April 2nd 2024.
Imagine being on a luxurious cruise ship, sailing along the African coast with your loved ones. The sun is shining, the sea is calm, and everything seems perfect. But for Jay and Jill Campbell, this dream turned into a nightmare when they were abandoned on the remote island of São Tomé and Príncipe.
The couple, hailing from South Carolina, were among nine passengers who were left stranded on the island after their cruise ship, the Norwegian Dawn, departed without them. They had been on a 21-day voyage from Cape Town to Barcelona and had decided to take a third-party tour of the island, located 190 miles away from the mainland.
However, their excursion took longer than expected and they missed the 3pm deadline to return to the ship. When they finally arrived at the port, the Norwegian Dawn was still docked but the captain refused to let them board. The couple had informed the cruise operator about their delay, but it seemed like their message had not been relayed to the captain.
The São Tomé and Príncipe Coast Guard stepped in and ferried the stranded passengers to the cruise ship, but to their dismay, they were once again denied entry by the captain. The Campbells were not the only ones left behind, as they soon met four elderly passengers, a pregnant woman, and a person in a wheelchair who had also been abandoned by the cruise operator. They even encountered an 80-year-old woman who had been left behind after falling ill on a separate tour organized by the cruise line.
The Campbells were the only ones in the group with access to credit cards, and they spent $5000 on accommodation for everyone while they figured out their next steps. Despite the stressful situation, they were grateful for the kindness and hospitality shown by the people of São Tomé and Príncipe. The US embassy in Angola also provided them with consular assistance, and they were scheduled to fly to Gambia to try and rejoin the cruise.
Jay Campbell reflected on the situation and believed that everything happens for a reason. He was convinced that they were meant to be there to help the 80-year-old woman who had been left alone. He shuddered to think what could have happened to her if they had not been there.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian Cruise Line stated that it was the responsibility of the passengers to return to the ship on time. They also mentioned that the passports of the group had been returned to the port authorities before the ship departed. The operator expressed their regret for the unfortunate incident and assured that they were working closely with the local authorities to resolve the issue.
If you were one of the passengers stranded on São Tomé and Príncipe, we would love to hear your story. Please reach out to us at [email] and share your experiences.
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