Eight holidaymakers who were ‘abandoned’ by their cruise ship on an island in Africa have moved heaven and earth to get back on board their cruise ship. The hapless holidaymakers traveled for fifteen hours through six different countries to catch up with the departed ship. So far without success. The shipping company washes its hands of innocence.
Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement that the passengers showed up too late when the cruise ship wanted to depart again on Wednesday, March 27. The eight guests, who were on the island on a private tour, missed the final call to the ship and therefore did not make the departure time of 3:00 PM local time.
The cruise line said the passports of the stranded passengers were handed over to local port agents. Guests were responsible for additional costs such as accommodation and additional transportation to get to the next available port of call. Norwegian Cruise Line says it is working with local authorities and is in contact with the stranded passengers.
For hours through Africa
According to Jill and Jay Campbell, a couple from South Carolina (USA), a group of eight stranded passengers traveled for hours through several countries to reach their ship in Gambia, reports the American news organization CNN. However, the ship could not moor due to low tide.
The group is now trying to reach Senegal, where the ship is scheduled to dock on Tuesday. This is not without problems. The Campbells reported that several members of the group are elderly, another member is physically challenged and another woman was pregnant. Yet another passenger has been without heart medication for days and is very ill.
The company’s problems started after a tour of the African archipelago of São Tomé and Príncipe that ended on March 27. The tour operator contacted the captain to report that the passengers were on their way, but would be late. Even though the ship was still in port when the passengers returned, the captain refused to allow them on board, the tourists told CNN.
Lost thousands of dollars
The Campbells say the group was left without their medication and incurred many additional costs, including not having credit cards to use in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Another passenger, who had been on a different tour, required acute care and was admitted to São Tomé hospital, leaving her also stranded. The Campbells managed to contact this passenger’s daughter in California to coordinate her return to North America.
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Tags: Tourists cruise spend hours crisscrossing African countries didnt wait
