Grim twist as Australian couple speak out after being abandoned in Africa on ... trends now
An Australian couple part of a group of eight tourists who were abandoned by their cruise ship on an African island without their belongings have described the ordeal as 'the worst experience of our lives'.
The group were left standing on the dock with only their passports last week when their Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) left the African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe without them after they arrived back late from a day tour.
NCL said the guests failed to miss the all-aboard time of 3pm by more than an hour so, as per the protocol, their passports were left with local port agents.
The group, which included four elderly people, a pregnant woman, a quadriplegic and a person with a heart condition, were forced to travel more than 3,000km across west Africa to meet the ship at its next port of call.
The cruise was unable to dock at Gambia due to a very low tide, with the group then travelling to Dakar in Senegal where they have now rejoined the ship.
Australian couple Violetta and Doug Sanders appeared on Seven's Sunrise program on Wednesday morning to give an update on their journey.
'It's been the worst experience of our lives to be abandoned like that in a strange country, can't speak the language,' Ms Sanders said.
It's Portuguese and African. We have no money, our credit cards aren't accepted.'
Australian couple Violetta and Doug Sanders appeared on Seven's Sunrise program on Wednesday morning to give an update on their journey (pictured)
Ms Sanders is seen attempting to get on to the boat, as she is held back by officials
In a statement, NCL said it was a 'very unfortunate incident' but that the eight guests had failed to meet the 'all aboard' time of 3pm on March 27.
South Carolina couple Jill and Jay Campbell
