Pier runner: What to do if you miss your cruise ship?

If you’re a cruise regular, chances are you’re familiar with ‘pier runners’ – those who return to their cruise ship late and consequently have to make a mercy dash down the pier in-order not to be left behind. It can be an amusing scenario – until it happens to you, of course.

All that mocking and viral internet activity aside, ask yourself: would you know what to do if your cruise ship left you behind?

Across various lines and itineraries, as a cruise ship passenger, you are generally expected to arrive in port and board your cruise ship at least an hour before departure. This is applicable regardless of whether you are first getting on board your cruise, or after exploring a given port during a guided excursion.

It is easy to assume that a cruise ship will wait for all of its nominated passengers, given the high booking fees involved. Unfortunately, this is incorrect. Arrive late and it’s highly likely that your cruise ship will leave you behind despite all the running, waving and shouted pleas you can muster.

This scenario may even happen if you’re first meeting up with your cruise ship via a flight booked by your chosen cruise line. If your flight is delayed, you may find yourself without a ship to catch. While this may seem illogical and somewhat unfair, be assured there are good reasons behind why this happens.

It’s not that your ship’s crew don’t care about leaving you stranded in port, or how much your cruise package has cost you. In fact, it’s nothing personal at all. Primarily to blame are tight shipping schedules as well as multiple factors that are beyond your captain’s control.

Why a cruise ship leaves without late passengers

Cruise ships leave late passengers behind due to various reasons and, often, many are at play at once.

For example, did you know that a cruise ship’s schedule is planned at least two years or more ahead of an actual tour? This is because many different people, across multiple locations, all work closely to ensure that a cruise goes to plan and in safety.

If a cruise ship delays its departure, not only does that inconvenience fellow passengers but it can also cause logistical problems for other ships trying to dock at the next port.

Additionally, depending on geography and overall use of the next port, a cruise ship may have arranged to meet with a local harbour pilot for assistance while navigating into port.

This needs to happen at the precise, pre-arranged time and has usually cost a considerable sum to arrange. If the cruise ship is subsequently late, the cruise line may also incur substantial penalty fees.

Elsewhere, in the next port, tour guides and drivers who had planned to greet passengers from the ship may find their timetable no longer matches with the cruise’s late arrival. This can result in cancelled or shortened activities on top of the frustrating disruption for all.

While a cruise ship can technically go faster to make up for lost time, this is usually not regarded as a suitable alternative to simply leaving on schedule. This is because engines that are working harder will consume more fuel and a large ship’s engines are particularly thirsty, especially when under load.

Ultimately, it is the captain’s decision whether to wait for late passengers or not. However, in most cases, with so many pressures to leave on time, a captain will usually opt not to disrupt the planned schedule. Time is money and if you are late, you will usually find yourself stranded in port with your cruise ship disappearing off into the horizon.

If the worst happens – what not to do

While adrenaline flows, impulsive action in response to your departing cruise ship may seem like a good strategy, but in most cases, it is not. Should any crazy idea pop into your head of somehow catching the ship as she leaves, forget it. Your efforts would most likely leave you looking foolish or even prove dangerous.

Even with a vehicle, it’s not going to happen. If we can’t convince you, perhaps this amusing clip by Jeremy Clarkson on a 2014 episode of Top Gear might...

While there have been past cases of passengers boarding their cruise ship shortly after it has left port, these incidences are rare.

Amusingly, a woman who had missed her Fred Olsen ship in Gibraltar was reacquainted with the vessel via the port’s pilot boat, safely delivering both her and a bag of just-purchased La Senza underwear to the missed ship.

However, this was very much an exception. Elsewhere, following a disagreement with her husband, a 65-year-old woman jumped into the Atlantic after missing her Marco Polo cruise ship at the Portuguese port of Funchal.

Convinced her husband was on board, she managed to swim a third of a mile out to sea before getting into difficulty. Found by local fishermen four hours later, she was rescued while barely conscious and suffering from hypothermia.

Missed your cruise ship? Here’s what to do

It’s well-known that cruisers who miss a ship’s departure are destined for a tricky and expensive time ahead but don’t panic. Staying calm and in port while making the best of a bad situation is absolutely your best game plan.

Firstly, worrying and frustrating as it is to be left behind, do remember your manners. You are now unexpectedly stranded in a new place and tempting as it will be to vent your frustration at anyone in close proximity, it will not usually be that particular person’s fault - nor will getting annoyed help your plight.

You will likely require all the assistance you can attract from the community you’ve been left behind in, so aim to make friends and not foes of people around you.

Your first goal should be to seek guidance and make decisions quickly based on what you can find out.

Try to avoid agonising over the ‘what ifs’ and instead concentrate on what needs to be done. For now, you have logistics to sort and you will thank yourself later if you can keep a lid on emotion and feelings of overwhelm.

Your best source of advice and help will come from within the port itself. Most cruise lines have an agent - known as a port agent - stationed in each of their scheduled docking points.

As soon as you can, make yourself known to the relevant port agent and give them as much detail as they require. It will all help.

If you find yourself without proper identification or don’t speak the local language, call your country’s Embassy that is located closest to the port you’re in.

They can help figure out next steps and potentially put you in contact with those who can assist. If a language barrier exists, they may be able to speak to others in the port on your behalf.

You may find that, upon liaising with the port agent, you will then be able to access some of your belongings, including your passport, your mobile phone and, if relevant, some medications.

If the ship crew were able to find them, these items will have been removed from your cabin to allow you the possibility of planning your next move.

Additionally, your port agent should be able to make contact with your ship as well as helping you with alternative arrangements. The best option is usually to take the next available flight to the ship’s upcoming port where you may be able to rejoin your cruise.

However, this will be determined by timing as well as your willingness and, most importantly, whether cabotage law applies at the ship’s next stop.

Cabotage law can restrict the number of ports where foreign-registered ships can legally pick up and drop off passengers. Your port agent should be able to advise you on this aspect as well as your options overall.

If applicable, you may also wish to speak with your cruise line, travel agent or travel insurance provider who may be able to assist with other elements of your dilemma.

At all times, stay patient and try to co-operate wherever possible. You must also be mindful that any decisions you come to and any arrangements made will normally be at your own cost.

While incurring additional costs on holiday is never pleasant, aim to make your decisions both sensibly and promptly. This is particularly true if you hope to meet-up again with your cruise ship elsewhere. It’ll mostly come down to timing so try not to delay unnecessarily.

Finally, bear in mind that if you opt to return home, you will still need to obtain your belongings from the cruise line.

This is another expense that will have to be borne by yourself but, other than making the initial arrangements, there will be nothing else you will need to do for your cruise line will have everything shipped out to you.

Whatever you decide, with luck, you’ll soon be underway again whether that be back home or onto the next port.