A family that missed their all-aboard time during a cruise to Alaska was charged almost $9,000 by Norwegian Cruise Line due to the incident.
The charge was for fees incurred by the family for violating US Customs and Border Protection policies, and was for $971 per person. The family of 9 had missed the return time while in Ketchikan.
The family was forced to pay the fee, but NCL did later confirm that it would refund the charge and that it was also refunding other out-of-pocket expenses for the family. As a gesture of goodwill, the family also received a 20% discount on a future cruise.
That’s despite the fact that the cruise line was not at fault for the family missing the ship, but instead it was the fault of a local tour company.
The family had used the operator to see a lumberjack show, but then when they tried to use the company’s bus to return to the port, they were told it was full and to wait for another.
The company never sent another bus, and so the family had to urgently contact the cruise line and the port authority who did send a van, but it was too late.
Apparently, the tour operator was not checking who had booked with the ship, and so was allowing anyone onto the bus.
While most of the family were given their passports back, one had been left on the ship and so the family couldn’t travel to meet the ship in the next port of call.
They eventually managed to get home, although they said they had issues with cancelled flights and had to travel via various cities.
NCL claims that they were able to help the family make their travel arrangements so that they could get home.
Related posts
- Sick Passenger Stranded Without Correct Travel Insurance Cover
- Cruise Passengers Stranded In Mexico
- Cruise Passengers Stranded In Africa – Left Behind By Their Ship
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Cruise Ban Scaled Back? Carnival Clarifies The Situation
The well-known cruise reviewers Dan Wailing and Jay Cannon are no longer banned from sailing with Carnival Cruise Line, after the company stated that its earlier letter “only” covered three…
British Cruise Guest Jailed After Flaunting Stolen Jewellery
A British cruiser has been jailed after packing nearly £15,000 worth of stolen jewellery for her getaway – and then sending her work colleagues selfies while wearing it. Lucy Roberts,…
Eclipse Cruise Ports Cancelled Due To Guest Feedback
Guests aboard Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady will now enjoy a full view of the 12th August 2026 total solar eclipse, thanks to a proactive itinerary adjustment that aligns the ship…
Independence Of The Seas Suffers Maintenance Issues – Itineraries Impacted
Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas encountered an unexpected hiccup during their Northern Europe sailing, with the ship arriving late to the Netherlands and cancelling a future port…
Ncl is picking up all the bills plus giving family discounts for future cruises. the family has been contacted by major TV networks and would not be surprised to hear they were paid for interviews . NCL has gone out of their way to apologize and help this family, don’t understand why you did not say this in your article.