Late to Reboard: Tourists Stranded Mid-Cruise in São Tomé

After what started as a dream voyage, several American travellers found themselves stranded in West Africa mid-cruise while en route from Cape Town, South Africa, to Barcelona, Spain. The ordeal began when the Norwegian Cruise Line’s ship they were aboard, the Norwegian Dawn, made a stop just off the coast of West Africa.

Jay and Jill Campbell, along with other passengers, opted to explore the nearby island of São Tomé and Príncipe on March 27. However, the excursion ran late, and despite efforts to alert their guides, they missed the ship’s departure time. Despite the local coast guard’s efforts to ferry them back to the vessel, cruise officials allegedly refused to allow them aboard.

The stranded passengers, including four Americans and two Australians, faced dire circumstances. Some didn’t have access to their medications or credit cards left on the ship. Efforts to communicate with the ship via email proved futile, leaving them feeling abandoned.

The group attempted to rejoin the ship in Banjul, Gambia, on April 1, but adverse weather conditions prevented the vessel from docking. Eventually, they managed to meet the ship in Dakar, Senegal, its final West African port of call, after traversing through six countries.

Norwegian Cruise Line issued a statement explaining that the passengers missed the ship’s departure time and were responsible for ensuring their return on time. Despite the unfortunate events, the cruise line stated it would reimburse the passengers for their travel costs and facilitated their reunion with the ship in Senegal.

The stranded passengers faced significant challenges, including language barriers and complex travel arrangements, as they navigated through multiple countries to reunite with the cruise ship. While they managed to reconnect with the vessel, their experience serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of adhering to cruise schedules and the unexpected challenges that can arise during international travel.