How do airport transfers work ?

[bryanjaync]

This may be a no-brainer question, but I have never used cruise line transfers from the airport to the pier. What times do the transfers run ? If my parents arrive in Tampa at 10:00 am, will they have to sit around with luggage until 2:00 pm to catch the bus to the pier. Or does a bus run pretty regularly starting in the mornings. I want to fly my parents in on an early flight due to weather/delay concerns, but I dont want them to have to spend hours at the airport. (I know about taking a taxi, but my 70ish parents are more comfortable with an 'organized, pre-planned' approach.

[Longboysfan]

If you are flying into Miami then the transfer would be the way to go.

If flying into Ft. Lauderdale then Taxi it.

You could even get to the airport to meet them as the airport is about 5 minutes from the pier. Ft. Lauderdale that is.

 

If you buy the transfers the cruise line should have someone waiting to pick you up at the gate as you arrive.

You would walk down and pick up your luggage and hand it over to the agent for shipment to the boat.

You would have your transfer tickets in hand to give to the bus driver when you board.

The bus waits to fill up before they go to the pier. So it may be some time. But if your timing is real good then the wait is not long.

I would fly in anywhere from 10 am on to pick up the transfers.

 

This is the procedure they used with us a few years ago.

 

Things may have changed someone else could give more information on this also.

[chessbriar]

The will have to travel down to baggage claim and gather their bags. Once they have their bags have them look around for someone holding a Royal Caribbean/ Celebrity sign. That person will guide them to the pick up location. The buses start running between 10 & 11:00. They may have to wait once they get to the cruise terminal

 

The agents no longer wait by the gates. Since 9/11 they can't. They now wait at baggage claim.

[Cam6959]

When your parents get to the airport they will see a representative with a sign saying either Celebrity Cruises or the name of the ship on it. THey will wait with the rep until they have all the names crossed off their list, they work in conjunction with others who are waiting at other airline areas. Then they will herd you to the bus where you will leave your luggage with the bus driver who will load it on the bus. Then wait on the bus until everyone on all reps list are either there or the reps have waited long enough to find out the people aren't showing up for one reason or another. Then they will bus you to the cruise ship.

[TechKnowBabble]

How much do the transfers usually cost? If we are flying into LA in advance BUT dropping off our rental car at Long Beach Airport, could we buy a transfer from the Long Beach Airport to the pier? We booked the cruise directly through Celebrity but booked the airfare ourselves online.

[venice2]

Do not take a transfer. too much waiting.... luggage goes separetly.. Take a taxi..:)

[Lois R]

quote by Venice2

"Do not take a transfer. too much waiting.... luggage goes separetly

Take a taxi:)"

 

Sorry, I have to disagree. Depends on who is traveling. As the

original poster stated...their parents are more comfortable going

with a pre-planned program.

 

Also, depends on how far you are traveling as well...I am flying into

FLL......and sailing out of Miami. X's transfers are 20 bucks. I know

the area...a cab would probably cost me double. I am choosing

the transfer. When I get to Miami I will probably be able to get

right on the ship!

 

Lots of different choices for all of us.:)

[Deb C.]

You can check this out, but I was in Tampa last Nov. The HAL transfer(sorry not sure of Celebrity cost---just call and ask them)was $18.pp each way.

A taxi would run about $20.00 from airport to pier.

 

Since I was traveling solo, my best fare was with BayShuttle at $9.00pp (rumors of prices going up to $11.00) each way. I actually had the entire van to myself on both directions.

 

I would vote for the taxi for your parents.:cool: Deb C.

[Jim_Iain]

I have taken Celebrity Shuttle a number of times - Miami to Fort Lauderdale, Heathrow to Dover and SFO to San Francisco. If I were to rate my experience I would give them a C-. In all cases it has been totally unorganized, long waits and a look of frustration on all the passengers faces.

 

Generally the way it works is as follows. Upon arrival you go and recover your luggage. In the luggage arrival area or just outside customs you will see Celebrity Representatives with Clipboards. You give them your name and they will give you a color coded sticker. When they get a busload and when they finally get a bus they will heard you into a group and take your luggage from you. They will then escort you to the bus (or where the bus was suppose to be). You finally board the bus and are taken to the terminal. You sit on the bus until they offload all the luggage so you can identify it to the porter and tip the porter. You then are free to check in.

 

My shortest wait has been 1 hour at the airport and my longest was 3 hours. In San Francisco they herded us out to a parking lot and we waited outside in the cold for 45 minutes.

[daju22]

I have taken Celebrity Shuttle a number of times - Miami to Fort Lauderdale, Heathrow to Dover and SFO to San Francisco. If I were to rate my experience I would give them a C-. In all cases it has been totally unorganized, long waits and a look of frustration on all the passengers faces.

 

Generally the way it works is as follows. Upon arrival you go and recover your luggage. In the luggage arrival area or just outside customs you will see Celebrity Representatives with Clipboards. You give them your name and they will give you a color coded sticker. When they get a busload and when they finally get a bus they will heard you into a group and take your luggage from you. They will then escort you to the bus (or where the bus was suppose to be). You finally board the bus and are taken to the terminal. You sit on the bus until they offload all the luggage so you can identify it to the porter and tip the porter. You then are free to check in.

