Passengers stranded after missing cruise ship in São Tomé and Príncipe
Concerns raised over cruise ship’s departure policy
A group of cruise ship passengers were left stranded in São Tomé and Príncipe, a beautiful island in the Gulf of Guinea, after missing the departure of their ship, the Norwegian Dawn. The incident, which occurred during a scheduled stopover, left eight passengers, including a pregnant woman and a paraplegic traveler, desperately scrambling to reunite with the ship. While the captain refused to allow the late guests onboard, questions have been raised over the cruise ship’s departure policies and the communication between the stranded passengers and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Unfortunate complications during an island tour
According to reports, the group had disembarked the Norwegian Dawn to take a local tour, but their excursions on São Tomé and Príncipe ran overtime. Efforts were made by the local coast guard to transport the group back to the ship before it sailed, but the captain remained steadfast in refusing their entry. The passengers were troubled by the captain’s lack of communication and claimed their attempts to reach the ship were futile. Jill Campbell, from Garden City in South Carolina, shared their frustration, stating, “The captain could have made an easy decision to turn one of the tender boats back, pick us up, safely load us, and then go on the way.”
Stranded without passports and belongings
As a result of being left behind, the passengers were forced to part with their passports, medication, and personal belongings. The group faced further complications while striving to reboard the ship at the next scheduled port. Unfortunately, low tides prevented the ship from making its stop in the Gambia as planned. Consequently, the stranded passengers had to navigate through six different countries until finally reuniting with the Norwegian Dawn in Dakar, Senegal.
“Are you going to inconvenience 1,000 passengers for the sake of four?”
Anthony Cordato, a Sydney travel lawyer, shared his perspective on the pivotal aspect of adhering to a cruise ship’s tight schedule. While acknowledging the harshness of the situation for the stranded passengers, Cordato questioned the practicality of delaying a cruise with hundreds of passengers for the sake of a few arrivals. He pointed out the necessity of passengers respecting the terms and conditions imposed on them and advised caution when it comes to adhering to the ship’s schedule.
Norwegian Cruise Lines’ response
Norwegian Cruise Lines has expressed regret over the situation, describing it as “very unfortunate.” However, the company firmly places the responsibility on the passengers to return to the ship at the scheduled time. The cruise line emphasized the necessity of ensuring passengers are aware of the ship’s departure time, which is extensively communicated via various channels. Norwegian Cruise Lines confirmed that all eight stranded guests eventually managed to rejoin the ship at Dakar, Senegal.
Evaluating departure policies to avoid future hardships
This incident has prompted several concerns regarding cruise ship departure policies, the transparency of communication to passengers, and the extent of the ship’s responsibility in ensuring timely boarding. It is essential for the cruise industry to reevaluate its departure protocols while also reminding passengers of their obligations to return to the ship to avoid similar hardships in the future.
