Here’s what to do if you’re left stranded like the Norwegian Cruise passengers

You’ll be cruising if you follow these tips.

A travel agent is sharing the key steps passengers should take if they fail to re-board their cruise ship before its designated departure time.

Late last week, 8 Norwegian Cruise passengers, including 6 Americans, were left stranded in Africa after their ship left port without them because their private land tour ran overtime.

It’s commonplace for cruise ships to dock for days or hours at various ports, allowing those on board the chance to disembark and explore local areas.

And while it’s rare for a vessel to sail off again without everyone back on board, Big Apple travel agent Joanna Kuther says it can be a bureaucratic nightmare if you’re left behind.

“It’s one of those things like, it’s not a problem until it’s a problem,” she told USA Today on Tuesday.

If you return to port to find your ship sailing off in the distance, the expert advised immediately contacting the cruise line to let them know.

Kuther added that a stranded passenger should also reach out to their travel agent to help handle logistics, such as booking emergency accommodation or connecting flights.

The nearest US embassy may also be able to offer assistance, but it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to claim expenses on insurance, particularly if land activities were not organized by the cruise company itself.

Kuther says savvy travelers should pick shore excursions organized by the cruise or a vendor they’ve partnered with that guarantees to get passengers back before re-boarding time.

In order to avoid missing departure time, Kuther also dished some practical tips.

She urged passengers to make sure their watch is set to ship time rather than local time, which may be different

“So many people get confused with that,” she declared, adding that travelers should aim to arrive back at the boat with at least an hour to spare.

And if you’re disembarking the ship, Kuther claims there are essentials you need to take in case anything goes awry.

“You probably should have your passport with you because you’re going to need it to get on a flight to get to the next port, especially if it’s in a different country,” Kuther advised.

She added that travelers should take a credit card in case they’re forced to fork out for any unexpected expenses, including emergency accommodation.

And while the 8 passengers left stranded by Norweigan have ripped the cruise line, accusing them of neglecting its “basic duty of care,” Kurther says the vessels are on tight schedules while in port.

“If they have to leave at a certain time, they have to leave at that time,” she declared