Day 1 Caribbean Princess..pass on the transfer

[gaa2]

Looking forward to a great cruise, but would NOT use the transfers out of IAD again. Hate to complain but want to let those of you debating whether to buy transfers that you might want to reconsider. Arrived this morning , claimed luggage, waited an hour. Unlike transfers for other Princess cruises in the past, very disorganized. Apparently they do not notify dispatch to send the bus until there are enough passengers to fill the bus, but no one tells you that and the men with the Walky-talkies were having a hard time communicating with dispatch. When the bus arrives, no help with luggage as in past, just wheel it out to bus and the driver puts it under, with lots of Princess reps just standing around. Then you go to another terminal. Be forewarned...your carryons will not fit in the bus overheads, so you hold them on your lap or put them in the aisle after everyone is on board. Then there is a 50 minute or more ride to the port, depending on traffic. Others have had positive things to say about the transfer process, and we had better experiences when we cruised from other ports. Anyhow, still excited and optimistic about the next steps. More later.

[disgirl]

Interesting to know. We are booked on the transfers next Saturday to board the Caribbean Princess. A taxi would be double the cost for us.

[RocketMan275]

Interesting to know. We are booked on the transfers next Saturday to board the Caribbean Princess. A taxi would be double the cost for us.

 

We used the transfer a month ago and was very pleased.

[Colo Cruiser]

That does not sound like fun.

Thanks for posting.

[disgirl]

We used the transfer a month ago and was very pleased.

 

Good to hear!

[Iamcruzin]

Looking forward to a great cruise, but would NOT use the transfers out of IAD again. Hate to complain but want to let those of you debating whether to buy transfers that you might want to reconsider. Arrived this morning , claimed luggage, waited an hour. Unlike transfers for other Princess cruises in the past, very disorganized. Apparently they do not notify dispatch to send the bus until there are enough passengers to fill the bus, but no one tells you that and the men with the Walky-talkies were having a hard time communicating with dispatch. When the bus arrives, no help with luggage as in past, just wheel it out to bus and the driver puts it under, with lots of Princess reps just standing around. Then you go to another terminal. Be forewarned...your carryons will not fit in the bus overheads, so you hold them on your lap or put them in the aisle after everyone is on board. Then there is a 50 minute or more ride to the port, depending on traffic. Others have had positive things to say about the transfer process, and we had better experiences when we cruised from other ports. Anyhow, still excited and optimistic about the next steps. More later.

 

This is nothing new to me as I have had the same experience flying into Ft Lauderdale and San Juan. The only difference was when we flew into San Juan the Princess check in terminal was backed up so the bus driver was instructed to take us on a tour. It was actually nice we stopped at the fort and we didn't have to pay admission. This was much better than standing in line at the terminal waiting to check in. As far as the time to get to port, I don't see how they can control the traffic or distance to port. I would imagine that it would be the same time in a taxi.

Edited April 19, 2014 by Iamcruzin

[dmwnc1959]

Looking forward to a great cruise, but would NOT use the transfers out of IAD again.

 

Just a teeny correction to point out: IAD is Washington Dulles Intl (Washington, DC), IAH is Houston, TX (George Bush Intercontinental). It would have been a looong transfer from D.C. ;)

 

Hope the rest of your cruise is better!

 

:D

[wineforhealth]

We used the transfer a month ago and was very pleased.

 

I agree with you, we also used the transfers had no problems it was the only way to go

[cdngrl]

I used the transfer 3 weeks ago and it worked fine. by the time we got our luggage, they called for the bus and about 10 minutes later we were on our way to the port.

[Plant]

We've used the ship transfer's many times and have had no major problems. We check in at the airport, then we're led out to the bus when it arrives. We put the big luggage under the bus and take our carry-on's with us. Yes, sometimes we carry them in our lap's, but it's not for too long.

 

gaa, I think your main problem was not knowing how this work's :confused:.