HAL Ships and Superbowl

[sail7seas]

Yes!!! New England Patriots will go to the Superbowl AGAIN and I am wondering if any HAL ships will be used for the game? Aren't at least one or two sometimes chartered?

[Sierrachik]

Yes!!! New England Patriots will go to the Superbowl AGAIN and I am wondering if any HAL ships will be used for the game? Aren't at least one or two sometimes chartered?

 

According to the superbowl.com website, there will be 5 cruise ships used as floating hotels due to a lack of first class hotel rooms in Jacksonville. Unfortunately the site did not list ships, however, seems that somewhere along the way I heard the Zuiderdam will be one of them. I checked her schedule in February and there is a 4 day cruise that begins on 2/8 so it fits time wise, but not sure about the schedule on the front side of that day.

[sopa]

The Zuiderdam, Volendam, Zaandam, Carnival Miracle and the Seven Seas Navigator will be there according to the Jacksonville Super Bowl Host Committee website.

[sail7seas]

Thanks for the info. Three HAL ships......those charters must be great revenue generators.

[sopa]

Thanks for the info. Three HAL ships......those charters must be great revenue generators.

 

 

And I imagine that many, many people who have never set foot on a ship will do so in Jacksonville, will like what they see, and book a cruise!

[augie]

I will be among the fortunate that will be onboard the Zuiderdam from Thursday afternoon until Monday morning.

 

It will be my first time on a HAL ship.

 

I'll be interested to see what amenities and activities will be available.

 

Obviously the casino will be closed, but I'm wondering about shows, dining rooms, etc.

 

Can't wait!

[sail7seas]

I'm just guessing but I do not think there will any of the usual cruiseship activities available.

 

 

I also wonder about food. Is it possible that one pays as they go.....a charge for dinner? A charge for lunch?

 

I hope you'll come back and let us know about such things.

 

Who chartered Zuiderdam? How is it that is where you are staying?

 

Enjoy!!! Hope you have a GREAT time.

 

GO PATRIOTS!!!

[augie]

I really lucked into this. My best friend works for a builder, and one of the major lumber suppliers would like to have his company's business, so he invited him and a guest for an all expenses paid four day trip that includes, among other things, lodging on this ship, tickets to the game, golf, dinners, etc.

 

Fortunately (for me) my friend's wife will just be returning from a business trip so she doesn't want to go!

 

The itinerary he faxed me seemed to indicate that we would be eating at least some meals onboard.

 

I will come back to the board here when I get back with a report.

[Sage]

They may be all gone now, but a couple of weeks ago, lunch and dinner was offered on the ships. They offered two venues, the Lido and the dining room.

[sail7seas]

They may be all gone now, but a couple of weeks ago, lunch and dinner was offered on the ships. They offered two venues, the Lido and the dining room.

 

 

 

Sage....

 

I am sure I am dense but I do not understand this post.

 

Are you possibly referring to ships being used as hotel for some other event a few weeks ago?

 

Could you explain. Thank you.

[Sage]

I'm sorry that I didn't make myself clear. As part of the Superbowl festivities, the three HAL ships were providing lunch or dinner for a fee as dining options for the fans, not just those that were using the ship as a hotel. They were offering luch for $25 in the Lido and $35 for lunch in the dining room. The dinner prices were $10 higher for each restaurant.

[T739]

You might also be interested to know that the ships are available to the general public who can purchase tickets for breakfast, lunch, or the full evening of cocktails, dinner, entertainment. The regular shipboard events will be held except no casino and only one lobster night. Those interested can go to the Jacksonville Super Bowl Host Committee website and click on the ship advertisement. There they can purchase the event and print out the actual ticket. Of course there is a security check and postive ID requirment. Many of the guests staying on board will be away at night at parties or other events, creating this opportunity.

[sail7seas]

That's great! Thanks everyone for explaining. I wonder how many folks come aboard (who are not using the ship as a hotel) and have the chance to see it and have drinks/dinner.

 

I wonder if there is a set time by which they must disembark.

 

That would be a Fun evening!!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Boy, wish we could have booked a stay on one of the ships for Superbowl. DH could have gone to the game and I could have just hung around and relaxed in the sun.

[bookworm0911]

Yes!!! New England Patriots will go to the Superbowl AGAIN and I am wondering if any HAL ships will be used for the game? Aren't at least one or two sometimes chartered?

No need to go to any other sites for this information. It has been posted here on CC a number of times, including the names of HAL ships involved. In fact, this question was covered completely just a very few days ago, including a posting of this newspaper article and several posters talking about the particular HAL ships and the revision of their cruising itineraries before and after the Superbowl.

 

 

 

 

Cruise ships transform into floating hotels

 

BY DONNA BALANCIA

FLORIDA TODAY

 

To offset the hotel-room crunch -- and to promote cruising -- Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America Line will be sending cruise ships to Port of Jacksonville, the site of Super Bowl XXXIX.

 

Among them is the Holland America Zaandam, a 1,258-passenger ship that is docked at Port Canaveral from October through the end of April. For football's grandest event, the ship will be relocated temporarily, departing Port Canaveral on Feb. 2, and returning Feb. 8.

 

The Carnival Miracle, based in Tampa, also will be at the Port of Jacksonville during that time. Carnival's ships Fantasy and Glory are home-ported at Port Canaveral.

 

"This gives us a unique opportunity where cruise ships will be showcased as venues for overnighting and dining and entertainment," said Erik Elvejord, spokesman for Holland America Line. "How does that play into ports and how they operate? The more ports that we use, the more people cruise. The more we can expose people to the industry, the better."

