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Ha ha!! It happened to my DH and DD also, going from SFO to San Diego. They ran onto the ship followed by another couple, on the phone with the cruise planner the whole time, and the gangplank was pulled up as soon as they got on. It was due to typical foggy weather in San Diego and SFO.
Other late arrivals were out of luck.

What a shame....and now they're driving around thinking that they can just drop a rental car in Canada, and assuming that they'll be "reimbursed" later on for their trouble? Oh well, not everyone is a savvy fodor-learned traveler I guess.

The OP posted the same question om the Cruise board - getting the same answers (but fewer since that is a slower forum)

He hasn't been back to either thread - wonder what is going on w/ the saga . . . . .

I and Dayenu suggested he post on the Cruise Forum.

No doubt his friends have found out they will not get any reimbursement from anyone. A sad situation but hopefully the two threads will be a good bit of advice for those new to cruising to fly to the location where the cruise ship departs from one day ahead of time.

Janis, it's not the OP that has the problem, it's his friend. Probably he'll come back after the friend is back from the cruise.

Hi LI and Dayenu

I know it is the OP's friends, but he seems to be in contact w/ them along the route so I am curious how things are working out.

My comment about the Cruise forum was really just to say he is getting the same responses over there, confirming what we've told him. Basically, don't hold their breaths to get reimbursement . . . .

I thought that's why people fly in the day before getting onto a cruiseship. To make SURE they are there!

I appreciate your responses -eventhough I have cruised numerous times I have never encountered this situation. Like many of you have suggested I normally go in 2 or 3 days early- so this shouldn't happen to me. In my friends situation, something came up at work at the last minute --that is why it was such a short time frame -- and then the plane delay -- Apparently tbe last I heard they are joining the cruise in St. John's(a foreign country) and cruising back to Boston. No reimbursements have been offered and probably will not be. I appreciate all the above comments - it was an education for me.

Ron