My auntie tried to save $30 by doing her excursion with a local company. The company came back late and she missed the boat. She ended up spending $1200 to get back to the states (it was the last port of call)
passenger should follow ship protocols on departure time one hour advance without excuses dont think that ship will wait for u in military ship u should be on board 2 hour b4 departure time
Nobody cares. You can come back 5 minutes before your ship leaves and nobody will care. It literally doesn't matter if you get back an hour or 15 minutes, the ship will leave at the same time
The one and only cruise I went on(to Ensenada)the captain got on the PA system and said "This ship leaves at exactly 5PM with or without you. We do NOT wait around for the few irresponsible people. And if you do miss this ship, it will cost you a minimum $3,000 each to catch up to us at the next port".
I don't get why people think the ship will wait for them if they are late but if you are late for a cruise ship, the ship leaves without you, same thing applies with other forms of transportation like trains, buses, or even Farries.
Arrogance is usually the culprit. When I worked for Carnival about 13 years ago, it is usually people who think the world waits for them. There were no "arrangements" back then and it was up to the passengers to put themselves up for the night and make reservations to fly to the next port or back to the point of origin.
My favorite line from a captan was that if 2500 people could manage to get back on time, these is no excuse for 3 who couldn't. We always plan to be back on board an hour before "all aboard." Yes, be sure you are on "ship time" not "port time--they are not always the same. THe man said it--be sure you have the contact info for the "ship's agent" so you can contact them for any emergency. We also do the photocopies while in port--great ideas. IF you book private excursions, book them thru a reputable company who guarantees you will be back on time or they will cover any charges (my TA was able to recommend one.) Don't just bargain with Jo Blow at the port unless you have PLENTY of time.
A good idea that we heard years ago that we kind of try to follow …is go to the drugstore in your area and buy you a cheap little Timex watch. Set it on ship 🚢 time and keep it on the opposite wrist that that u wear normally then …you know which is ship time and which is real time from your normal watch you wear at home. That way you’ll never be late getting back to the ship !!what a disaster that would be all because you could only have saved money and spent $25 or so on a cheap lil Timex watch.
When I was on a cruise in Italy, you would take a bus and travel 2 hours away from the ship to see things in that area. That does not make anybody dumb to pay for something like that...
I went on a cruise in '16 and went parasailing. Not a cruise sponsored activity. I was in the air as the departure time got closer and closer. When I came down, I thought we were going to go back to port. Nope. Had two more people waiting to go up in the parasail. I was so scared. While I was sitting there, pooping my pants, the two boat owners were getting the next person into the sail. They stopped and started saying something in Spanish. I just knew I was going to miss my boat. They unstrapped the lady and said "We will send you up after we go back to port. We have three people here who are going to miss that boat if we don't." I tipped him $100. I swear. The other two also tipped the guys. Every time after that on that cruise, and every time on the next cruise I took, I was on that ship two hours before we pulled out from port. I learned my lesson. Make sure you can get back to the ship at least an hour before they leave. Our next port was over 500 miles away. No telling how much it would have cost me to get there.
Very good video. I was always paranoid that I would miss the ship so I was always back with an hour or two to spare, but it's good to know that all is not lost if something happens and you miss it. Why not bring your passport with you at all times?
I was on a cruise a couple years ago not sure if it was Carnaval or NCL. Was just happening to be looking out onto the dock and saw the ship was leaving and here goes a couple running down the dock watching the ship backing out of port. Then another couple of people came running down the dock. But that day was their lucky day cause the ship redocked and picked the late comers up. But it was fun watching.. 😂😂
In my experience, never take a long shore tour, or get drunk. We docked in a port for 8 hours, and there was a mountain tour that lasted 4 hours. The bus broke and 30 people were late for the ship, I knew better not to be on it. Be sure to get back an hour prior. I don't feel sorry for those idiots that were always late.
Really useful information I'll read my Carnival Fun Times even closer now, though I don't plan on missing the ship I always attempt to travel on the earliest ship vetted shore excursions Thanks!
I liked your credit card tip (with you and your wife each keeping a copy of certain info). Also liked hearing the info directly from John. Thanks for sharing.
I almost missed the ship in Puerto Rico once. My second time there, and I wanted to wonder around. I did not double check the time to get back on the ship for boarding and ASSUMED it was 5 PM, We were scheduled to board at 1:30 PM. I even had the Hub App downloaded and just didn't check. Luckily the person I was with wanted to eat lunch back on the ship. Customs said another half a second and they were going to close the doors. They were even looking for us!! That was a bad day.
Two things wrong here. Carry your passport with you. And a major credit card you never know what might happen. If passport or credit card are stolen can be replaced. Seen and heard of far more people not having both than people having lost them. And yes we are seasoned travelers and not just on cruise lines. I have worked in many foreign countries. By the way a copy of your passport only helps you to replace the original and in no way gets you anywhere or anything.
Was about to post the exact same thing. I don't know why people are terrified of carrying their actual passports and a credit card with them. Carry the real items and leave a copy of them in your stateroom if you are worried about them getting lost or stolen.
Exactly....the passport is taken from the cabin(under security surveillance) and given to the Port Agent who will wait for you on the pier and help you further. I have done it many many times. Also, DO NOT carry the passport with you in port since we had many instances where guests were robbed and ruined their vacation coz they were stressed about having it re-issued before flying home(look for embassy etc). A copy of it is sufficient while in port. Trust me.
No, there are many experts who say do NOT carry your passport with you unless you're in a country (like china) that requires you have it. It's too easy to lose your bags to a thief. Carry a photo copy of all your documents to show you have them, and replacing them if you're stranded will be much easier. I wouldn't copy my credit card like he suggests, just write down the number, exp date and CCV num on a small piece of paper in your wallet, like 44281534459887560523456 (you can add the spaces later)
A photocopy of any ID is not valid as an ID, so if you were to actually need it, like being stopped by the police, they can reject it and then have you follow them to the precinct to verify you are who you claim. If you just go shopping in a port then you don't need your passport but some numbers on piece of paper won't help you at checkout in a store. If any police will accept a photocopy of an ID is because they are either really nice or not very good at their job, in my opinion.
