Avid cruisers don’t need reminding that a cruise ship’s departure time is a hard deadline. From when a cruise ship sets sail from its starting port through its voyage to when it reaches its final destination, the ship’s captain is on a strict timeline. There’s no wriggle room.

Why is this? Because cruise ships are only allowed to dock at a port on a certain day and for a limited amount of time. The tight schedules ports set for incoming and outgoing ships means that they can work efficiently to safely see ships coming and going. Of course, the more ships that they allow in and out means the more money ports earn as cruise companies pay for access to them, but regardless, ships must adhere to the schedule.

Missing a dock time could mean missing the port all together as there may not be an available slot the following day. So when your cruise director informs you what time you need to be back on the ship, you stick to it. 

Recently, eight cruise passengers, including two Australians, were allegedly left stranded on an African island after their excursion was running late. The ship left without them. Now, if you do spend a shore day exploring the port city you’re at, you have options. Opt for a cruise-run shore excursion or spend your time as you wish. If you do want to do a tour, a cruise-led shore excursion is recommended as they have contact with the crew on the ship and were something to go wrong they could easily contact the ship and inform them. 

Related story: Here are 9 things every first-time cruiser should know before setting sail 

If you prefer to spend the day wandering on your own, then it’s on you to get back to the ship on time. If by chance, an unfortunate scenario occurs and you are stuck and unable to get back to the ship on time there are options. You can contact the ship or the port and let them know you are on the way, but if you are unable to contact the port or cruise ship, the captain is within their right to decide if they have time to wait for you or leave you behind. 

It is also important to note that when you book a cruise you agree to the terms and conditions, in which you’ll likely find mentions that the carrier is not responsible for passengers to be boarded before the scheduled disembarkation. For example, in Scenic’s Cruise Passenger Ticket Terms and Conditions Cruise it clearly states, “Passenger is required to be on board the Vessel at least one hour before the initial scheduled departure time of the Cruise and any departure time subsequently announced during the Cruise…Company shall have no liability to Passenger whatsoever if Passenger is not on board prior to the Vessel’s departure.”

While it may seem quite harsh, when you sign up for a cruise you’re not on a private tour and passengers onboard have to respect fellow sailors and stick to the rules so they don’t miss the boat. 

Related story: Here’s why falling overboard on a cruise ship is so deadly