Assigned boarding times?

[psxer989]

I noticed on my boarding pass for my upcoming cruise in May that it no longer says that boarding times will be assigned 14-10 days from embarkation.  The Faq doesn't mention it anymore either.  Sorry if this has already been brought up, but did they eliminate assigned boarding times?

 

Thanks,

Larry

[CruiserBruce]

They have been eliminated. A month or so ago.

[SeaMatesNYC]

With our recent cruise on Koningsdam from San Diego for 6 night Pacific Coast, we received an "Important Update" notice about a week out with the boarding times by deck (this was never reflected on our boarding pass).  This may or may not have been unique to this port/this ship (it was also true the cruise prior).   We arrived prior to our assigned time by maybe 45 minutes, and there was no delay.  But we were late in the schedule to begin with.

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, SeaMatesNYC said:

With our recent cruise on Koningsdam from San Diego for 6 night Pacific Coast, we received an "Important Update" notice about a week out with the boarding times by deck (this was never reflected on our boarding pass).  This may or may not have been unique to this port/this ship (it was also true the cruise prior).   We arrived prior to our assigned time by maybe 45 minutes, and there was no delay.  But we were late in the schedule to begin with.

This was a special problem with 3 ships in port at San Diego, not related to the OP's question. It was redacted, and not enforced. I know because I was on the Zaandam that day sitting next to you.  The combo of weather, 3 ships in port, fueling delays and a couple of other things made it a total cluster...but the cruise was fantastic. 

[ellieanne]

2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

They have been eliminated. A month or so ago.

I am a bit sorry about this. My cruise in September had assigned boarding times and I think it was the best and easiest boarding process I have had since my first cruise in 1998. It was easy and controlled the number of people in line at any time, which meant minimal waiting tp check in or board. And it was easy to find a table in the Lido for a quick lunch once we got on board. I wish they would have kept the timed boarding. It was even easy to get all our boarding party together, all I did was call HAL and have them move one cabin to a later time so we could all board together and my parents could have both mine and my brother's assistance.
(The 1998 cruise ranks as best boarding because they did all the processing in a ballroom at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal with drinks and snack provided and bussed groups to the ship on a schedule -- we had about 90 minutes to check in and wait, and explore the hotel and the Gare Centrale. That was best system, but I can see why they might not do that anymore.)

[psxer989]

Thanks everyone!  I was used to the assigned times but we'll see how it goes.  Hopefully the Lido Buffet doesn't get slammed too early.

[farjar]

So have assigned boarding times been totally eliminated or will they be assigned several days prior based on loyalty level and starting with the upper decks first or do you still pick your preferred boarding time 90 days out?  Thanks.

[Laminator]

1 hour ago, farjar said:

So have assigned boarding times been totally eliminated or will they be assigned several days prior based on loyalty level and starting with the upper decks first or do you still pick your preferred boarding time 90 days out?  Thanks.

Pretty much everyone gets noon assigned now. 

[grannyshell]

We received this email a couple of days ago for our upcoming cruise in September:

 

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION

We look forward to welcoming you on board Rotterdam. In order to ease terminal congestion, we recommend that guests follow the progressive cruise check-in schedule below. Our 4 & 5 Star Mariners, Club Orange, and Pinnacle & Neptune Suite guests are invited to arrive anytime. If you have purchased a Holland America Line pre-cruise hotel or transfer, your check-in time will be provided at your hotel or the airport. Guests travelling on shared transport or arriving as a group will be checked in together.

10:30 AM - Decks 10 & 11 Panorama & Sun Decks

11:30 AM - Decks 7 & 8 - Schubert & Navigation Decks

1:30 PM - Decks 5 & 6 - Gershwin & Mozart Decks

2:30 PM - Decks 1 & 4 - Main & Beethoven Decks

Check-in begins at 10:30 AM and boarding will begin at 11:30 AM. All guests must be in the terminal by 3:30 PM.

[epanchenko]

13 hours ago, grannyshell said:

We received this email a couple of days ago for our upcoming cruise in September:

 

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION

We look forward to welcoming you on board Rotterdam. In order to ease terminal congestion, we recommend that guests follow the progressive cruise check-in schedule below. Our 4 & 5 Star Mariners, Club Orange, and Pinnacle & Neptune Suite guests are invited to arrive anytime. If you have purchased a Holland America Line pre-cruise hotel or transfer, your check-in time will be provided at your hotel or the airport. Guests travelling on shared transport or arriving as a group will be checked in together.

10:30 AM - Decks 10 & 11 Panorama & Sun Decks

11:30 AM - Decks 7 & 8 - Schubert & Navigation Decks

1:30 PM - Decks 5 & 6 - Gershwin & Mozart Decks

2:30 PM - Decks 1 & 4 - Main & Beethoven Decks

Check-in begins at 10:30 AM and boarding will begin at 11:30 AM. All guests must be in the terminal by 3:30 PM.

I am on Rotterdam now.  I got this same email.  I am on Deck 10, they didn't let me on until 12.  I am a one star mariner.

[FlaMariner]

15 hours ago, grannyshell said:

we recommend that guests follow the progressive cruise check-in schedule below.

 

IMO......

 

That means it is not an assigned check in time...It's a great way for HAL to help spread out the herd and is simply a "reccomendation" and based on our experience boarding, you should choose the boarding time that works for you and not fret the supposed "assigned" time.

 

We have boarded in Seattle, Chile, Amsterdam, Fort Lauderdale & Barcelona since the unpleasantness (Covid) and our supposed "boarding time" has never been monitored (and we were not 4*'s then)....

 

We've found that HAL is ready to welcome you onboard.......

[tc-cruise]

Can I check in and leave the luggage and come back later than the "everyone must be in the terminal" time? In this case the ship departs at 5PM and "all guests must be in the terminal by 3:30. Are we allowed to board the ship like at a port of call which is typically 30 minutes before the departing time?

[Crew News]

Dropping off luggage with the terminal porters is possible long before you decide to begin the remaining check-in process. 

 

The 3:30 PM "in-the-terminal" time is to ensure that terminal operations can be completed (checked luggage screened, carry-on bags Security checked, passenger check-in process, ship manifest finalized with port authorities, and your info uploaded to the ship Security/Guest Information systems).  Once aboard, there must be time to complete the required Passenger Safety Briefing steps at least 30 minutes before sailaway. 

 

Typical ports of call do not have all of the above processes before the ship can depart.

Edited September 2 by Crew News