Additional Coverage:
- Our cruise ship left without us. Some quick thinking and a key part of our booking saved us from being stuck for long. (newsbreak.com)
Local Traveler Left Behind by Cruise Ship
A seasoned local traveler recently shared her unexpected experience of being left behind by a river cruise ship. The traveler, along with her sister and 18 other passengers, were on a cruise line-booked excursion in Nuremberg, Germany, when a traffic jam caused them to return to the port 30 minutes after the ship’s scheduled departure.
To their shock, the ship was sailing away. One quick-thinking passenger called the ship’s reception desk using the number on the itinerary. Fortunately, the ship was still nearby and returned to pick up the stranded passengers.
The incident highlighted the importance of booking excursions directly through the cruise line. The traveler emphasized that ships are obligated to wait for passengers on their own excursions, unlike those on third-party trips.
A series of unfortunate events led to the mix-up. The passengers had transferred to a new ship earlier that day and hadn’t received their new ID badges yet. Adding to the confusion, the local tour guide left the bus unexpectedly before the traffic jam, preventing communication with the ship about the delay.
The traveler expressed gratitude for the ship’s return and emphasized the value of having the ship’s contact information readily available. She plans to continue booking excursions through the cruise line for added security in the future.