Hundreds left behind when cruise ship leaves the Big Island early due to tsunami warning

[DeniseM]

Hundreds Left Behind As Cruise Ship Flees Hawaii Tsunami

Pride of America was forced to evacuate, leaving hundreds of passengers ashore. What followed was chaos, confusion, and a scramble to regroup.

beatofhawaii.com

 

[WorldT]

Safety first! It didn't really leave them behind though, it just moved away from port and came back in the next day to get everyone.
Hopefully the people stuck on land overnight had contingency plans. Thankfully, a shelter was open to take some people.

 

[DeniseM]

Who has a contingency plan on a cruise? Do an internet search you will see that the people left behind were very unhappy.

 

[dioxide45]

In certain emergencies, there are limited options. No contingency plan can fix that. It seemed that NCL provided the passengers left behind with information they needed in order to be safe. There is only so much anyone or a company can do to support the passengers in a situation like this. NCL had to do what they did to do in order to ensure the safety of the ship and the people on board.

 

[davidvel]

Who has a contingency plan on a cruise? Do an internet search you will see that the people left behind were very unhappy.

Inconvenienced certainly, but unhappy about what, that there was an earthquake and tsunami? What is the point of that?

The ship was ordered out of port by the Coast Guard, notified passengers by text, and all could not make it back. Shelters were provided to stranded passengers. No contingency plan needed, maybe trip insurance.

It is called a natural disaster. Things don't always go how you would want when those things happen. These must be the some ones "unhappy" they could not go to Cheeseburger in Paradise after Lahaina burned down.

 

[pedro47]

Will travel insurance cover this almost natural disaster in Hawaii?
A one night stay in a hotel and meals.

 

[Luanne]

Will travel insurance cover this almost natural disaster in Hawaii?
A one night stay in a hotel and meals.

You would have to check the policy for the travel insurance to see if it's covered. Many do cover trip interruption due to natural disasters.

 

[Passepartout]

Y'know that sheet we ALL GET in our cabin each night???? It has the 'Port Agent' for that day's port. If something goes wrong, if you get hurt, if the ship leaves, CALL THE PORT AGENT!
At least one person in your party should carry that with you.

When I was hospitalized on Germany during a river cruise, the port agent helped my wife and checked on us daily.

It's important!!

Jim

 

[VacationForever]

Y'know that sheet we ALL GET in our cabin each night???? It has the 'Port Agent for that day's port. If something goes wrong, if you get hurt, if the ship leaves, CALL THE PORT AGENT!
At least one person in your party should carry that with you.

When I was hospitalized on Germany during a river cruise, the port agent helped my wife and checked on us daily.

It's important!!

Jim

Never heard of a port agent with all my cruising. Is this an agent that resides on shore at each port?

 

[bizaro86]

Never heard of a port agent with all my cruising. Is this an agent that resides on shore at each port?

It's a company the cruise line hires to deal with issues in port.

 

[dioxide45]

It's a company the cruise line hires to deal with issues in port.

Isn't it an employee of the port authority? Sometimes a government entity. Wouldn't it be the same authority for all cruise ships in a particular port?

 

[VacationForever]

So is it a different phone number at every port? This information has never been disseminated to all the cruises that I have been on.

 

[Passepartout]

So is it a different phone number at every port? This information has never been disseminated to all the cruises that I have been on.

Actually, it IS a different contact in each port. And you ARE TOLD OF IT IN EVERY DAY'S notification that is on your bed the night before.

That you choose to gloss over the information is up to you, but you simply cannot say it wasn't given to you.

 

[dioxide45]

So is it a different phone number at every port? This information has never been disseminated to all the cruises that I have been on.

The information is provided, usually in the app or on the daily paper cruise planner that they give you. It is always there, you just haven't seen it.

 

[Passepartout]

Isn't it an employee of the port authority? Sometimes a government entity. Wouldn't it be the same authority for all cruise ships in a particular port?

Maybe, or possibly an independent contractor who has the contacts and ability to alleviate problems when a passenger has issues.

 

[dioxide45]

Maybe, or possibly an independent contractor who has the contacts and ability to alleviate problems when a passenger has issues.

But I always took it to be someone who had an office or was a person physically present at the port?

 

[VacationForever]

The information is provide, usually in the app or on the daily paper cruise planner that they give you. It is always there, you just haven't seen it.

Thanks, I guess I had never paid attention to it.

 

[Passepartout]

But I always took it to be someone who had an office or was a person physically present at the port?

It was a local office/resident in the port city.

 

[Passepartout]

Thanks, I guess I had never paid attention to it.

Many don't, but it can be important if needed.

 

[Pennytx]

My experience is limited to a Holland America
They have representatives with physical offices at every port. The respreentatives are local and have extensive training and contacts in the port area they represent.
I used them personally to schedule emergency dental surgery and they were fantastic with locating a dentist, setting transportation and appointments etc

 

[Passepartout]

My experience is limited to a Holland America
They have representatives with physical offices at every port. The respreentatives are local and have extensive training and contacts in the port area they represent.
I used them personally to schedule emergency dental surgery and they were fantastic with locating a dentist, setting transportation and appointments etc

Yes. Big lines will have dedicated offices in ports. I was in a small city hospital for 9 days so the agent was a local person, but he and/or his wife checked on us daily, visited me in hospital, took us to dinner when I was released. We are still in contact- as well as with the owner of AMA Waterways.

 

[Pennytx]

Yes. Big lines will have dedicated offices in ports. I was in a small city hospital for 9 days so the agent was a local person, but he and/or his wife checked on us daily, visited me in hospital, took us to dinner when I was released. We are still in contact- as well as with the owner of AMA waterways.

That’s really great people

 

[alwysonvac]

Actually, it IS a different contact in each port. And you ARE TOLD OF IT IN EVERY DAY'S notification that is on your bed the night before.

That you choose to gloss over the information is up to you, but ply cannot say it wasn't given to you.

The information is provided, usually in the app or on the daily paper cruise planner that they give you. It is always there, you just haven't seen it.

On my Celebrity Edge cruise last year, they reminded folks during their morning announcement to make note of the port contact.
I took a picture from the daily planner and then found it on their app as well.

 

[pedro47]

Y'know that sheet we ALL GET in our cabin each night???? It has the 'Port Agent' for that day's port. If something goes wrong, if you get hurt, if the ship leaves, CALL THE PORT AGENT!
At least one person in your party should carry that with you.

When I was hospitalized on Germany during a river cruise, the port agent helped my wife and checked on us daily.

It's important!!

Jim

Passepartout, that is an suggestion IMHO and we will be doing that on our future cruises.

 

[pedro47]

Actually, it IS a different contact in each port. And you ARE TOLD OF IT IN EVERY DAY'S notification that is on your bed the night before.

That you choose to gloss over the information is up to you, but you simply cannot say it wasn't given to you.

To the OP, I know for a fact that Celebrity Cruise Lines provides this information.