Collector's Cruise Questions

[sparkles]

Hi there!

We're planning on a collector's cruise, and I'm curious about some things.

When you dock in Ft. Lauderdale after the first half of the cruise, are there any shore excursions available? If you stay on the ship, are there any activities and can you purchase drinks? Do you have to go through customs? Can you get a non-HAL cell phone signal while on the ship?

During the second half of the cruise, are you required to participate in the safety drill again?
Are the menus the same in the MDR?

We're not going until the end of the year, but I'm already there in my mind!

Thanks in advance for your answers!

[sail7seas]

You will have to clear Immigration in FLL. You will get a letter the last night of your first segment giving instruction of where to go when for Immigration check. You will not be permitted back on the ship until it zeros down meaning everyone who is leaving has done so. It can vary how long but in all the times we have done it, we are ashore about 35-40 minutes. No big deal.

You will be told what dining hours for breakfast and lunch and there is always one bar open.... usually Ocean Bar where you can buy drinks. I might not be open first thing in the morning but soon.

You will be excused from the second life boat drill.

I always use my cell phone while the ship is tied up in FLL and it connects to my regular carrier....... no charges.

[CruiserBruce]

Hi there!

We're planning on a collector's cruise, and I'm curious about some things.

When you dock in Ft. Lauderdale after the first half of the cruise, are there any shore excursions available? Usually none that are for Collector's Cruise paxIf you stay on the ship, are there any activities A few. Not muchand can you purchase drinks? Do you have to go through customs? See Sail's reply.Can you get a non-HAL cell phone signal while on the ship? Yes

During the second half of the cruise, are you required to participate in the safety drill again? No
Are the menus the same in the MDR? Most likely, yes.

We're not going until the end of the year, but I'm already there in my mind!

Thanks in advance for your answers!

See Sail's replys for the other questions.

[sansterre]

Am I correct - You are permitted to stay in port, off the ship, until an hour before the ship sails?

[sail7seas]

Yes. That is correct. Before you leave the ship, confirm on the gangway (as always) what time you must be aboard. It is always posted at the gangway.

[CowPrincess]

On the only Collectors' Cruise we've done, we were told there would be different menus in the MDR for the 2nd week, but the 2nd week was the same menus as the first week.

Am I correct - You are permitted to stay in port, off the ship, until an hour before the ship sails?


Not sure exactly the time you must be onboard, but we were not forced to go back on the ship once everyone had vacated. We stayed onshore for around 4 or 5 hours IIRC.

[bcd2010]

Re: HAL shorex -

I am doing the collectors cruise from FL to San Diego and back - there are shorex in SD - but not in FL if doing SD-FL-SD?

[canadarocks]

delete

[greyskier]

We did a collectors cruise May 2009 from S.D. to F.L and back. We cleared customs in the lounge before going on one of the shore excursions just for the b2b people. We also had to attend the lifeboat drill again.

[Jemima]

Collectors cruises and others booked as a single cruise have shore excursions for those continuing on the ship, usually don't require a 2nd life boat drill, menus and cast shows will repeat, internet minutes and beverage cards carry over, guarantee cabin remains the same, dining assignment remains the same.

[Krazy Kruizers]

things have changed sinced the collector's have become more popular the last 1 - 1 1/2 years

we only have to go through immigration -- letter the last full day of the first cruise will explain what time and what lounge you should report to in the morning -- as a rule there is an excort from the front office to take you over to the terminal to go through immigration -- once the ship has gone down to 'zero' count -- then you are allowed back on

if you are planning to go out on your own -- inform the front office and you can go any time you want to

yes -- there are shore excursions in ft lauderdale for the intransit passengers -- two that i can remember -- sawgrass mills was one -- everglades boat ride -- there may have also been one where your toured a little of ft lauderdale and did a river cruise

you no longer have to go to the second life boat drill

the ocean bar and lido bar both opened at 11:30

the shows were the same for both cruises

on our last 3 collector's cruises -- the menus were different for 2 of the cruises -- stayed the same for the 3rd cruise

[sail7seas]

All of our Collector's cruises, we have always gone off the ship ourselves with no escort. We clear Immigration and wait to hear we are able to reboard. We always wait until they are calling the last disembark numbers/letters so we don't have long to wait ashore.

