The American couple managed to buy two seats on a flight home but were devastated their cruise journey had ended prematurely. (Norwegian Sky)
After a day exploring Cuba’s vibrant capital Havana, Kevin Rohrer and his girlfriend returned to the dock to board their cruise ship and continue their four-night journey.
They knew the ship, the Norwegian Sky, would leave Havana at 5 p.m. and made sure to arrive at the dock by 3:30 p.m.
But when they got to the dock they were met with a stomach-sinking sight: the ship was gone. It had weighed anchor and left without them.
“It was a frightening situation. We were devastated,” Rohrer said in his complaint to the cruise company, Norwegian Cruise Line.
“We exchanged money and we took a taxi to the airport. American Airlines told us they wouldn’t take a credit card and quoted us 472 pesos ($466). We didn’t have that much money.”
The American couple managed to buy two seats on a flight home but were devastated their cruise journey had ended prematurely, that Norwegian Cruise Line had apparently stranded them in a foreign country, and they didn’t even understand why — the itinerary clearly said the ship would depart Havana at 5 p.m.
Rohrer told Elliott Advocacy they later found out Norwegian Cruise Lines had changed the scheduled departure time at Havana from 5 p.m. to 2 p.m. (Elliott Advocacy)
Despite their outrage they weren’t going to be compensated for the trouble, as discovered by Michelle Couch-Friedman from consumer rights group Elliott Advocacy, who Rohrer contacted for help.
Rohrer told Elliott Advocacy they later found out Norwegian Cruise Lines had changed the scheduled departure time at Havana from 5 p.m. to 2 p.m. and said the company “made no effort to inform travelers of this change.”
He sent Couch-Friedman a copy of the cruise itinerary, which they booked through a third party. It said the Norwegian Sky would leave Havana at 5 p.m.
However, Rohrer had a second document from Norwegian with him on the day he and his girlfriend missed their ship. It was a newsletter sent to their cabin, saying passengers in Havana should be “all aboard (the ship at) 1:30 p.m.”
It appeared the company has tweaked the itinerary and notified passengers in the daily newsletter.
Rohrer told Elliott Advocacy he hadn’t had a chance to read the newsletter before becoming stranded.
The day before calling into Havana, the Cruise Director announced the new time repeatedly throughout the day and additional signage was placed on the gangway...
“I provided that figure showing the time of ‘all aboard’ news flyer that was sent to our cabin while we ate breakfast on the boat the third day (second day for Cuba),” he said.
“But I didn’t get to read it at the time of discovery (we had a tight schedule with the Cuban Tour Advocacy). I had folded that flyer and put it in my pocket during our disembarkment from the ship. I read that flyer while waiting for a flight out of Cuba.”
In its response to Rohrer’s complaint, Norwegian directed him to its terms and conditions, which read, “In all ports of call, it is also the guest’s responsibility to be back on-board the ship no later than one (1) hour prior to the ship’s scheduled departure time. Please be aware that shipboard time may differ from the port of call and it is the guest’s responsibility to follow the shipboard time. In the event a guest misses the ship, it will be the guest’s responsibility to pay all expenses incurred to rejoin the ship.”
In a statement to Couch-Friedman, Norwegian said more than a month before the Havana stop, the company notified guests of the time change and circulated it on their e-documents.
“Additionally, the day before calling into Havana, the Cruise Director announced the new time repeatedly throughout the day and additional signage was placed on the gangway for all those disembarking to see,” the company said.
Rohrer maintains he didn’t hear of any change to the schedule.
But Couch-Friedman said in any case, Norwegian Cruise Line’s contract of carriage made it clear when you booked a cruise, there was never a guarantee the itinerary would stay the same.
The couple claims the company “made no effort to inform travelers of this [time] change.” (Elliott Advocacy)
Other cruise companies have similar disclaimers in their contracts of carriage.
“In the event of strikes, lockouts, stoppages of labor, riots, weather conditions, mechanical difficulties or any other reason whatsoever, Norwegian Cruise Line has the right to cancel, advance, postpone or substitute any scheduled sailing or itinerary without prior notice,” Norwegian’s terms and conditions read.
“Norwegian Cruise Line shall not be responsible for failure to adhere to published arrival and departure times for any of its ports of call.”
Couch-Friedman said it was essential all passengers remained aware the cruise schedule could potentially change.
“This is especially important if you have booked your own shore excursion,” she said.
“It may cost a little more money to book the excursion through the cruise line, but you can be certain that the boat won’t sail away without you during your adventure.
“In the end, it’s the traveler’s responsibility to know when to be back on-board that ship. If you miss your cruise home, unfortunately, there’s no one to turn to for a refund or reimbursement.”
Rohrer is understood to have been in contact with a lawyer over the incident.
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