FunTraveler52

I think you are right, we will need to get wheelchair assist for both embarkation and disembarkation.. I was leaning that way anyway, but wanted to make sure it was necessary. Its good to know about the Global Entry cards.

Thank you!

I just booked the June 9 Zeendam cruise to Bermuda. My husband has mobility issues and can not stand for long periods of time. What is it like clearing customs in Boston? We have a late afternoon flight home, so we will not be in a rush. Also we have Global Entry and people, on these boards, have mentioned using their Global Entry Cards for priority passport control. Is this true? I have never had to use the ID cards, we have always scanned our passports at the kiosks.

I would appreciate any tips for Boston embarkation and disembarkation.

Thanks!

I was wondering the same thing, always frantic. He may have to dip into his millions to pay for his trip home :-).

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Chicago O'Hare international terminal is similar to your LAX experience. There are signs for precheck, but once you are up to the actual security area there is no actual belt or scanner to go through. And agents up there kept saying there is no precheck. The pre-check words were even highlighted by the agent checking passports at the beginning. So odd. I'd say a total lack of communication.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Things seemed to have stalled in Fort Lauderdale!

Just curious, but which ships have the beer tap machines?

Whoops sorry for the confusion - this was on the Koningsdam. My husband was curious how they worked and we were charged for the beer.

I forgot to add that the beer tap machines at the Lido bar are not included on the SBC.

We were on the Koningsdam on the July 17th sailing and we purchased water several times from table prior to leaving on our excursions. They were covered by our SBC. We also purchased large and small bottles of water at all bars and dining areas. We always had tap water at meals, but I wanted to take a bottle each night to our cabin.

The current Captain on the Koningsdam is Captain Darin Bowland. There may have been a Captain change on July 17, the day we boarded for 14 day fjord cruise

Just got off the Koningsdam this morning. We are light breakfast eaters but absolutely love/need good coffee. Our breakfast place was the Explorations Cafe. They had the best coffee (extra cost covered by the SBP) and they had muesli and croissants and muffins. We would have front row seats in the crows nest. Very peaceful, watching the world go by.

I will have more information later, but we loved the Koningsdam.

I would think this will be very confusing for embarking and disembarking passengers. Will transportation be provided?

And I am #8. I look forward to your daily reviews. Thank you! We will be sailing on the K in 10 days so we are very interested in what you have to say. Love the tips you are giving.

This is great! Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experiences. We will also be boarding on July 17 so we are anxious to hear all about your trip. Thank you and Bon Voyage

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Copper10-8: thanks for the Liberté photo. She was a beauty! I believe she was originally a German ship given to French as a war reparation. I sailed on her twice and also the SS Flandre in 1961.

I'm not sure this would be considered a cruise ship, but I sailed a transatlantic on the Liberté (French Line) in 1955. I was 3.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Thank you so much for posting your review and pictures. We will be on the July 17 sailing of the Midnight sun cruise. Your posting is making me so excited. Can't wait!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

I have never sailed into or out of Amsterdam, but it's probably pretty much the same as any other port: you'll hand over your luggage to a longshoreman on arrival. Make sure you've printed off and attached the paper which indicates your room number on all your bags (you need a stapler) before you hand them over. You should have some sort of bag with medication, valuables, anything that can't easily be replaced kept with you. Some people put a swim suit and/or change of clothes in the same bag for use until their luggage arrives, which could take a few hours. Your luggage will be delivered to your room well before first seating. Join the general queue (or, if in a Neptune or Pinnacle Suite, the suite queue) and work your way to the desk for check-in. Hand over your documents (already filled out as needed), passport, have your picture taken for your ID card, receive card, and wait to board. If you're in one of the aforementioned suites, you'll wait in another area where you will generally board very quickly. Approaching the bridge to board the ship you can have your picture taken by the ship's photographers, or walk past it as I usually do. Your card will be scanned just inside the ship and you're set.

Thank you for the embarkation information. It helps a lot! These boards have a wealth of information and everyone is so helpful. Thank you!

We typically use a car service in Amsterdam, so that's a good choice but there will be some cabs available. You've got the on-board and off-board processes down pretty well. No surprises, I don't think.

Thanks a bunch for your reassurance! Francine

My husband and I taking, basically, our first cruise in July. We have been on the Paul Gauguin, but I think that is a totally different experience. We will be sailing on the Koningsdam July 17 from Amsterdam. I would like some tips on the embarkation/disembarkation process. Is embarkation similar to check-in for a flight; you check-in, give them your luggage and wait in a holding area until your number is called? I don’t want to look like I have no clue what I am doing. What about disembarkation, same process in reverse? I know about placing your luggage in the hallway the night before and waiting in the morning for your color. Is there anything else I need to know? For people experienced with Amsterdam, are taxies readily available? My husband has mobility issues, so the train is not an option. We have a 1:30 PM flight out of Amsterdam that day. I’m thinking we will be ok time wise. Right now we have a transfer scheduled to the airport, that may be the easiest.

Thanks for any help, Francine

I'm in a Vista suite July 17. Deck 6 / midship. I'll send pictures, I'll need, maybe, help posting. I'm such a newbie :-)

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Do Vista "suites" also pay the extra charge for tips? Does HAL consider them suites when they figure out the tip charges?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Your photos have made me doubly excited for my July, 2016 cruise! Thank you for taking the time to post all the photos

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

I am also in a Vista Suite on July 17. I'll be more than happy to post pictures.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

HAL isn't as forthcoming with emails as they used to be. The last two transactions I've made this week, I did not receive a confirmation email. Last week I did.

I noticed that this week, too. I did not receive an email confirmation for an excursion I purchased a few days ago. In the past, the confirmation email popped up immediately. It does show up on my itinerary.

Sorry I just deleted some gibberish that I accidentally typed.