Question about pier pick up

[daryn]

I'm booked on the Veendam 1/3/05 out of Tampa. I just spoke to my TA to see if my docs had been mailed yet. The TA called HAL, HAL says they were sent in November, TA never received them. Because of the holidays they don't want to re-mail them now, and are telling me to use pier pick up. Has anyone had any problem doing this? Thanks!

[lipoppop]

I took a cab from my hotel to the ship- no problem. Veendam is at Termial six. Also took a cab from the ship to the airport. Fare from ship to airport is flat rate of $20. Beats HAL's $18 pp.

[DoctorFeelgood]

... An SUV may be a better choice than a pickup... more passenger space and comfort....

... but seriously...

We had "E-tickets" our last cruise and it didn't seem to affect the check-in process at all.

[DFD1]

In the not too distant future we will all be picking our documents up at the pier.

One of the most pesky problems the cruise lines have, and one of the most expensive, is the management of paper documents. They get lost in transit. Passengers misplace them, on and on.

Edocs are on the way. It will save tons of money. Soon we'll just show up with a confirmation number, proof of citizenship and off we go.

[boards]

When we went on our first cruise back in 1981 on the Mardi Gras (Carnival Line), we did a late booking and picked up our documents in Miami at the pier. It worked out very well. I see no reason that by now they worked the kinks out and it would work.

[spcl4cs_gal]

Just be sure to take your booking number and all other confirmation numbers with you to the pier. I was supposed to do a pier pickup for my August cruise but when I arrived HAL had no tickets waiting for me. The booking number saved the day.

[daryn]

Thanks for all your reassurance. I know it will be fine, there's just something about having documents in hand that makes it seem official. HAL doesn't do e-docs, but I'll be sure to take my booking number, as suggested. I guess I won't be getting the nifty pleather pouch I've been hearing so much about, though. I was planning to carry it as I pulled up to the pier in my pickup!

[Bill S]

daryn: as long as you have your booking #, you should be ok. Last year we showed up at the pier with no cruise docs at all-not even HAL had them at pierside, and all I had was our copy of our booking confirmation which HAL had sent our TA, and it was no major problem. A supervisor checked the computer and gave us our boarding papers and we went right on-board! Have a great time!

[Budget Queen]

ACTUALLY you don't really need your documents ahead of time. I pier pick up ALL THE TIME with the last being end of October. You just need your passport and your booking number is a good idea. Of course you need documents if you purchased cruiseair or cruisetransfers, but I never do either. I have pier picked up documents for YEARS.

[DFD1]

Budget Queen: Me thinks you are way ahead of your time. Sounds like a winner to me.

[dramamama]

Pier pick-up it is! We'll be on the same cruise. We started a roll call but few responded.

[daryn]

This will be our first HAL cruise and we're really looking forward to it--will also be our first, but hopefully not last, cabin with a balcony. The itinerary is just what we wanted, the price was good--what more can you ask for?

[kruzkeen]

I usually book late and have done pier pick up in FLL, Vancouver and San Diego. When you arrive tell the person in the red vest that you are pier pick up and they will direct you to a special counter for that purpose. You do not want to get into the big line, if there is a big line. I do not know if it is the same procedure in Tampa.

It is a good idea to fill our the immigration form on line, print a copy, sign it and bring it with you. This will save time at the pier.

[DFD1]

This is a really good, helpful thread. Thanks, everyone.