Anyone travelling some distance to join their cruise ship, or taking a shore excursion in distant lands will have had the thought cross their mind - “What if I don't make it to the ship in time?” It is estimated that around 5% of passengers will miss their ship once in their cruising lifetime.

While there is no single "official" global database that counts every passenger who misses their cruise departure, industry estimates suggest that hundreds of people miss their ships every year. This can happen at the initial embarkation port or at a port of call during the voyage. In many cases, these "pier runners"—the famous nickname for people seen sprinting toward a departing vessel—are delayed by traffic, flight cancellations, or simply losing track of time while exploring a destination. Most major cruise lines, such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, emphasize that the ship will not wait for late passengers unless they are on a shore excursion booked directly through the cruise line. If you miss the ship at a port of call, you are responsible for the logistical and financial burden of flying to the next destination to rejoin the cruise. Travel insurance is often the only safety net for these situations, as it may cover the costs of emergency transportation if the delay was caused by a covered reason.