several days and thousands of dollars (which were later reimbursed) attempting to rejoin their voyage.
Cruise ships take their “all aboard” time seriously, as they must adhere to strict docking times in each port, not to mention the fact that thousands of other passengers could potentially be inconvenienced.
The good news is there are simple precautions travelers can take to avoid being left behind at port. But if you do (literally) miss the boat, there are certain steps you can take to help ease the process and ideally meet back up with your cruise at the next port.
How to avoid missing a cruise ship
When planning your time onshore during a cruise, make sure to confirm exactly what time you need to be back on the ship. Most cruise lines advise passengers to be back on board no later than one hour before departure time. This time, usually called the “all aboard” time, is generally announced in daily schedules or displayed at the ship’s exit. If in doubt, ask a crew member at the exit of the ship for the all-aboard time before you disembark.
Another thing to take into consideration is whether you plan on participating in the cruise line’s shore excursions or opt for a private tour. In general, the ship will wait for stragglers “only if the passenger booked a shore excursion through the cruise line,” says Linda Speer, a travel specialist who runs the agency Cruises by Linda. Major cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and NCL, have published policies reflecting this.
As for the NCL passengers left behind last month in São Tomé and Príncipe, “given that these guests were on a private tour and did not return to the ship at the communicated all aboard time, they are responsible for any necessary travel arrangements to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call, per our protocol,” a spokesperson for the cruise line told The Guardian. The passengers traveled through six countries to meet up with the ship at its final port of call in Senegal, according to the report. Norwegian ultimately reimbursed the eight guests for the travel costs incurred during the journey, the spokesperson told the outlet.
The terms and conditions of most major cruise lines state that if you venture out on your own in port, you don't have many protections if you miss the ship. “When you book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean, we guarantee that if your tour is delayed, the ship will wait for you,” the line's policy says. “In the unlikely event that your tour is significantly delayed, and the ship cannot wait, we will make all the arrangements for you to return to the ship at no expense to you. The ship will not wait for any guest faring on their own, as it is their responsibility to be onboard before the ship's scheduled departure time.”
If you do decide to take a private tour, tell your tour guide when your all-aboard time is and discuss a timeline that will get you back to the ship comfortably before the deadline. And of course, it's always smart to set alarms for when it’s time to head back to the ship. Be especially cautious if you’re in a remote port with few options for travel or transfers to the next destination, as missing the ship there would present many more difficulties—like it did for the stranded passengers in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Just in case, be sure to carry a few essential items with you every time you disembark. “Always have your trip insurance card with you as well as a major credit card,” Speer says. These items will be vital in helping you secure travel out of the port in case you do miss the ship.
What about flight delays?
It’s also possible to miss a cruise ship at initial embarkment before the voyage starts, usually due to flight delays or other travel issues. “I always recommend that guests arrive to the gateway at least two days prior to the start of their cruise in case they or their luggage are delayed en route," says Jennifer Gillmore, a travel specialist with Travel Beyond. However, if you weren't able to plan so far ahead and you miss your ship, there are still options to board at a later port.
For example, at Royal Caribbean, “guests who miss their cruise due to travel delays can contact the Emergency Travel Team (ETT) to discuss their options going forward,” the cruise line's policy explains. “In specific situations, when the guest has the proper documentation, it is possible to join the cruise at the next port of call, but all options must be discussed with ETT.”
Usually, if you don't buy your airfare through a cruise line's travel package, or don't buy their travel insurance with your cruise fare, you will be responsible for paying to catch up to your voyage. Per NCL's policy, “if you have bought your own air tickets, independently of Norwegian Cruise Line, you will be responsible for any and all expenses incurred to join the ship."
This is the case for most major cruise companies, but be sure to check your line's policy in advance. There are also independent travel insurance policies that can help cover the costs of meeting up with your ship. (More on that below.)
What to do if you miss your cruise ship
When the crew realizes that there are passengers who didn’t reboard the vessel, they will leave those passengers’ passports with port staff so they can travel to the next port if it’s in a different country. Some cruise lines collect passengers’ passports upon embarkation, while others will go into the passengers’ stateroom to find the documents. So it’s a good rule of thumb to keep your passport somewhere obvious—on the desk or the room safe—so it’s easy for the crew to find.
When you miss a ship at a port of call, go to the port staff first. Each cruise line has a port agent who can help. The line's agent can hand over your passport and can help you contact your ship to make arrangements to meet up in the next port.
The next call should be to your travel insurance provider. “During a travel disruption, contact your provider’s 24-hour assistance team as soon as you can,” says Steven Benna, marketing manager at travel insurance firm SquareMouth. “They will explain your policy’s coverage for the situation and can help you find additional travel arrangements, like catching up to your cruise at the next port.” Be sure to keep any receipts relating to your catchup travel to include when you file a claim with your insurance provider, Benna says.
Two travel insurance benefits can help in this situation, according to Benna: missed connection and travel delay. “If your flight to your port gets delayed, the missed connection benefit was designed to help you catch up at your ultimate destination,” he says. “Alternatively, some policies have a travel delay benefit, which can similarly cover rebooking while also refunding the cost of meals and accommodations for trips delayed at least 3-12 hours.”
Cruisers can buy a travel insurance policy all the way up until the day before their departure and still have the full benefits activated on their departure date. “Whether you planned your cruise way ahead of time or booked at the last minute, you can rest easy knowing you can still get coverage,” Benna says.
Although missing a cruise ship certainly throws a wrench into any vacation, with the right preparations you’ll be back to relaxing on deck in no time.
