Has anyone ever?

[mvfishing]

Has anyone ever flown into Heathrow the day before a cruise and taken Hollands transfer from the airport to the ship the next day? We are staying at the Hilton Heathrow the night before the cruise and will return to the airport for the transfer. My question is, does anyone know if they pick up at all terminals or one central place at the airport? We are going to Dover. Thanks in advance.

[azalice]

We are doing just that on Aug.24. We come into Heathrow on Aug.23, spend the night at the Premier Inn, and then will join a transfer at the terminal we said we would come into on Aug.24. What I mean is that our TA told us to put a flight into the online check in that shows us arriving on a flight to Heathrow at 8:00 on Aug.24. So we checked on varied flights and indicated that we were arriving from Boston to Heathrow on AA the morning of Aug.24 (we are arriving from Boston but the night before on Icelandair).

We plan to check on the arrival time of the AA flight that morning at the hotel, get to the airport within a half an hour of the flight's arrival and we should find a representative with our name who is expecting us on that morning flight.

We have the transfer purchased; HAL apparently reads your online check in to know when you are arriving. Actually we filled it out with the real information but our TA had us go back and redo it so that HAL would expect us in the morning. This is how it has been explained to me.

[Alberta Quilter]

We are doing just that on Aug.24. We come into Heathrow on Aug.23, spend the night at the Premier Inn, and then will join a transfer at the terminal we said we would come into on Aug.24. What I mean is that our TA told us to put a flight into the online check in that shows us arriving on a flight to Heathrow at 8:00 on Aug.24. So we checked on varied flights and indicated that we were arriving from Boston to Heathrow on AA the morning of Aug.24 (we are arriving from Boston but the night before on Icelandair).

We plan to check on the arrival time of the AA flight that morning at the hotel, get to the airport within a half an hour of the flight's arrival and we should find a representative with our name who is expecting us on that morning flight.

We have the transfer purchased; HAL apparently reads your online check in to know when you are arriving. Actually we filled it out with the real information but our TA had us go back and redo it so that HAL would expect us in the morning. This is how it has been explained to me.

Why would one do this? We are going to be flying to Heathrow, cruising from Dover, next year. I was planning on flying in a day or two before the cruise, staying at a HAL recommended hotel (don't know if there is one, yet), and taking the transfer to Dover, hopefully from the hotel.

Is the transfer only available from the airport? I would think the back and forth to the airport would be costly and a bit of a nightmare.

Thanks for clearing up my confusion!

[mvfishing]

We have been to London and most of the UK, my husband will be traveling with a broken leg and just needs to relax after the flight, that is why we are staying and taking the transfer from the airport.

[sea-cruise]

My advice would be to call Holland America for current information, as things change.
An HAL representative met us at our terminal at Heathrow, but that was a couple of years back, and things may be handled differently now.
P.S. Hope your husband's leg mends painlessly and quickly! Enjoy the cruise!

[azalice]

The only way to be picked up at an hotel is to have purchased a pre-hotel stay from HAL and those are in London itself, not hotels at the airport.

A few years ago, having filled out the online check in with the correct information, we arrived at Heathrow late at night. We had been promised by phone calls to the cruise line by our TA and ourselves that we would just have to make a phone call and we would be picked up at the airport and transferred to a London hotel for a pre-cruise London stay. We not only could not reach anyone representing the cruise line, we were not picked up at all. So, we trained and taxied into London on our own (I think it was about 11 pm. by the time we realized we were on our own to get into London.)

The next day we found out the rep did not even know about us as we were on no list at all for transfer. We had documents to show our purchase and so it was eventually resolved - taking two days to resolve.

This time we are flying into Heathrow, getting there about 8 p.m, staying at an airport hotel overnight, then getting to the terminal in the morning which we stated during online check-in would be a particular flight arriving in the morning (which is an actual AA flight arriving in the morning). It seems a little nuts to go through this practice of giving incorrect info online, but apparently this is the way they will have our name and arrival flight info.

I hope this makes some sense - at least it does to us as we don't want a repeat of what happened to us previously. The choices are either being met at a terminal, taking a pre-cruise London hotel purchase which will include transfer to Dover, or making your own arrangements to get to Dover.

[Alberta Quilter]

Thank you for explaining why you need to do what you're doing. I think we may be going with a HAL pre-cruise hotel plan. We did this in Buenos Aires and it worked quite well, even though it likely cost more than if we made our own arrangements.

I'm sorry to hear of the troubles you had with your previous cruise. Nothing like being in an unfamiliar place and suddenly finding out you're on your own!

