Embarkation - First time HAL - what to expect?

[loisswanson]

As this will be our first HAL cruise, I'm wondering what to expect when we arrive at the pier. We are staying overnight in Ft. Lauderdale and will get there ourselves.

How early to arrive & get on the ship (leaving April 10).

On Princess Cruises we did all our paperwork on-line in advance and that made sailing easy. Will we have to do everything when we arrive at the Pier?

I just want to get on the ship to our cabin as soon as possible and wondered what we will encounter?

Thanks, Lois

[GirlInADaydream]

as far as i know, you can do the immigration form on line before hand on the HAL website.

otehr than that, i would really like to know when the best time to get there is as well!
I have been getting mixed comments so i have no clue!

[Pudgesmom]

You can do your form on line. At the pier, there are two lines, one for those that have filled the form out in advance, and one for those who hadn't. We did ours on line, but at the time be got in line, 12 noon, the other line was moving faster. Go figure:rolleyes: In any event, the whole process only took about 40 minutes.

I don't know what time the boarding starts.

Enjoy your cruise.

Beth

[Stevesan]

Boarding begins @ 11:30 - 12:00N. You'll need to stay in the public areas until a "cabins are ready" announcement occurs. If needed, there's a designated area to temporarily stow carry on luggage.

be sure to fill out and print out a copy of your online immigration forms. Unlike Princess, there's a printer friendly version of the form. Bring it with you!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We always arrive in Ft Lauderdale a couple of days ahead of our cruises. Then we go down to the pier about 11, turn in our printed out immigration forms, and usually get on the ship by 11:30. We are in a suite and get on right away.

Those not in suites will be given a number. They bein calling the numbers around 11:20 - 11:30 if everything went all right getting the other passengers off the ship.

There have been times when it has been very hectic around 11:30 - lots of people arriving at the same time and then there have been times when things were slow.

[kruzkeen]

be sure to fill out and print out a copy of your online immigration forms. Unlike Princess, there's a printer friendly version of the form. Bring it with you!

In addition to this good advice, you must sign the form. It might seem that only non Americian citizens must sign, but all must. The wording might seem confusing. Also have your coupon books in your hand as the check in agent must tear out a coupon. Also have you passport or birth cert and photo id in your hand and they have to check your id.

It is frustrating to stand behind people who do not have the above ready.

[sheephugs]

On our last HAL cruise, I did the forms online & printed them out but there was also another form we had to fill out once we got there that I haven't seen online. I don't know if anyone else remembers it but it asks where you are going, etc. and you can't get into either of the two lines until it is filled out. At the time I didn't know that HMC was part of the Bahamas so I had questions with that. When asked where I would be staying there, I put "on a ship in the ocean". ;) I would love to get this form in advance this time, but don't know what it's called..it was shaped like a declarations form.

[PoohUnderstands]

1. Fill out immigration form on line and sign it;
2. The Bahamas immigration form(one for each traveler) comes inside the packet you get from HAL with your tickets. Fill it out and sign.
3. When check in, show the person you have both already done and save yourself alot of awkwardness and time.

4. They have a small but nicely Air Conditioned area with a few seats to wait if you get there too early. Also a snack bar to buy softdrinks, coffee, muffins, etc.

5. We got there early on purpose because we like the whole experience, even waiting in line!!! We just talk to other people and have fun. Saying that, we got there about 10:40 a.m. and waited until about 11:10 ish inside the waiting area and then since the line(queue for our English friends!) was forming outside but under cover we joined the line. The porters came up to the people and took their bags right there(very convenient-also for those who are on a guarantee and still don't know their room number, the porter will have the manifest and will tell you your room number!) At 11:30 a.m. almost to the minute, the doors to the embarkation area were opened, and we started moving. We got through the whole check-in process within 20-25 minutes and weren't given a number but were allowed to board right away.

6. Then once inside, there was an area where the crew were waiting to tag and take our carry ons which were in the room at 1:00 ish when we were allowed to proceed to our cabin. Of course, you could keep your carry on with you if you preferred.

7. Then it was up to the Lido Deck and got a table on the starboard side(we were at pier 26) that looked over the intracoastal out to the Atlantic Ocean and just vegged, ate lunch, and enjoyed relaxing. The announcement that it was ok to go to our rooms seemed to come within minutes instead of 1 hour!

8. If you hate lines, period, then I would come around 1:45-2:30 where I heard from other passengers, they just walked through the whole thing and were in their rooms within 15 minutes or so.

Have a great cruise!!!!!!

[KCat]

I didn't get a 'Bahamas Immigration' form in my packet. I did receive another 'Immigration' form, but it's just like the one I filled out online (which I've printed & signed). Is there another place I can get the 'Bahamas Immigration' form? :confused:

Thanks in advance!!!

[HeatherInFlorida]

KCat, you'll get the Bahamas Immigration Form once you check in (I think) or shortly thereafter.

I agree with the others. I filled out everything online and printed them out but regretted it once at the pier since the other line was much shorter. And I didn't think quickly enough to get on the other line. I had filled out the forms HAL sent with my tickets so that I could get on either line, but when the time came I messed up.

We got to the pier at 11:15 and were onboard by 12. Very smooth process even though the line looks terribly long. Do not despair:) . The cabins were ready for us by 1:20 so it worked out perfectly.

BTW, I noticed that when we first got in our cabin the A/C was turned all the way to "coldest", but it wasn't all that cool. So we left it there. Upon entering the room later (after sailaway) the room was freezing!!! So just keep in mind that once underway, the A/C starts working better.

[mountainmare]

I think it really does depend on how you feel about lines. We used to want to be there at 11:30 or so, but then you have to wait to get into your room. We arrived shortly before 2:00 last cruise and just walked on and to our rooms, but the line for people who did not fill in their forms in advance was still pretty long. By the time we got something to eat and took a quick walk around the ship our luggage was ready to be unpacked. Since you will already be in town why not have a nice breakfast, wander around a bit and then go to the ship at your leisure?

[michmike]

we had our forms filled out in advance and arrived on 11/6 about 1:15 to board the Volendam. Took us NINETY minutes. Not sure what the problem was but we have never waited more than 40 min before (3 previous cruises on HAL) When we asked the person processing us what the delay was we got a shrug of the shoulders and a "**** happens" kind of attitude. Fortunately the rest of the 10 days was better, but you had best come prepared for a wait of at least 40 minutes and perhaps longer.

[kryos]

You can do your form on line. At the pier, there are two lines, one for those that have filled the form out in advance, and one for those who hadn't. We did ours on line, but at the time be got in line, 12 noon, the other line was moving faster. Go figure:rolleyes: In any event, the whole process only took about 40 minutes.

Personally, I didn't notice any difference whatsoever in the times for each line. They were both equally long and both moved at about the same speed when I took my Zuiderdam cruise last August. The only really fast line was the non-existant one for the deluxe suite passengers! God, how I wish I could have jumped in that one. There were three people behind the counter and I think at the time I was boarding, they were helping one passenger.

Blue skies ...

--rita