[bcd2010]

we only have to go through immigration -- letter the last full day of the first cruise will explain what time and what lounge you should report to in the morning -- as a rule there is an excort from the front office to take you over to the terminal to go through immigration -- once the ship has gone down to 'zero' count -- then you are allowed back on


if you are planning to go out on your own -- inform the front office and you can go any time you want to



Good info - just a clarification. Do we go through immigration and then go out on our own or can we just go (i.e., skip immigration if we've informed the front desk)?

[lazey1]

Hello Sparkles
We are on a collector's cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale in Nov.2011. While the shore excursions specific to this cruise have not yet been posted I did find the following s listed as a general shore excursion.
Jane & Gary

Collectors' Exclusive: Flamingo Estate & Gardens

Approximately 4½ Hours
http://www.hollandamerica.com/images/shoreExcursionIcons/activity1.gif http://www.hollandamerica.com/images/shoreExcursionIcons/limited.gif
$$ (http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/CruiseDetailsShoreEx.action)

Flamingo Estate & Gardens tropical plantation is a 60-acre botanical treasure. It is a private, not-for-profit living museum, containing an impressive collection of native and exotic plants, tropical trees and shrubs from around the world. A 30-minute narrated tram ride takes you through the citrus groves, native hammocks, and subtropical gardens. See how the Everglades looked for centuries when they were known only to the Seminole Native Americans, as you pass through a protected area that is completely untouched by development. Visit the Flam ... more
Flamingo Estate & Gardens tropical plantation is a 60-acre botanical treasure. It is a private, not-for-profit living museum, containing an impressive collection of native and exotic plants, tropical trees and shrubs from around the world. A 30-minute narrated tram ride takes you through the citrus groves, native hammocks, and subtropical gardens. See how the Everglades looked for centuries when they were known only to the Seminole Native Americans, as you pass through a protected area that is completely untouched by development. Visit the Flamingo Pond area and see flamingos and migratory birds, river otters, alligators, peacocks, iguanas, turtles, and beautiful foliage. Enjoy the cool shade of 150-200-year-old live oak trees, vivid with orchids, bromeliads and ferns, as you approach the homestead of Floyd and Jane Wray. The story of Flamingo Gardens began when this pioneering couple created their very successful citrus business, Flamingo Groves. See the stables that once housed their Tennessee Walker horses, now used for classrooms. Stroll the winding paths through the 12-acre arboretum, home to 20 ?champion trees.? Most of the exotic vegetation was brought here from their extensive world travels. Visit the Birds of Prey exhibit to see owls, hawks and ospreys. Learn interesting facts about a variety of creatures as told by experts at the Wildlife Encounter. A primary function of the Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary includes the care of sick and injured birds and animals and education of the public regarding the environment. Marvel at the free-flight aviary?a 1/2-acre screened enclosure containing five Florida ecosystems. This aviary features the only breeding program for the endangered wood stork in the United States. Hand-feed members of the largest captive collection of wading birds in North America. Before leaving, stop by the gift shop, tropical plant house, and the citrus patio. Snacks and fresh fruit drinks are available at the Gator Grill and other locations (at your own expense). The tour concludes back at the pier. (hide details)

[canadarocks]

I thought the Flamingo Estates tour sounded great and booked it for our cruise last month. When we got on board we received a note saying that it had been cancelled :mad:. YMMV.....

[sparkles]

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! Sounds like we have plenty of choices in Ft. Lauderdale.
Please pardon my ignorance, but are Immigration and Customs the same thing? If I make purchases during the first leg, do I have to declare them before the second leg? Seems like you can't exit the terminal without handing your customs form to an official.
Thanks again. :)

[CruiserBruce]

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! Sounds like we have plenty of choices in Ft. Lauderdale.
Please pardon my ignorance, but are Immigration and Customs the same thing? If I make purchases during the first leg, do I have to declare them before the second leg? Seems like you can't exit the terminal without handing your customs form to an official.
Thanks again. :)

The phrases are used interchangably, but technically Immigration has to do with people (called "Passport check" in Europe) and Customs has to do with your baggage/personal effects, particularly things you may be bringing into the country that are regulated, restricted or forbidden.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

On our Collectors' cruise in November 2010, had wanted to do the Flamingo Gardens tour but it was not offered. Signed up for the boat ride on the Waterways but it was cancelled. So we got off on our own and took a taxi over to the Waterways and took the Water taxi on our own, came back to the ship, had lunch in the dining room, and spent the rest of the day watching the new passengers get acclimated. Very nice.

