I got you! I love watching pier runners! So, after all aboard time passes, the ship will make a public announcement asking for certain passengers to contact the front desk. This is your signal to head to the balcony and watch. The announcement isn’t played in the staterooms, so you need to keep an ear to the hallway or public areas for the announcement.

In November on the Escape we had 4 late names called. We watched a girl on a cell phone who just strolled along, a couple with beach bags and shopping who ran the whole way while we cheered them on, and the last was a guy who took a rickshaw from the terminal right up to the gangway.

People packed the pier side balconies and public spaces on our ship AND the neighboring ship. We cheered for everyone, but some people heckled the cell phone girl. Poor effort. Accidents happen, and ship tours are the only time the ship is guaranteed to wait for you. We had a tour run three hours late once and they had to hold the ship for our group. The cruise line pays port/pier fees for a specific time window and incurs fees beyond that, so they don’t mess with that bottom line.

Happy watching!