missing the boat

[frostyboy64]

a friend of mind called me today and told me he just got back from a 4 day cruise

to the western caribbean. he went to key west and mexico.

when in key west they were 2 hours late leaving port because of people being late getting

back to the ship. have you ever missed or been late getting back to the ship?

how long will a ship wate?

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[cruisetarp]

I always get back in plenty of time - at least an hour before sailing. I know they will wait if you are on a ship sponsored excursion but if you are off on your own you'd better start planning how to get to your next port to rejoin the ship because they won't wait.

[JoeyandDavid]

nope ... I was taught punctuality...(unless I am off retrieving a misplaced bag)

[sailingrose]

Never late except on a ships tour. We had the same experience in Key West on our last cruise. Luckily the man made the ship but he was very lucky. The captain told us that he didn't have to wait and that they were just about to pull the gangway when they saw him running. Some ports are very strict about departure times, especially Key West at sunset.

[JoeyandDavid]

Some ports are very strict about departure times, especially Key West at sunset.

[RNSANE]

I've never pushed it to the limit...and I hope I never will. I often don't do the ship's excursions but meet up with folks and hire a taxi, such as to Pisa and even in Florence. I know that can be risky but it saved us about $500 total so we considered that worth taking a chance. We left as soon as we could after arrival in the port and made sure we started back to reach the ship with two hours to spare.

One poor crew friend missed the ship - it was one of those cruises where the time changed on almost a daily basis. He got off in San Juan to call home - never even left the terminal but he hadn't changed his watch...he was in shorts and a t-shirt and thongs. When he started back to the ship, it was out in the harbor...a small motor boat offered to take him out to the ship but the captain refused. He was then escorted to Miami by a port agent who remained with him ( in this same shorts and t-shirt ) - who had

gotten his passport - at the Airliner Hotel until the ship reached there. After a meeting with the staff captain, he was allowed to return to work...fortunately, he was not dismissed.

[sailingrose]

He was really lucky Carmen.

[Rat]

We have never missed the the boat but a few times we were the very last to board.

[hazelson]

We have never even come close - but we do enjoy grabbing a cool drink and sitting out on the balcony and watching the "sprinters" LOL

[jakoury]

I always get back pretty early because I don't like the idea of being stranded. On my last cruise as the ship was leaving the harbor in Cozumel a family was run out to the ship on the harbor pilot boat. It was a great thing to watch the transfer, and laughed so hard I almost soiled myself when I saw the crew of the boat were all wearing Mexican luchidor wrestling masks. They were hamming it up big time.