I guess some people are commenting from 10 or 15 years ago. Don’t carry a copy of a document - just take a clear photo of it with your smart phone. When my passport and drivers license was taken from me by muggers in Prague, I was able to show the passport photo to the US embassy and they made me a temporary one (this process can only be done Monday through Friday before noon-ish and they make you pay full price in US cash plus supply approved US-style photos). And as others have pointed out, you aren’t getting on a plane with a paper copy of ID and I don’t think too many people will accept a paper copy of a credit card, whereas you could have ApplePay programmed on your iPhone or Apple Watch as a backup if you lose your physical credit card. You could also have friends, family, or an employer make your onward travel arrangements for you (might have to fax the front and back of a credit card to the hotel), and if they really like you they could wire you some cash.
My sister in-law’s appendix ruptured while off ship in Nassau and ended up having an emergency appendectomy. My wife and I were there too. Norwegian booked my bro into a hotel and brought all of their stuff there. They also booked and paid for plane tickets home for them too. Just a shoutout to Norwegian for doing that. That’s what a good company does for its customers. Sh** happens.
The nice thing about updates is the Carnival Hub app! It always has ship time, so you always know whe. To get back on the boat on time. Even after a few drinks in cozumel! Lol
This is the Story of Peken … poor Peken …. he went to board right on time, when he came to the pier he saw the ship and as he confirmed at what time was leaving someone told him that the departure was in one hours, so he relaxed for a while, and then went to board the ship 20 minutes before departure, however as he was standing on a short line patiently for 10 minutes he found out that was boarding the wrong ship, he moved desperately, quickly, the Margaritas were still clouding his head, so he did what he could to finally seen another ship leaving, it was his ship! he was stranded in Mazatlán, but must have been the stress that burn the Margaritas in his blood and a guy gave him an excellent idea: "why don't you take the bus to Puerto Vallarta and catch your ship there, it is suppose to stop there by tomorrow, the bus trip takes about 6 to 7 hours, so you would have time to spare", he did this, this time he was at the pier several hours before his ship arrival and as soon as he could he boarded, this time the right ship, in Puerto Vallarta, he was happy, and didn't try not one more Margarita or any other alcoholic drink for the rest of the trip, only then he was able to really enjoy his cruise. Moral of the story … drink only in moderation, one or max two drinks and be with reliable people if you can and make sure that you are boarding the right ship with time to spare. I drink only one drink, maybe every six months to a year, I don't even like the flavor of alcohol, to me, in a way it taste like rubbing alcohol …
And we were told that if we book an official shore excursion with the ship, and if that excursion is late returning to the ship, the ship will wait for you. If something horrible happens, and you are several hours late, I doubt the ship would wait that long, but I would think your hotel and flight to the next port should be covered by the cruise line.
I never leave the ship without my passport, cruise card + newsletter and wallet/purse; not only in case I miss the ship...but if I fall ill or are injured....folks know who I am and the ship to contact.
I cruised with John when he did this interview. It was on the Breeze in 2012. We have a video on our channel that talks about one particular couple who were late to 3 of the first 4 ports of our 12 day cruise. I also suspect that John was having some fun with the passengers and mentioned a few names that had to be fake because the actual name was hilarious. 👍😊
Never take anything for granted and also remember the ship time might be different to local time, if you can try and go on a tour organised by the cruise company that way if they foul up it’s on them to put it right.
I was late coming back on my first cruise in 2014, but it was because the excursion ran long! I'm so glad I bought it through the cruise, but I still heard all of the people on the cruise booing us lol
I can not stress the importance of keeping track on time zones and ship times wherever you go. Cause the time youre clock is on might differ from the time youre port of call is on and might differ from the ships time zone. Its specially thrue when you see digital watches around the town or beach area in a forign country. As for a question: How much money would you advice a cruise passenger to have safeguarded on the credit card for this kind of emergencies when you go on a cruise? Johan.
Yes, this got very confusing on my first cruise to the Caribbean! We left from Galveston, then stopped in Key West, and since I was using mobile data, my phone's clock updated. For the next 2 stops in the Bahamas, I was so confused between ship time and port time. Luckily, I wasn't the time keeper of the group lol
Thankfully cruiselines are no longer allowed to leave without passengers since August 2020 , the boat driver must wait for all passengers to return so relax, have tht extra drink or buy that last minute souvenir as the boat WILL be there waiting for you :-)
I think they should use the same warning the RATP use - a loud, low beep and "Ne monte pas le bateau de croisière après le signal sonore, tu risques de te faire très mal!" And then have the cruise ship hatch close as quickly as the old Paris Métro train doors (the ones with the levers) close.
You commented that ship's time will normally remain the same even when you cross time zones. I've been on more than 20 cruises which have crossed time zones and ship's time has ALWAYS changed so that you are on local time wherever you dock. And that is the cause of most missing passengers' problem - they fail to reset their watches to local/ship's time
I just returned from a RCL cruise in the carribean and the ship time did not change, just as he said. We, the ship, were on eastern standard time while the islands were on Atlantic standard time. They made an announcement to remind people to change their phone's settings so it wouldn't auto change based on location.
@@julier92 Probably too complicated to ask Americans to change their watches frequently - they'd just get confused. Be assured though that in the real world cruise liners do keep their ships' clocks on local time.
I always wear two wrist watches, one on each wrist, whenever I am travelling by air, train, or ship and also I always arrive at the port, station, or terminal at least one whole hour before departure, thanks for sharing.
One time my relatives got stuck in traffic and were late. It cost them close to $3000 before they were back on board! That was a third of what the whole cruise cost!
