Cruise Talk: MISSED THE BOAT (SHIP) !!!!

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Topic: MISSED THE BOAT (SHIP) !!!!

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-08-2000 08:25 AM

Every time I cruise, I hear stories from other passengers, about their previous cruises. Almost everyone has a story about someone missing the ship. The last cruise I was on, a woman told me about a couple that missed the ship. I don't remember which one , sorry. The couple had a coast guard boat bring them out to the ship.The seas were high that day. When they tried to connect the two vessels the boats crashed into each other. Breaking the windows on the C.G. boat, denting the side of the C.G. boat and denting the side of the cruise ship. It took over a half an hour. They finally just threw the people in the opening of the ship. Those people will never miss the ship again! I wonder who had to pay for the damage to the Coast Guard boat? Do any of you have some stories to tell us about passengers missing the ship?

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 05-08-2000 01:12 PM

Mercy - I would think that the passengers who missed the "boat", would have to pay for the damages to the Coast Guard boat. If you have to fly to the next port to catch up with the ship, it is at your expense. One of the fellas in our group missed the boat in Curacao, but somehow they got him on, probably through the agent. Never did hear the whole story, as he was so embarrased and it was hushed up.
I have heard of passengers having to climb the Jacob's ladder to get back on board. I make we never miss the boat.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-08-2000 06:43 PM

Did you know:

That a few of the Titanic's crew missed the boat. They were still drinking in Southampton's 'Grapes' pub when she sailed. Now that was a stroke of good luck!

The Grapes Public House, today. From: http://www.southampton.gov.uk/leisure/visitguide/vg.htm

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 05-08-2000 10:19 PM

On my trip Ben Vereen the singer/dancer/actor was scheduled to get off of Voyager at Jamaica after being onboard since the inaugural festivities and cruise the week prior. Anyways, as some of you may remember, we skipped Jamaica due to poor weather. Since there were several medical emergencies that required immediate hospitalization, Voyager stopped somewhere near Grand Cayman to rendevous with a tender and evacuate the sick and Mr. Verreen. The seas were still rough though. Many of us were on the promenade watching as the tender kept slamming into Voyager's virgin hull. It felt like seeing a shopping cart slam into a brand new Mercedes. We had all already bonded with our new ship and it felt uncomfortable to see her being damaged. Everyone was able to get off safely after about an hour of trying.

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

garrys
First Class Passenger
Member # 581

posted 05-09-2000 07:10 AM

On the Sunbird last February we had just left Aruba and we started to slow down. After 30 minutes or so we picked up speed and away we went. However the next day we had our bridge tour and one of the officers told us that the delay was due to two Colombians which had set their watches wrong thus turning up in port to see the ship slip into the distance.

The Pilot gave them a lift out to the ship and they had trouble docking. Eventually they got on but were obviously not very popular with most people for the rest of the cruise.

Posts: 47 | From: Ipswich, Suffolk, England | Registered: Jun 99 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-09-2000 10:58 AM

Thanks for your stories! You would think they would come up with a new way to do it, if it is going to damage the ship?
Malcolm... I love the picture! I never heard about that before!

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 05-09-2000 06:30 PM

It's always interesting to watch the ship pull away from the pier. Sometimes, every once in awhile, you see a cab scream up and people jump out waving their hands frantically at the ship. I have seen this three times. The ship has never went back to get them.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-10-2000 05:09 AM

Mercy, here is another nice picture.

It is a recent picture of the South Western Hotel, at Southampton, UK. It had it's own station. The 'Boat-Train' stopped off from London at the Hotel, and took the passengers right into the docks, next to the ship, some five minutes away. (The boat train still runs today for the QE2)

Many of the Titanic's fist class passengers stopped at the Hotel, the night before the fateful departure. Unfortunately, it is no longer a hotel - it is private accomodation.

The building which was the 'White Star' Head Office is nearby, as is the 'Grapes' pub. There is also a small, but interesting Maritime Museum. Did you know that: The QE2 docks close to the Titanic's original departure point?

There is a lot of History in Southampton!

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 05-10-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-10-2000 07:56 AM

Wow Malcolm! That would be a nice private accomidation! That is so interesting. I visited England when I was in my twenties.I wish I had more time to explore. We stayed with a friend in a little town North of Heathrow airport. Can't remember the name. It was close to the US Navy Base. We took the train to London. I wished we had more time to explore the city. Such a rich history. My Mom sailed on the original "Queen Elizabeth" around 1938.

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-10-2000 03:22 PM

Hi Mercy, I can't imagine how much an appartment would cost in the South Western Hotel? UK accomodation is often 50% more expensive that the rest of the planet, at best.

So you have visited the UK in the past. Well you are very welcome to return to our pleasant land! It this age of cheap air travel there is little excuse. Remember, the UK is less than half a day away!

Better still, why not come by ship. Even the QE2 has some excellent deals on the lower grade cabins. Maybe you could recreate your Mothers trip on the 'Queen'?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-10-2000 04:09 PM

I will let you know if I do! I can't seem to talk my husband into going anywhere for vacation, without sun, sand, ocean and palm trees! There were a LOT of people from England on our last cruise in the Western Caribbean. They were the only ones in the tour bus that weren't nervous about driving on the left side of the road!

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-11-2000 02:13 PM

That's a pity Mercy, there is more to life than just 'sun, sand, ocean and palm trees'.

Anyway, the UK does occasionally see the sun and we do have some sand too! However, we have got plenty of interesting cities, beautiful countryside and lots of history.

May I enquire, which type of Art do you do?

