Two Australians among nine passengers stranded on island off Africa after they rocked up late to their Norwegian Dawn cruise ship

Two Australians have been left stranded on a remote island off West Africa after their cruise ship abandoned them.

The passengers were among a group of nine left behind on São Tomé and Príncipe, about 500km off Gabon.

It is understood the group were denied entry to the Norwegian Dawn ship after arriving back from a tour late.

Jill and Jay Campbell, from South Carolina in United States, said the tour operator called the captain to let them know the passengers were going to be delayed and they were on their way. 

While the ship was still being anchored at the port, the captain refused to let them on board and told the Coast Guard to take them back to the island.

Two Australians have been left stranded on a remote island off West Africa after their Norwegian Cruise Line ship abandoned them 

'The captain could have made an easy decision to turn one of the tender boats back, pick us up, safely load us, and then go on the way,' he told ABC15. 

After numerous attempts of trying to get in contact with the cruise line, the group is desperately trying to find a way to get back on board the ship. 

The group consists of seven Americans and two Australians, four of whom are elderly, one has a heart condition and another is a paraplegic. There's another married couple from Delaware and the wife is pregnant.

Another 80-year-old woman was left behind after being hospitalised on the island with a concussion following a tour. 

It is believed that she was left without any money or her belongings, and none of the other passengers have their medications or credit cards.

The Campbells have spent more than $5,000 on food, toiletries and hotels for the group as they are the only ones with a Visa card. 

With help from the U.S. Embassy in Angola the group is flying to Gambia on Sunday, but they they can only re-join the cruise if the Norwegian approves their request.

So far, the group has heard nothing back at all. 

A spokesperson from Norwegian Cruise Line said the guests missed the last tender back to the vessel, not meeting the 'all aboard' time of 3pm local time. 

The passengers were among a group of nine left behind on São Tomé and Príncipe, about 500km off Gabon 

'While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship's intercom, in the daily communication and posted just before exiting the vessel,' the statement read. 

It went on to explain that guests are responsible for any necessary travel costs to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call. 

'When the guests did not return to the vessel at the all aboard time, their passports were delivered to the local port agents to retrieve when they returned to the port,' it said

'Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed if the guests were to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call.' 

Norwegian Cruise Line staff are in communication with the guests and providing additional information as it becomes available. 

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the cruise firm for further comment, along with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.