Be back to the ship an hour early before be back time. You should always carry a passport off ship in case you're questioned by authorities. Also back up your watch by 30 minutes. Also, it's up to the captain if he's going to allow you to meet the ship. All these things I learned by working in the reservation center at NCL
i can clearly see the phone messing with the time you set on it, even if you set it to not change on its own, and specially with some aggresive cell operators. Remember to check when you are near a frontier, even 20km apart you can find your cell phone switched to the other country operator.specially on coast lines. self experience. instead of time, check the remaining time for departure and set a countdown.
Read the cruise contract, it’s your friend!!!! And no, they do not pay to get you back on the ship. If you use the cruise line insurance then yes, you have some help. Important, don’t miss the boat.
I would not want to be late and have all the passengers start booing, that is motivation enough to be on time, I wouldn't want to boo others either cause that could be me someday, would not want to wear the shoes.
We always take our passports (even for Schengen area, despite being residents of the EU & also having photo driving licences) & credit cards, plus use our phones to take a photo of the emergency contact details for the ship. But the primary thing I take to ensure I don’t miss the ship is a super organised, almost anally retentive, husband who refuses to be late back 😂
Great info as usual. Cleared up some things I've heard differing opinions on over the years. I'm very conservative and am usually back in the port 2-3 hours early. Would rather have a beer at Carlos and Charlies etc... in sight of the ship. Regarding ship time, I'm an NCL regular. In my experience they do always change ship time to equal the local time zone. They do put a card in your stateroom the night before explaining the change so you can set your watch.
We did an Asia cruise in January and the Celebrity ship changed it's time to match local time. They would state in large print on the daily sheet to remember to move your watch ahead or back before you went to bed.
@@UA-camDestinations We mostly notice it on eastern Caribbean cruises, I think it changes two times each way. On Western cruises during daylight savings time, you might never change as generally that time zone doesn't change so are the same time at that time. Not sure if you watch Scott Singers channel, they changed many times on an NCL transatlantic. I can see benefits either way but human nature might make you trust the big clock tower in the country you didn't change your time to meet. Most of my cruises have been on NCL but all the others were summer in the western Caribbean or Bermuda.
It’s interesting to me the number of people who still continue to miss the ship. I know some people lose track of time or there may be other factors, but many times it’s just an arrogance on the side of the passengers. They think that what difference will a few minutes or an hour make. They really don’t believe the ship will leave. Those are usually the ones who go one television talking about how bad they were treated by the cruise line. I’m certain that these same people behave the same way at home because they feel they are more important than everyone else.
Like its been said,when you are leaving the ship,there is a sign by the gangway of the sailing time and the time you need to be back on board. People can't be that stupid
After the initial deep gut feeling followed by shitting your pants you need to compose yourself & get yourself to the next port the ship is sailing too, where you can get back onboard
We're new to cruising, only 5 so far. What happens if an Excursion sponsored and paid for through the cruise line is late returning? That almost happened on our last cruise. The bus literally dropped us off at the pier 3 minutes before scheduled departure and it was a 5-10 minute walk to the ship. Several seniors had a very hard time hustling to the ship as there was no taxi service (pedal bikes) available.
They usually wait for you , because since you took a sponsored excursion with them , it is their responsability to get you back on the ship safe and sound , even if you are late
if a trip sponsered by the cruise ship is late, it must wait, funny thing is they can actually CALL the ship and let them know. If theres things like injuries or accidents the local authorities and hospitals can do the same thing. Captains are quite understanding about these things, its these ignorant snots who think they cab daly that get left behind, a ships captain might wait 1/2 hour to hr, but no longer, they have VERY tight schedules to keep!
Some people cruise without passports using the drivers license and birth certificate method. What if I get left at the last port of call, say Cozumel for arguments sake, on the way back to my typical home port of New Orleans and need to fly back to the U.S.?? Do you or anyone else know how that would differ since I can’t catch up to the ship on the next port of call due to the ship being headed home?? I know the simple answer is “get a passport” but in reality what would someone do who cruises without one?? Love your channel by the way. We’re booked for a 5-day on the Valor out of New Orleans for the first sailing in November!! Can’t wait. We’re inching our way toward Platinum status!! 😁 Keep up the great videos and cruise on!!
+MattNotFromTintStuff You are 100% correct. And that is the reason we strongly recommend ceiling with a passport. While you would get back using the US Embassy. It will certainly make it a lot more difficult in the process a lot longer, without a passport.
Hey SAL!! My wife and I love and watch all of your videos!! We just booked our 2nd Vista Cruise which sets sail this April!!! It will be our Honeymoon cruise!! Thank you for all of your amazing videos my friend!!!
@@UA-camDestinations are you kidding me bro? We had no idea that you had pull that way.. I am kinda bummed now... I wish we would have known that you are a booking agent for Carnival... I am so sorry we didn't ask you first.. Our travel agent wasn't much help at all.. We did all the online shopping for best prices and I promise you we did great, but we love your channel so much we would love to help you out.. 🤔
Sorry to tell but in Europe you must be always have an legal ID who you travel with on you! That mean for European an Passport or ID Card and for non European there Passport (with the Visa). If the Police check you (maybe you cross the Road on Red) the will Detain you until the know you are legal in that country!!!
Once saw 3 women who missed the ship in Newport, RI - and saw a Coast Guard boat bring them to the ship & we all got to watch them climb up a rope ladder (we were about a 1/2 mile from from the port) & they all had shopping bags from expensive shops!! This was many years ago - before everyone had video cameras!! It was quite a sight!! And Sal - what would happen if your lost (misplaced) your wife in a port? You have the copy of the front of your credit card, she has the security code & expiration date (LOL)! I always just carry a credit card with me (or it’s on my iPhone wallet)!!
