“Norwegian Cruise Line Statement Reveals Passengers Were Late Returning to Ship on March 27”
“According to New York Post, eight cruise ship passengers, including a pregnant woman and an elderly man with a heart condition, were abandoned on an African island after their Norwegian Cruise Line vessel departed without them. Stranded on Sao Tome, the Central African island, are a couple from South Carolina along with four other Americans and two Australians, who claim the ship’s captain denied them reentry.”
“After being left behind, the eight passengers have been enduring days of hardship in their attempt to catch up with the cruise ship. One of the stranded passengers expressed, ‘We have never had an experience like this before,’ highlighting the unprecedented nature of their ordeal.”
“According to a statement from Norwegian Cruise Line, the passengers were notably late returning to the ship on March 27, adding context to the situation.”
”Eight guests who were on the island on their own or with a private tour missed the last tender back to the vessel, therefore not meeting the all-aboard time of 3 p.m. local time,” the statement said.
”While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship’s intercom, in the daily communication and posted just before exiting the vessel.”
“Jill and Jay Campbell, the stranded couple from South Carolina, recounted an issue with their island tour where the guide failed to return them to the ship on time on Friday. Despite the ship still being anchored upon their arrival at the port, the island’s Coast Guard aided their return onboard via a boat. However, the ship’s captain purportedly refused them reentry, leaving them stranded without their belongings, money, or necessary medications.”
“The Campbells further disclosed that among the stranded group are several elderly individuals, one of whom is a paraplegic, and another woman who is pregnant. They expressed concern that one member of the group had gone without his heart medication for five days and had fallen ill as a result.”
“The passengers are currently en route to a port in Senegal, where the cruise ship is scheduled to dock on Tuesday. Jay Campbell mentioned exploring options for transportation, including vans accommodating all eight passengers, including the quadriplegic woman, with plans to cross the ferry to reach Senegal.”
”We just learned from the gentleman that the ferry hadn’t been working, but he said, ‘No problem if the ferry is not working, we will get another little boat and then pick up a car on the other side. And then once we get on the other side of Senegal, it’s another four-hour drive,” he added.
