Airport to Hotel Transfer

[aledomom]

I thought before I try to contact my PCC I would ask this question here since someone might know the answer. 

On 9/6 we will arrive in Amsterdam for a cruise that leaves on 9/8. We paid for cruise, airfare and all transfer directly through HAL. My question is will we see a HAL representative once we get through customs and baggage claim?  Does anyone know how transfers are handled when you’re coming several days early?

I haven’t seen anything in the paperwork we have received thus far. 

[Daisyloo]

The only time we booked a cruiseline transfer to the hotel, we were met in the airport by a HAL rep. with a sign.  It was in Vancouver and we flew in the day before the cruise.

[Loreto]

1 hour ago, aledomom said:

I thought before I try to contact my PCC I would ask this question here since someone might know the answer. 

On 9/6 we will arrive in Amsterdam for a cruise that leaves on 9/8. We paid for cruise, airfare and all transfer directly through HAL. My question is will we see a HAL representative once we get through customs and baggage claim?  Does anyone know how transfers are handled when you’re coming several days early?

I haven’t seen anything in the paperwork we have received thus far. 

In 2016 my husband and I took a 21 day HAL cruise that embarked in Rotterdam.  We booked the Holiday Inn Express in Hoophdorf on our own(not sure of spelling)not far from AMS airport for 2 nights.  A hotel shuttle took us from the airport to the hotel.  We were on our own for this, no one from HAL met us.  The morning of the cruise we took the hotel shuttle back to AMS to meet our transfer bus to the port of Rotterdam.  The representatives (in red) were there for us in baggage claim, along with a number of other passengers.  They made sure we all stayed together in one area.  It was well organized, much to my relief.  I prearranged the transfer to Rotterdam through Holland America, we just had to be in baggage claim at the appointed time.   The transfer went smoothly on a large bus and I was glad we chose to do the transfer through HAL.

 

If you booked your hotel stay through HAL they will meet you in baggage claim and transfer you to the HAL hotel.  We did this in Athens and Vancouver, where HAL had a taxi for us.  Your transfer to the pier will pick you up at the HAL hotel, you won't have to go back to the airport.

Karen

Edited August 16, 2019 by Loreto
additional info

[boards]

The example I can give is this, last Oct-Nov. 2018 we flew in two days early to Rome.  We had booked our cruise through a PCC and we booked everything through Hal.  We were met at the airport by a Hal rep after going through customs and collecting our luggage. then transferred to our Hotel.  There was a Hal rep at the Hotel and two days later we were transferred to the port.   It all went very smoothly.   I would suggest to you the same will happen for you in Amsterdam.  

[RuthC]

I've done the HAL transfer from airport to hotel in Amsterdam several times, as well as in many other embarkation cities.

It's exactly as those above have posted. A HAL rep will be waiting in the baggage area. Your luggage will be collected and placed on a cart. If there are others arriving you will all be gathered together and escorted to the transportation. If you are the only ones arriving you will either be escorted or directed to awaiting transportation. Not in Amsterdam, but in other arrival cities I have been put in a cab (paid for by HAL) and taken to my hotel.

Relax about this. You may not know exactly what is going on, but the reps do. Just put yourself in their capable hands.

[aledomom]

Thanks everyone for the information. I’m relaxed about it just didn’t know what/who we should be looking for once we got to Amsterdam. 

[dfish]

I just arrived in Amsterdam this morning for my cruise tomorrow.   I collected my bags at the carousel and went through the customs area (nothing to declare) and the HAL reps were waiting just outside baggage claim.   There were two other couples waiting for transport as well and our driver arrived shortly after I did.   He had a van for the 5 of us.   The last time it was just me, so HAL paid for a taxi.  The HAL reps have signs you can read from a distance and once you find them, you are home free.

[aledomom]

@dfish Thanks for the info on what is currently happening with Amsterdam arrivals. We come

in on 9/6. Was the customs wait long? I seem to recall going through customs in London took over an hour 2 years ago. 

Enjoy your trip!

[dfish]

1 minute ago, aledomom said:

Was the customs wait long? I seem to recall going through customs in London took over an hour 2 years ago. 

Passport control had a line, but it moved pretty quickly.   Customs is very quick - you just walk through.   However, they can randomly take you aside and look through luggage.   What took a long time was the walk to passport control and then the walk to baggage.   Wear your hiking shoes!

[aledomom]

5 minutes ago, dfish said:

Passport control had a line, but it moved pretty quickly.   Customs is very quick - you just walk through.   However, they can randomly take you aside and look through luggage.   What took a long time was the walk to passport control and then the walk to baggage.   Wear your hiking shoes!

I meant passport control-sorry. OMG the walk from the the gate to passport control at Heathrow is 2 miles I swear!! Thanks for telling me Amsterdam is just as bad. I will plan to wear tennis shoes on the plane ride over not sandals.