WAIT!!!!!FULL STOP!!! you MUST read this...PIER RUNNERS BEWARE!!!!!

NCL left there passports with the Port Agent on the dock, my assumption is they got them when they arrived at the dock and had them in hand when they boarded the Coast Guard vessel to try and reboard in the Bay as the ship had not left and the anchor was still sitting on the ocean floor? The captain may have out of an abundance of caution not wanting anyone to get hurt trying to navigate from this vessel and not a Tender....if any of that really exists. Obviously we cannot get someone hurt trying to board the ship and some of them were in wheel chairs so this may lend to reasons why the Captain Refused. He seeing and hearing them call from shore means that he could have sent the Tender back too. After hearing about the 9th passenger that was left in Sao Tome an 80 yr old lady who had to be medically evaluated on shore due to possible stroke onboard that NCL did not follow up with before the ship left port and these 8 passengers assisted her needs and contacted her family and paid for necessaties i think everything worked out pretty well, including hearing the passengers were able to rejoin the cruise in Senegal.

Today is April 2 and there is more to the story now, a twist nobody knew about and a reunion!!!!

Our travelers were aided by the embassy and NCL Headquarters to catch up with the ship and board it in Gambia but ahh the tides were too low and the ship stayed at sea another day while these 8 traveled by plane/boat/vehicle over 6 countries in 48 hrs to meet the Dawn in Senegal. Which they were reunited and allowed to board, some were hesitant to rejoin but everything they took was on the ship and its headed to Barcelona on April 10th and they all have paid plans from there forsure.

The Twist of Fate is the 9th passenger that was left in Sao Tome...thats right folks this 80 yr old seasoned veteran cruiser had some medical issues and Norwegian sent her to the Medical Facilities in Sao Tome, but her ID and money was not with her and the ship left without her...they knew she had some memory issues and medical issues and that is why she had to be evaluated. NCL further stated they did not contact her emergency contacts on file because of Laws regarding patient confidentiality...Yeah this Captain is getting even better reviews about how he operates his vessel. So the couple from North Carolina happened to stumble upon her in the streets while they were trying to figure out how to navigate getting back to the ship at its next port of call in Gambia. They took this lady and contacted her relatives and provided for her whatever she needed I have read including paying for whatever she needed. Her family says these 8 passengers and especially the couple were Angels wearing skin. I really am begining to think that had that Captain allowed them to board the ship from the Coast Guard Vessel this lady would possibly not make it home alive, as she was still having memory issues and some medical issues similar to stroke it is said. So about now I am going to thank the Captain for being a Jerk, sometimes you need to give credit where it is due and this is one of those situations. I know the passengers deserved whatever happened to them because they did not........however rules are rules and when you can see the people and your anchor is still sitting on the ocean floor....you did not have to do what you did Captain, you had options you choose and now we get to choose how we feel about it.

I am sure this Amazing Race to get back to the ship covering over 6 countries with 8 strangers who became fast friends will be memory to last a lifetime. Isn't that why we cruise anyhow folks, not that bad things will happen but we will see and experience somethings that amaze us. See you at Sea.

Overall, there HAS to be more.

Why would the ship leave their passports with the port agent?

Did the port agent still have their passports, and that was why they were denied re-boarding from the Coast Guard vessel?

They say that the ship followed their policies too closely? That they have forgotten that they're working in a hospitality industry? Thats the most entitled horse hockey I have heard in a hot min.

They also claim the Cruise Line has not been in contact with them, but then the article also says they were provided with authorization to re-board in Senegal?

Something Stinks.

So the update to this story goes as follow. The passports may have been left by NCL at the dock when the last tender left for the ship rather than giving them to the Coast Guard Ship alongside the Dawn? I realize some paperwork would need to be adjusted as 8 missing to the Coast Guard taking the 8 to the ship in the Bay (while the anchor was still on the sea floor am told). We know how important the paperwork is.

The passengers where trying to catch the ship in Gambia but the tides were too low for the ship to dock so the passengers had to get to Senegal a boat ride and 4 hr drive and YES the Ship allowed them to reboard the NCL Dawn. NCL did start conversing with the 8 to aid them after they were left stranded. Interesting note NCL says they will reimburse the passengers for the added travel costs from Gambia to Sengal?

I am still feeling that all of this was unnesssary if the Captain had allowed them to board in the Bay of Sao Tome.

i will defend NCL for leaving them after they did not make it back in time and being on a non NCL sanctioned tour (that is why they warn you what to do or not do). No passenger should cause the ship to miss there scheduled times...i get that the 99% of the ship passengers should not be affected by a few.

Aoparently one of the 8 passengers was getting medical attention onshore while having some issue while onboard and was dispatched to Sao Tome for medical evaluation/assistance. Her family has since made arrangements to have her flown home.

So i am wondering if the 8th passenger was the reason why the Captain would not allow the 7 to join the ship as they had allready identified she needed medical attention due to whatever happened onboard. The news says that she may have suffered a stroke? I realize that a ship will not allow someone who has severe medical issues to reboard unless there was something that stabilized the passenger while they sought medical services on land. Yes, there is Doctors onboard but knowingly allow someone to stay aboard with a medical situation that could lead to death is not an option for any cruise line (they all are allowed to refuse boarding of any passenger who exhibits symptons such as life threatening).

THE STORY CONTINUUUUES

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13263487/American-tourists-stranded-africa-norwegian-cruise-ship-gabon-gambia.html

Needs no commentary....any veteran cruiser would be left shaking their heads in dismay...yeh, we know what they did wrong...allegedly, supposedly...BUT...even so...

Agreed...but as usual, the devils in the details...I thought "out to the ship" was interesting? at the pier, out at a mooring, underway? makes a difference...anyone who has ever seen a pilot boat come alongside would tell you its risky at best...not something joe blow would try...underway?? takes a mile or three to actually stop...and then what? not the calmest of waters like tied up sitting at a pier eh? besides...he's the Captain...on a ship at sea...or was it? this isn't as simple a "conclusion to jump to" as it sounds...don't you think the Corporate Beards (hah!) have a policy to cover this and themselves??? nevertheless, for anyone who has never seen it actually happen, watch and learn...

Like the previous comments: there must be more details to this story. The fact that the Coast Guard took them out to the ship is the most confusing part to me. How could the Captain refuse to let them board? It will be interesting to see “the rest of the story”.

We have those in triplicate in Government...so you know damned well the private sector has the same, if not at a higher rate.

Might be interesting to see what NCL's "official reaction" to all the baaaaaaad PR this caused...this isn't exactly a couple of 1/2 drunk pier runners who made it onboard and everybody at the rail (including me) laffed.....given who they were, I'm surprised one or more of them didn't die or have a life threatening emergency........of course, NO reaction IS a reaction too.....a few minutes delay here n there fleetwide in many ports equates to how many barrels of heavy crude??? cynical, I think not...bet theres beancounters who can calculate EXACTLY what those delays cost, including storm avoidance, picking up refugees, and so on.

This is a very easily avoidable situation.

1) When going ashore, abide by your all-aboard time

2) When booking excursions, its probably not worth the savings or experience to be stuck in another country, so book through the line.

Although it is questionable as to why the captain refused to allow them to board from the Coast Guard Vessel.