Turnaround Day in Ft Lauderdale Horrible

[myheart53]

2nd time trying to post this, let's just say this day has been terrible. We were led like cattle in a huge room after we went through immigration and stood in lines for almost an hour. 600+ people who were continuing on the ship for the Eastern Caribbean.

When we got back onboard....tried to use elevators but only 2 were open and packed, so we trecked up to 7th floor. I went to Neptune Lounge and that is where I broke down in tears. I was so out of breath from the stairs and just so upset in general. Oh yea, while we were waiting in the cattle line....I called Holland America and voiced our opinions of this and were told the ship was still not cleared, which I knew already. Back in the Neptune Lounge, they were very concerned and were so nice in calming me down.

We have decided this will be our last 2 week cruise where there is a turnaround day. It was totally not like we had read it would be. A lot of people were also upset. It turned out that 2 people chose to not go by the instructions and I suppose Holland had a hard time of locating their room to get them off the ship. I heard one gentleman say that the couple should be fined! I think I agree.

Anyway, with a few issues on the first week, overall, it has been wonderful. I pray the second week will be just as wonderful. We will be waving on the sail away today.

[monina01]

so sorry to hear about this, it does not sound pleasant at all :( I hope you are feeling better and can look forward to a great continuation of your cruise.

 

maybe to lift your spirits: we spotted you during the sailaway and there are even some webcam snapshots posted :)

 

will you be wearing pink again?

[Fouremco]

2nd time trying to post this, let's just say this day has been terrible. We were led like cattle in a huge room after we went through immigration and stood in lines for almost an hour. 600+ people who were continuing on the ship for the Eastern Caribbean.

When we got back onboard....tried to use elevators but only 2 were open and packed, so we trecked up to 7th floor. I went to Neptune Lounge and that is where I broke down in tears. I was so out of breath from the stairs and just so upset in general. Oh yea, while we were waiting in the cattle line....I called Holland America and voiced our opinions of this and were told the ship was still not cleared, which I knew already. Back in the Neptune Lounge, they were very concerned and were so nice in calming me down.

We have decided this will be our last 2 week cruise where there is a turnaround day. It was totally not like we had read it would be. A lot of people were also upset. It turned out that 2 people chose to not go by the instructions and I suppose Holland had a hard time of locating their room to get them off the ship. I heard one gentleman say that the couple should be fined! I think I agree.

Anyway, with a few issues on the first week, overall, it has been wonderful. I pray the second week will be just as wonderful. We will be waving on the sail away today.

So sorry to hear hear what a tough time you are having. We've made the choice previously to get off the ship and do something for a few hours, as we know that you aren't the only one to have suffered a bad experience. I do hope that your remaining week will make you forget all about today!

 

[myheart53]

so sorry to hear about this, it does not sound pleasant at all :( I hope you are feeling better and can look forward to a great continuation of your cruise.

 

maybe to lift your spirits: we spotted you during the sailaway and there are even some webcam snapshots posted :)

 

will you be wearing pink again?

Thanks, no, I will be wearing a green stiped shirt with white pants. DH is wearing jeans and turquoise polo shirt. I am feeling better, at least the tears have stopped. Will be waving at the back of the ship.

[Scrapnana]

You would think there would be a better way of taking care of the passengers staying on. I have read of problems like yours on other lines so don't blame it all on HAL.

 

Hopefully, the rest of the cruise will be much, much better.

 

We will be waving again. Let us know where you will be.

[Wakepatrol]

I'm really sorry you experienced this. I've asked this question before about the turnaround day is actually a wasted day and you're not getting use of the ship. Not only that but who needs angst while on vacation? Hope you can put it behind you and have an awesome 2nd leg of the cruise.

[regnig]

..........let's just say this day has been terrible. We were led like cattle in a huge room after we went through immigration and stood in lines for almost an hour. ..................... Oh yea, while we were waiting in the cattle line....I called Holland America and voiced our opinions of this and were told the ship was still not cleared, which I knew already. ............. A lot of people were also upset. It turned out that 2 people chose to not go by the instructions and I suppose Holland had a hard time of locating their room to get them off the ship. I heard one gentleman say that the couple should be fined!