I don't think you actually saw what you think you saw. A cruise line would never let a passenger climb a rope ladder due to the liability. What you most likely saw was the Pilot on the ladder. When a ship goes in and out of port, the Captain doesn't drive the vessel. Each port has their own Pilot that go out to the ship by Pilot boar or Coast Guard boat and then they take over as Captain. The Pilots DO use the rope ladders to get onto the vessel. I have seen (although its VERY rare) where a coast guard boat will bring a passenger that missed the ship out to meet the ship... But when they do, they always open the tendering hatch, so that the passengers don't have to use a ladder. Thanks for posting!
This happened about 20 yrs ago - definitely saw the 3 women being hoisted up from the Coast Guard boat onto the cruise ship!! Cruising was very different 20 yrs ago!!
@@bbergs8628 Maybe back then in a non-US port, but today there would be way too much liability for both boats to attempt something like having a passenger use a rope ladder or even an extendable gangway while at sea. The cruise ship captain would deny it and command the smaller boat to veer off.
it is way better idea to email you thr credit car info that way you don't have to carry extra paper around and nobody can not have access unless they have your email password
What they're not telling the people is when you buy the cruise lines insurance it's a pretty good bet that they'll wait for you I've seen them wait up to two hours for people because they had the cruise lines insurance if you don't have insurance they leave unless you're one one of their shore excursions I've seen them wait up to four hours because one of them got into a accident on the bus ride back to the port
Some comments are just toxic, not all people who missed ships are "dumb", "deserving", or "selfish".. Real accidents do happen, and some people just happens to run in to them, and they missed the ship not by their own fault.
see above comment! Authorities can call the ship in cases of accident or injury, hospitals can do the same. Taxis cantoo sometimes. There ARE ways to contact!
Brilliant information Sal, thank you! I have often wondered what would happen and as I haven't done heaps of cruises it makes me a bit nervous when I do book shore excursions and I tend to look for morning excursions booked through the cruise ship so I am back in time. MickieG Adelaide Sth
As long as you book your excursion through the cruise line... The ship will never leave you behind. They always wait for their own exclusions, even if they are late.
So I'll ask you again what part of Cleveland you from Sal? I am back in Cleveland right now visiting my uncle and Grandpa who are not doing well but I live in Florida now enjoying this crazy Sub-Zero weather LOL
My auntie tried to save $30 by doing her excursion with a local company. The company came back late and she missed the boat. She ended up spending $1200 to get back to the states (it was the last port of call)
oh no.😦
LOL
Jesus Christ 😮
A couple was late 3 times? I think they shouldn't be cruising
I think I know them. They are known as the Rossis and they're a thorn in Carnival's side. They're always late and they stone cold refuse to learn.
largol33t1 why are they still allowed to keep doing it?
Charge $100 fee per person whenever late.
@@largol33t1
He said that they were Mr and Mrs Driscoll
largol33t1 The Rossi’s were actually left in Venice and they deserved that
We make sure we’re back at least an hour before ship departs.
@@freshtahaidary697 MY FAMILY AND I
passenger should follow ship protocols on departure time one hour advance without excuses dont think that ship will wait for u in military ship u should be on board 2 hour b4 departure time
I do the same thing
@@naturalgurl906 good girl rules should be followed while onboard cruise ship protocols
Nobody cares. You can come back 5 minutes before your ship leaves and nobody will care. It literally doesn't matter if you get back an hour or 15 minutes, the ship will leave at the same time
I make sure I'm back way before departure time...Not trying to find out what happens😯😯
ditto. I plan excursions based on the time. I need to be on the ship for at least 2 hours before it pushes off. Anything else it cutting it too close.
I know that's right! lol
Preach. Me too. I don’t ever mess around with that.
We're always back onboard at least two hours early. We love having the pool to ourselves.
The one and only cruise I went on(to Ensenada)the captain got on the PA system and said "This ship leaves at exactly 5PM with or without you. We do NOT wait around for the few irresponsible people. And if you do miss this ship, it will cost you a minimum $3,000 each to catch up to us at the next port".
Yeah, alot of captains make this call over the PA, I think it's a good wake up call to stragglers
I can absolutely garuntee the Captain did NOT say anything of the kind over the PA system. You’ve just made that nonsense up.
@@Etherglide Why do you Karen's feel the need to comment all the time? You weren't there, so stfu.
@@Etherglide Did you make up "garuntee"? Ffs
Nobody listens to the PA system on the boat. What they need to do is text it to their main APP.
I don't get why people think the ship will wait for them if they are late but if you are late for a cruise ship, the ship leaves without you, same thing applies with other forms of transportation like trains, buses, or even Farries.
Most cruise lines have an app. Download the cruise app to you phone, so you know what "ship time" is...then set an alarm.
Keep you phone clock on ship time.
What happens?
People film you running after a boat, laugh, and cheer when you trip over a loose board in the dock.
That's what happens!
Gardener Earth Guy haha. Ikr
“Run Forrest, run!”
Too funny, and too true. lol
I think its cruel! But, be on time!
Hahaha
Arrogance is usually the culprit. When I worked for Carnival about 13 years ago, it is usually people who think the world waits for them. There were no "arrangements" back then and it was up to the passengers to put themselves up for the night and make reservations to fly to the next port or back to the point of origin.
My favorite line from a captan was that if 2500 people could manage to get back on time, these is no excuse for 3 who couldn't. We always plan to be back on board an hour before "all aboard." Yes, be sure you are on "ship time" not "port time--they are not always the same. THe man said it--be sure you have the contact info for the "ship's agent" so you can contact them for any emergency. We also do the photocopies while in port--great ideas. IF you book private excursions, book them thru a reputable company who guarantees you will be back on time or they will cover any charges (my TA was able to recommend one.) Don't just bargain with Jo Blow at the port unless you have PLENTY of time.
