stupid question ,retiredguy.

Best point of the thread

I learned in Kenya, according to Masai Tribe guides, that all Kenyans were required to mask during Covid. Kenya’s Covid death and illness rate was much lower than our nation’s rate. They had previously experienced pandemics and were cautious understanding that Covid was new and unknown at the time. And that it could mutate. They wondered why our nation didn’t require masks (when one medically could of course) and were amazed at how we decided to go such a dangerous route when we could afford to take care of one another. Basically, ‘why we didn’t care for one another by choosing to mask for the good of all’.
I learned in Africa that migrants are leaving ancestral homelands because weather patterns have changed and they no longer can live the simple lifestyle that farming afforded.
I learned in Africa, that entrepreneurial small farmers, use their animals droppings to create energy with a simple barrel and pipe system and have self-sufficient energy.
I learned in Africa how cultures, religions, beliefs can co-exist. I saw feet-on-the-ground examples of belief where neighbor helped neighbor and kids lived simple happy lives, wearing school uniforms, with gratitude and without media and electronics. Still spinning a wheel down the road with a stick…these kids were lean and athletic.
A close relative, deployed, in eastern Africa learned from a man around a fire, sharing a meal, that sometimes basic humanity and want of peace, a reasonable possibility of education and to be able to make a living are shared desires all around the world.
I learned that westerners can be seen as ‘walking ATMs’ and we are considered to be from the land of abundance. Some of the Africans learned that we have poverty and ignorance in the United States and this country has kids who don’t have enough to eat here too.
Plus of course incredible wildlife and beauty and the opportunity to measure what is happiness, true wealth and observe how many of us here, with so much, fail to understand our privileges.

No
 

If you decide to save money on a local tour, that is the risk you take, and the cruise makes that risk abundantly clear. I find it very irritating when people try to blame someone else for their decisions. You took the risk, so accept the consequences.

Agree
Went on a safari with family and the whole trip was surreal. I was reluctant at first to go but it's definitely a major checkmark off of my travel bucket list. The people were amazing

Evidently the local coast guard took the passengers to the ship well before it needed to leave, yet after the 3 PM all aboard time. And the ship ignored all communication attempts from the coast guard. It likely would have been easier to board the passengers than go through the hassle of collecting and delivering their passports, then handling all the communication that followed. No disruption to the cruise either. I guess they wanted to make a point. But do you really want to be in the news for this reason? I guess if they figured it would encourage more people to take the ship's excursions it was a good business decision. I'm a platinum Latitudes member but will start cruising on Royal Caribbean instead of NCL from now on because personally I think it was a bad decision. And next time I am contacted by sales I will let them know.

You obviously have no idea why a cruise ship has to leave and arrive at a certain time, and you should definitely let the Sales people know why you will not be using them again, I am sure they will be really impressed.

:agree: Agree with the tour statement. No sympathy from me either. And on another note, the ships pay port fees for a designated time, thus determine the time to deport. So if a passenger is late, there may/could be a substantial penalty for not leaving on time. :spoken:

Allowing an exception starts a precedent. Something to consider.

We have been on Royal Caribbean cruises where we waved to people on the pier because they arrived after the ship had started out.

NO — move on! Norwegian was spot on leaving passengers behind who were over 1 hour late. If NCL conceded, a precedent would be set & all entitled passengers would expect ships to wait for them. I’ve seen pier runners — those minutes late to board, chasing the ship as it sails out of port — and only once did a Captain stop, dropping a tender to get them. Bottom line — be on time! Pay for the cruise offered tours. Yes, sometimes pricey but missing a ship is VERY costly.

I'd probably do that too....if I was a teenager!

They know the rules and time to return. If they want to be one of the “entitled” who expect the ship to wait well………that’s a lesson learned very quickly.

Having been the president of a cruise line I will tell you that leaving on time from a port - any port - is critical. If a ship leaves late, there can be extra port taxes, extra expenses for the port crew - (sometimes at overtime rates) - extra fuel if the ship has to sail faster to it's next port, etc.

If it's a busy port you can lose your slot and have to wait until other ships leave the port.

And I might add shops and gambling cannot start until the legal limit is reached.
It throws the whole schedule off

And don't pull the greed crap on me. Running a cruise ship is like any business. It is about keeping to budgeted expenses.

How long should a ship wait? 15 minutes, 1 half hour, an hour, 1/2 hours, 2 hours?
The only one on the ship with this authority is the captain. And frankly his job is to make sure the ship runs smoothly and stick to the schedule.

True
This statement could/should be used on other active threads on TOTV!