firsttimer1971

3 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

Flight delays and flight schedule changes are two different things.  If there is a delay that causes you to miss the cruise, they say they will get you to the next available port.  

Even if there is a delay they don't say they will pay all the costs of getting you to the next available port. 

[Quote from HAL's Flight Ease FAQ:] 

"Late Arrival Protection

Should guests who have booked their air travel through Holland America Line experience delays en route due to a flight delay or an airline service disruption, such as flight cancellation or flight re-routes, that will cause them to miss their original port of embarkation, Holland America Line will work with the airline to find reasonable alternate flights to the next appropriate port at no additional air cost to the guest.

Factors taken into account in determining the appropriateness of a port of call include, but are not limited to:

• where in the original itinerary the port is located
• airport / port infrastructure
• visas and other legal documentation that may be required
• application of the Passenger Services Act to the new itinerary
• comparability of cost, flight connections, and travel time required (any unused value on the original air ticket will be used to offset the cost of the new air ticket)

Liability and Relation with Airlines

As the airfares we use are based on capacity controlled, promotional, and group fares, we may limit or close sales without prior notice at any time. If, due to any cause beyond our control, we are unable to arrange for air travel or the air travel we arrange is unavailable or otherwise fails to materialize, our sole liability will be limited to refunding the air price paid to us. We assume no liability for any acts or omissions of any airline, including, without limitation, those involving cancellation of flights, schedule changes, re-routings, damage to or delay or loss of baggage, flight delays, equipment failures, accidents, pilot or other staff shortages, overbooking or computer errors. The liabilities and obligations of an airline to you, and your rights against an airline, are subject to any and all terms and conditions of the airline's ticket and tariffs and all applicable governmental laws and regulations.

[End Quote] 

So HAL will "work with" the airline to get a "reasonable alternate flight" to the next appropriate port of call and if they cannot find that all they are obligated to do is refund you and that's it. No hard guarantees. 

18 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Plus, if my understanding from what I am reading on the Boards is correct, trying to get in touch with the air department of any cruise line to request "assistance" is becoming problematical because of the volume of calls that they are receiving.  

Yes, I'd rather deal with my airline directly than through an intermediary. Especially if it concerns last minute changes/cancellations.

9 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

This is absolutely WRONG!

Read your cruise line’s T&Cs and Ticket Contract.

 

I agree with you, having just checked the information on HAL's Flight Ease as I was under the impression that HAL was taking the responsibility to get you on board.

On their website is says:

It says: 

"LATE ARRIVAL PROTECTION

In the event that your flights are delayed or cancelled, our staff is ready to assist you, 24/7. And we’ll take care of any flight changes, if necessary, to join the voyage at the next available port of call." 

Which would suggest that HAL takes responsibility to get you on the boat at the next available port of call. However, when you check out the FAQ of Flight Ease it says:

"Airline Schedule Changes

Airline bookings are subject to flight schedule changes by the airlines. Schedule changes can occur at any time and may affect your flights. Holland America Line is not responsible for airline schedule changes. Holland America Line will assist guests affected by airline schedule changes so that flights booked will meet ship embarkation and disembarkation requirements. Any associated costs related to or caused by an airline schedule change is the responsibility of the guest. etc." 

(I made the relevant parts Bold)

So you get assistance but that's it. The wording on the page of Flight Ease might just be called misleading advertisement in The Netherlands (where I live).

38 minutes ago, FIREFIGHTERCRUISER said:

Thx first timer. I'm still a ways from our sailing. It states my docs wont be available till Oct. I will have to see when they get emailed or come up on the website.

My cruise is next year November so even longer away but I wasn't talking about the docs for your sailing but the booking invoice/confirmation you received after booking, just as Mary229 wrote. 

I booked directly with HAL but if you didn't, just ask your Travel Agent for confirmation. 

Ps if you want to contact HAL you can also contact them through live chat, there is a link on their Facebook page. Or if you check their contact page there is an email form. 

Hi, I have booked a cruise with the HIA promotion and I can see the same in the Navigator app. So just the excursions credits and specialty dining. But not the Drinking package or Wifi.

I also can't see it on the website on my desktop but all extras are listed in the e-mail confirmation I have received from HAL. On the second page under "Special Services" it lists all the Have I All (H I A) extras with a description and for which Guest(s) they are. At least on my confirmation it does.

