The American couple who became stranded in Africa during a Norwegian cruise have traveled thousands of miles to reunite with the ship in Senegal, but are unsure whether they can get back on board.
Jay and Jill Campbell were among nine passengers, including seven Americans, who became stranded on the remote island of São Tomé and Principe on March 27.
Now the South Carolina couple say they’re not sure if they want to board the ship after flying through seven countries in a 48-hour period to reach the port of Dakar.
“After what we saw, we truly believe that while the ship did follow a set of rules or policies, they followed those rules too rigidly,” Jill Campbell said. USA TODAY.
“I think they’ve really forgotten that these are people who work in the hospitality industry and that the safety and well-being of the customers should actually be their number one priority, and that should come first.”
The South Carolina couple who were left behind in Africa during a Norwegian cruise have traveled thousands of miles to reunite with the ship in Senegal, but are reluctant to reboard
The tourists were stranded after being denied boarding on their cruise ship off São Tomé Island and flew through seven countries to reach the ship in Dakar.
The Campbells say they may not board the ship again because ‘there was a fundamental duty of care that they forgot’
The group had rushed to Banjul, Gambia, on April 1 to pick up the Norwegian Dawn at its next stop. However, due to bad weather it could not dock and they continued to Senegal.
“We believe there was a fundamental duty of care that they forgot, so it concerns us,” Jill Campbell said.
The Campbells became the unofficial spokesperson for the stranded passengers. They include a man with a heart condition, a woman with a spinal cord injury and an expectant mother.
Julie Lenkoff, 80, also traveled with the group before being sent home on an AirTag to be treated for a stroke she suffered during the trip.
A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line told DailyMail.com that the eight remaining guests have been cleared to reboard the ship in Dakar today.
“Despite the series of unfortunate events beyond our control, we will reimburse these eight guests for their travel expenses from Banjul, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal,” the spokesperson said.
The disturbing ordeal began when eight of the passengers took a private tour of São Tomé and Principe last Wednesday.
Jay Campbell says the São Tomé Coast Guard took the tour group back to the ship, which was anchored off the island, but the captain ordered them back to shore because they missed the “all aboard” time of 3 p.m. .
Their passports were handed over to local port agents before the tourists were left in the coastal city of São Tomé, where they watched the ship sail away.
The cruise line reiterated that guests are responsible for returning to the ship at the published time, “which will be widely communicated via the ship’s intercom, in daily printed communications and posted immediately before leaving the ship.”
Nine passengers, including seven Americans, were stranded on the island of São Tomé and Principe on March 27 after failing to meet the ‘all a board’ time at 3pm.
Among the passengers was 80-year-old Julie Lenkoff, who suffered a stroke and was left in a hospital on the island.
Jill and Jay Campbell claim they crossed six countries to reach Banjul, Gambia on April 1. However, the ship could not dock there due to high tides and they continued their journey.
A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said the group will be reimbursed for travel costs from Banjul, Gambia to its next stop in Dakar, Senegal.
Lenkoff, who was on another tour, had suffered a stroke the same day. She was hospitalized and also left for São Tomé.
“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. WRAL. “God forbid what would have happened to that lady if we hadn’t been there.”
The spokesperson said the elderly woman was “medically disembarked” after being assessed by an onboard medical team, “who felt it best that she receive further assessment and treatment from a local hospital if necessary.”
The couple said she was left without money or belongings and pointed out that her emergency contact had not been notified.
However, because she was released from the hospital in a “coherent condition,” the cruise spokesperson said, “our protocol is to contact the guest directly as we would not have the authority to share medical information with anyone else.” share without their express permission. .’
The Campbells were in contact with Lenkoff’s daughter in San Francisco and helped coordinate her on a flight from São Tomé to Lisbon.
“We gave her mother an AirTag so her daughter could track where she is,” Jill Campbell explained.
The device emits a signal that can be tracked via an iPhone app to determine where an object is.
Norwegian confirmed that Lenkoff landed in Portugal before being “placed in the care of airport staff to continue her journey to the United States.”
She has since returned to California, where she was admitted to Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, according to son-in-law Kurt Gies.
The Campbells claim to have spent more than $5,000 to provide the group with food, toiletries and hotel rooms as they are the only ones with a Visa card
Eight passengers remain after Lenkoff was sent home with an AirTag to reunite with her daughter. One person has a heart condition, another has a spinal cord injury and one Delaware woman is pregnant
The passengers were a week into a 21-night cruise that ended in Barcelona when they were abandoned in the capital São Tomé
The Campbells claim to have spent more than $5,000 to provide the group with food, toiletries and hotel rooms, as they are the only ones with a bank card.
At the time they became stranded, the passengers were about a week into a 21-night cruise that continued on to Barcelona.
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.”
The couple says they have not been contacted by the cruise line, but Norwegian refuted that claim.
“We will remain in contact with guests and provide additional information as it becomes available,” the spokesperson said.