On social media, a video captured the moment when frantic tourists pleaded to board the departing ship, leaving viewers shocked and wondering what had happened.
On TikTok, a video has captured the chaotic scene of a tourist couple desperately trying to board a departing cruise ship in Bari, Italy.
The video shows the couple arriving late and pleading with the captain to wait, while passengers laugh, leaving viewers shocked.
The reason for the chaos is reportedly the couple missing the cruise, leaving the ship unable to turn back.
The MSC Splendida, carrying over 4,000 passengers, was setting sail for a nine-day Mediterranean adventure on August 15th when the couple arrived at the dock.
The tourist couple missing their departure time leads to a missed cruise.
Accroding to the report, they missed the scheduled departure time.
By the time they reached quay 11, the gangway had already been removed, leaving them pleading with the captain from the dock. The frantic man can be heard repeatedly shouting, "Is the captain there, please?" and "Captain, wait for us, please. You can do it if you want to."
The incident became a comic story for the passengers on board.
Passengers on board captured the moment when this tourist couple begged the cruise ship captain not to leave.
Witnessing the incident, one of the passengers on board filmed the scene and posted it on social media. However, while watching the video, viewers could be heard chuckling in the background, leaving them stunned.
The woman filming told the Daily Mail: 'I was on that cruise with my family when it happened. We were at lunch when they made only one announcement for two Italian-sounding names and then nothing further.
'The cruise didn't leave even a minute over time. We felt there was little to no effort to find those people whether they were there or not.'
Below the video, viewers expressed bafflement at the chaos.
The video has sparked online debate, with some viewers empathetic to the couple's predicament, while others stressed the importance of adhering to departure times.
One person said: We have two hours prior to departure to be on board so they were very very late.
A second wrote: My worst fear! Was on an excursion and our ferry was running late we just made it by the skin of our teeth.
While a third commented: so what,s the Cruise solution for such matters? since all their belongings probably on their room
Someone else said: They can’t just stop. For real. There is a lot they must do prior to setting sail like the dock the way to walk on would have to be set down again.
Another added: They know when the ship leaves, it says it in the itinerary..and if they DIDNT know, they couldve called to find out.
The Cruise line's official statement regarding the incident
Ugo Patroni Griffi, president of the Port System Authority, explained the logistical constraints for cruise ships to delay departures due to tight schedules and significant operational costs.
They told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica: 'They tried to ask the ship to turn back, or at least to stop operations.
'Obviously it is impossible for cruise ships that have limited times and are also very expensive operations.'
The MSC Splendida is a massive cruise ship weighing over 137,000 tons. It boasts 18 decks offering amenities like a theater, casino, dance club, multiple swimming pools, a jogging track, spa, and various dining and entertainment options. The nine-day itinerary includes stops in Mykonos, Istanbul, and Corfu before returning to Bari.
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