6 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

LOL!  To tell the truth, I never thought I'd want to do it -- and definitely would not have liked it if DH secretly arranged it. But he wanted to do it and we talked about it before the cruise.  I'm very glad we did it, I loved it. 🙂   

It all comes down to knowing your partner and what makes him/her happy. My wife is an introvert and she dislikes being the center of attention. Our wedding was small with just thirty close friends and family and that was big enough for her. 

If I planned something like this in secret, I would end up either single or dead.

But I can 100% understand people who do this and enjoy it very much. It guess it is also more of an American than European thing to renew your vows. 

14 hours ago, P&PNH said:

I would recommend this to any couple who truly love each other. 

I told my DW about this ceremony and she said she would file for a divorce if I arranged this 😆

On 6/2/2022 at 4:31 PM, blueexpedition29 said:

I don't think HAL will handle/ensure you are "reported".  Regardless of what you are told by HAL or anyone else  I would suggest that when you arrive in Aruba and go through customs ( or whatever they call it), inform the agent who reviews your passport of the situation and i suspect they will record it at that time in your record and then have you confirm something at the time you board the ship ( there is usually a customs/immigration official at the port).   Since you are there for a week before the sailing you will be able to do anything needed if there is an issue. 

 

 

 

 

I checked with the Immigration Department and if we fill in the correct date and time of the departure of the cruise ship when we complete the Aruba Online ED card (https://edcardaruba.aw/) it should be fine. Probably going to have to explain it at the airport again but that should be sufficient. 

On 6/3/2022 at 1:36 AM, blueexpedition29 said:

And have a great time in Aruba - probably my favorite beach place to vacation!

 

Thank you, really looking forward to it! I heard a lot of wonderful things about Aruba from a friend who used to live there in his childhood so that is why we decided to start the cruise there instead of Miami.

1 hour ago, Essiesmom said:

I believe the only recent times ships have missed Aruba were Covid related.  Early on when ships had Covid onboard and were denied porting, or when they were delayed at the canal because of Covid testing and had to make up time.  EM

Good to know. Since the ship will be going to Aruba before going through the canal I think the chance of a delay only 2 days after leaving Fort Lauderdale will be very low. 

1 hour ago, blueexpedition29 said:

I don't think HAL will handle/ensure you are "reported" .  

Thank you for the tip and I agree with you. I know that we have to fill in an online ED-card (Embarkation and Disembarkation) to enter Aruba and I have to enter the details of arrival and departure but I think they assume that we will depart by plane. So I will contact the immigration department ahead of time to check if filling in the date and time of sailing on the ED-card is sufficient or not. Or else I will inform the immigration official on arrival and as you said: a week before sailing should give us enough time to make any necessary arrangements. 

The port being cancelled on short notice is a low probability but anything is possible.

5 hours ago, julia said:

Wow....   Nancy just brought up a very good point.  Ports are never guaranteed!

Agreed but the main reasons not to go to a port at the last minute would either be mechanical problems or the weather. Nobody can foresee mechanical issues but concerning the weather: Aruba is outside the hurricane belt so that is a small risk. 

4 hours ago, oakridger said:

 It sounds like you have thought it through!

 

Looks like a wonderful itinerary!

 

~Nancy

I hope that I have thought of all contingency but we will have to wait and see.

Yes, It is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime holiday for us and we plan to make the most of it. 

41 minutes ago, oakridger said:

Also consider what will be your back up plan if for some reason the ship can't call at Aruba!  Weather, mechanical issues, etc.?

 

@firsttimer1971 welcome to Cruise Critic!!   Have a wonderful cruise! The Panama Canal is so amazing....and HOT!!!  😉

 

~Nancy

Thank you Nancy. Best case scenario would be if we would know before the cruise started that they won't be calling at Aruba. Then we would have to fly from Aruba to Fort Lauderdale. Worst case would be if we would have to fly to Fuerto Amador and miss out on the Panama Canal. Let's hope that won't happen be it is a risk we are willing to take. 

Thank you for your response! I assume the same as well about signing out of the country. Maybe we will get some additional instructions before the cruise starts but nothing about this was written in the letter with permission we received. 

I already checked and Aruba has a couple of places where we can get an official Covid-test if still necessary at that time. 

Hello!

My wife and I will be making our first cruise next year (HAL, 31-night Panama Canal, Inca & South America Discovery) and have decided to embark not in Fort Lauderdale but on Aruba. We will be staying on Aruba for a week before departure and we have been given permission to embark on Aruba by the cruise line. 

But I was just wondering if there is anything else I need to think about, apart from the permission. 

534 and counting
(First Cruise Ever)