Family of Nine Left Behind in Remote Alaska, Charged $9K by Cruise Line

An Oklahoma family of nine was left stranded in remote Alaska after their Norwegian Cruise Lines ship left them behind — and then charged the desperate family $9,000 in customs fees.

The Gault family was traveling with six young kids and a 78-year-old grandmother on July 12 when they disembarked from the Norwegian Encore in Katchikan, a small town in a string of south Alaskan islands, so they could watch a lumberjack show together.

But on their way back, the local tour operator transporting passengers to and from the vessel failed to properly check who had tickets and who didn’t — merely conducting a head count — and told the Gaults there was no room and to wait for another shuttle. . .

However, that bus never came, and after frantically calling the port authority to arrange transportation, they finally arrived back at the docks to see the Norwegian Encore sailing away — taking with it their passports, medication and clothes. . .

The family, which had already spent about $30,000 on the trip, was immediately hit with nearly a $9,000 charge from the cruise line — $971 per passenger — for missing the boat. (Read more from “Family of Nine Left Behind in Remote Alaska, Charged $9K by Cruise Line” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr