(Photo : ERIKA SANTELICES/afp/AFP via Getty Images)
A couple from South Carolina was stranded thousands of miles away from home after being left behind by their cruise ship.
Jill and Jay Campbell, hailing from Garden City, embarked on a Norwegian Cruise on March 20.
Passengers Left Stranded by Norwegian Cruise Line
One week later, they and seven other passengers found themselves stranded on the African island nation Sao Tome and Principe when the ship departed without them.
The group is currently planning on how to return to their destination.
On Wednesday, the Campbells embarked on a tour of a small island located off the coast of Western Africa. However, the tour ended up being longer than anticipated.
"We were like our time is getting really short and they were like no problem, we can get you back within an hour," Jay Campbell said, according to CNN.
"We have never had an experience like this before," remarked Jill Campbell.
According to reports, the tour operator allegedly informed the captain about the passengers' delay, assuring that they were en route.
Upon reaching the port, the ship remained anchored, yet the captain adamantly denied them access.
The Sao Tome Coast Guard efficiently transported the passengers to the anchored ship. However, the captain instructed the coast guard to bring the passengers back to the island.
"The Harbor Master tried to call the ship, the captain refused the call. We sent emails to NCL, the NCL customer service emergency number, they said well, the only way for us to get in touch with the ship is to send them e-mails, they're not responding to our emails," said Jay Campbell.
Campbells Shoulder Group's Expenses
The group is made up of seven Americans and two Australians. Four individuals in the group are elderly, one has a pre-existing heart condition, and another is living with paralysis. There is another married couple hailing from Delaware with the wife being pregnant.
The Campbells have been the sole contributors, covering expenses of more than $5,000 for the group, including food, toiletries, and hotel accommodations. The Campbells informed WPDE that the group faced the unfortunate situation of being without their necessary medications.
Additionally, it was discovered that the majority of passengers did not possess credit cards that were accepted in São Tomé and Príncipe.
The Campbells took it upon themselves to cover the expenses for accommodations and essential items for the entire group, resulting in them spending a substantial amount of money on their Visa card. According to their statement, they are receiving assistance from the US Embassy in Angola.
Another passenger, who was part of a separate tour, experienced a medical emergency and had to be hospitalized in São Tomé. Unfortunately, this left her stranded as well. The Campbells managed to contact the passenger's daughter in California to assist with arranging her journey back to North America.
According to a statement given to various media outlets, a representative from Norwegian Cruise Line explained that on March 27, the guests did not make it back to the ship in time for the last tender and did not meet the designated "all aboard" time of 3pm local time.
The statement emphasized the importance of guests being aware of the published time for returning to the ship. It reminded guests that this information is communicated through various channels, such as the ship's intercom, daily communication, and posted notices before boarding.
The representative explained that when the guests failed to return to the vessel at the designated time, their passports were handed over to the local port agents for safekeeping until their return to the port. Guests are required to cover any travel expenses needed to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call.
"Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed if the guests were to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call," according to the statement.
The Campbells have yet to receive a response from Norwegian Cruise Line regarding the incident.
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