BillderBo

Thanks, Ryten, for the great story. It sounds like HAL did a great job. 

HAL says they “would get you to the next port."

We have some health limitations, including on duration and altitude of flights. With a booking out of Fort Lauderdale Jan. 4, and with all of the new complications at airports that everyone is experiencing beyond just the routine holiday and winter weather factors <pause for breath>, the chances of missing ship departure is higher than ever--even if we arrive a day early. Those who have flown the past year understand the uncertainties.

Assume I purchase flights through Holland America (HAL) and also pay for the Cruise Protection Plan (CPP). How does HAL actually get you from a missed embarkation to the next port? Any experiences or inside knowledge? I can't imagine they will fly us onto Half Moon Cay. The next stop, Grand Turk is a big question mark, also, as is Amber Cove after that. I don't know how far past our physical limits we might be forced in order to catch the ship. So, with all of this explanation, I asked my Personal Cruise Consultant at HAL. The response is simply, "They would get you to the next port."

Does anyone out there have experience or knowledge on this? How, HAL? How?!

We used a regional tour company for two days in St. Petersburg. I was apprehensive, but they were really excellent. 

Now returning from the trip...

The train station was, indeed, very close to the ship. One caution for anyone with mobility issues: You must navigate two flights of steps to get from port to the train. Possible for us but not easy. 

The ride was clean, smooth and scenic (gently rolling farm land). Lubeck is a treasure. Challenging with a wheelchair, but not impossible. Don’t bother with first class. It is a joke of an upgrade on this route. Second class is great. 

Good to know (that Germany and Austria are getting with Google Street View). It really helps the traveler who needs an advance look. Now that I've decided to take the train to Lubeck, my only problem is deciding how large a container I can drag back to the ship stuffed full of marzipan. I am only half-kidding (and my wife is not at all kidding 😄).

I’ve pushed that wheelchair and my beautiful passenger through many a city. The key will be finding enough smooth surface. It is unfortunate (in this case) that Germany bans Google Street View. Street View has been a great tool for us planning wheelchair routes. 

That's great 'kraut. I tried to access bahn.com a couple other times and never got it to load on my screen. But this time it works. I guess you put in a good word for me <wink>. 

That is good to know...that the train is so close to port, dabear! I am now thinking more about taking the train, because by the time I add to rental car cost the possibly-needed insurance, plus expensive petrol, plus parking in Lubeck. Geez, it gets really pricey, especially compared to the train. I'll have to look at train schedules from Rostock to Lubeck and back. 

Need advice, please, on ground transportation from the port at Warnemunde in early July 2019. Our aim is to travel to Lubeck that day. It looks like a rental car will set us back minimum $200. So I want to also consider the train. I see Hertz and Europcar are at the port. It also looks like Enterprise used to be there, but no more.

Does anyone have experience with either car rental or train at that port? BTW, we have the added blessing of traveling with a fold-up wheelchair...no long walks. So getting it right is especially important.

So, have you actually researched flights and times, or are you wanting us to do that for you?

Yes, I want you to do it for me. Jeez! I'm outa here.

If you think you might need to cancel (or worse), now buy some trip insurance with a pre-existing conditions waiver. For most policies you have a week or two after down payment. A few will cover at final payment.

Thanks for the tip (also mentioned by someone else). The cruise insurance is pricey. I'll look around.

I missed where anyone ridiculed you....

Late at night. I think I took a couple of comments the wrong way. My problem. I'm past it.

Okay, I decided to book...9 months early. Not the "trip of a lifetime"...but with health concerns perhaps "the last" trip. So I don't want to miss the opportunity if it pans our, healthwise. Thanks for many great perspectives.

Thank you to those who provided good advice and insight. It is sad that some feel the need to ridicule. But, overall, I got more good advice than I paid for.

I don't understand your concerns. You state that you like to control the air travel of your trip then state you let someone else do it and was not happy with the result. (paraphrasing). I don't know why this is even a question for you. Make your own flight reservations and be done with it. Don't over think this.

I posed the question for two reasons:

1. With only one cruise/airfare purchase experience under my belt, I don't really know if cruise lines offer airfares competitive with other avenues (self-serve, other travel agents, consolidators, etc.).
   
2. "I purchased trip cancel protection thru the line, and because of that I got a refund on the flights when we had to cancel the cruise due to health." I am weighing that advantage with the higher pricing I might expect to get booking through the cruise line.
   

There is so much we just don't know until we ask other people's experiences. Yes, I like to control the remote. It is my nature. But pay me $200 to let someone else hold the remote and I might be persuaded. Everything is relative.

Cruise Air...okay. I’m going international on HAL. I’ll check into that.

i like to control two things—the remote control and air travel. Last cruise, I let the cruise line make my air reservations along with the cruise arrangements. I felt the cruise rep was annoyed that I didn’t just take the flights as offered. Like they were doing me a favor. And I am sure it was not the best price. But I purchased trip cancel protection thru the line, and because of that I got a refund on the flights when we had to cancel the cruise due to health.

So I am inclined to let them make the flight reservations again. But it is hard to give up control on routing and price.

What is your experience? What do you recommend?

...Otherwise through the private emails from the big cruise discounters, we have received some incredible deals .

I don't know if we are allowed to say on this forum, but I'd appreciate someone pointing me to some of those trustworthy "big cruise discounters."

I know the sailing I want. It is in June 2019. But I don't know how/when to snag the best deal. What is your strategy?

Thanks much. We are booked in August, but the HAL rep said we won’t know hotel until closer to departure. I’m glad you know. It helps me. Again, thanks for the replies.

Does anyone know what hotels HAL uses for pre-cruise packages in Montreal? They tell us we won't know until right before the cruise. It would be nice to have some idea what they choose from.

There is no cruise terminal in Jersey City...

Technically, you are correct, but Jersey City is the nearest city of any size to Cape Liberty Cruise Port. It sits 1,000 feet from the Jersey City line.

Here’s a radical thought — what about calling HAL and asking them? Cruise lines know specifically where their ships are docking.

Not radical at all. I did ask HAL. They sent me the standard itinerary that lists "New York City," but the rep was unable to confirm it would be the port on Manhattan.

I'll be cruising into NYC on the Maasdam this summer. At least that is what the itinerary says. But how do you know for sure which port they will use? I guess there is Brooklyn, Jersey City and Manhattan.