“Wave harder and shout louder, honey! They’re getting away!”
this info really bums me out. i was hoping that the people who missed the ships departure would be forced into indentured servitude by the locals
😭
good one..hahaha
freeze them in carbonite, then sell them to jabba
Interesting because that thought crossed my mind as well 😂😂
I always make excursions on the cruise so I know that time will follow with the ships schedule ...just a comfort for me
A good idea that we heard years ago that we kind of try to follow …is go to the drugstore in your area and buy you a cheap little Timex watch. Set it on ship 🚢 time and keep it on the opposite wrist that that u wear normally then …you know which is ship time and which is real time from your normal watch you wear at home. That way you’ll never be late getting back to the ship !!what a disaster that would be all because you could only have saved money and spent $25 or so on a cheap lil Timex watch.
Don’t drink to much on port, cause you don’t want to be so drunk where your not in your right of mind and might lose idea of time.
I recommend that even if your on the ship. getting too drink only ruins your cruise, and makes it hard for the people around you also. :)
Just be on time or early, this will never happen
Good advice..
That's dumb as hell to travel miles from the ship
Lmao yea it is
If you are travelling to Rome from the port it is many miles by train, as said in the video, Europe is very different to the Caribbean.
It's only dumb if your cruise isnt staying overnight.
But this "expert" says you can drive to Florence from Rome (170 miles one way) for a shore excursion. LOL
When I was on a cruise in Italy, you would take a bus and travel 2 hours away from the ship to see things in that area. That does not make anybody dumb to pay for something like that...
You have to walk home.
Well.. Least you'd get fit by the time you got home. So there's that
Don't miss the ship and then you won't miss that extra cash from your bank account
The guests on the Love Boat blow you kisses as they leave you behind.
I went on a cruise in '16 and went parasailing. Not a cruise sponsored activity. I was in the air as the departure time got closer and closer. When I came down, I thought we were going to go back to port. Nope. Had two more people waiting to go up in the parasail. I was so scared. While I was sitting there, pooping my pants, the two boat owners were getting the next person into the sail. They stopped and started saying something in Spanish. I just knew I was going to miss my boat. They unstrapped the lady and said "We will send you up after we go back to port. We have three people here who are going to miss that boat if we don't." I tipped him $100. I swear. The other two also tipped the guys. Every time after that on that cruise, and every time on the next cruise I took, I was on that ship two hours before we pulled out from port. I learned my lesson. Make sure you can get back to the ship at least an hour before they leave. Our next port was over 500 miles away. No telling how much it would have cost me to get there.
Very good video. I was always paranoid that I would miss the ship so I was always back with an hour or two to spare, but it's good to know that all is not lost if something happens and you miss it.
Why not bring your passport with you at all times?
I was on a cruise a couple years ago not sure if it was Carnaval or NCL. Was just happening to be looking out onto the dock and saw the ship was leaving and here goes a couple running down the dock watching the ship backing out of port. Then another couple of people came running down the dock. But that day was their lucky day cause the ship redocked and picked the late comers up. But it was fun watching.. 😂😂
In my experience, never take a long shore tour, or get drunk. We docked in a port for 8 hours, and there was a mountain tour that lasted 4 hours. The bus broke and 30 people were late for the ship, I knew better not to be on it. Be sure to get back an hour prior. I don't feel sorry for those idiots that were always late.
Really useful information
I'll read my Carnival Fun Times even closer now, though I don't plan on missing the ship
I always attempt to travel on the earliest ship vetted shore excursions
Thanks!
I liked your credit card tip (with you and your wife each keeping a copy of certain info). Also liked hearing the info directly from John. Thanks for sharing.
Actually, most cruise ships set their clocks to LOCAL time. On Princess we are constantly setting our watches forward or back.
things that you can do to make sure you wont missed your ship. : dont leave the ship
Facts
Why go to a foreign place to stay on the ship???
Some cruise lines, the cheaper ones mostly, will give you a bathing suit, a set of flippers and some water wings...
I almost missed the ship in Puerto Rico once. My second time there, and I wanted to wonder around. I did not double check the time to get back on the ship for boarding and ASSUMED it was 5 PM, We were scheduled to board at 1:30 PM. I even had the Hub App downloaded and just didn't check. Luckily the person I was with wanted to eat lunch back on the ship. Customs said another half a second and they were going to close the doors. They were even looking for us!! That was a bad day.
Two things wrong here. Carry your passport with you. And a major credit card you never know what might happen. If passport or credit card are stolen can be replaced. Seen and heard of far more people not having both than people having lost them. And yes we are seasoned travelers and not just on cruise lines. I have worked in many foreign countries. By the way a copy of your passport only helps you to replace the original and in no way gets you anywhere or anything.
Was about to post the exact same thing. I don't know why people are terrified of carrying their actual passports and a credit card with them. Carry the real items and leave a copy of them in your stateroom if you are worried about them getting lost or stolen.
Exactly....the passport is taken from the cabin(under security surveillance) and given to the Port Agent who will wait for you on the pier and help you further. I have done it many many times. Also, DO NOT carry the passport with you in port since we had many instances where guests were robbed and ruined their vacation coz they were stressed about having it re-issued before flying home(look for embassy etc). A copy of it is sufficient while in port. Trust me.
No, there are many experts who say do NOT carry your passport with you unless you're in a country (like china) that requires you have it. It's too easy to lose your bags to a thief. Carry a photo copy of all your documents to show you have them, and replacing them if you're stranded will be much easier. I wouldn't copy my credit card like he suggests, just write down the number, exp date and CCV num on a small piece of paper in your wallet, like 44281534459887560523456 (you can add the spaces later)
A photocopy of any ID is not valid as an ID, so if you were to actually need it, like being stopped by the police, they can reject it and then have you follow them to the precinct to verify you are who you claim.
If you just go shopping in a port then you don't need your passport but some numbers on piece of paper won't help you at checkout in a store.
If any police will accept a photocopy of an ID is because they are either really nice or not very good at their job, in my opinion.
