A missed departure occurs when a passenger is not present at the muster point by the published check-in deadline and the manifest closes without them. The vessel will not return to collect a passenger after the departure window has opened. Passengers who miss departure at any stop should immediately contact the Pelorus Voyages expedition coordinator station at that location. Each stop has a staffed coordinator post that remains open for four hours after departure.

The first and most important distinction is whether the missed departure is voluntary or involuntary. A missed departure caused by a documented medical emergency — meaning the passenger was physically unable to return to the vessel due to a medical event, assessed and recorded by Pelorus Voyages medical staff or a licensed physician at the stop — is classified as involuntary. All other missed departures, including excursion overruns, losing track of time, equipment issues, or personal decisions to extend a stay, are classified as voluntary. This distinction determines what your travel insurance covers.

Passengers who have missed departure have three options, listed in order of typical cost and availability.

The first option is pickup on the next scheduled Pelorus Voyages itinerary that calls at the same stop. Not all stops are called at frequently — Ceres Waystation is served by ORT and GST departures; Titan and Enceladus are ORT and GST only. The next scheduled departure calling at a given stop may be days, weeks, or in the case of outer system stops during non-alignment periods, months away. Pickup on the next itinerary is subject to available berth capacity and is charged at the extraction fare, typically 40 to 80 percent of the original voyage package price depending on the remoteness of the stop.

The second option is a charter extraction arranged through the Pelorus Voyages expedition coordinator. Charter cost varies by destination. Inner system stops (Moon, Mars, Venus) are generally quotable within 24 to 48 hours at one to two times the original fare. Outer system stops (Ceres, Titan, Enceladus) are significantly more expensive and are quoted individually. Charter availability is not guaranteed.

The third option is independent third-party transport, arranged entirely by the passenger. Pelorus Voyages is not responsible for conditions, timing, safety certifications, or cost of third-party transport. Passengers choosing this option should review the third-party transport guidance document, which includes notes on mining transport availability under the Outer Space Transport Compact.

Standard travel insurance covers involuntary missed departures — that is, medical emergencies — only. The Extraction Coverage add-on is the only insurance product that covers voluntary missed departures and charter extraction costs. Passengers without the Extraction Coverage add-on are responsible for all extraction costs out of pocket regardless of reason.
