US Direct Program

[PeteandChell]

It is supposedly a straight shuttle from the ship to the airport so you can "bypass" customs in Vancouver and save some time.

Anyone ever use it? Anything I should know "pros/cons"? Fees?

Before I call HAL I just wanted to know if anyone has done this before.

Thanks!

[mescat4]

did it last year. It was a great service- expedited debarking directly to the bus with bags already moved and sealed for customs. Didn't have to load and re-load at border. Coffee and rest-stop in USA after clearing customs and great help from HAL staff at SEATAC in getting your bags to airline check in.

Ev

[sylteach]

There is another post on the HAL thread titled Signature Baggage-check it out. That is the name for HAl's use of US Direct out of ports to airports. It is used only on certain days for Vancouver. We were lucky enough to have it at the end of our cruise. There are specific requirements to be eligible. You sign up for it partway into your cruise and hear back on the day before you get off the ship to see if you were accepted for it. When it works it is great!!! We left our baggage outside our door and got it when we landed at our final destination. You have to be going to a US airport and only certain airlines use it. Make sure to check the boarding pass the front desk will print off for you. The airlines sends it and you need to make sure your name is on it. My father's had an incorrect name and the front desk tried to tell him he could still use it, just change the name at the gate. No Way!!! I bugged them and luckily we got the correct boarding pass the morning we got off. You will be escorted onto a special bus which is technically "sealed" and you cannot get off until you get to your special entrance at the airport. The Canadian customs will come on the bus and check everyone before you can get to the entrance. Even if one person "screws up" and was not truthfull they can turn away the whole bus. We had no problems. The bus driver was very helpful. You go through security and then US Customs quite quickly and then you are at the gates!! Another bit of advice: they tell you what gate to go to, but I would check the boards right away. We had 2 different destinations and both had been moved. Good luck and have fun!!!

[Shmoo here]

There is another post on the HAL thread titled Signature Baggage-check it out. That is the name for HAl's use of US Direct out of ports to airports. It is used only on certain days for Vancouver. We were lucky enough to have it at the end of our cruise. There are specific requirements to be eligible. You sign up for it partway into your cruise and hear back on the day before you get off the ship to see if you were accepted for it. When it works it is great!!! We left our baggage outside our door and got it when we landed at our final destination. You have to be going to a US airport and only certain airlines use it. Make sure to check the boarding pass the front desk will print off for you. The airlines sends it and you need to make sure your name is on it. My father's had an incorrect name and the front desk tried to tell him he could still use it, just change the name at the gate. No Way!!! I bugged them and luckily we got the correct boarding pass the morning we got off. You will be escorted onto a special bus which is technically "sealed" and you cannot get off until you get to your special entrance at the airport. The Canadian customs will come on the bus and check everyone before you can get to the entrance. Even if one person "screws up" and was not truthfull they can turn away the whole bus. We had no problems. The bus driver was very helpful. You go through security and then US Customs quite quickly and then you are at the gates!! Another bit of advice: they tell you what gate to go to, but I would check the boards right away. We had 2 different destinations and both had been moved. Good luck and have fun!!!

We were signed up for USDirect on our Alaska cruise last September. Unfortunately, USDirect was not operating on either end of our cruise (Airport to Ship or Ship to Airport), so, while HAL did transport us from the airport to the ship and from the ship to the airport, it was only local transfer service. We had to clear customs at both points.

:)

[mlzangel78]

Pete and Chell!!! Hello!!!!!! i see you guys finally got onboard last year after not having been on a cruise since our voyager cruise!!! i would like to send you some pictures of you guys from that cruise, please send me your email address... good to see your cruising again.. Sonia and I and our hubbys are all finally taking our first since that voyager cruise again this year on the freedom... mlzangel78@yahoo.com

Talk to you soon!
Melissa