Date Published: 03/05/2024
Elderly US couple left behind by cruise ship in Andalucia
The pair were late back to the dock after a day trip to Granada and the ship left without them
Elderly Utah couple Richard and Claudene Gordon saw their dream Spanish holiday turn into a nightmare when their cruise ship left the port without them after docking in Motril. The pair had ventured onto dry land for a day out in Granada but when they were late returning, the liner refused to wait.
The married couple from the United States began their vacation aboard the ‘Norwegian Viva’ cruise ship on April 26, when they left from Portugal to celebrate Richard’s 85th birthday. The luxury liner arrived in Motril after making two short stops in Gibraltar and then in Cádiz.
Richard and Claudene decided to take a spin into the Andalucía town by themselves but their bus broke down on the way back to the port. According to company policy, the cruise ship only has to wait for passengers who have taken part in an official excursion and although friends and relatives on board told the crew the pair had not returned, the captain set sail regardless.
“I am a very experienced traveller and have probably been on as many as 30 cruises during my lifetime,” Salt Lake City resident Richard told reporters back home in the States.
“Never before have we ever missed catching a ship on time at a port. So we are not someone who abuses the system.”
The Gordons were eventually able to catch a flight to Palma de Mallorca, the cruise ship’s next stop, where they resumed their trip.
In other news: UK-bound drug smuggler arrested at Malaga Airport
Image: Puerto de Motril
Loading
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268