A recent incident involving eight passengers being left behind by a Norwegian Cruise has sparked controversy and concern. The group, which included six Americans and two Australians, missed the all-aboard call by more than an hour while on a private tour of São Tomé.
According to a spokesperson for the cruise line, the passports of the stranded passengers were left with the local port agent for retrieval when they returned to the port, following protocol. Two members of the group mentioned that their tour guide ran late, causing them to miss the boarding time, despite the boat still being in sight.
Among the stranded passengers were a paraplegic, a man with a heart condition, and a pregnant woman and her husband. The group eventually caught up with the ship after chasing it through several countries and were able to board on Wednesday.
During the trip, an elderly passenger named Julie Lenkoff suffered a stroke and potentially a heart attack. The cruise line made the decision to leave her behind and send her to a local clinic. Fortunately, the Campbells, who were part of the group left behind, came to Lenkoff’s rescue and helped her reach her family in the U.S.
Lenkoff was flown to Stanford Hospital in California where she has been receiving constant care since the incident. The situation has raised questions about cruise safety protocols and the responsibility of cruise lines to ensure the well-being of all passengers, especially those with medical conditions. The incident serves as a reminder for travelers to always be mindful of boarding times and to communicate any special needs or concerns to cruise staff.
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