I guess some people are commenting from 10 or 15 years ago. Don’t carry a copy of a document - just take a clear photo of it with your smart phone. When my passport and drivers license was taken from me by muggers in Prague, I was able to show the passport photo to the US embassy and they made me a temporary one (this process can only be done Monday through Friday before noon-ish and they make you pay full price in US cash plus supply approved US-style photos). And as others have pointed out, you aren’t getting on a plane with a paper copy of ID and I don’t think too many people will accept a paper copy of a credit card, whereas you could have ApplePay programmed on your iPhone or Apple Watch as a backup if you lose your physical credit card. You could also have friends, family, or an employer make your onward travel arrangements for you (might have to fax the front and back of a credit card to the hotel), and if they really like you they could wire you some cash.
My sister in-law’s appendix ruptured while off ship in Nassau and ended up having an emergency appendectomy. My wife and I were there too. Norwegian booked my bro into a hotel and brought all of their stuff there. They also booked and paid for plane tickets home for them too. Just a shoutout to Norwegian for doing that. That’s what a good company does for its customers. Sh** happens.
The nice thing about updates is the Carnival Hub app! It always has ship time, so you always know whe. To get back on the boat on time. Even after a few drinks in cozumel! Lol
This is the Story of Peken … poor Peken …. he went to board right on time, when he came to the pier he saw the ship and as he confirmed at what time was leaving someone told him that the departure was in one hours, so he relaxed for a while, and then went to board the ship 20 minutes before departure, however as he was standing on a short line patiently for 10 minutes he found out that was boarding the wrong ship, he moved desperately, quickly, the Margaritas were still clouding his head, so he did what he could to finally seen another ship leaving, it was his ship! he was stranded in Mazatlán, but must have been the stress that burn the Margaritas in his blood and a guy gave him an excellent idea: "why don't you take the bus to Puerto Vallarta and catch your ship there, it is suppose to stop there by tomorrow, the bus trip takes about 6 to 7 hours, so you would have time to spare", he did this, this time he was at the pier several hours before his ship arrival and as soon as he could he boarded, this time the right ship, in Puerto Vallarta, he was happy, and didn't try not one more Margarita or any other alcoholic drink for the rest of the trip, only then he was able to really enjoy his cruise. Moral of the story … drink only in moderation, one or max two drinks and be with reliable people if you can and make sure that you are boarding the right ship with time to spare. I drink only one drink, maybe every six months to a year, I don't even like the flavor of alcohol, to me, in a way it taste like rubbing alcohol …
And we were told that if we book an official shore excursion with the ship, and if that excursion is late returning to the ship, the ship will wait for you. If something horrible happens, and you are several hours late, I doubt the ship would wait that long, but I would think your hotel and flight to the next port should be covered by the cruise line.
I never leave the ship without my passport, cruise card + newsletter and wallet/purse; not only in case I miss the ship...but if I fall ill or are injured....folks know who I am and the ship to contact.
I cruised with John when he did this interview. It was on the Breeze in 2012. We have a video on our channel that talks about one particular couple who were late to 3 of the first 4 ports of our 12 day cruise. I also suspect that John was having some fun with the passengers and mentioned a few names that had to be fake because the actual name was hilarious. 👍😊
Ships took to matching time zones about 10 years ago. That way they are matched with the ports. Not sure why you have it the old way here Sal.
Don't plan to miss the ship, but this is comforting info.
Never take anything for granted and also remember the ship time might be different to local time, if you can try and go on a tour organised by the cruise company that way if they foul up it’s on them to put it right.
I was late coming back on my first cruise in 2014, but it was because the excursion ran long! I'm so glad I bought it through the cruise, but I still heard all of the people on the cruise booing us lol
And yet so many people say "It cant happen, book the cheaper one at the pier"... Until it happens to them lol
@@UA-camDestinations Seriously... I'm always going to purchase from the cruise line, unless I'm in a port for several days lol
Thought for sure he was going to say the ROSSIES. BUT, if I remember they were last for at least 4 ports
I can not stress the importance of keeping track on time zones and ship times wherever you go. Cause the time youre clock is on might differ from the time youre port of call is on and might differ from the ships time zone. Its specially thrue when you see digital watches around the town or beach area in a forign country.
As for a question: How much money would you advice a cruise passenger to have safeguarded on the credit card for this kind of emergencies when you go on a cruise? Johan.
Yes, this got very confusing on my first cruise to the Caribbean! We left from Galveston, then stopped in Key West, and since I was using mobile data, my phone's clock updated. For the next 2 stops in the Bahamas, I was so confused between ship time and port time. Luckily, I wasn't the time keeper of the group lol
Thankfully cruiselines are no longer allowed to leave without passengers since August 2020 , the boat driver must wait for all passengers to return so relax, have tht extra drink or buy that last minute souvenir as the boat WILL be there waiting for you :-)
Not missing the ship is very easy to do.
I think they should use the same warning the RATP use - a loud, low beep and "Ne monte pas le bateau de croisière après le signal sonore, tu risques de te faire très mal!" And then have the cruise ship hatch close as quickly as the old Paris Métro train doors (the ones with the levers) close.
You commented that ship's time will normally remain the same even when you cross time zones. I've been on more than 20 cruises which have crossed time zones and ship's time has ALWAYS changed so that you are on local time wherever you dock. And that is the cause of most missing passengers' problem - they fail to reset their watches to local/ship's time
I just returned from a RCL cruise in the carribean and the ship time did not change, just as he said. We, the ship, were on eastern standard time while the islands were on Atlantic standard time. They made an announcement to remind people to change their phone's settings so it wouldn't auto change based on location.
@@julier92 Probably too complicated to ask Americans to change their watches frequently - they'd just get confused. Be assured though that in the real world cruise liners do keep their ships' clocks on local time.
I always wear two wrist watches, one on each wrist, whenever I am travelling by air, train, or ship and also I always arrive at the port, station, or terminal at least one whole hour before departure, thanks for sharing.
One time my relatives got stuck in traffic and were late. It cost them close to $3000 before they were back on board! That was a third of what the whole cruise cost!
