PROGRESO, Mexico — Passengers who were late returning to the Carnival Ecstasy from an eight-hour stopover in this Yucatan Peninsula port lucked out. If necessary, they could probably catch a lift on the Carnival Triumph.
The two “fun ships” happened to be in Progreso at the same time. What made it more ironic than that is that both were leaving, an hour apart, for Cozumel.
As it happened, we were on the bridge of the Ecstasy — you can read more about that experience on Friday — when it left and, with minutes to go, 30 of the ship’s 2,226 passengers were still missing.
“Sometimes, the Triumph will take them,” quipped Capt. Andrea Viacava, master of the Ecstasy.
The possibility of that happening was, in itself, a rarity. As everybody who cruises knows, or should know, the ship leaves on time whether all the passengers make it back from a port stop or not. The only exception is if they are delayed as part of a shore excursion organized by the cruise line.
The Ecstasy’s departure time was 3 p.m. sharp. The Triumph was to leave an hour later, which means the Ecstasy would arrive in Cozumel an hour earlier than its big sister, on Wednesday. With a seven-hour stopover on the island sitting off the east coast of the Yucatan, there would be ample time for any delinquent passengers to get on the right ship.
The Ecstasy left Galveston on Saturday. The same day, the Triumph left New Orleans. It happens that they have twin itineraries: Progreso, then Cozumel, then back to their respective home ports.
What about the 30 passengers who were late? We never bothered to check because, whether they made it on time or not, tomorrow they’ll be in Cozumel.