Travel expert reveals what REALLY happens if you miss your cruise – and how to protect yourself in the worst case scenario

It’s every cruiser’s worst nightmare when first setting foot onboard a luxury ship – the thought of being left stranded and watching in despair as the large vessel sails away with your belongings.

Unfortunately, this is a reality many who embark on cruise ships are forced to bear, with hundreds of holidaymakers missing their ship’s departure time due to bad timekeeping.

And many videos of these so-called ‘pier runners’, being cheered on by thousands of other passengers as they make the long, awkward journey down the jetty, have often gone viral on social media platforms such as TikTok.

Despite begging for the cruise ship captain to wait for them, it is ultimately up to the late passengers themselves to try and meet the ship at its next port or abandon their luxury holiday altogether. 

Now, on his YouTube channel, Journey Together, US cruise vlogger Michael Kay has shared what happens in the unfortunate instance that you find yourself in this position, missing your cruise ship.

He also reveals the steps you should put in place to try and protect yourself from the ultimate worst case scenario – cancelling your trip.

1. Pay attention to the captain’s announcements

Before leaving the ship, Michael advises passengers to be extremely mindful of the onboard announcements informing you of when to be back on the vessel – something many passengers stuck on dry land seem to miss.

So-called ‘pier runners’ who are cheered on by thousands of other passengers as they make the long, awkward journey down the jetty, having run late for their cruise, have often gone viral on TikTok

Michael also recommends keeping note of any paper handouts that staff provide with the relevant information about embarkation time when you leave the ship.

If your ship has a corresponding app, consult that for any information regarding times too.

If unsure of timings, Michael advises double checking with staff who will be able to confirm the relevant information.

He says: ‘Keep in mind you are financially responsible for things that happen here. If you miss it, it is going to be a massive headache, so anything you can do to avoid this happening, do it.’

 2. Be back at the ship with plenty of time

While tempting to try and soak up another hour in the sun or a quick drink at the beach bar, Michael advises being back at the ship, at the very least, half an hour before its planned departure time.

He says: ‘I don’t like to risk it, things can go wrong, I don’t know what’s going to happen. 

‘I like to be near the ship within an hour timeframe of its scheduled departure. The hassle and the headache for missing that ship is just not worth it.’

While tempting to try and soak up another hour in the sun or a quick drink at the beach bar, Michael advises being back at the ship, at the very least, half an hour before its planned departure time

Michael also recommends setting an alarm on your phone at the ideal time you should leave your destination and head back towards the ship (with extra time to spare to account for issues such as traffic).

 3. Book any excursions through the cruise ship

Despite being occasionally more costly, the travel vlogger recommends making the extra expense and booking any excursions (such as boat trips, sightseeing tours and activities) directly through the cruise company, rather than using external tours.

The reason? Doing so ‘is going to reassure you that if anything happens with that excursion, the ship knows where you are and they are taking responsibility in the event that you can’t get back,’ explains Michael.

He adds: ‘They are responsible for the logistics, the financial aspect, it’s their responsibility because their excursion operator did not get back in time. It’s on them, not on you, you can sit back and relax.’

For those who are particularly anxious about the likelihood of missing their departure time and wanting some extra coverage, Michael also suggests looking to see if you can book excursions that start earlier in the day and therefore leave you with plenty of additional time to get back to the ship.

However, where this is not possible, or where the activity is set to take the entire day, it’s still the cruise line’s responsibility to get you back to the ship in time.

‘And they almost never miss it,’ Michael adds.

To avoid missing the ship, the travel vlogger recommends making the extra expense and booking any excursions directly through the cruise company

 4. Be organised – take pictures

Michael says that taking pictures of your essential documents – such as your passport, driving licence and bank cards – before stepping off the ship is key.

He adds: ‘Save them in a very special and safe place so that in the event that you are left behind you’ve got that information right at your fingertips.’

To ensure that you are able to access those photographs in the worst case scenario, the vlogger reminds any anxious travellers to keep a fully charged phone, with a portable charger or battery pack also useful to have in the unlikely event you are left stranded.

 5. It’s a numbers game 

 In the event that you are forced to sadly bid farewell to the ship, immediately knowing who the relevant people to contact are is vital in order to help you reunite with your belongings, and hopefully get back onboard the ship as quick as possible. 

Michael says that some of the most helpful contact details to make note of are the cruise line’s emergency customer service number (likely given to you when you first board the ship), your insurance provider’s details, alongside the Embassy of the location you find yourself stuck in. 

In the first instance, he recommends speaking to customer services to help reunite you with your belongings. 

But, while most cruise lines provide shipping, Michael warns this is likely to be ‘extremely expensive’. 

He finishes: ‘Seeing your ship sailing away is going to be a heart wrenching moment. Some people are going to be sad, some are going to be angry, frustrated, there may be tears. 

‘It is not going to be a fun experience. Don’t be that person who misses it.’