Q.I am booked to cruise in a couple of days but our airport is closed due to bad weather. What happens if I miss the cruise because I can't get to the ship in time? Do cruise ships wait for passengers?

A.Ships will not wait for late embarking passengers. Departure schedules normally allow several hours beyond the hours of embarkation until casting off... There are many reasons why - imagine the tight timing between arrival and departure during which the ship must be provisioned, cleaned and maintenance work done by on-shore crews. If one ship stays in port another must wait for her berth, and this would be unacceptable. The misfortune of delays or missed connections must be borne by the individual. Travel insurance is there to meet additional costs and losses. We recommend that passengers arrive one day before embarkation - it is a more relaxed way to start the cruise.