Embarkation Question--Secure Carry-On Storage

[OldCodger73]

After one boards ship but prior to your cabin being ready is there any secure storage area for your carry-ons or do you need to lug them around with you? If there is secure storage, is it safe to leave a computer or camera bag there?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[Jim Gallup]

All HAL ships have a bag check at embarkation.
They hold your carry ons in a secure area until cabins are ready.

[RuthC]

I've never left a laptop (don't bring it), but have left my carry-on with all my jewelry---probably worth a whole lot more than a laptop.
I've never felt that my carry-on wasn't totally safe.

[I Luv Crusin]

All HAL ships have a bag check at embarkation.
They hold your carry ons in a secure area until cabins are ready.

We were on the Veendam April 1 and asked when boarding if there was a place to keep our carry-on's while we had lunch and waited for our cabin to be done.

In a word, "No" Take it with you." I was disappointed......

[cruisequeen10]

I have heard a lot lately that you cannot go to your cabins when you get on, as the cabins are not ready yet. Why do they let the passengers on then. It should be ready by the time you get on. I plan on getting to the pier at 11:00 a.m. and going to my cabin then head for the buffet.

[Candy]

I have heard a lot lately that you cannot go to your cabins when you get on, as the cabins are not ready yet. Why do they let the passengers on then. It should be ready by the time you get on. I plan on getting to the pier at 11:00 a.m. and going to my cabin then head for the buffet.

Until a few years ago, we all had to wait in a rather stuffy waiting room at the pier until the ship was ready. I can remember waiting over two hours for my number to be called, then was allowed to immediately enter my cabin, then head for bread pudding. I'd much rather get aboard early than wait in that room again.

Candy the ZuiderPrincess

[boomerSexyK]

On our last cruise (albeit Celebrity), we left our carry-on with security, boarded, had a nice lunch, met some fellow cruisers, enjoyed a drink near the pool and then went to our cabin which was now ready with all of our luggage waiting for us.

[RuthC]

I have heard a lot lately that you cannot go to your cabins when you get on, as the cabins are not ready yet. Why do they let the passengers on then. It should be ready by the time you get on. I plan on getting to the pier at 11:00 a.m. and going to my cabin then head for the buffet.
Candy answered your question quite completely. Now that disembarking passengers are allowed to wait in their cabin, and embarking passengers aren't made to wait in a crowded area on the pier there is a small period when there are no passengers aboard. It is no wonder that we aren't allowed to the cabin areas until the cleaning is completed.
If embarking passengers were to start going to their cabins before they are ready then HAL would be justified in eliminating early embarkation. I, for one, don't want to go back to that.

[bookworm0911]

I plan on getting to the pier at 11:00 a.m. and going to my cabin then head for the buffet.
If you wish to go to your cabin immediately upon boarding that is certainly possible if you arrive at the terminal close to 1:30. There would still be time to have the buffet lunch also.

[sail7seas]

Exactly, bookworm. If it is imperative that you are able to go to your cabin immediately after boarding, you should plan to board at about 1:30. That is approximately when they make the announcement that the cabins are ready. As Ruth says, if people start ignoring the need for the stewards to be undisturbed to get their work done, we might all be forced back to waiting in the terminals again. That would be really unpleasant IMO

[as41shots]

OC73 - you might remember this from an earlier thread, but it seems a repost here would be appropriate:

"As we all get prepared for our next cruise, I'd like to share a bit of misfortune with you, so no one makes the same stupid mistake I did. Last summer we cruised out of Miami on Explorer of the Seas, Western Caribbean itinerary. I owned a Lowepro Computrekker, which looks exactly like a backpack:

http://www.lowepro.com/images/products/CompuTrekAW_left_stuffn_1_n.jpg
Whenver I travel, I never ever let it out of my site.

Except once.

We were at the pier and had just checked our bags. The porter loaded all of our suitcases on to a luggage cart and appeared to be about to roll it right down to the ship, and asked if I wanted him to take the backpack. We had the two kids, a bunch of other carry-on stuff, and I thought about it and figured "Well, it's not obviously a camera bag since it looks like a knapsack, I see where he is taking it onboard, and I have so much other junk to carry.....well, OK."

Later when all of our luggage was delivered to our room, needless to say it wasn't delivered with the rest of our luggage. The knapsack never showed up. Our cabin attendant told me that there are many thieves at the Miami port. Needless to say I was sick to my stomach over it... more because I would not have the equipment for the cruise than the cost, because I knew that my homeowner's insurance would cover it. Plus, I was so angry at myself for being so stupid, which only compounded things. In the bag were my digital SLR, two lenses, dedicated flash, four camera batteries, my digital camcorder, each of the kids' digital point and shoot, 2 1gb memory cards, a brand new waterproof housing for my son's Canon A80, and other stuff that I can't remember now. So, not that anyone here is anywhere near as stupid as I, but keep your cameras close. The only consolation was getting to go on a spending spree for new stuff once the insurance check came."

Now I keep the camera bag with me until I am safely lodged in the hotel room or cabin. I realize this is a bit different than checking it in onboard, but wanted to give a heads-up so no one pulls as boneheaded a move as I did last year.

