What Do You Do if a Cruise Ship Leaves You?

By Michael Ferguson

Missing a cruise ship is a traveler’s worst nightmare. Whether you simply overslept, got stuck in traffic, or experienced a delay at the airport, there are few situations more frustrating than realizing your vacation plans have quickly gone off the rails. But what do you do if you miss your cruise?

If you miss the ship’s departure time, the first step is to contact the cruise line. You should call its customer service department and explain your situation.

The customer service staff will usually be understanding and may be able to arrange for you to take a flight to the next port of call and join the ship there. If that is not possible, they may be able to arrange for you to fly back home and receive a refund or a credit towards another cruise.

Know Your Rights

When communicating with customer service representatives, it is important that passengers understand their rights under maritime law. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) was passed in 2010 to protect passengers from being abandoned by their cruise ships in foreign countries. According to CVSSA, if passengers are left behind due to circumstances beyond their control, such as an illness or injury that prevents them from boarding the ship on time, they must be provided with transportation back home at no cost to them.

Be Prepared

In order to avoid missing a ship departure altogether, it is important for travelers to make sure they give themselves plenty of time between their arrival at the port and when they need to board the ship. It is also recommended that travelers arrive at least one day before sailing so they can get settled in before embarking on their journey. Additionally, having travel insurance can come in handy if unexpected events prevent travelers from making it on board on time; some insurances even offer coverage for missed connections or flight delays due to extreme weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. Be sure to read your policy carefully so that you know what type of coverage it provides.

Plan Ahead

The best way for travelers who are worried about missing their cruise ship departure is prevention. Checking travel advisories ahead of time can help ensure that flights arrive on time and that no unexpected events pop up during transit. Additionally, having contacts for local transportation services or hotels near the port can save valuable time in case of emergencies or delays so travelers can reach their destination as quickly as possible and make it on board without any hiccups. Planning ahead will always give travelers peace of mind when embarking on any voyage.

Conclusion

Missing a cruise ship departure can be an incredibly stressful experience but there are ways travelers can prepare ahead of time so they don’t find themselves stranded at sea. Knowing your rights under maritime law and having travel insurance are essential steps all passengers should take before embarking on any voyage; additionally making sure there is plenty of leeway between arrival times and departure times will help ensure no delays occur which could potentially cause missed connections or missed departures altogether. By taking these simple steps beforehand travellers will have nothing stopping them from setting sail!