[azalice]

We did enjoy our pre-cruise stay in London (even with our transfer problems). We walked a fair amount, visited the Churchill museum, and went to the theater one night to see Les Miserables. We had not seen it previously; it was terrific. This time we are not staying for a pre-cruise hotel because we want to reduce our costs. Enjoy your stay.

[sapper1]

We have used the HAL airport transfer three times and for two of those times the HAL rep has met us at the baggage carousel for that flight. The third time, in a smaller airport, they were at a table near the exit.

My question would be---would you be allowed to enter the baggage pick-up area from the outside with your bags?---especially in an airport as security conscious as Heathrow?

I read your post about needing to relax following your flight but why don't you consider a transfer from the airport to a HAL hotel. You will be looked after from that point onward, and I think ultimately it would be more relaxing for you. Heathrow is a zoo and returning the next day hoping to find your transfer would be very stressful.

[Topsham]

[quote=azalice;29358964]T
This time we are flying into Heathrow, getting there about 8 p.m, staying at an airport hotel overnight, then getting to the terminal in the morning which we stated during online check-in would be a particular flight arriving in the morning (which is an actual AA flight arriving in the morning). It seems a little nuts to go through this practice of giving incorrect info online, but apparently this is the way they will have our name and arrival flight info.

quote]


WOW!!! Looking for big time trouble are you? Warning bells should be ringing very loudly in everyone's head.

If ANYTHING goes wrong with your plan HAL will be looking for you coming off an AA flight. If your name does not show up on AA records where will they begin to look for you?

Never mind what the on-line check asks you. Talk to HAL directly and explain what you are doing and let them tell you what to do to be licked up in the morning. If they fail to pick you up on time, and you miss your cruise it will be entirely your responsibility. Would you want to pay a $400 taxi fare to Dover? Something could go wrong wwith the pick up coach and they will try to contaact you through AA. How will that happen if there is no record of you even being on a AA flight?

Good luck but I'd check with HAL and tell them what you are doing.

Stephen

[Topsham]

[quote=Alberta Quilter;29357339]quote]


Heey Alberta Quilter!

My sister is a quilter also. Are you on the VEENDAM quilter's cruise later this month?

Stephen

[petrakae]

We have been advised to just be at the coach station next morning by terminal three. They will be running coaches constantly throughout the day. Hope I have been given the right advice now.

[Globaliser]

My question would be---would you be allowed to enter the baggage pick-up area from the outside with your bags?---especially in an airport as security conscious as Heathrow?No, and the HAL reps will not be allowed in there either. The baggage reclaim carousels are on the other side of the Customs border.

[Globaliser]

We have been to London and most of the UK, my husband will be traveling with a broken leg and just needs to relax after the flight, that is why we are staying and taking the transfer from the airport.This time we are flying into Heathrow, getting there about 8 p.m, staying at an airport hotel overnight, then getting to the terminal in the morning which we stated during online check-in would be a particular flight arriving in the morning (which is an actual AA flight arriving in the morning).For this plan, particularly for someone with a broken leg, it will be worth thinking carefully about which airline and which Heathrow hotel to use. There are only two full-service on-airport hotels: the Hilton at Terminal 4, and the Sofitel at Terminal 5. The ideal situation would be to arrive at one of these terminals and stay at the respective hotel, and to be picked up from that terminal the next day. Otherwise, transfers between terminals, and transfers from the airport to off-airport hotels, can add a significant amount of hassle.

Terminal 4 also has a Yotel (http://www.yotel.com/en/Hotels/London%20Heathrow.aspx), which is good as a place to crash for the night but not really a "proper" hotel.

[azalice]

Globilizer, we are staying at the Premier Inn - not a full service terminal hotel. We will be arriving at Terminal 1. We will need to get to Terminal 3 the next morning - same as Petrakae noted. Will we have a problem getting a taxi to take us a short distance, either to the Premier Inn or from the Inn to Terminal 3 (we'd rather pay a taxi than drag our bags too much)? We have been told by our TA that perhaps offering 20 US dollars might get us a short distance taxi ride.

If we changed our hotel to a full service hotel, would the full service hotel offer us a shuttle ride to Terminal 3 - or just to terminals 4 or 5?

Topsham: yes, we know it is our responsibility to be at the right place at the right time to find the HAL rep/coach. But two years ago, we explained everything ten times, promises were made, never kept, and the rep knew nothing about us. So explaining to the cruise line by phone did nothing. We explained and our TA explained. We will always have this problem as we always have a flight coming in at night. And as I said before, coming in at night and using a pre-cruise hotel did not work that night of arrival, but did get us several days later to the cruise port.

