Revealed: The little-known reason people miss their cruise ship departure and become ‘pier runners’

We’ve all seen social media videos of cruise travelers running frantically along the pier as their ship departs without them.

And while some might assume that stupidity is the reason for their tardiness, one cruise expert has revealed that what’s often behind these ‘pier running’ clips is a “tripwire” that’s easily triggered — forgetting about “ship time.”

This single time zone operates for the duration of the voyage and governs all-aboard times, excursion return times, dining reservations and show schedules.

Some passengers forget that their phones automatically switch the displayed time to the local port time, and that can be different.

Donald Bucolo, from travel firm Eat Sleep Cruise, told The Independent: “The most common mistake passengers make when it comes to punctuality is simply not paying close enough attention to ship time, which might differ from local time at a particular port of call.

“We always tell people to manually set their phone to ship time before they leave the vessel, and keep it there for the duration of their time ashore. That one habit alone eliminates much of the confusion.”

Here are some more anti-pier-running precautions:

Opt for early-morning flights

Don’t risk booking end-of-the-day flights if you plan to fly into your port destination.

Chrissy Valdez, Senior Director of Operations at travel insurance firm Squaremouth, said: “Avoiding flights at the end of the day will typically give you options for same-day backup flights later on.”

Reach your departure city early

An itinerary buffer of one to two days before the ship sails is crucial, said Chrissy, especially when traveling long distances beforehand.

She explained: “International flights suffer more disruptions than domestic ones, and multiple legs, coordinating airport operation hours across various time zones, all make it easy to arrive later than anticipated.”

Choose accommodations next to the port

For an extra pre-sailing safety net, pick a hotel within 15 to 20 minutes of the cruise terminal, advised Chrissy, who added: “Ports are typically close to the city center, which can often mean morning traffic, general port traffic as others aim to board, and occasionally even strikes or security delays.

“Being closer will mean you have ample options for arriving on time, even if that means walking with your bags is faster than grabbing a taxi.”

Book port excursions through the cruise line

Booking excursions through the cruise line can be more expensive, but they come with peace of mind, noted Donald: The ship will wait for you if you’re delayed.

He added: “Some independent operators, like Shore Excursions Group, also offer a guaranteed return-to-ship policy. In ports with shorter stays, or when you want to do a full day tour and maximize your time ashore, that guarantee can eliminate anxiety about making it back in time.”

Jeremy Clubb, the CEO of Rainforest Cruises and Antarctica Cruises, added: "The pre-cruise tours arranged by the cruise line are the safest, but if you’re interested in something they don’t offer, you’re probably fine with an early morning tour if the embarkation is planned for an afternoon. With embarkation time at noon or even 2pm, you’re walking on thin ice."

Take a photo of the daily program

Disembarkation signage at the gangway always states the all-aboard time, so take a picture of it.

Donald told The Independent: “Taking a photo means there’s no guessing or relying on memory after a long day of exploring.

“Take a note, too, of the ship’s daily program. Most include the local port address and the ship's shoreside phone number. That is invaluable information to have on hand.”

Set alarms

“Time tends to fly when you are out on an excursion,” said Chrissy, “so we recommend setting an alarm to remind you when to return to the ship, and allowing for plenty of time to account for a delay.”