Elderly couple left stranded in Spain after breaking key cruise ship rule
If you like to think of yourself as a jet-setter who thrives from globe-hopping, the chances are that you'll already be well aware that many travellers have been ditching planes for cruises in recent years.
That's right, hundreds of holidaymakers are choosing the seas over the skies for their upcoming vacation, due to the mass of rules and restrictions that come with a traditional trip abroad, including seat etiquette, and luggage price politics.
What many cruise newbies don't realise until they board their ships, however, is that there are actually a handful of regulations that seafarers MUST follow whilst sailing from destination to destination.
And for one elderly couple this week, they learned that the hard way...
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American couple Richard and Claudene Gorden were travelling through Spain on a Norwegian Cruise Line last week when they opted to arrange an independent excursion to the city of Grenada whilst their ship was docked in Motril.
Speaking to CNN, 84-year-old Salt Lake City-based Richard claimed: "I am a very experienced traveler and have probably been on as many as 30 cruises during my lifetime."
Despite a rainstorm, the couple enjoyed their day trip to the gorgeous Mediterranean city.
Their day ultimately ended in disaster when the dreadful weather caused Richard and his 81-year-old wife to run late for the 5.30pm return to their ship, called Viva, which was scheduled to depart at 6.00pm sharp.
"Never before have we ever missed catching a ship on time at a port. So we are not someone who abuses the system," he insisted.
According to the duo - who booked their trip overseas to celebrate Richard's 85th birthday - they alerted a member of their family who was already on board that they were running slightly late, but believed they'd still make it back in time.
After letting a crew member know, the family member was told there was nothing they could do, and that the ship wouldn't wait.
It was only when the couple arrived to the dock at 6.10pm and failed to find their vessel that they realised it had left without them.
Richard has since hit out: "Our cruise began in Lisbon and we departed from Lisbon about one and a half hours after the scheduled departure at 4 p.m.
"Then the next night or two, at least a half-hour late from the dock, so it is clear that they do not always leave on the exact moment scheduled."
The couple's main concern was being without the belongings they'd left on the ship, including medication, glasses and a hearing aid battery.
Thankfully, however - with some help of their daughter back home in the States - the couple were able to catch up with the ship less than a week later, after a flight was booked for them to Mallorca.
"They picked us up at the hotel in a beautiful black BMW limousine to take us to the ship," Richard recalled.
"There we were met by the head of ship services who escorted us inside the ship to meet the general manager of the ship, then they escorted us to breakfast, then they escorted us to our cabin."
Despite their warm welcome back, the couple were not happy that they hadn't received any contact from the crew for two days after being left behind.
Norwegian Cruise Line claimed, however, that they'd attempted to get in touch with the Gordons when they missed their initial 5.30pm all-aboard time.
"After several attempts to contact these guests with the phone numbers provided, as well as trying to phone their emergency contact, we were unable to speak to them directly," a representative told the New York post in a statement.
"However, we worked closely with the local port agents to make arrangements for the guests to rejoin the vessel."
They went on: "It is important to note that a delayed departure has the potential to impact the ship’s ability to deliver its planned itinerary and thus influence the experience for all guests onboard. While this was a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time."
Rhianna Benson