Have a couple of questions on back to back cruises

[Krazy Kruizers]

That is the way it is suppose to work.

But all too often we have sat in the waiting area for a couple of people to still disembark for good!! The people living in Florida who only have to drive home seem to be the worst offenders. They are in no rush to get off the ship.

And then we have people who don't read their letters and follow instructions.

Like you -- we always go to the meeting place at the designated time and wait to be escorted off the ship.

[porrah]

I would recommend leaving the ship on your own. On our recent b2b there were the usual group problems of waiting for people and apparently it was quite disorganized. We left at 9.30, sailed through immigration, took a taxi to 17th street bridge and rode the water taxi around for 3 hours. Wonderful trip and commentary, and you can get on and off if you want. You can also transfer to the Hollywood taxi, but we were out of time. We thoroughly enjoyed the day. Water taxi is $20 - $16 for seniors.

[sail7seas]

We have always been able to book the Pinnacle online for both cruises.

 

But once on the ship -- we were not able to book either the Pinnacle or the Canaletto during the first cruise for the second cruise.

 

And we have done quite a few back-to-back / Collector's cruises.

 

 

:eek: Time and again, it seems you have the worst luck on the ships.

 

We have never, ever been refused the request for a reservation for the next segment of our b-to-b or Collector's cruise. We ask, they go into the computer, they book it, voila....... done. Can't imagine why they wouldn't do that and why you seem to be refused so many things. What's up with that? :confused:

 

We sometimes book in advance and often want to add another reservation or two while we are aboard. We book the miniumum we know we'll want in advance.

 

I certainly hope 2012 brings you better luck getting what you want when you want it on the ships and all things........

[sail7seas]

That is the way it is suppose to work.

 

But all too often we have sat in the waiting area for a couple of people to still disembark for good!! The people living in Florida who only have to drive home seem to be the worst offenders. They are in no rush to get off the ship.

 

And then we have people who don't read their letters and follow instructions.

 

Like you -- we always go to the meeting place at the designated time and wait to be escorted off the ship.

 

 

Just in case it hasn't occured to someone/anyone ..........

 

Every time you exit the ship, the gangway scans your card. They know if you are on or off the ship at all times. On turnaround day, if someone goes independently into the terminal to process Immigration, they KNOW they have left the ship.... they HAD to scan off. They know they HAVE to enter the terminal, they know they have to clear Immigration..... it is not holding anyone up if those going independently do so prompty and in the time window directed. It impacts absolutely no one in any negative way! The moment we scan off the ship, we are deducted from the 'have to go ashore' number. We are no longer a factor delaying zeroing down the ship. We are off the ship as instructed. Seems clear enough, No?

 

This seems so easy to understand that it confuses me some still don't seem get it. There is no downside to anyone. Maybe there is a mental block going on........ Where is the confusion?

 

As to reading the letter and following directions...... I don't know what letter they are currently giving on other ships but the letter we got on Nieuw Amsterdam, clearly offered FOUR CHOICES for in transits. You could indicate you would leave as early as possible to be off with the first disembarking and do so independently. It offered going with the group meeting in the show lounge. It offered go off on your own when disembarkation was in progress and gave a time window and last they offered going on a ship's tour. (I think that was the fourth choice.). What is the problem with making the choice that is offered? :confused:

 

We have gone through this process on several ships and done it at least 12+ times in the years since they instituted it. Between all cruise lines, we have probably done at least 25+ back-tobacks. I think we've got the process down pat. :D

 

We always go independently. No one has ever said it was not permitted. We have never delayed a single person. We are responsilbe people who meet our obligations. For those who with upcoming b-to-b that turnaround in U.S. port, you do not have to go as part of a huge group. There were over 300 on our recent turnaround and I don't like 'herd movement' and always avoid it when possible. We are perfectly capable of clearing Immigration without anyone hold our hand and leading us like a pack. Make your own choice....... either is fine.

 

[cruz chic]

:eek: Time and again, it seems you have the worst luck on the ships.

 

We have never, ever been refused the request for a reservation for the next segment of our b-to-b or Collector's cruise. We ask, they go into the computer, they book it, voila....... done. Can't imagine why they wouldn't do that and why you seem to be refused so many things. What's up with that? :confused:

 

We sometimes book in advance and often want to add another reservation or two while we are aboard. We book the miniumum we know we'll want in advance.

 

I certainly hope 2012 brings you better luck getting what you want when you want it on the ships and all things........

I've also had the same experience as KK. On my last B2B I needed to come back several days into the first cruise to book the Pinnacle. Maybe it's because you have so many personal friends on staff.

[Sea42]

Sail, could you tell me if you were required to attend the safety drill on the second week of your recent Nieuw Amsterdam cruise?

Thanks!

[kazu]

We always ask if we will have the same cabin stewards and dining room wait staff.

 

thanks KK - smart idea :D I've made a note as my memory can be short:cool:

[sail7seas]

I've also had the same experience as KK. On my last B2B I needed to come back several days into the first cruise to book the Pinnacle. Maybe it's because you have so many personal friends on staff.

 

 

Yes, we have made friends on ships through the years. Most people who have sailed with the same company 72 or so cruises probably has a friend or two, I would think. KK has certainly sailed HAL a great many times, as well.

 

What reason did they give for refusing your reservation?

I don't doubt you but it makes no sense they wouldn't take your booking unless there was a bad experience during the week or there was something very particular to the night/cruise in question.

 

 

 

Sail, could you tell me if you were required to attend the safety drill on the second week of your recent Nieuw Amsterdam cruise?

Thanks!

