A recent high school graduate has gone viral for sticking to the strict schedule of a cruise. The teenager left their parents behind on a Caribbean island after they failed to return to the ship on time. This incident has sparked a heated debate online, with many praising the teen’s adherence to the rules while others question the family dynamics at play.
The teenager, who recently graduated high school and turned 18, shared their experience on Reddit, asking the community if they were in the wrong for not waiting for their parents. The Reddit user, posting under the name ProfessionalTax7753, explained that their parents had gifted them a week-long family cruise to celebrate their milestones.
How The Teenager Boarded The Ship Without Their Parents
According to the teen’s post, they had informed their parents multiple times about the importance of adhering to the cruise ship’s schedule. Cruise ships operate on very tight itineraries and do not wait for passengers who are late returning from excursions. Despite these warnings, the parents were busy shopping and bargaining with locals when it was time to head back to the ship.
“I told them that if we went on excursions, we had to follow the schedule no matter what,” the teen wrote. However, when it was time to return, the parents waved the teen off, insisting they knew what they were doing. Eventually, the ship departed without them, and the parents missed the departure by a significant margin—45 minutes.
Aftermath And Reactions
The teenager boarded the ship on time and continued the journey. However, the parents were left behind and had to incur the expense of flying to the next port to rejoin the cruise. They contacted their child via WhatsApp, expressing frustration and blaming the teen for not getting the ship to wait for them. The teen defended their actions, stating that it was unreasonable to inconvenience nearly 4,000 other passengers for their parents’ mistake.
The Reddit post quickly went viral, garnering over 2,000 comments. Most responses sided with the teen, emphasizing that the parents were responsible for their predicament. One commenter noted, “The docks and ship have a schedule to keep. They are adults and need to be responsible for getting back on time.”
Expert Opinions
Cruise ship employees and seasoned travelers weighed in on the situation, explaining that ships incur significant fees if they delay their departures. One former cruise ship worker stated, “They wouldn’t wait unless a significant portion of the crew/passengers were delayed. If you had tried to stop them from leaving, they may have tried to get a hold of your parents, but ultimately, the same thing would have happened.”
Another commenter highlighted the importance of understanding and respecting the ship’s timetable, primarily since it affects many others. “You handled the situation responsibly,” they reassured the teen. “It’s unfortunate that your parents missed the boat, but that’s on them for not listening and respecting the cruise timetable.”
