As of: April 5, 2024, 7:23 p.m
By: Carmen Mörwald
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The passengers of a cruise ship were left behind on an island. To get back on board, they traveled across Africa.
São Tomé and Príncipe – A cruise trip to Africa turned into a disaster for nine tourists: the ship belonging to the shipping company Norwegian Cruise Line left without them after their stay on the island of São Tomé and Príncipe. According to media reports, four elderly people were among those stranded, one of whom had a heart condition and one of whom was a paraplegic. Another cruise vacationer was pregnant. To get back on board the ship, the troop traveled across West Africa.
Paraplegic and pregnant women stranded: cruise ship intentionally leaves without them
Passengers on the Norwegian Dawn ship booked a 21-day cruise that departed South Africa on Wednesday, March 20. But the trip ended for them after just eight days - as did Jill and Jay Campbell from South Carolina. Speaking to
ABC15 News
, the couple explained that they were on an island tour with another six tourists. However, as this took longer than expected, the tour operator contacted the captain to inform him that they would be delayed.
Nine tourists are stranded in Africa after the Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ship sailed on without them (symbolic photo). © Ncl Handout / dpa
When the original eight tourists arrived at the port, the captain is said to have refused to let them board the ship. Numerous contact attempts failed. When the coast guard tried to take her to the ship in a boat, they were given instructions to take her back to the island. “The captain could have simply decided to turn one of the dinghies around, pick us up, load us safely and then move on,” the news portal quoted Jay Campbell as saying.
Abandoned in Africa: Elderly cruise ship passenger suffers concussion
What happened next is more reminiscent of an adventure novel than a true story: the Campbells were the only tourists who had money with them. From then on, everyone else had to do without their personal belongings, medication and the vaccination certificates prescribed by the immigration authorities. With the resources available, the troop decided to follow the ship overland in order to get on board at the next stop.
On their way, they met another cruise passenger who had also been left without any financial means or personal belongings, as the couple from America reported on
ABC15 News
. The 80-year-old suffered a concussion and lost some of her vision, which is why she was previously hospitalized. “God forbid, what would have happened to that lady if we hadn’t been here,” Jay Campbell said.
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Across Africa: Tourists couldn't get on board on the second attempt either
The woman with a concussion decided to abort the trip and not board the Norwegian Dawn again. Shortly afterwards she was on her way home to the USA. The eight-man troop, however, stuck to their plan. Because contact with the cruise ship was extremely difficult - according to the Campbells' own statements - the tourists sought help from the US embassy. This meant they were able to fly to The Gambia and arrive in time for the ship to dock in Banjul.
All's well that ends well? Von Wegen: Due to the low water level, the ship could not enter the harbor as planned. So the tourists once again don't smell like they're on board. As a result, they now tried to get to Senegal, where the ship arrived on Tuesday, April 2nd. The Campbells told
ABC15 News
that getting there won't be an easy task.
The eight travelers have since reboarded the ship in Senegal on Tuesday. “Despite a series of unfortunate events that are beyond our control,” the travel costs would be reimbursed, according to a statement available to
IPPEN.MEDIA
.
After its stop in São Tomé and Príncipe, the cruise ship continued on to Banjul. But here too, the tourists left behind were not allowed on board, so they continued by car to the next port in Dakar. © Carmen Mörwald / IPPEN.MEDIA / Google Maps
In a statement on Saturday, March 30, the shipping company told
WMBF News
that the passengers missed the dinghy to the ship because they were traveling "on their own." "While this is very unfortunate, guests are responsible for returning to the ship at the published time, which will be announced via the ship's intercom and in daily announcements and will be posted shortly before disembarking the ship," said one Speaker.
It continued: “If guests did not return on board at the agreed time, their passports were handed over to the local port agents.” The Norwegian Cruise Line team has worked closely with the local authorities and - contrary to the statements of the eight stranded people - is in contact with the passengers. “Our team has worked closely with local authorities to clarify the requirements and necessary visas guests will need to rejoin the ship at the next port of call.”
Unlike the tourists left behind, the guests of the Ocean Explorer cruise ship would have been happy to enjoy so much freedom. This was stranded off the coast of Greenland in September 2023.
(cln)
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