Six American and two Australian passengers were stranded on an African island when a Norwegian Cruise Line ship set sail, the company said Wednesday, leaving the ship more than an hour late.
“If they are more than an hour late for the 3pm full boarding time, as per protocol, their passports will be held for collection when they return to port from a private tour (not organized by us). The company was entrusted to a local port official. told Sky News in a statement Wednesday.
Eight passengers, including a pregnant woman and an elderly man with a heart condition, claimed they were left stranded without money or vital medicines after the Norwegian Dawn departed from Sao Tome.
South Carolina couple Jill and Jay Campbell admitted there were “issues” with their island tour and that their guide “failed to get” them back to the ship in time on Friday.
“We felt like we were really running out of time, and they were like, ‘No problem, we’ll have you back in an hour,'” Jay said, adding that the tour operator contacted the captain and It added that it had been informed of the delay.
He claimed that the ship was still at anchor when they showed up, but the captain refused to let them board.
The Campbells said they believe the ship followed the guidelines “strictly.”
“As the guest was unable to return to the ship at the previously communicated boarding time, we are working with the guest and the local port agency to provide the necessary services for the guest to re-board the ship,” the company said in a statement. We helped them obtain visas.” on the next available port. ”
TWC solicitor James Diamond said it was a “hard and fast rule” that the vessel could set sail once a final decision was made.
“They pay a lot of money in docking fees and renting out space,” he told Seven’s Sunrise.
“There is a time when they have to leave and that time will be made public. Unfortunately, we know it is morally wrong, but they have the right to leave,” he said.
The passengers reportedly traveled across seven countries over 48 hours before arriving in Dakar, Senegal, where they returned to the giant ship.