[mvfishing]

For this plan, particularly for someone with a broken leg, it will be worth thinking carefully about which airline and which Heathrow hotel to use. There are only two full-service on-airport hotels: the Hilton at Terminal 4, and the Sofitel at Terminal 5. The ideal situation would be to arrive at one of these terminals and stay at the respective hotel, and to be picked up from that terminal the next day. Otherwise, transfers between terminals, and transfers from the airport to off-airport hotels, can add a significant amount of hassle.

Terminal 4 also has a Yotel (http://www.yotel.com/en/Hotels/London%20Heathrow.aspx), which is good as a place to crash for the night but not really a "proper" hotel.

This is exactly what we are doing. We are staying at the Hilton and hopefully being picked up at Terminal 4.

[Alberta Quilter]

[quote=Alberta Quilter;29357339]quote]


Heey Alberta Quilter!

My sister is a quilter also. Are you on the VEENDAM quilter's cruise later this month?

Stephen

Hi Stephen,

Sorry, I'm not going on the Veendam quilter's cruise. Actually, I didn't know there was one! I have no desire to go on a quilting cruise as they tend to have the classes on sea days and I love sea days!

My next cruise is the Baltic in Jun/12 (from Dover).

I hope that your sister enjoys her cruise!

[Globaliser]

We will be arriving at Terminal 1. We will need to get to Terminal 3 the next morning - same as Petrakae noted. Will we have a problem getting a taxi to take us a short distance, either to the Premier Inn or from the Inn to Terminal 3 (we'd rather pay a taxi than drag our bags too much)? We have been told by our TA that perhaps offering 20 US dollars might get us a short distance taxi ride.A taxi must take you there if you want to go there, at the fare on the meter.

You might get some grumbling about the fact that the driver may have been sitting in the feeder park for two or three hours waiting hopefully for a lucrative job into central London. But you can safely ignore that. If he is back at the terminal within a set time (it's either 45 minutes or 60 minutes, I can't remember which), he can pick up another job straight away without having to go back to the feeder park.

The whingeing is almost always for show, to try to guilt-trip you into giving him a big tip. He's not actually losing out by doing a short job.If we changed our hotel to a full service hotel, would the full service hotel offer us a shuttle ride to Terminal 3 - or just to terminals 4 or 5?No. Only one hotel shuttle is permitted at Heathrow, which is the shuttle between Terminal 5 and the Hilton at Terminal 4. None of the other hotels are allowed to operate shuttles. The options are the dreaded and loathed Hotel Hoppa, taxi, and pre-booked car.

[g&gtravel]

Globaliser, what is the concurn with Hotel Hoppa? We are planning to use it later this year from hotel to terminal 2 for 7:45am flight.
Thanks,

[Globaliser]

In a slightly different context, I recently wrote something about the Hotel Hoppa in this post (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=29253299#post29253299), which may help to explain.

[Topsham]

[quote=Topsham;29371373]

Hi Stephen,

Sorry, I'm not going on the Veendam quilter's cruise. Actually, I didn't know there was one! I have no desire to go on a quilting cruise as they tend to have the classes on sea days and I love sea days!

My next cruise is the Baltic in Jun/12 (from Dover).

I hope that your sister enjoys her cruise!


Alberta,

The VEENDAM cruise next week is not a quiilter cruise it is needlepoint cruise! Kathryn does both! Like you she doesn't spend all the time attending the classes... for the obious reasons.;)

Anyhow for her needle point cruise she got me to scan 36 HAL Mariner tiles and print them all onto some kind of canvas cloth for all the girls to convert to needlepoint. It practically wrecked my printer and cost me a fortune in ink. The things we do for sisters!!!!:D

Enjoy YOUR cruise!

Stephen

[Topsham]

Globilizer, we are staying at the Premier Inn - not a full service terminal hotel. We will be arriving at Terminal 1. We will need to get to Terminal 3 the next morning - same as Petrakae noted. Will we have a problem getting a taxi to take us a short distance, either to the Premier Inn or from the Inn to Terminal 3 (we'd rather pay a taxi than drag our bags too much)? We have been told by our TA that perhaps offering 20 US dollars might get us a short distance taxi ride.

If we changed our hotel to a full service hotel, would the full service hotel offer us a shuttle ride to Terminal 3 - or just to terminals 4 or 5?

