Harsh reason why Australians were left stranded in Africa after cruise ship left without them

An Australian couple is among a group of eight people stranded on an island off the coast of Africa after their cruise line denied them boarding because they were late.

It is understood the group, which included a pregnant woman, a paraplegic and a person with a heart condition, were abandoned by Norway’s Dawn ship after returning late from private tours.

According to a ship tracking website, the ship is now more than 3,000 km away from the group off the coast between Gambia and Senegal.

The passengers traveled fifteen hours to Gambia on Sunday, but due to exceptionally low tides the cruise line was unable to dock.

Instead, the group will attempt to meet the ship further north in Senegal, where they hope the captain will allow them to reboard.

US-based Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) said it was a “very unfortunate incident” but that guests had missed the “all aboard” time of 3pm on March 27.

Jill and Jay Campbell from South Carolina in the United States boarded the Norwegian Dawn in Cape Town to begin their cruise around the continent.

Last Wednesday, the ship docked in São Tomé and Principe, a small island off the coast of West Africa, where many passengers chose to go on a private boat tour.

The Campbells, who were with the two Australians, said the tour operator informed the captain they would be too 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 tour group eventually became stranded in the coastal capital of São Tomé and had to watch as the ship departed with the rest of the abandoned passengers.

Jill and Jay Campbell were stranded on São Tomé and Principe, an island off the coast of West Africa, after their cruise line left without them

The group of stranded passengers includes four elderly passengers, one person with a heart condition, another who is paralyzed and a Delaware woman who is pregnant.

The group includes four elderly passengers, one person with a heart condition, another who is paralyzed and a Delaware woman who is pregnant.

The Coast Guard put the stranded passengers on a boat and took them to Norwegian Dawn, where they were again denied entry.

“The harbor master tried to call the ship, but the captain rejected the call,” 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 elderly woman was flown to Lisbon for a connecting flight to the US after the Campbells air-marked her and informed her family.

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

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

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

The South Carolina couple spent more than $7,500 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.

Throughout the difficult ordeal, 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 traveled 3,000 km to Gambia on Sunday, but the ship was unable to dock due to low tide.

They will now travel to Senegal, the next African country north, which will require the group to rent a van and cross the water on a ferry.

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

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line disputed this, saying it was “in communication with guests” and providing them with “additional information.”

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 $7,500 on hotels, food and toiletries for the group. They traveled fifteen hours to Gambia on Sunday in the hope of getting back on board

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’ , a statement from the world’s third largest cruise line read.

NCL explained that guests are responsible for any travel costs 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.