 

 

We were vague if we were supposed to go or not. I don't think our letter mentioned it but the previous letters we had from Maasdam and Eurodam both specifically excused us from the second drill so we 'assumed' we were excused from this one as well. We never heard anything to the contrary so I think we 'assumed' correctly.... as least I hope we did. :eek:

 

[Sea42]

Thank you. I think if we don't have any information in our letter to the contrary we will assume we are excused. :)

[sail7seas]

Hope you have a great cruise, Carol. :)

 

[m steve]

and just told the steward we wanted him to bring our liquor on the last sea day. The shop doesn't control when it's delivered only if you wish to bring it back on the last day to your cabin. If asked, just say no.

Just be sure to leave the ship before the required time as sometimes people forget to clear immigration and it delays everyone else as they lay around the pool.

[Sea42]

Hope you have a great cruise, Carol. :)

 

Thanks! We are so looking forward to it! It's been 2 years for us since our last cruise and I'm just so excited! I love all types of vacations but that feeling of walking onto the ship that first day is hard to beat.

[cruz chic]

Yes, we have made friends on ships through the years. Most people who have sailed with the same company 72 or so cruises probably has a friend or two, I would think. KK has certainly sailed HAL a great many times, as well.

 

What reason did they give for refusing your reservation?

I don't doubt you but it makes no sense they wouldn't take your booking unless there was a bad experience during the week or there was something very particular to the night/cruise in question.

 

They told me they couldn't access that next week. I was standing in the Pinnacle and was talking to the Manager so I think if anyone should know he would.

[sail7seas]

Strange. Maybe there was a computer issue that day?

We have stood in that same spot with the/a Manager and accomplished the bookings.

 

Here we go again..... HAL is not always consistent, ship to ship, cruise to cruise. :rolleyes:

[cruz chic]

I'm pretty sure I've also had the same experience with the spa but my memory is foggy on that one because it was several years ago. I'm done with spending money on beauty services because of the constant upsell.

[sail7seas]

:) I only have manicure/pedicure aboard now. I avoided the salon/spa for over 15 years because of one stupid worker who mistreated me badly. I refused to return to any and did not. One hair stylist cost Steiners thousand and thousands of dollars from me. Probably 30+ cruises I didn't go near the place.

 

Finally after all those years, it 'suited me' to book a manicure and the tech did a good job. So now, if I feel like it, I will go for that service but nothing else.

 

Years and years of massages, spa, thermo pool, hair styling, manicures, probably some products through the years..... that is what one worker can do to a company. :eek:

[vietmom]

We are doing B2B cruises, but it appears we have to change cabins. Will we have to take our luggage off with us?

[sail7seas]

No. You will not have to take our luggage off the ship but you will have to move it all to the new cabin. Stewards will help you by bringing rolling rack for your hanging clothes, the drawers are interchangeable one cabin to another so don't pack them. You will have to gather up your bathroom things and whatever is on counters...... drop all that in one of your suitcases and you're 'good to go'. Should be fast and easy.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

They told me they couldn't access that next week. I was standing in the Pinnacle and was talking to the Manager so I think if anyone should know he would.

 

We have been told many times that on the first cruise they are not able to make the reservations for the second week because the computers have not been activated for the next cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We are doing B2B cruises, but it appears we have to change cabins. Will we have to take our luggage off with us?

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

If I were you -- on Intransit day -- I would go and introduce myself to your new cabin steward. Explain to him or them that you are on the ship and will be moving to that cabin. If the people in your new cabin leave right away -- then he can get your cabin cleaned right away.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sail, could you tell me if you were required to attend the safety drill on the second week of your recent Nieuw Amsterdam cruise?

Thanks!

 

Thank you. I think if we don't have any information in our letter to the contrary we will assume we are excused. :)

 

 

On previous cruises the last couple of years of years we did not have to attend the second lifeboat drill.

But this time on the Noordam -- our letter specifically stated that we had to attend.

So read your letter carefully.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Yes, we have made friends on ships through the years. Most people who have sailed with the same company 72 or so cruises probably has a friend or two, I would think. KK has certainly sailed HAL a great many times, as well.

 

 

Yes -- we have sailed quite a bit on HAL -- but we know very, very few HAL crew. Many times we recognize no one on a ship.

But then we don't hang around the lounges either.

[topcop]

It was my understanding that the "in transit" passengers were the LAST persons off of the ship! :confused: At least that was what happened on my Collector's Cruise, onboard the Eurodam, in February, 2010! We all left, as a group, from the Show Lounge, led by a HAL employee, went ashore, through Immigration, and then I reboarded immediately! ;)

 

And that is how it was done in most of our BTBs. However, on our last one we had one woman who felt that she should not have to leave the ship and then re-board. I guess it took some time to "convince" her because we all waited a much longer time then normal.

 

Finally we saw her escorted to customs and then we were all allowed back on the ship.

 

And we have never had to attend the second life boat drill.

[cruz chic]

And that is how it was done in most of our BTBs. However, on our last one we had one woman who felt that she should not have to leave the ship and then re-board. I guess it took some time to "convince" her because we all waited a much longer time then normal.

 

Finally we saw her escorted to customs and then we were all allowed back on the ship.

 

And we have never had to attend the second life boat drill.

I wonder why some people think they are special and don't need to follow the process. They should have made her wait until everyone else was on board before she was able to get back on the ship.

[vietmom]

Thanks for letting me know that we don't have to take our luggage off the ship. I am so relieved. I had this vision of myself, my elderly mom, and my two kids standing on the dock for hours with our suitcases:eek:

We are first time cruisers, and don't really know how anything works. Thanks for the voices of experience.