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 05-11-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-12-2000 12:28 AM

Malcolm... I do watercolor paintings. I have done oils, but prefer watercolors. My favorite subjects are commercial fishing boats. My family spent a lot of time cruising in the San Juan Islands of Washington State and Canada in our cabin cruiser. I loved seeing all the fishing boats. I also like lighthouses , beaches and the ocean. I have done snowy scenes and mountains. But I like the ocean themes the best. I guess I just have salt water in my veins

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-12-2000 05:16 PM

Mercy, do you paint pictures of Ocean Liners?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 05-13-2000 02:48 AM

And now back to the original topic...MISSING THE BOAT. I was working aboard the Zenith and brought the new ship across the Atlantic from Germany to Boston, then Philadelphia, then New York. While we were in Philadelphia on March 17th 1992, nearly the enire cruise staff (less two) decided to go out for dinner together. Zenith was not carrying passengers at this time, only crew. As we left the ship, the sign which posted the ship's departure time said Zenith was sailing for New York at 11:30pm. I was excited to go out for dinner, but being a non-drinker, I felt like a third wheel as the staff began to drink and party a bit too much. I was tired and ready to go back to Zenith, but I had no money for a cab so I was stuck with this little group of party-animales until they decided to finally leave. It was getting late and I suggested that we get a cab and go back to the ship. I was the brunt of many jokes and called a prude because I wouldn't drink alchohol with everyone else. In fact the Assistant Cruise Director bragged that he knew what he was doing and reminded me that HE was the Assistant Cruise Director and that I should just relax. It was getting late and I finally got fed up with our little staff and I hailed two cabs for us. I was finally able to get them to agree to leave. If I had money for a cab, I would have just got a cab myself, but unfortunately I was at the mercy of these satff members. When we arrived at the pier where Zenith was docked, we were terrified to see that Zenith had already pulled away from the pier. We arrived at the pier at 11:05, so Zenith pulled away at 11:00pm a half hour early. She was suppose to leave at 11:30pm which is what the sign said. You should have seen the looks on the cruise staff's faces. The guys all lit up cigarettes and the women started to cry, convinced that they would all loose their jobs on the ship. I was upset, but I also knew that the ship sailed early and they wouldn't fire the entire cruise staff. Yours truly, Barryboat, the only person sober and with a clear mind, got in touch with the port agent and told him our situation. I convinced him to allow us to race ahead to where the Pilot Boat was and go out with it to the Zenith. The Harbor Master radio-ed ahead to the Captain to ask if it were ok if we board the ship via the Pilot Boat and the Captain agreed. I thought it was as adventure climbing up that ladder into Zenith from the Pilot Boat, I had always wanted to do that. We were all issued an official reprimand letter from the Captain, but otherwise all was well.

You would think that the staff would respect me a bit more after that incident, but no way. I had already been a Cruise Director and an Assistant Cruise Director, but was starting out my first contract as Cruise Staff with Celebrity. Even though I was more experienced working on cruise ships, I was treated by the other veteran cruise staff as if I had never worked on ships before. For example, some kid who had been with Celebrity for one year was given the promotion to Assistant Cruise Director before me, even though personality wise and having more experience, I would have been a more likely candidate. I didn't think he had it in him to be an Assistant Cruise Director, and sure enough, after only about two weeks he was demoted to Cruise Staff again, because he just didn't have it in him to be an Assistant Cruise Director. I finally was offered a position aboard QE-2 as Stage Manager, so I gladly left my Celebrity job as Cruise Staff, or Entertainment Host as we were called.

Whew, I got a bit long winded....sorry.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 05-14-2000 07:36 PM

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-15-2000 09:15 AM

Barryboat.. Excuse me if I get "off topic" just long enough to answer Malcolm's question? I liked your story

Malcolm.. I don't think photos of ships or paintings really do a ship justice. They just look like floating bananas in the water.You just can't tell how impressive they really are! If I did one, it would have to have something in the painting, that gives and idea of the true size. Maybe, I'm just too lazy to paint all those port holes!

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-15-2000 05:32 PM

Nice story Barry!

Mercy, maybe you could paint a picture of Barry climbing up that ladder to the Zenith? Barry would give the picture a sense of the ships full size!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-16-2000 10:45 AM

Malcolm... Good Idea!

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 05-16-2000 01:32 PM

After reading all the stuff in this forum I had a horrible nightmare last night that even woke me up. I dreamed my husband could not go on a cruise for some reason unknown but he told me to go ahead. I had only 40 minutes to get to the ship. I do not remember where I was but I had to take a cab home to get some clothes. I stuffed a lot of stuff in a suite and put it the cab, but forgot my formal dresses and underwear and went back into the house for it, came out and the cab was gone. I was in Philly and now had only 10 minutes to make the ship, which was at least 20 minutes away. Guess which ship.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 05-16-2000 02:49 PM

Norweigen Dream!

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-16-2000 07:14 PM

The Zenith? Gizmo... That is so funny! I can't count the many cruise nightmares I have had. Usually a couple weeks before a cruise. The last time I dreamed, I finally got to Miami after the 6 hour flight and realized that I left all my cruise documents and birth certificates at home in Seattle!!! I also dream that the ship is horrible! Runny mac and cheese for dinner. Rusty pipes in the ceiling etc. I had one nightmare come true. Our Grandeur of the Seas cruise was cancelled two weeks before the cruise, because of engine problems!

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 05-16-2000 08:09 PM

The ship is in Philly now. Lots of posts on this!

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 05-16-2000 08:51 PM

Is it the United States?

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 05-17-2000 07:32 AM

Magnum, you are correct, it was the United States. I wish it really was sailing.
That was some dream!

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

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