New to HAL-Are we assigned times to board?

[Shepsue]

Are we assigned times as to when we can board the ship and if so, how are you notified what your time is?

 

Thank you!!

[Randyk47]

Are we assigned times as to when we can board the ship and if so, how are you notified what your time is?

 

Thank you!!

 

Not directly. There is a priority at the terminal based on being in the upper suites (Pinnacle and Neptune), advanced Mariner Society status, and for passengers needing assistance. If you don't fall into one of those groups you will be given a group number and will board when your group is called.

[Krazy Kruizers]

And don't worry about that 1 O'clock time you see on your documents.

 

We like to get to the terminal around 10:45 and be among the first to get inside.

 

Boarding usually starts at 11:30.

 

And HAL usually has the cabins ready by that time so that you can drop off your carry-ons and do whatever you want.

[ZSandy25]

And don't worry about that 1 O'clock time you see on your documents.

 

We like to get to the terminal around 10:45 and be among the first to get inside.

 

Boarding usually starts at 11:30.

 

And HAL usually has the cabins ready by that time so that you can drop off your carry-ons and do whatever you want.

 

Agree with KK, your cabin will be ready for you to check out, lock up valuables and take a look around the ship. As you are new to HAL it's a good time to break out that little map of the ship, go on an adventure and get acquainted with the ship. Have a great cruise.

[POA1]

For Fort Lauderdale - We usually arrange to have a cab pick us up around 10:30 am. That puts us at the terminal between 10:40 and 10:45. In almost every case, the terminal has been open when we get there. At that time, check in lines are usually short.

[RuthC]

There has been mention of the port of San Diego possibly scheduling passenger arrivals/check-in/boarding due to their lack of adequate facilities to handle the crowds.

But otherwise, no, Holland America does not assign check-in/boarding times, as some lines do.

[Tom O.]

Just go to the terminal and check in, they will explain to you the boarding procedure. Different ports have different procedures.

Some people have priority boarding, but everyone else boards in order of arrival. If you arrive early, as do most people, you probably will have to wait a little. But not too long, it just seems like a long time because you are anxious to board.

[jtl513]

But otherwise, no, Holland America does not assign check-in/boarding times, as some lines do.

The one time we tried Disney, it looked like the whole ship had been assigned the same time as us ... or people just ignored their assigned time. Then after we were checked in there was no place to sit. I don't mean all the seats were occupied, there were no chairs in the hall! I like HAL's system better.

[qsuzi]

There has been mention of the port of San Diego possibly scheduling passenger arrivals/check-in/boarding due to their lack of adequate facilities to handle the crowds.

But otherwise, no, Holland America does not assign check-in/boarding times, as some lines do.

 

There are no scheduled passenger arrivals/check-in/boarding times on our boarding pass for the 12-10-16 Westerdam RT San Diego.

[Heartgrove]

We embarked on the Westerdam on November 5 of this year in San Diego. The Veendam was in port that day as well. I received an email from HAL earlier that week. They requested staggered arrival times for passengers according to decks due to both ships being the same terminal. Even with both ships, it took less than an hour to be onboard, and we were the 11:30 group.

 

Like Tom O. said, each port may be different.

[Tennessee Titan]

We embarked on the Westerdam on November 5 of this year in San Diego. The Veendam was in port that day as well. I received an email from HAL earlier that week. They requested staggered arrival times for passengers according to decks due to both ships being the same terminal. Even with both ships, it took less than an hour to be onboard, and we were the 11:30 group.

 

Like Tom O. said, each port may be different.

Those are "suggested", not mandatory.....

[qsuzi]

We embarked on the Westerdam on November 5 of this year in San Diego. The Veendam was in port that day as well. I received an email from HAL earlier that week. They requested staggered arrival times for passengers according to decks due to both ships being the same terminal. Even with both ships, it took less than an hour to be onboard, and we were the 11:30 group.

 

Like Tom O. said, each port may be different.

 

We sail Saturday from San Diego and no e-mails so far about staggered arrival times. We are the only ship departing that day.

[Heartgrove]

Those are "suggested", not mandatory.....

 

I used "requested", not "required."

 

Of course when 2,100 passengers show up all at the same time, CC posters complain about slow embarkation.