South Carolina couple are left STRANDED in Africa along with five other Americans after their cruise ship left without them when their tour guide was late back to the vessel

A South Carolina couple has been stranded on an island off the coast of Africa after their cruise line denied them boarding.

Jill and Jay Campbell boarded the Norwegian Dawn in Cape Town, South Africa, to begin their cruise around the continent. Last Wednesday they embarked on a private tour to São Tomé and Principe, a small island off the coast of West Africa.

According to the couple, the tour operator informed the captain that they would be late to rejoin the group.

When the São Tomé Coast Guard returned the tour group to port, the ship was still at anchor, but the captain had ordered them returned to the island.

The Campbells eventually became stranded in the coastal capital of São Tomé along with seven other passengers (five of whom were also Americans) and had to watch as the ship sailed.

The Campbells (left) are among a group of nine passengers who were denied boarding and left behind

The group consists of seven Americans and two Australians, including four elderly passengers. One person has a heart condition, another has a spinal cord injury and one Delaware woman is pregnant

The group consists of seven Americans and two Australians, four of whom are elderly. One passenger has a heart condition, another is paralyzed and a Delaware woman is pregnant.

“The harbor master tried to call the ship, but the captain rejected the call,” Jay Campbell said WRAL.

‘We sent emails to Norwegian Cruise Line, the NCL customer service number, and they said, the only way we can contact the ship is to send them emails, and they are not responding to our to ask. emails.”

Among the castaways is an 80-year-old woman who suffered a concussion and lost part of her vision after a tour with another cruise line.

The couple, who are now 6,000 miles from home, said the woman was left at a local hospital without money or belongings and that her emergency contact was never notified by the cruise line.

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line explained that the group was denied entry after missing the ‘all aboard’ time of 3:00 PM local time

One woman tries to get on the boat but is stopped by officials

“I do believe that sometimes we are put in places for a reason, and I believe we were put in this spot for the 80-year-old woman who was left alone,” Jay Campbell said. “God forbid what would have happened to that lady if we hadn’t been there.”

The South Carolina couple spent more than $5,000 to provide the group with food, toiletries and hotel rooms, as they are the only ones with debit cards.

At the time they became stranded, they were just over a week into a 21-night cruise that continued on to Barcelona.

During the difficult ordeal, Jay Campbell says his wife has been a “saint.”

“I don’t know where the entire group would be without her strength, guidance and compassion for others,” he said. “I am honored and blessed to have the smartest woman in the world by my side.”

With the help of the US embassy in Angola, the group is expected to fly to Gambia on Sunday. However, they can only rejoin the cruise if Norwegian approves their request.

“We are trying to get written permission from the cruise line to reboard,” Jill Campbell explained.

Despite numerous attempts to reach the cruise line, the stranded travelers have received no response.

In a statement to the media, a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said the guests had missed the final return voyage to the ship on March 27 and had not made it to the ‘all aboard’ time of 3pm local time.

Jay Campbell praised his wife for her “strength, guidance and compassion for others” during the painful ordeal

The group of stranded holidaymakers pose for a selfie amid their troubles in Africa

The South Carolina couple spent more than $5,000 on hotels, food and toiletries for the group. They are expected to take a flight to Gambia on Sunday

The group has tried to contact Norwegian Cruise Line to no avail

‘While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for returning to the ship at the published time, which will be widely communicated via the ship’s intercom, in daily communications and posted just before leaving the ship’ , the statement said.

It was explained that guests are responsible for all necessary travel expenses to reboard the ship at the next available port of call.

“When the guests did not return to the ship on time, their passports were delivered to local port agents for them to collect upon their return to port,” the statement continued.

“Our team has been working closely with local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed if guests were to re-board the ship at the next available port of call.”

DailyMail.com has contacted the cruise company for comment, along with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.