The Norwegian Cruise Line has agreed to reimburse eight passengers who were stranded on an African island after their ship left the port without them. The group, including Americans and Australians, had to travel through seven different countries in 48 hours to make it back onto the ship in Senegal. They had initially tried to board in Gambia but were unable to due to low tides, leading to a costly and stressful race back to rejoin the cruise.
The passengers were left without their belongings, including money, medicine, and important travel documents, after being abandoned on the island without warning. Norwegian Cruise Line initially stated that they were responsible for making their way back to the ship and missed the “all-aboard time” by over an hour. The Campbells, a pregnant woman, an elderly man with a heart condition, and others in the group faced challenges and expenses in trying to get to Senegal, including working with the US Embassy in Angola.
Despite the ordeal, the group managed to reboard the Norwegian Dawn in Senegal but had not yet spoken directly with cruise officials. They incurred over $5,000 in additional costs for food, toiletries, and hotels and only had a Visa credit card to pay for expenses. The cruise ship provided minimal support upon their return, with one passenger humorously sharing that they received “six little treats” and “some wrinkled olives and dried carrots” upon reboarding.
Doug and Violeta Sanders, an Australian couple in the group, described the experience as “the worst” of their lives. Another passenger, Julie Lenkoff, suffered a stroke during the cruise and was left to find her own way back to the US, without her belongings or support from the cruise line. The group is uncertain about whether they still want to continue the 20-day cruise after feeling neglected by the cruise line and experiencing numerous challenges while trying to rejoin the ship.
The Norwegian Cruise Line has committed to reimbursing the passengers for the costs they incurred while traveling from Gambia to Senegal in an attempt to reboard the ship. Despite the stressful experience and lack of support from the cruise line, the group has managed to continue their voyage through Africa. The cruise ship is expected to complete its 21-day journey in Barcelona, Spain and the passengers are now looking forward to completing their trip after a challenging and frustrating experience.