Barbara

[sail7seas]

Good info - just a clarification. Do we go through immigration and then go out on our own or can we just go (i.e., skip immigration if we've informed the front desk)?

You will have to go through the terminal where Immigration (and Customs) are checking everyone and their luggage. You cannot exit the terminal to go off on your own without being cleared by Immigration.

As you cross the gangway, you will be directed exactly where you are to go. Bring your passports.

[peaches from georgia]

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! Sounds like we have plenty of choices in Ft. Lauderdale.
Please pardon my ignorance, but are Immigration and Customs the same thing? If I make purchases during the first leg, do I have to declare them before the second leg? Seems like you can't exit the terminal without handing your customs form to an official.
Thanks again. :)
You don't declare anything to Customs until you are leaving the ship for good after your second leg. You don't turn in a Customs form after the first leg because you are not taking any purchases off the ship at that time. You will only show your passport to Immigration.

[Essiesmom]

My first Collector's Cruise in 2009 (Oosterdam, San Diego to Rome) we got off in FLL early to visit Lou, who runs the Port Everglades cam. The second time was last year on Westerdam. Did not get off except the mandatory zero-down. Did not have to do the second lifeboat drill. If you do get off, be sure to get a transit pass, so you can speed up reboarding. EM

[Krazy Kruizers]

Good info - just a clarification. Do we go through immigration and then go out on our own or can we just go (i.e., skip immigration if we've informed the front desk)?

no one can skip immigration

you will go through immigration in the cruise terminal -- our last few cruises we did it in the luggage claim area

take your passport with you

our last couple of letters that we got from the front desk informed us that we could only take off purses and cameras -- no pack backs

you will also be given an 'intransit' card -- take this with you as well -- it helps you get back on the ship faster when you get back from whatever you are doing

[bcd2010]

Thank you KK!

[Cruisin Suzin]

I am going on my first collectors cruise and noticed that the sawmill shopping tour was offered as an excursion, do you think this tour requires a certain amount of numbers to participate to be a "go"..if it does not "go" has anyone taken a cab from the cruise terminal to the mall?

So now say we have gone to the mall it is a 4.5 hour tour, and are returning do we have to line up again or will there be a special entrance we can go in and just show our passports, and ships ID and go up to the gangway?..a bit confused about that part.

So excited about this trip as it visits HMC twice weather permitting ;-) But "why the word collectors cruise, what is it collecting, extra points? A special tile? anything?

[Krazy Kruizers]

if they don't get enough people to sign up for the tour -- it will be cancelled

we went to sawgrass mills a while back -- but from the hotel not the ship -- we were there about 5 hours (not counting driving time) and barely saw much of the mall -- it is huge

have no idea what a cab would cost

you will still have to go through security since you left the terminal -- after that you just go right onto the ship -- by the time you get back from saw grass -- the majority of the people will already be on the ship -- no big lines

on our one cruise we were back in ft lauderdale on a sunday and the shore excursion people had a notation on the form that the tour would be leaving later since the mall opens later on sundays -- thus you would have 1 less hour there

have no idea why hal is calling them collector's cruises -- no extra points -- no extra tiles -- we saved a little by booking the cruises as one as compared to two different cruises

on one collector's cruise there was a lovely cocktail party one evening for all the intransit guests staying over for the next cruise

on another collector's cruise -- nothing

[sail7seas]

You'll get an in transit pass which enables you to go directly through security and back aboard. By the time you return from Sawgrass, there probably wouldn't be any line checking in anyway but for those who want to reboard earlier, show your in transit pass and you can by pass any check in line.

Sawgrass is immense and it would take a week to see most of it. We've been a number of times but not for a few years. I'm thinking maybe we'll go on our Nieuw Amsterdam turnaround day. Hmmm.... We'll probably catch a taxi on our own. In our own taxi, we can be dropped at an entrance near the area we wish to shop and not waste time in an area of stores we may not care about. The bus will choose where to drop/pick up everyone.

[Cruisin Suzin]

Thanks for the reply, I was wondering what special ID would be given to be able to just walk back on...I'll check out the mall and see exactly where I might like to shop..