 

In addition to Holland America Line's Zaandam and Carnival's Miracle, Port Everglades-based ships Radisson Seven Seas Navigator, and Holland America Line's Zuiderdam and Volendam will be the ships used by Super Bowl-related guests and sponsors.

 

"It's the first time the cruise ships have been deployed in such a manner," said Vance Gulliksen, a spokesman for Carnival Cruise Lines.

 

"That's good for the cruise business all around," said Rob Varley, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism. "It helps the Port of Jacksonville, but, indirectly, it can help our cruise business, too. Any tourism coming to Jacksonville indirectly helps the whole state." "It's a great opportunity for Super Bowl fans to be exposed to today's fabulous cruise ships," said Stan Payne, chief executive officer of the Canaveral Port Authority. "Since we are just a short drive away, we would certainly welcome them to stop by Port Canaveral and see one of the world's largest cruise ports as they end their Super Bowl trip to Florida, before they begin planning their next vacation."

 

GO EAGLES!!!

[ekerr19]

I wonder if there is a set time by which they must disembark.

 

I wonder how they will account for all pax? On my first cruise in 1984 - while we were stopped in Mazatlan, one of the pax from a Princess ship got on board the Noordam (he just walked on by mistake) and promptly passed out in a Lido deck lounger. This was before pax were required to show identification getting on and off the ship...

 

Hopefully no one will pass out (or stow away!) while enjoying the Superbowl festivities!

 

GO PATRIOTS!!!!

[Sierrachik]

I'm just guessing but I do not think there will any of the usual cruiseship activities available.

 

 

I also wonder about food. Is it possible that one pays as they go.....a charge for dinner? A charge for lunch?

 

I hope you'll come back and let us know about such things.

 

Who chartered Zuiderdam? How is it that is where you are staying?

 

Enjoy!!! Hope you have a GREAT time.

 

GO PATRIOTS!!!

 

Following is an excerpt from a Wall Street Journal article online regarding who chartered the ships:

 

"At least five cruise ships will tie up along the river starting Wednesday. The ship berths are reserved mostly for Adolph Coors Co., Campbell Soup Co., PepsiCo Inc. and other NFL sponsors. Water taxis and shuttle buses will be used to ferry guests to Super Bowl-related events.

 

Cruise companies say a major incentive for participating in a special event such as the Super Bowl is the promotional opportunities it affords. Television cameras recording the event, as well as pregame festivities, are likely to include shots of the ships docked along the St. Johns."

 

The article cannot be viewed on the WSJ's website unless you're a subscriber apparently, however, for AOL subscribers you can read the entire article at http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/special1/article.adp?id=20050131080209990013.

 

It is a very informative article. Apparently the ships were chartered pre 9/11 and the logistics have changed a lot since then. Definitely worth reading.

[sail7seas]

No need to go to any other sites for this information. It has been posted here on CC a number of times, including the names of HAL ships involved. In fact, this question was covered completely just a very few days ago, including a posting of this newspaper article and several posters talking about the particular HAL ships and the revision of their cruising itineraries before and after the Superbowl.

 

 

 

Bookworm.....

 

I originally posted this question over a week ago. The discussion, for the most part, has taken place since then. That is when the Patriots won and secured their spot to go to the Superbowl.

 

Thank you for the article.

[sail7seas]

Thanks for the link, Sierrachik....

 

I just read the article. Very interesting.

[Time2sail]

Four of us will have a buffet lunch on Saturday in the Lido of the Volendam. The tickets were purchased online after giving names, dob, driver's license numbers for all and the address for the credit card purchaser. We had to print the individual tickets from the computer. This was the only way to purchase them. The cost of $25 per person includes the buffet, beverages (tea, coffee, etc) and tip. Boarding time will be 11:30 am until 12:30 pm and a picture id along with the printed ticket (one for each person with their name) is required to board. There will be a thorough security check. The departure time is 2:30 pm. I am not sure if we will be allowed to visit other parts of the ship but I hope so. My husband and I will be on the Amsterdam May 29 for our first cruise to Alaska to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. :)

 

Thanks to you for all the help in planning our cruise.

[sail7seas]

What fun. Hope you have a wonderful time.

 

Please post about it....we'll be interested to hear how it went.

[Sage]

Time2sail,

 

I will be visiting the Volendam as well on Saturday to pick up a couple of crew members for a shopping outing. I'm in Gainesville and will be driving up. Could you please tell me about the parking situation or where they suggested you park? Any information will be much appreciated.

[Sierrachik]

Time2sail,

 

I will be visiting the Volendam as well on Saturday to pick up a couple of crew members for a shopping outing. I'm in Gainesville and will be driving up. Could you please tell me about the parking situation or where they suggested you park? Any information will be much appreciated.

 

Sage, check this out: http://www.jacksonvillesuperbowl.net/tran/gt_parking.asp.

 

The home site is www.jacksonvillesuperbowl.net, so much info there!

 

GO PATS! :)

[Sage]

Sierrachik,

 

Thanks so much for the information. I will give them a call.

[Time2sail]

I don't think you will have any problems if you follow the directions on the website. There will be two entrances that are well marked at the dock. Just be sure to give yourself plenty of time because of all the activities on Saturday morning and allow for heavy traffic coming into Jacksonville. We were downtown last night and it was a busy place. Hope your day(s) in JAX will be very enjoyable.