A cruise ship left a couple stranded on the pier as they didn’t adhere to the timings and came when the ship was set for departure.
The incident happened at St. Maarten in the Caribbean.
What added to the misery of the unfortunate couple was a magnanimous hand sign reading ‘Bye,’ waved by one of the staff members.
The gesture apparently mocked the fate-stricken couple but it was later revealed to have a totally different meaning.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line stated that the hand sign wasn’t meant to hurt anyone, and that it was just the ship’s signal to interact with a sister ship that had just docked.
“Our crew member was not directing her wave to our guests on the pier. She was waving at our sister ship, Anthem of the Seas, which was also in port and scheduled for departure,” said a spokesperson for the Royal Caribbean.
“The gesture was one of respect and nautical camaraderie between crew members. We regret the inconvenience our guests experienced due the late return to the pier.
“Guests are encouraged to be back by all-aboard time.
“Departure times are routinely announced on-board, posted in shipboard newsletters and at gangways to keep our guests informed at all ports of call.”
The couple, of course, had to bear the brunt of being unpunctual and irresponsible.
They had to immediately look for a boat to take them to the next spot so that they could catch the cruise ship for the rest of their voyage.
In case you think the incident is something out of the ordinary, be aware that it’s not the first time the staff at a cruise liner has ditched their passengers.
Earlier this year, a couple who was enjoying a one-week cruise met the same fate.
The duo was all prepared to return from the Nassau Island in the Bahamas to Miami, the United States. But the only thing the pair was not prepared for was adherence to the timings.
They came 50 minutes after the scheduled time, earning just embarrassment and trouble for themselves.
A spectator who captured the moment described that the duo came when the ship had already removed ropes and was closing the gangway.
The couple, loaded with heavy bags, desperately watched the ship as it left right in front of their eyes. They even tried to seek the attention of the crew but no one bothered to do anything.
Guess, they learned their lesson!