A nine-member family left behind by an ocean liner
The Gault family from Tulsa, Oklahoma, had paid nearly $30,000 for a cruise on the "Norwegian Encore." In return, they received an absolute holiday nightmare.
A cruise has a significant advantage over a vacation in hotels - through the many shore excursions, one gets to see new places and learn about different locations. The only rule: Be back on board on time, or the ship will leave without its passengers. What this can actually mean in reality was experienced by a nine-member family from the American Midwest.
The Gault family, who shared their ordeal with the "New York Post," were not even at fault. According to the report, the guests of the "Norwegian Encore" disembarked in Ketchikan, a small town in southern Alaska, to watch a lumberjack show. After the performance, they intended to board the shuttle bus that would have taken them back to the cruise ship on time.
Cruise woes began with a full bus
However, a member of the staff denied them entry, stating that the bus was full. The solution: Just wait for the next transportation. Seemingly not a problem.
But the promised bus never arrived. It was only after the family realized that there would be no further rides that they hastily arranged their own return to the ship. Unfortunately, time had run out. Upon reaching the port, all they could do was watch the "Norwegian Encore" sail away. Not only that - passports, medication, clothing - everything floated away with the ship.
To the family's dismay, who were now quite desperate, they were initially hit with a customs penalty for missing the ship. This was related to the Passenger Vessel Services Act of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the deviation from the originally planned route until their return home.
The patriarch of the Gault family spared no expense in ensuring the safe return of the family to Oklahoma. After many costly flights, hotels, and several nights spent in airports, the nine former passengers, including six children, of the "Norwegian Encore" finally made it home.
COVID-19 and Airport Nights
Moreover, according to the father in an interview with the "New York Post," some family members contracted COVID-19 during the journey. Despite being at fault for the incident, the cruise company was reportedly minimally involved in the family's journey back, according to the aggrieved party. Only now are they in contact with the company, which has pledged to mitigate the damages incurred.
Norwegian Cruise Lines has already refunded the customs penalty, it is reported. The exorbitant travel expenses will also be reimbursed once all receipts are submitted. It is claimed that the company had attempted to reach the family after they missed the bus but was unsuccessful. They had also assisted with the hotel stay on the first night and booking flights.
As a gesture of goodwill, the cruise company intends to refund the missed days on board and offer a 20% discount for a future booking as compensation.