2funcruzin

On 3/27/2022 at 2:25 PM, DerekB said:

I see a some posting about various lines at Schiphol. Let me explain a bit about how it works now:

 

1. Check in/luggage drop is first and almost entirely automated. With most airlines you get your boarding pass at a kiosk, scan it at an automatic luggage machine where you tag your own luggage and send it away. You then start your journey toward your gate.
2. Security check. Schiphol has made huge advancements with this and the security check points are incredibly easy to pass. There is no getting stuck behind a slow passenger because multiple people can get their items ready for x-ray at the same time - whomever is done first gets to go.
3. Passport Control. Americans can use automatic kiosk to clear passport control upon leaving the country. Usually there is only a very short line for this, but can be busier during certain periods - and rather lengthy if the kiosk break down (they do once in a while). 
4. Additional security screening. Delta has a special place for this where all Delta passengers must go and be questioned by a security officer. The line for this can be 30+ minutes long. Delta puts this as your gate on your boarding pass - so if on Delta go to the gate on your boarding pass and not the one on the screen or you'll have to walk all the way back. United and American do this extra screening at the individual gates. This screening involves a short quiz about your trip from information they already know (for instance, how did you pay for your ticket?) 
5. Boarding time - usually starts 45 minutes before departure and is very effecient. You may be randomly pulled to the side and have you luggage searched. In 15 years of flying out of here, that has never happened to me - but I have seen it happen to others, including my father. 

If you are making a connection inside Europe THEN flying to the United States then absolutely nothing I just said is true. If that's the case then you can easily show up 90 minutes before your flight and find yourself sitting at yoru gate with 70 minutes to spare.

Thank you so much! Thank you for breaking it all down. 

30 minutes ago, DerekB said:

Although I've never got of a cruise ship in Amsterdam, I live only a few minutes from the port and fly to the US regularly. It is a quick trip to the airport (about 25 minutes by taxi/uber or about 15 minutes by train, if you go to central). 

 

That being said - Schiphol is a huge airport and flights to the US have additional security screenings. Normally you want to be at Schiphol about 3 hours before departure to feel comfortable. That should be doable, especially if you do walk-off with your luggage. 

I hope you are right! Thank you!

10 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

We only have done one cruise that departed in Amsterdam (thanks Covid) and it was probably the most stressful we’ve done. I remember we also had a fairly early flight (12:50). We booked the transfer from the ship to the airport but everyone was delayed leaving for customs or something.
When we finally got to the airport, we didn’t know where to go. Lines everywhere overlapping so we couldn’t tell which was which,  nothing in English. Luckily we found locals in line with us that showed us where to go (we were in the wrong line). we found out we need to check our bags ourselves, which was ok but we had no idea how to do it,  we had multiple checkpoints with long walks and the older couple we flew with almost missed the flight due to them not getting on the same transfer bus as we did. 

That is scary! 

We have very few choices for departure times on AA on departure day. Our flight leaves Amsterdam at 10:55. Yes I know that's close. I've read it's only about a 25 minute ride to the airport but not sure how early self debarkation will take. 

Anyone had any experience at this port? TIA

IF anyone has recent Fun Times Newsletters (delivered each day) from Carnival Dream can you please upload them?  Thanks!

You can also buy them with points if you are an Allstate member.  $500 for $450.

Awesome, thanks guys!

So we have friends that want to join us on our next cruise. We would like to have cabins next door to each other so we can open the partition on the balcony. If there is not one available next door to us currently can we switch rooms to one that is? 

You guys are the best!  Thanks so much!

7 minutes ago, JaxsMama said:

Its due to laws in Texas, however you do not pay for cheers the day you get on the ship, you pay a la carte day one.

So you are saying that although they post the prices of the 4 day package that I'll only pay for 3 days not 4?

So I am planning on buying the cheers package.  However, it seems if Carnival leaves from a TX port then your Cheers card will not be activated until 6:00 am on day 2.  Now on a 4 day cruise they are charging for 4 full days, but I'm not getting 4 days.  I will only be getting 3 days.  Am I missing something here? Help me to understand this logic please and thank you.

https://www.carnival.com/help/1106

• For those guests who pre-purchase CHEERS!, it will be activated upon boarding the ship (except for ships sailing from Texas and New York). Guests will receive a note in their stateroom advising them to go the bar to receive their sticker which is placed on their Sail & Sign card. In the event guests do not go to their stateroom, once the Sail & Sign card is swiped,  it is flagged and the bartender will provide the sticker. For ships sailing from Texas and New York, CHEERS! will be activated at 6:00am on the second day of the cruise.  

Why does the cruise have to be THIS November? And why do you need 5 cabins for 4 couples = 8 people? Just curious.

That's the parameters around when our CEO can take the winners. It's a small window and yes the Cruise lines have recalled the cabins already so I will just have to wait until the contest ends Oct 1 to book. Thanks everyone!!!

So we are doing this contest at work and 4 people plus spouses will get to go on a cruise in November. We won't have their names till after the contest on Oct. 1st. Can we book without knowing names with a travel agent? The middle of September would be when final payment is due I know and we are willing to pay for the rooms now but no names....

Whatcha think? Am I going to have to wait until the contest is over and take whatever rates are happening at that time?:(:(

Awesome thanks everyone!

I know you can have 2 bottles per stateroom. Can I put in checked luggage at pier or do I have to carry on in a carry on bag on the ship?

Thanks in advance!

You would go to whatever dining room is indicated on your SeaPass card.

Got it! Thanks! :D

Maybe a dumb question but here goes....

Since I'm utilizing MTD and my travel agent has arranged for our Anniversary to be celebrated on the first formal night what dinning room do I go to?

The only issue one might have with an address is if they had booked under a residency rate and your ID doesn't match the State that you got the discount for. Other than that your physical address makes little difference.

Right! It wasn't a residency rated cruise so I think we are good to go. Thanks so much!!

More Information please.

Sure, what else would you like to know? :)

My ID has been switched over to TX DL..his has not. Everything will match and his DL from TN is still valid but the addresses will be different. Just making sure it will be ok.

Shouldn't be...as long as your names and birthdates are still what's on your ID's!

Yep that's all the same :) Thank you!

So.....just moved to Texas and our address which we used for documents and hubby's drivers license are different. This gonna be a problem?:D

You guys rock! Thanks so much for the quick responses! I always show up early due to excitement so this shouldn't be an issue! :)

So although I've been on 7 cruises yes I still have questions :)

1. Does anyone know if on the Liberty of the Seas the partitions between balconies can or will be opened?

2. Does RCCL offer anything to board sooner than expected without being booked in a suite? I think Carnival calls it Faster to the Front.

Just checking! Thanks everyone!:):)

I keep reading that the majority of the passengers on the Oasis and the Allure are non English speaking. I also read that there are a lot of rude people and there is a lot of line cutting. Did you experience any of this?

 

The ship looks really awesome but I don't think I could handle rude guests and the lack of being able to converse with fellow passengers for 7 days

There were all backgrounds of people which I like. The ship was never packed at all which was crazy cause you would think it would be. There were some rude folks but there were twice as many nice ones!

What about the roast beef sandwich? We're booked on Oasis for Feb. & March, '16 and can't wait. If you liked the salads in Park Café, the Tutti salad bar in the MDR on sea days is much more elaborate and delicious.

Sorry I didn't try the roast beef sandwich. I did try the Cuban and it was good. The salads in Park Cafe were amazing!