They can afford a cruise but not a wrist watch?
joe woodchuck Irish wristwatch
Be back to the ship an hour early before be back time. You should always carry a passport off ship in case you're questioned by authorities. Also back up your watch by 30 minutes. Also, it's up to the captain if he's going to allow you to meet the ship. All these things I learned by working in the reservation center at NCL
i can clearly see the phone messing with the time you set on it, even if you set it to not change on its own, and specially with some aggresive cell operators. Remember to check when you are near a frontier, even 20km apart you can find your cell phone switched to the other country operator.specially on coast lines. self experience.
instead of time, check the remaining time for departure and set a countdown.
AT 5:10 so if you have the cc # and your wife looses the 3 digit code and expiration date you're still screwed...
If the ship has just left, would it not be possible to rent some kind of boating taxi service that would take you out to the ship??
Read the cruise contract, it’s your friend!!!! And no, they do not pay to get you back on the ship. If you use the cruise line insurance then yes, you have some help. Important, don’t miss the boat.
I would not want to be late and have all the passengers start booing, that is motivation enough to be on time, I wouldn't want to boo others either cause that could be me someday, would not want to wear the shoes.
We always take our passports (even for Schengen area, despite being residents of the EU & also having photo driving licences) & credit cards, plus use our phones to take a photo of the emergency contact details for the ship. But the primary thing I take to ensure I don’t miss the ship is a super organised, almost anally retentive, husband who refuses to be late back 😂
Great info as usual. Cleared up some things I've heard differing opinions on over the years. I'm very conservative and am usually back in the port 2-3 hours early. Would rather have a beer at Carlos and Charlies etc... in sight of the ship. Regarding ship time, I'm an NCL regular. In my experience they do always change ship time to equal the local time zone. They do put a card in your stateroom the night before explaining the change so you can set your watch.
We did an Asia cruise in January and the Celebrity ship changed it's time to match local time. They would state in large print on the daily sheet to remember to move your watch ahead or back before you went to bed.
Wow that's actually VERY unusual. Most ships always keep ships time as the time you boarded the ship.
@@UA-camDestinations We mostly notice it on eastern Caribbean cruises, I think it changes two times each way. On Western cruises during daylight savings time, you might never change as generally that time zone doesn't change so are the same time at that time. Not sure if you watch Scott Singers channel, they changed many times on an NCL transatlantic. I can see benefits either way but human nature might make you trust the big clock tower in the country you didn't change your time to meet. Most of my cruises have been on NCL but all the others were summer in the western Caribbean or Bermuda.
It’s interesting to me the number of people who still continue to miss the ship. I know some people lose track of time or there may be other factors, but many times it’s just an arrogance on the side of the passengers. They think that what difference will a few minutes or an hour make. They really don’t believe the ship will leave. Those are usually the ones who go one television talking about how bad they were treated by the cruise line. I’m certain that these same people behave the same way at home because they feel they are more important than everyone else.
Sal Pitera Carnival never does that. They always have one ship time.
Just got off a carnival cruise yesterday and word was we left someone behind in Nassau.
Good info. Gone on a few cruises in the US and UK/EU, always wondered what happened in such a case. My wife and I always got back EARLY
Thanks for sharing this, I have always wondered what happens in this case but haven't really found any UA-cam videos explaining it
Thank You this was very good to know
Like its been said,when you are leaving the ship,there is a sign by the gangway of the sailing time and the time you need to be back on board. People can't be that stupid
Yes, yes they can.
Excellent information
After the initial deep gut feeling followed by shitting your pants you need to compose yourself & get yourself to the next port the ship is sailing too, where you can get back onboard
Thanks again Sal. Btw, what happened to your bird?
Great information thanks
They should convert ship time to Local time and advertise that as return time
We're new to cruising, only 5 so far. What happens if an Excursion sponsored and paid for through the cruise line is late returning?
That almost happened on our last cruise. The bus literally dropped us off at the pier 3 minutes before scheduled departure and it was a 5-10 minute walk to the ship. Several seniors had a very hard time hustling to the ship as there was no taxi service (pedal bikes) available.
They usually wait for you , because since you took a sponsored excursion with them , it is their responsability to get you back on the ship safe and sound , even if you are late
if a trip sponsered by the cruise ship is late, it must wait, funny thing is they can actually CALL the ship and let them know. If theres things like injuries or accidents the local authorities and hospitals can do the same thing. Captains are quite understanding about these things, its these ignorant snots who think they cab daly that get left behind, a ships captain might wait 1/2 hour to hr, but no longer, they have VERY tight schedules to keep!
Or better yet pay the cruz ship period for your excursions
Good info. I'll be sure to carry a photo copy of my important cards next time.
I do not see the bird at the back this time. Is she on a cruise vacation???😇😇
Some people cruise without passports using the drivers license and birth certificate method. What if I get left at the last port of call, say Cozumel for arguments sake, on the way back to my typical home port of New Orleans and need to fly back to the U.S.?? Do you or anyone else know how that would differ since I can’t catch up to the ship on the next port of call due to the ship being headed home?? I know the simple answer is “get a passport” but in reality what would someone do who cruises without one?? Love your channel by the way. We’re booked for a 5-day on the Valor out of New Orleans for the first sailing in November!! Can’t wait. We’re inching our way toward Platinum status!! 😁 Keep up the great videos and cruise on!!
+MattNotFromTintStuff You are 100% correct. And that is the reason we strongly recommend ceiling with a passport. While you would get back using the US Embassy. It will certainly make it a lot more difficult in the process a lot longer, without a passport.
Hey SAL!! My wife and I love and watch all of your videos!! We just booked our 2nd Vista Cruise which sets sail this April!!! It will be our Honeymoon cruise!! Thank you for all of your amazing videos my friend!!!