 

 

HAL is prohibited from letting you re-board by US Customs & Immigration until the ship is zeroed out - everybody including the B2Bers. In other words everyone must be off the ship and accounted for. The 2 very very inconsiderate people who chose to selfishly disregard the directions are the cause of you miserable experience. If they were also doing a B2B they should be not be allowed to continue on the second leg. We’ve done B2Bs before and never had anything but a very easy and well orchestrated experience. You could probably take at least a dozen more of them and never encounter a similar experience again.

 

Glad you upbeat attitude has returned and I wish you a wonderful next 7 days.

[alwaysfrantic]

You would think there would be a better way of taking care of the passengers staying on. I have read of problems like yours on other lines so don't blame it all on HAL.

 

Hopefully, the rest of the cruise will be much, much better.

 

We will be waving again. Let us know where you will be.

 

It sounds terrible on HAL. On Disney the BtB cruisers do not have to leave the ship. With HAL actually marketing these trips as a 14 day (or 21 or whatever,) you'd think they would civilize the process.

 

I'm sorry you are having such a bad day there.

[Typhoon1]

The moral of the story: Expect the unexpected on turnaround day.

[sail7seas]

On b-bo-b's, we leave the ship independently to clear Immigration as required but always by the time designated, catch a taxi and spend the day ashore. Last November, we had a delightful brunch at nearby hotel where we are known, sat at the pool, I used their free internet and we returned to the ship long after we knew embarkation would have begun. We had our in transit cards so bypassed the check in, went directly to security check and immediately back on board.

 

My advice to those who wish to avoid the awful experience OP endured, is leave the ship and go shopping, go have a late brunch, do something that gets you away from the stress and mess.

 

Edited November 17, 2013 by sail7seas

[Krazy Kruizers]

We just got off the Nieuw Amsterdam this morning from spending 2 weeks on her.

We also had a very bad experience last Sunday for our turn-around day. We were called at 10 AM to go through immigration (even though we had just gone through a bad immigration the day before in Key West). We completed immigration by 10:10 AM. There were only 402 of us but we had to stand down in the luggage area until the last 2 people were escorted off the ship at 10:45 by an officer. There were only 9 chairs for people to sit -- thankfully I had a walker and could sit on the seat. But many people were complaining. We were fortunate to get back on the ship by 10:55 since I have to use an elevator -- but even that line was long with wheelchair people.

I feel sorry for anyone taking Collector Cruises. We are seriously thinking about cancelling 2 that we have already booked.

The officials won't let us go upstairs to where the chairs are as HAL is allowing people into the terminal staring around 9:30 to check in and those people get the chairs. We have to wait downstairs in awful conditions.

This was brought up at the Question and Answer session by 6 of the 8 of us who attended. The CD, Guest Relations Manager and Head of Shore Excursions know about these problems and are discussing them with Seattle and hopefully something can/will be done in the near future (I would not hold my breath).

Last week we were fortunate to get an elevator back up to the 7th deck right away.

Self disembarkation began at about 7:30 this morning and there were 5 Officers on duty at that time. We left the ship at 8:30 (that is when my wheelchair assistance arrived) and there were only 2 Officers on duty. The rest were gone and the lines were backing up.

[hpf]

 

My advice to those who wish to avoid the awful experience OP endured, is leave the ship and go shopping, go have a late brunch, do something that gets you away from the stress and mess.

 

 

My DD and I were considering on doing a B-to-B in March so if we do I will "hopefully" remember to take your advice.

 

And to the original OP I'm glad to read that you are feeling better, and have a great 2nd half of your cruise.

 

Helen:)

[boze9999]

Disembarkation in Ft Lauderdale - whether it's B2B or just getting off - has become horrendous. We've disembarked three times in the last year, and it doesn't matter if it's HAL or anyone else - the port process is horrible. If you don't get off in the early expedited group, plan on waiting at least an hour in a snaking line to go through customs. All other ports, in our opinion, seem to have a much more expeditious and sane method of departure. Wish I was on the ship with you this week, but we'll be onboard again the end of the month!

Edited November 17, 2013 by boze9999

[jtl513]

It sounds terrible on HAL. On Disney the BtB cruisers do not have to leave the ship.

That sounds odd, since it is Immigration and Customs that is setting the rules, not HAL. Maybe it depends on the turnaround port, or the ports visited on the first leg.