 

My shortest wait has been 1 hour at the airport and my longest was 3 hours. In San Francisco they herded us out to a parking lot and we waited outside in the cold for 45 minutes.

 

Hello Jim or anyone with experience,

We are planning to take the Celebrity transfers (Heathrow-Dover) for our Baltic cruise next Aug. How bad was this transfer? We will be traveling with a scooter, wheelchair and 2 large bags. Somehow I think a Celebrity flight and transfer may be the easiest for us.

Does anyone have an opinion?

Thank you,

[cookie1961]

Hi everyone,

 

I have only been on Celebrity once and that was a couple of weeks ago. We arrived in Houston on December 29th and had transfers to Galveston to get on Galaxy. It was the WORST experience ever. We were already quite tired from our trip and we were told by the rep. that there were mechanical problems with the busses. She didn't know how long it would take for the busses to arrive. After getting our luggage, we proceeded to the counter to check in to get on a bus. The women there stated that the ship arrived late and therefore things were delay. I hated the fact that we weren't given a straight and honest answer. We were to get on bus D and Bus A hadn't arrived yet. There was NO place to sit in the airport. It was quite frustrating. We had to wait for about two hours to get on a bus. People rented cars and took private shuttles from the airport at a much less cost. I am seriously considering that for our next trip. People arriving at the airport after us made it to the ship much earlier than us.

 

A lot of people have been complaining about the transfers to Galveston and I can really understand why now.

[Deb C.]

Judy:

I have done the transfer from airport to Dover, but it was with Princess Cruises. This being said, I think you have made a good decision. The other options are not easy (catching trains, taking the underground, etc.)

 

They will be met in the airport (had to wait for a while while others arrived) after luggage has been claimed and taken to the correct exit. Our luggage was placed on a large truck and we boarded a comfortable coach for the appr. 2 hour drive. We did not have to claim our luggage in Dover. The next time we saw it, it was inside our cabin. Very easy.

 

BUT, with your need of the wheelchair, scooter, be sure to tell them to place them somewhere where you can get to them when disembarking the coach. They may place them right on the same coach that you are riding on. Just be aware where those important pieces are....not left at the airport, etc. Even ask for additional Celebrity luggage tags so each scooter, wheelchair has ID on it. (You will probably be tired after a long flight, but try to make your needs known to the Celebrity representatives.) We had a representive from Princess ride with us to Dover.

 

Like I said, I did this with Princess so Celebrity may transport luggage differently. I'm sure they will be helpful with your needs.

 

I know this type of transfer is expensive, but to me it was the easiest way to do this long trip (traveling solo with lots of heavy baggage!!)

 

Have a great cruise. Lots of beautiful ports to see in that part of the world.:cool:

[Jim_Iain]

Judy - The transfer from LHR to Dover was actually one of the better transfers we have taken. Arriving on a Non-Stop from SFO we arrived at 0700 - Travel documents said there would not be agents available until 0900 but they were there at 0700 to meet our flight.

 

We were given stickers and told to sit in the waiting area until they advise us that our bus was available. The first bus was not available until about 0930. We later learned that the busses originate in Dover and bring a load of arrival PAX to Heathrow and then go back and fourth. Once they called the bus we pushed our luggage around the side of the building where the bus was waiting. They had a seperate Truck to handle the luggage and we did not see our luggage again until it was delivered to our room. We did have a couple wheel chair bound passangers and they were taken care of Royally.

 

The trip is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes depending on traffic and the driver stops at a rest stop about half way to allow for a potty break. Check-In time at the port was less than 10 minutes and we were aboard by 11:00 AM.

 

I really think the transfer is the best bet.

 

I initially attempted to arrange private transportation but was unable to book anything less than $300.

[Fang]

I think it is up to each person.

 

When I started cruising back in 1991, we took the transfers. We arrived the day of the sailing. Now we go the day before and take taxis.

 

After taking taxis I would never do a transfer again. I would rather spend more money and not have to wait for a bus to fill up. I like to know my luggage is with me. I also like to stop, if I have to, to get some things that we would like on the ship.

[daju22]

Deb C. and Jim_Iain,

 

Thank you both for taking the time to answer! I'm going back and forth. I can save around $500 by booking our own air, transfers and staying one night in Dover before the cruise. I'm still gathering my facts and figures.

 

Thanks for your thoughts,

[Kathie44]

We've used RCI transfers in Miami (twice) and San Juan (shuttle from airport to hotel, to pier and back to the airport). In Alaska we flew in the night before and stayed in our bus groups.

Last year we did the Galaxy from Galveston and it was a breeze. We had a direct flight to Houston (2 hrs.), a short wait for the shuttle and arrived at the pier before lunch. No hassle at all. Lunch was ready in the buffet area at noon. Return trip to airport was also no hassle.

 

!/02 Explorer E. Carib.

1/03 Explorer W. Carib.

8/03 Summit Alaska cruise/tour

2/04 Adventure S. Carib.

2/05 Galaxy Panama Canal

6/06 Jewel Brit. Isles/Nor. Fjords

[crusinmama22]

We booked air and transfers thru X but are arriving a day early. Does anyone know how that works?

 

Do we have to pay for transfer to the hotel and hotel to pier or does X take care of that ?

 

Sorry this is our first time with X and can't wait.

 

We sail Feb 18th

 

Thanks for the info