Two very lucky cruise guests managed to avoid being stranded in port after being rescued by the local port authorities.
TikToker Claire Stoddard (@clairestoddard0) shared the ordeal in a now-viral video that has garnered over 321,000 views since it was posted on 15 May 2025.
The short clip shows Stoddard and her friend on a small port authority boat approaching a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel, with overlaid text reading: “POV: You miss your cruise by 30 minutes and start planning your new life at the port. Just as all hope is lost… Port Authority pulls up like: Get in. We’re saving your vacation.”
In a follow-up video posted the next day, Stoddard explained what went wrong.
She and her friend had misread the ship’s printed itinerary, mistaking the departure time for the final boarding time.
“We saw 8:30 pm on the little printed schedule handout. So we were like: Cool! Be there by 8:30 pm,” she said.
The pair arrived at the port at 8:15 pm, only to discover they had missed the last tender back to the ship – and that the area was completely deserted.
Stoddard and her friend were sailing on a 7-night Greek itinerary, and while they didn’t confirm the exact ship, it’s likely they were on board Norwegian Pearl, which operates similar sailings each spring.
@clairestoddard0 Won’t do that again #cruise #vacation #goodkarma #cruiserunner #cruising #greece #travel #traveltok #fyp #norwegiancruise #cruiseship #highlyfavored ♬ original sound – SHOTTAWORLD🌍🩸
Dubrovnik is a tender port, meaning ships must anchor offshore and ferry passengers to and from the town via smaller boats. Once the final tender departs, there’s usually no way back without a major logistical effort – or divine intervention.
A Rescue Against the Odds
In what can only be described as a stroke of luck, port authority officials noticed the stranded pair.
One officer attempted to help by contacting someone on board to retrieve their passports, which had been locked in their cabin safe.
Surprisingly, crew members were able to deliver the passports, and a second official soon arrived with a boat to ferry the guests back to the cruise ship.
@clairestoddard0 Replying to @Alicia Hicks Story time on how we almost got left behind on day one of our cruise to Greece #storytime #vacation #cruise #cruiserunners #fyp #foryoupage #norwegiancruise #travel ♬ NOKIA – Drake
The pair boarded via a crew gangway and were escorted directly to the captain.
While many would expect disciplinary action or even denial of re-entry, the guests were let off with a warning – and a story they’ll never forget.
A Lesson in Tender Port Timing
This story stands out because it breaks the usual narrative. Most guests who miss the final boarding time are left behind and must make costly arrangements to catch up or return home.
Cruise lines typically stress the importance of returning well before the posted final boarding time.
It’s generally recommended that guests return at least 30–60 minutes early to allow for unexpected delays – especially in tender ports where weather or logistics can affect transport.
Had this been a port with no sympathetic officials or if the ship had already weighed anchor, the outcome could have been very different.
“We’ll Never Make That Mistake Again”
Commenters on TikTok were stunned by the pair’s luck. “As a travel agent, I’m disappointed you missed it but impressed that you made it on,” wrote one viewer. “This is so rare, we need to know more,” added another.
Stoddard acknowledged her gratitude to the Croatian port authority and Norwegian Cruise Line for the unexpected second chance, saying they’ll never cut it that close again.
While this ended in relief rather than regret, it’s a cautionary tale for cruise travellers everywhere: don’t just check your itinerary – double check the tender schedule.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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