...

Edited November 17, 2013 by jtl513

[Krazy Kruizers]

2nd time trying to post this, let's just say this day has been terrible. We were led like cattle in a huge room after we went through immigration and stood in lines for almost an hour. 600+ people who were continuing on the ship for the Eastern Caribbean.

When we got back onboard....tried to use elevators but only 2 were open and packed, so we trecked up to 7th floor. I went to Neptune Lounge and that is where I broke down in tears. I was so out of breath from the stairs and just so upset in general. Oh yea, while we were waiting in the cattle line....I called Holland America and voiced our opinions of this and were told the ship was still not cleared, which I knew already. Back in the Neptune Lounge, they were very concerned and were so nice in calming me down.

We have decided this will be our last 2 week cruise where there is a turnaround day. It was totally not like we had read it would be. A lot of people were also upset. It turned out that 2 people chose to not go by the instructions and I suppose Holland had a hard time of locating their room to get them off the ship. I heard one gentleman say that the couple should be fined! I think I agree.

Anyway, with a few issues on the first week, overall, it has been wonderful. I pray the second week will be just as wonderful. We will be waving on the sail away today.

 

Hope the rest of your cruise goes better.

Odessa and Rommel are great concierges.

[OlsSalt]

On b-bo-b's, we leave the ship independently to clear Immigration as required but always by the time designated, catch a taxi and spend the day ashore. Last November, we had a delightful brunch at nearby hotel where we are known, sat at the pool, I used their free internet and we returned to the ship long after we knew embarkation would have begun. We had our in transit cards so bypassed the check in, went directly to security check and immediately back on board.

 

My advice to those who wish to avoid the awful experience OP endured, is leave the ship and go shopping, go have a late brunch, do something that gets you away from the stress and mess.

 

 

Great idea and good advice to anyone also facing this sort of transition time. Plus taking advantage of the various public rooms at the intermediate levels for resting, between those long flights of steps. I have a four floor limit myself for going up stairs, so that was pretty courageous doing all seven at one time.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

The one and only time we have done a Collectors' cruise out of FLL, we did get off the ship early and head to a hotel and the Inland Waterway fotr the boat tour. After reading these posts, if we ever do a Collectors' again, we will leave the ship and do the same thing.

[mamaofami]

I am on a back to back in January, and I think Sail's idea is perfect. I've never thought of doing something in Ft. Lauderdale and having lunch off the ship. Actually, we've only been on 1 B2B and didn't have a problem, but lunch in Ft. Lauderdale is now my way of spending that day.

[Fouremco]

That sounds odd, since it is Immigration and Customs that is setting the rules, not HAL. Maybe it depends on the turnaround port, or the ports visited on the first leg.

...

It does sound strange, but it also raises the question in my mind as to why Customs and Immigration want all passengers off the ship if, even if they aren't disembarking? I'm unclear what their objectives(s) are on turnaround day that wouldn't be met when the passengers finally disembarked at the end of their B2B.

 

[OlsSalt]

We have taken several of the extended FLL tours when we have left the ship going to the airport and have enjoyed them, except the Everglades air-boat one. The inland water way cruise was a standout. So much more to FLL than ever imagined, just moving between ship and airport as we did on our first trip.

[smj]

Sorry you are having a bad day. I do wonder what do you do for a living? I wish that is the worst that would happen to me.

[cruz chic]

I'm thinking of doing a back to back next November. I hope things are better by then. While Hal doesn't control the process sometimes they do things that do not help with the process, especially for non USA citizens. Sorry this has been such a pain for you OP.

[mamaofami]

We have taken several of the extended FLL tours when we have left the ship going to the airport and have enjoyed them, except the Everglades air-boat one. The inland water way cruise was a standout. So much more to FLL than ever imagined, just moving between ship and airport as we did on our first trip.

 

The water taxi is great. We've taken it when we arrive a few days early in Ft. Lauderdale.

[alwaysfrantic]

I wonder if it actually is HAL. Otherwise it is port specific since at Poet Canaveral on Disbey you do not have to leave.

[sail7seas]

CBP determines the entire Immigration and Customs Process..... NOT the cruise line.

They determine if there will be a full ship Immigration check, how it will be done, when it will start and all cruise lines follow the instructions they are given.