![Caribbean Island](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/06/06165704/caribbean-island-1.jpg?)
Teenager Abandons Parents On Caribbean Island To Get Back On Cruise!
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on June 6, 2024 at 5:45 PM EDT
Updated on June 6, 2024 at 7:37 PM EDT
Hold up - Did a teenager actually go rogue and straight up leave their parents on an island so that they didn't miss out on their graduation/birthday present??
Answer: YES.
This particular teenager is going viral for leaving his parents stranded on a Caribbean island. Their parents recently gifted them a family cruise to celebrate their 18th birthday and high school graduation, but things quickly took a turn!
The recent high school graduate now has the internet in a tizzy after they decided to head back to the ship without their parents on a Caribbean island...
Teenager Ditches His Parents On Caribbean Island
![Dutch Caribbean Island Sint Eustatius, Statia Island](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/06/06165026/caribbean-island-scaled.jpg?)
The individual, who has somehow remained anonymous, is going viral after sharing their story of leaving their parents on a Caribbean island, and the internet is reacting. As someone who has been on countless cruises myself, I would have done the exact same thing - cruises make it very clear that they will not wait!
"I graduated from high school back in December," the social media user began to explain in a Reddit thread. "As a gift, my parents got me a cruise. It was also for my 18th birthday. It was also a family vacation. We usually stay at all-inclusive resorts, but I have always wanted to go on a cruise," they continued.
The recent high school graduate explained that they "told my parents it was different and that if we went on excursions, we had to follow the schedule no matter what." This turn of events has the internet in an absolute uproar. Can you imagine being the teen? Or perhaps even worse, being the parents in this situation??
"Well, it was a week-long cruise, and they would not head back to the ship when I said it was time to go," the graduate explained. "They were busy shopping and bargaining with the locals. I finally said that I was heading back to the ship. My mom waved me off."
Hmm, it seems as though their shopping was more important than continuing their journey, and being 'waved off' certainly didn't feel good to their child. Let's see how things escalated and ended up panning out...
Teenager's Parents Miss Cruise Departure
![Beach chairs on private white beach](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/06/06165036/caribbean-island-beach-scaled.jpg?)
According to the teenager, their parents missed the cruise departure "by a lot" as they stayed on the Caribbean island. The teen who was determined to keep their vacation in full swing going went on to describe how late their parents actually were...
"Like 45 minutes," they claimed. "They got a hold of me through WhatsApp. They wanted to know why I didn't get the boat to wait for them."
Imagine being left by and separated from your child...Who's in the right in this situation?
"I wanted to scream that they were not going to inconvenience 3,998 people because two could not understand what a schedule was," they wrote.
Turns out, they were right.
Teenager's Parents Had To Book An 'Expensive' Flight
![Renaissance Aruba in Oranjestad](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/06/06165047/aruba-scaled.jpg?)
According to the user, after their parents were left on the Caribbean island, they had to fly to the next cruise port, which was "expensive."
It seems this was the only option for the stranded parents at this point. What else could they do? You kind of have to do what's needed to reunite with your child, do you not??
The teen continued to express their feelings on the situation and their parents' anger for being ditched, but what were they supposed to do? I know that I wouldn't want to miss out on such a grand gift...and what would the outcome have been if I decided to stay with my parents despite this total 'faux pas' in planning on their end? Honestly, that sounds like it would be a buzz-kill, and at the expense of my own parents nonetheless.
"They are pissed at me for leaving them behind," the recent graduate added. "I don't know what I was supposed to do. They literally told me that they knew what they were doing."
The individual now says they "wish" they "never" asked for a cruise because their parents are "making [them] miserable."
"My parents thought a cruise ship would wait for them. I knew it wouldn't, so I went back and made our departure time," the teenager explained. "My parents did not. I might be the a--hole for not staying back with my parents and costing them more in flights to the next port. Or for not dragging them back when it was time."
"I don't know what they expect from me," they concluded.
Sounds like this particular young adult knew better than their parents when it comes to cruise etiquette...
Social Media Users React
![Houses on a Caribbean island](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/06/06170802/caribbean-island-houses-scaled.jpg?)
After reading the teenager's story, many other Reddit users sounded off, expressing their thoughts on the bizarre cruise situation.
"They seriously think the ship will delay for 45 minutes? Yea no," one user commented. "The docks and ship have a schedule to keep. They are adults and need to be responsible for getting back on time, which is something you have figured out in less than six months of being an adult. At least you don’t have to go on any more vacations with them after this."
"I’ve been on a cruise. They make it crystal clear that the ship waits for no one," another said. "Parents f-cked around & found out."
A third pointed out, "And if [they] gave up and stayed behind with them that would have been an extra plane ticket, so even more money down the drain. They should be relieved that their kid has a good head on their shoulders, but no, they'd rather blame them."
Teenager's Story Goes Viral
![Isla refinery in Willemstad in Curacao](https://theblast.prod.media.wordpress.mattersmedia.io/brand-img/123/0x0/2024/06/06170814/caribbean-island-2-scaled.jpg?)
Reactions continued to pour in regarding the cruiser's story. One Reddit user commented, "They won't even wait for late crew unless it's someone they legally can't sail without."
Another expressed, "If the ship doesn’t depart on time, the company faces massive fines and will be delayed to the next port, and it’s a massive knock-on effect. It’s all explained when you board and every time you disembark."
One user said the teenager's parents "haven't got a clue." "Cruise ships are very clear on deadlines to return to the ship and [the teenager] reminded them of this, but they still stayed ashore," the user commented. "Tell your parents to have a word with the captain so he can give them his personal number to tell him when they are going to be back late, " they added four laughing face emojis.
Moral of the story? You should probably do your research in advance and gain a better understanding of the rules for traveling before embarking on such an adventure, especially when traveling with children. Sounds like this anonymous teen doesn't regret their actions. Their parents on the other hand, probably have some regrets...