While veteran cruisers know they shouldn't fly into their embarkation city the morning of departure, many may think that driving is safer.
Unfortunately, one unlucky family learned that driving comes with risks when they missed their Carnival cruise out of New Orleans, Louisiana.
John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, shared a letter on his Facebook page from a guest who missed their ship's all-aboard time in NOLA due to unexpected traffic.
"We drove from Senoia, Georgia... There was a wreck on I-75. We arrived 50 minutes before the boat was leaving," the letter says.
"The [ship] was still there, but the doors to the terminal were closed. There were no Carnival reps. We were left stranded."
Senoia, Georgia, is roughly 450 miles from New Orleans. In normal traffic conditions, the drive should take anywhere from 6 to 7 hours.
The guest went on to ask how to get their "full refund." Heald initally expressed his condolences for missing their cruise vacation and the stress they must have felt driving to the terminal.
However, he mentions that it's "very clearly written" that passengers must arrive on time. Boarding doors must legally close at a pre-determined time before the ship sails away.
"We do close the doors...to the terminal an hour before the ship departs. All the embarkation staff will leave... Just like a plane closes its doors...it's exactly the same with the ships," he continues in the video.
Travel insurance is necessary for all cruise vacations
If you have been on the fence about travel insurance, this situation should be the deciding factor. If you are responsible for your own transportation to the cruise terminal, whether booking your own flights or driving, the ship does not have to wait for you if you're late.
Traffic accidents, delayed flights, and other last-minute emergencies can derail even the most foolproof travel plans. Without travel insurance, you're left to absorb the financial loss on your own.
Sometimes, you can arrange to meet the ship in another port of call, but you are responsible for all the associated costs. Last-minute travel isn't cheap, either.
Insurance helps with other mishaps, too. Let's say that you get sick on the cruise ship and need to visit the medical center. Even if you have a great medical policy through your employer, it's unlikely it will cover any treatments received on the ship since it's considered international.
Cruise ship medical centers are known for charging high fees that must be paid upfront before disembarking. Without insurance, these costs come straight out of your pocket. In some cases, cruisers have reported being billed as much as $10,000 for services received in the medical center.
In Heald's video, he closed out the unfortunate story about the guests who missed their cruise on Carnival Glory by saying, "Cruise insurance is not necessary until it is."
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
