Lost Luggage and ruined trip

A trip, 6 months of planning and a lot of money for a once in a lifetime experience and one mistake from the airline has ruined it. Luggage never made it on the connecting flight the Sunday morning. The cruise ship left and according to the airline the bag would meet me at the next port. It is now Tuesday evening, no luggage. They say the bag will be in the port Wednesday morning....AFTER the ship has departed the night before. All they say is buy whats needed and the insurance will refund you. After so much is spent on the trip its not easy to find extra cash. Now the wait to see if it reaches the next port. All warm clothes, walking shoes and PRESCRIPTION medication are in the luggage. The s**** excursions are now not a possibility as its is hours of walking and the clothes and shoes are not here, That means a holiday of R79000.00 is ruined and basically spent on a boat unable to see the sites due to the incompatibly of the airline. NOBODY updates you expect for one guy in South Africa - Pedro. Its great that the insurance will refund you for clothes but how does that help missing out on everything this trip was meant to be