A group of passengers experienced an unexpected journey when they were left stranded on São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island, after missing their cruise ship’s boarding deadline. They spent six days chasing the ship before finally rejoining it.
Missed Boarding Deadline
Eight passengers missed the Norwegian Dawn’s all-aboard time on March 27 due to a private tour that ran longer than expected, causing them to be over an hour late, as confirmed by a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson.
Stranded on São Tomé and Príncipe
The passengers found themselves in a challenging situation on the small island nation, with the São Tomé and Príncipe Coast Guard attempting to ferry them back to the ship in tender boats. However, these efforts were unsuccessful, leading the group to remain stranded.
Failed Reboarding Attempts
Initial attempts to reboard the ship in Banjul, Gambia, were hindered by adverse weather conditions and tidal restrictions, preventing the ship from docking safely.
Chasing the Ship
The guests had to pursue the ship to Dakar, Senegal, about 100 miles further, for another chance to re-embark. Norwegian Cruise Line assisted by facilitating their visas and reimbursing their trip from Gambia to Senegal.
Lengthy Journey to Rejoin
Jill Campbell, one of the passengers, mentioned traveling through seven countries in 48 hours to catch up with the ship. While considering not rejoining due to perceived shortcomings in care, the passengers ultimately re-embarked in Senegal after six days of being stranded.