Have an awesome time on the Vista and Congrats on getting hitched! Next time, consider booking through me and ill throw in a special on-board gift. :)
@@UA-camDestinations are you kidding me bro? We had no idea that you had pull that way.. I am kinda bummed now... I wish we would have known that you are a booking agent for Carnival... I am so sorry we didn't ask you first.. Our travel agent wasn't much help at all.. We did all the online shopping for best prices and I promise you we did great, but we love your channel so much we would love to help you out.. 🤔
The Vista is great! I was on it a few months ago. It’s a big ship, but the extra elevators help a lot.
Be responsible and return to the ship a good hour before boarding time to assure they don't sail without you.
That's good info Sal. Nobody really knows that info, unless it happened to them. Great work!
Hey Sal that's good to know but we won't have that problem being a pier runner 🏃🏃 but this is some great information thank you I love your channel
is that guy wearing one of those gag flowers that squirts water?
gazoo5681 It’s a remembrance poppy, they wear them to honor people who have died in wars protecting their country.
No he is wearing a poppy to remember the military who died in service of their country 🇬🇧 I think we are the only country that uses a poppy
gazoo5681 *wow! Rude and unimaginably ignorant* 🥴🤦♀️🥴🤦♀️🥴🤦♀️🥴🤦♀️🥴🤦♀️🥴🤦♀️🥴🤦♀️🥴
@@JulieWallis1963 excuse me, I had no idea you were the all knowing highness.
The Rossis now booking in as the Driscolls.
This is what happens. You finally earn your big boy pants !!!!!!!
Main advantage to missing the floating casino/hotel is you are not subjected to all the on board diseases and the stinch of sewage and vomit.
Sorry to tell but in Europe you must be always have an legal ID who you travel with on you!
That mean for European an Passport or ID Card and for non European there Passport (with the Visa). If the Police check you (maybe you cross the Road on Red) the will Detain you until the know you are legal in that country!!!
3:40 . But most importantly. Dont be late.
Bottom line, have yo ass back on time.
Thanks for the information. Can I take a picture of my passport and credit card when I fo on shore.
My wife and I sailed three times with John and he was amazing.
Once saw 3 women who missed the ship in Newport, RI
- and saw a Coast Guard boat bring them to the ship & we all got to watch them climb up a rope ladder (we were about a 1/2 mile from from the port) & they all had shopping bags from expensive shops!! This was many years ago - before everyone had video cameras!! It was quite a sight!!
And Sal - what would happen if your lost (misplaced) your wife in a port? You have the copy of the front of your credit card, she has the security code & expiration date (LOL)!
I always just carry a credit card with me (or it’s on my iPhone wallet)!!
I don't think you actually saw what you think you saw. A cruise line would never let a passenger climb a rope ladder due to the liability. What you most likely saw was the Pilot on the ladder. When a ship goes in and out of port, the Captain doesn't drive the vessel. Each port has their own Pilot that go out to the ship by Pilot boar or Coast Guard boat and then they take over as Captain. The Pilots DO use the rope ladders to get onto the vessel. I have seen (although its VERY rare) where a coast guard boat will bring a passenger that missed the ship out to meet the ship... But when they do, they always open the tendering hatch, so that the passengers don't have to use a ladder. Thanks for posting!
This happened about 20 yrs ago - definitely saw the 3 women being hoisted up from the Coast Guard boat onto the cruise ship!! Cruising was very different 20 yrs ago!!
@@bbergs8628 Maybe back then in a non-US port, but today there would be way too much liability for both boats to attempt something like having a passenger use a rope ladder or even an extendable gangway while at sea. The cruise ship captain would deny it and command the smaller boat to veer off.
@@NickScalan charter a local boat to take you to the ship , if they don't let you on , jump in water , they then have to get you onboard, simple
Thanks for the information and the great tip about carrying a copy of your passport.
We've done 18 Cruises and watched runners over and over, have one thing to say 🤣 😅 😆🤣🤣😂
Can you take a cruise to Bermuda and miss ship and stay for a few months?
I think in my opinion I I pick go home only if I miss it and that my opinion
Why don't they charter a boat to bring them to the cruise ship
tom ee how would they get from the charter on the boat. Plus coast the boat money.
boarding a ship in motion could be a challenge and it's on a schedule.
how does the pilot do it then ?@@tinagriffin953
ICK ICK I don't understand the question
@@41tim Not everyone would be physically able to move from the pilot boat to the ship. And you know somebody would get hurt and try to sue.
It it worth jumping into the ocean and swimming to your ship?
if you think you can swim that fast not get get drown by the turbulance of the propellers or get chewed up by said propellers!!!
it is way better idea to email you thr credit car info that way you don't have to carry extra paper around and nobody can not have access unless they have your email password
What they're not telling the people is when you buy the cruise lines insurance it's a pretty good bet that they'll wait for you I've seen them wait up to two hours for people because they had the cruise lines insurance if you don't have insurance they leave unless you're one one of their shore excursions I've seen them wait up to four hours because one of them got into a accident on the bus ride back to the port
This is good to know. Love your channel
Some comments are just toxic, not all people who missed ships are "dumb", "deserving", or "selfish".. Real accidents do happen, and some people just happens to run in to them, and they missed the ship not by their own fault.
Okthankyou Wang YEAH!
Kyra Morin hillarious
see above comment! Authorities can call the ship in cases of accident or injury, hospitals can do the same. Taxis cantoo sometimes. There ARE ways to contact!
Brilliant information Sal, thank you! I have often wondered what would happen and as I haven't done heaps of cruises it makes me a bit nervous when I do book shore excursions and I tend to look for morning excursions booked through the cruise ship so I am back in time. MickieG Adelaide Sth
As long as you book your excursion through the cruise line... The ship will never leave you behind. They always wait for their own exclusions, even if they are late.
I booked morning excursions also. Didn't want to risk being late.
So I'll ask you again what part of Cleveland you from Sal? I am back in Cleveland right now visiting my uncle and Grandpa who are not doing well but I live in Florida now enjoying this crazy Sub-Zero weather LOL