A 75-year-old grandmother and her 15-year-old granddaughter were left in tears on the docks of Southampton as their dream cruise set sail without them, all because their visa arrived four minutes too late. According to WalesOnline, Anne Conway and her granddaughter, Leila Conway, were due to embark on a two-week Cunard cruise to New York on Sunday, July 21, but were denied boarding due to a missing ESTA visa for the teen.
Anne, who had planned the trip to create lasting memories with her grandchild, was heartbroken when the required visa landed at 5:04 pm, just minutes after the ship’s scheduled departure at 5:00 pm. Despite assurances from port officials that they would be able to board, the pair watched helplessly as the ramp was raised and the ship sailed away.
The cruise, costing £3,934, was meant to be a celebration of Leila’s completion of her GCSEs and an opportunity for Anne to “cram in memories” while she was still fit enough. The grandmother from Gourock, Scotland, had saved diligently for over a year for the voyage. “Both of us were just sobbing. I was so disappointed for Leila. She was so excited,” Anne told The Associated Press. “I did this trip with Bethany 15 years ago when I turned 60. This’ll be the last time I’ll be able to do something like this.”
Anne had misread the visa requirements, believing children under 16 did not need an ESTA when travelling with an adult. Upon arrival at the port, she applied for the visa online but was informed they could not board until it was approved. “I asked twice, ‘does it mean we might not get on?’ And they said ‘no, don’t worry, it won’t come to that’.”
Anne’s other granddaughter, Bethany Williams, 28, quickly set up a GoFundMe page, raising £1,720 within 48 hours to cover flights to New York so that Anne and Leila could at least enjoy the return journey. “I am completely overwhelmed and astonished at the kindness and generosity of so many people,” Anne said. “Most of the flight and hotel costs have been covered by kind, thoughtful and generous people.”
Anne booked flights from London Luton to New York for Thursday, July 25, allowing them to board the ship on Saturday, July 27, for the eight-day return voyage. However, the additional costs for flights (£1,182.90) and a hotel (£347.86) added to the financial strain. “I can’t begin to put a price on the stress this has caused me, or the toll it may have taken on my heart, and the inconvenience for the whole family,” she added.
Anne’s daughter, Anne-Marie, who drove them to Southampton, was devastated to see them left behind. “When I picked them up it was just my mum and Leila standing with their suitcases and just sobbing. It was absolutely terrible. My heart was broken for them,” she said.
Leila tried to stay strong for her grandmother. “The last thing I wanted to do was to make my grandma feel that it was her fault,” she said. “I tried my hardest not to show her I was too upset.”
Bethany, who had previously enjoyed the same trip with her grandmother, set up the fundraising campaign to ensure Anne could still create cherished memories with Leila. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. She’s not getting any younger. We had such a great time the first time. My grandma wanted to do it again. She wants to do things while she still can,” Bethany explained.
Cunard expressed sympathy but reiterated the need for correct travel documentation, stating they were “unfortunately unable to accept guests without the correct documentation.”
Anne, who had planned the trip to create lasting memories with her grandchild, was heartbroken when the required visa landed at 5:04 pm, just minutes after the ship’s scheduled departure at 5:00 pm. Despite assurances from port officials that they would be able to board, the pair watched helplessly as the ramp was raised and the ship sailed away.
The cruise, costing £3,934, was meant to be a celebration of Leila’s completion of her GCSEs and an opportunity for Anne to “cram in memories” while she was still fit enough. The grandmother from Gourock, Scotland, had saved diligently for over a year for the voyage. “Both of us were just sobbing. I was so disappointed for Leila. She was so excited,” Anne told The Associated Press. “I did this trip with Bethany 15 years ago when I turned 60. This’ll be the last time I’ll be able to do something like this.”
Anne had misread the visa requirements, believing children under 16 did not need an ESTA when travelling with an adult. Upon arrival at the port, she applied for the visa online but was informed they could not board until it was approved. “I asked twice, ‘does it mean we might not get on?’ And they said ‘no, don’t worry, it won’t come to that’.”
Anne’s other granddaughter, Bethany Williams, 28, quickly set up a GoFundMe page, raising £1,720 within 48 hours to cover flights to New York so that Anne and Leila could at least enjoy the return journey. “I am completely overwhelmed and astonished at the kindness and generosity of so many people,” Anne said. “Most of the flight and hotel costs have been covered by kind, thoughtful and generous people.”
Anne booked flights from London Luton to New York for Thursday, July 25, allowing them to board the ship on Saturday, July 27, for the eight-day return voyage. However, the additional costs for flights (£1,182.90) and a hotel (£347.86) added to the financial strain. “I can’t begin to put a price on the stress this has caused me, or the toll it may have taken on my heart, and the inconvenience for the whole family,” she added.
Anne’s daughter, Anne-Marie, who drove them to Southampton, was devastated to see them left behind. “When I picked them up it was just my mum and Leila standing with their suitcases and just sobbing. It was absolutely terrible. My heart was broken for them,” she said.
Leila tried to stay strong for her grandmother. “The last thing I wanted to do was to make my grandma feel that it was her fault,” she said. “I tried my hardest not to show her I was too upset.”
Bethany, who had previously enjoyed the same trip with her grandmother, set up the fundraising campaign to ensure Anne could still create cherished memories with Leila. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. She’s not getting any younger. We had such a great time the first time. My grandma wanted to do it again. She wants to do things while she still can,” Bethany explained.
Cunard expressed sympathy but reiterated the need for correct travel documentation, stating they were “unfortunately unable to accept guests without the correct documentation.”