Topsham: yes, we know it is our responsibility to be at the right place at the right time to find the HAL rep/coach. But two years ago, we explained everything ten times, promises were made, never kept, and the rep knew nothing about us. So explaining to the cruise line by phone did nothing. We explained and our TA explained. We will always have this problem as we always have a flight coming in at night. And as I said before, coming in at night and using a pre-cruise hotel did not work that night of arrival, but did get us several days later to the cruise port.


Alice,

I hope it works for you but sure sounds risky to me. They have no way on contacting you. You should make sure you have a number so you can contact THEM!

When you get to your hotel on the night of arrival you should get the hotel to book a taxi for the morning. You may find it difficult to get one at short notice to pick you up 'outside the airport'. I stayed at a small hotel near Heathrow a few years ago and it caused me no end of problems... least of which, the hotel did not have a working telephone!!!!!:eek:

The ride down to Dover is loooong. Starting it at Heaathrow is going to make it even worse! I'd prefer to book a HAL hotel and let them do all the worrying and transporting.

But I hope everything works out as planned.... have a good cruise!

Stephen

[Alberta Quilter]

[quote=Alberta Quilter;29382357]


Alberta,

The VEENDAM cruise next week is not a quiilter cruise it is needlepoint cruise! Kathryn does both! Like you she doesn't spend all the time attending the classes... for the obious reasons.;)

Stephen

Stephen,

My name is Kathryn, too! However, unlike your Kathryn, I don't do needlepoint.

Thank you for your tips on London to Dover. I think we'll stick with our original plan of a pre-cruise hotel package from HAL. We require some recovery time from the long flight.

Do you have any suggestions for the post cruise transfer? You had mentioned in another post that it was a long transfer. I have to book our flights in a month or so (trying to book on points!) and am wondering whether to fly home on disembarkation day or the following day. I think the flight back to Calgary is in the early afternoon.

Thank you for your assistance! Tell Kathryn to have fun on her cruise!

Kathryn

[azalice]

Thank you, Topsham, for your suggestions. We will be trying to ask for a taxi from the terminal to our night's stay at the Premier Inn, and to the terminal in the morning. I am kind of sorry we did not manage to do a HAL pre-cruise hotel stay this trip because we certainly love being in London.

[surfsidemary]

Has anyone ever flown into Heathrow the day before a cruise and taken Hollands transfer from the airport to the ship the next day? We are staying at the Hilton Heathrow the night before the cruise and will return to the airport for the transfer. My question is, does anyone know if they pick up at all terminals or one central place at the airport? We are going to Dover. Thanks in advance.

I flew in to Terminal 4 the day before and stayed overnight at the Hilton, which is walking distance from Terminal 4. I've lost the thread on who has a broken leg, but it was a fairly long walk down an enclosed walkway to the hotel. Baggage carts were readily available but I don't know about wheelchairs.

I had given my correct arrival information and Holland America had advised my travel agent that I should show up back at the Terminal 4 Arrivals area at about 10:00 am the following day for transfer to Dover. They did have my name on the transfer list. The arrivals hall was very crowded the next morning but I had no problem finding the HAL people (you could always have the HAL rep paged if you need to - a few people did that). Their bus was making stops at Terminals 4 and 5 before heading out to Dover.

All in all, a fairly painless process. Even easier at the end of the cruise: Get off the bus, get on the plane, and go.

[holomuku]

We did this a few years ago in LHR on an RCCL cruise. We showed up at the time we would have (for what we told them) and found the person with the RCCL sign and we were on the list and fine. We plan on doing this again this summer in Stockholm as we've seen the city of Stockholm and hotels in the city are VERY expensive. We can get something decent by the airport for $100 a night less. We'll go in a day or two before and rest up for our Baltic trip.

One nice thing is that at least for us, we gave our bags to the bus driver/escort and didn't see them again until they were in our stateroom.

At our age- we need at least a day (or two) to recover from the flights West Coast-USA to Europe. I want to get on my cruise rested and feeling good.

As we had been to London and seen the sights several times before we opted to stay at the Heathrow Hilton for 2 nights before the cruise. I agree with the previous poster that it's a LONG walk to the hotel. And unfortunately we didn't arrive in terminal 4 and if I remember correctly had to deal with bags, etc. on some kind of connecting sbuway. At the time my husband had a bad hip (since replaced and doing much better) and it was a real hassle.

With the broken leg issue I'd try and make sure that you can get to the hotel with minimal hassle.

As for the Hotel Hoppa bus- been there, done that, on a business trip. I agree- it was awful! Standing room only and almost got knocked over it was so crowded with people and bags.