Late arrival - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

luckybluesman · 10-14-2009, 03:08 AM

Has your ship ever arrived late for your departure?

Today I read that the RCI Brilliance of the Seas did not arrive at the port in Barcelona until around 16:30. What would you do while you waited?

djonemore · 10-14-2009, 03:16 AM

Can't say that Ive ever encountered that problem, we had to wait a little extra time to board as the previous passengers didn't want to end there vacation, but the ship was never late
-Matt

*Lars* · 10-14-2009, 04:10 AM

During our Vison OTS cruise we arrived 1 or 2 hours later into port. It was no problem for us as we didnt have a flight before the late afternoon.
We had breakfast in the Windjammer then relaxed in our cabin until our colour was called to get of the ship.
As for waiting for a ship being late into debarkation/embarkation port then I havnt experienced this, yet

But what is there to do then to hang around the check in terminal or if the ship is as late as the Brilliance stay in town and take in the sights.

Char · 10-14-2009, 08:25 AM

Lee, I am assuming you are asking what to do before you board the ship if there is a delay...is this correct?

There is really nothing to do except to make new friends and talk about the upcoming cruise.....walk around a little... try to find a place to sit because there are not enough chairs for a whole shipload of people. Our experience has been that beverages and cookies are provided to tide you over till boarding.

Unless the ship is delayed for a long time it would not be a good idea to leave the terminal area because when boarding starts they will try to speed things up to get everyone on board as quickly as possible.

Hopefully, this won't happen to you on your first cruise!

wandering writer · 10-14-2009, 09:57 AM

We've never had one arrive late for departure but back when the United Nations celebrated their 50th aniversary, they closed down the port area from where our ship was to depart.

Forty of us on a bus from the airport watched as our ship left without us before we could get to the pier. Luckily they put us on a couple of local tenders and took us out to our ship that waited just outside the area that was to close down.

We were the lucky ones. Others had their planes diverted because the airport closed for a time.

All of this so that Mr. Castro could safely come and speak to the assembly.

LuLu · 10-14-2009, 10:34 AM

We've had this happen both for embarkation and disembarkation.

The delays were never THAT terribly long.

GeneK · 10-14-2009, 11:17 AM

Same thing I would do if I was on the ship. Find the nearest cocktail lounge.

patsea · 10-14-2009, 01:05 PM

While I have not had to wait for a ship I have been on a ship that was over 5 to 6 hours late to arrive back in for us to disembark. Everyone with an international flight missed it. They opened up the phones and internet at night so people could make other arrangements to get home. They paid up to a certain dollar amount for those new reservations - they gave out claim forms. I could even have had them pay if I didn't get to the kennel in time to pick up my dog. Luckily the kennel waited for me because they were closing down the next day for their vacation. I'm hoping they would have boarded him somewhere else and let me know about it if I didn't get home that day! Delay caused becaues we had to go a few hours back the other way to airlift a young woman off who might have had a heart attack.

Lanky Lad · 10-14-2009, 03:45 PM

I am luck although my ship has been late it's only been by a few hours so, not enough to cause any real problems.

Saga Ruby was 2 days late leaving New York for Southampton so she will be at least one day late for her next cruise.

luckybluesman · 10-15-2009, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lanky Lad

I am luck although my ship has been late it's only been by a few hours so, not enough to cause any real problems.

Saga Ruby was 2 days late leaving New York for Southampton so she will be at least one day late for her next cruise.

Yep, this kind of thing could be a problem. Some of the people cruising on RCI BOS are reporting a problem. The Oct. 1st cruise arrived very late upon it's return to Barcelona. She had broken windows deck 3, missed one port call, had to put several guests up in a hotel overnight and gave a $25 OBC to their guests. I can see now that late arrivals cause many more problems for returning passengers than those waiting to depart.