[bruceh4]

As already stated early boarding is much better than waiting in the terminal. In case anybody needs an explanation as to why early boarding here is they original announcement from HAL::)


NEWS RELEASE
November 06, 2003
For Immediate Release

Holland America Debuts Early Boarding
Program For All Sailings Seattle, November 6, 2003 – Holland America Line guests arriving for their cruise on morning flights or driving to the port before noon can now board the ship and relax well before the “official” embarkation time. Holland America Line recently launched a new Embarkation Program for all sailings that features boarding as early as 11:30 a.m. to enjoy the many comforts that Holland America offers before their cruise leaves port that evening.
“Holland America began this new program because we wanted to allow our guests to maximize their cruise vacation,” said David A. Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales. “Guests want a seamless cruise experience and one where they can fully enjoy all the facilities and amenities our premium ships have to offer.
“With our friendly and efficient early boarding program, guests can board when they arrive at the cruise terminal to relax aboard the ship as well as familiarize themselves with the ship’s facilities. Public areas and lounges will be open along with Holland America’s renowned Welcome Aboard Lido Buffet. In addition, guests can take care of shore excursion reservations, spa appointments and other needs.”
Guests taking advantage of the new early boarding program are welcomed by Holland America staff as they board and directed to the Lido Deck. Carry-on luggage and coats can be checked with ship staff if guests desire. Penthouse and suite guests are escorted to the exclusive suite-only Neptune Lounge where they may enjoy light refreshments before being escorted to their accommodations. Staterooms are normally ready for occupancy at 1:00 p.m.
Each guest receives a welcome letter describing the facilities and amenities available before sailing, which include the “Welcome Aboard” Lido Buffet and Pool Grill on the Lido Deck with live music and public lounges open for service.
Guests may opt to enjoy the Ocean Spa (Greenhouse Spa on Vista-class ships) and schedule appointments for massage, spa and beauty treatments during their cruise. The Shore Excursions Desk can advise guests on the many tours offered, make bookings, and provide details on each of the ports to be visited. The Pinnacle Grill at the Odyssey Restaurant will take dining reservations and the Internet Café will be open to set up accounts. Also, the Front Office can answer all inquiries and take credit card registrations.
On Holland America’s Vista-class ships, guests also can enjoy the Atrium Bar and Windstar Café. A golf professional is available in the Lido Pool area with sets of clubs and coaching advice. The “Elegant Explorer” ms Prinsendam also features a pro at its Golf Center.
Guests who board early can still enjoy Holland America’s traditional escort to their stateroom by white-gloved staff. Staff escort guests to their accommodations from the Lido Pool Bar beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. Those who choose to wait in other public areas will hear an announcement over the public address system, informing them when staterooms are ready for occupancy.

[Candy]

[quote=cruisequeen10]I have heard a lot lately that you cannot go to your cabins when you get on, as the cabins are not ready yet. Why do they let the passengers on then. It should be ready by the time you get on. I plan on getting to the pier at 11:00 a.m. and going to my cabin then head for the buffet.Candy answered your question quite completely. Now that disembarking passengers are allowed to wait in their cabin, and embarking passengers aren't made to wait in a crowded area on the pier there is a small period when there are no passengers aboard. It is no wonder that we aren't allowed to the cabin areas until the cleaning is completed.
If embarking passengers were to start going to their cabins before they are ready then HAL would be justified in eliminating early embarkation. I, for one, don't want to go back to that.
Thanks, RuthC... I forgot about the ability to stay in my cabin until my color/number is called... it's a win-win situation!

Candy <-- can also get to the spa for those primo time slots.

[Randyk47]

I'd much, much more prefer being allowed on the ship a little early than to just sit around in the terminal waiting for our number to be called. I remember that from the first couple of cruises out of Ft Lauderdale and while it wasn't awful it also didn't rank up there as one of the highlights. Quick frankly we've backed off from the "got to get on as early as possible" routine. DW strongly believes our vacation starts the moment we step on the plane to leave for the port city. Since we fly in the day before that means we take our time the next morning getting up, having a nice breakfast, repacking what little we've taken our for our overnight, and then head for the terminal. No way is she going to be rushed in a semi-daze at 0 dark hundred to wait around to get on the ship. We get to the terminal around 12:30 to 1:00 PM and for our last 3-4 cruises that's meant we've pretty much checked in and walked directly on the ship in 15-20 minutes. Our cabin has been ready every time but we are prepared to haul our stuff to the Lido.

[lougee1043]

the original post asked about the luggage tha is carried onto the ship and not checked at curbside-----------------------

all of our important carry on stuff is in one shoulder strap type bag and not a big hassle to carry with us to the lido and elesewhere before our cabin is ready

[sail7seas]

The reason we carry on a bag each is because those bags contain necessities/valuables. If we felt it was necessary enough to not put in our checked luggage, we feel it worth the small effort to keep our rollaboard bags with us. I'd far rather know we have our medications, valuables etc with us than worry about leaving them someplace in someone else's care. If it was important enough for us to carry it, it's important enough for us to keep it with us.

[RuthC]

sail, I understand your reasoning, and know it works well for you. You have each other to "stand guard" while the other attends to ... whatever. One can get lunch while the other...; one can freshen up while.... You get the idea.

The on-board storage of carry-ons becomes a Godsend for those of us who travel alone. It's nigh on to impossible to handle a tray in the Lido while dragging your "stuff" behind you. There are couples where one (or both) simply don't have the strength to pull their things along so much.

I was thrilled when HAL had instituted this by the time I first experienced early embarkation.

[sail7seas]

Yes, of course, Ruth. Thank you for reminding me that all of us have individual needs/expectations/hopes etc. ;)

[bepsf]

Call me bad, but I usually head str8 to the stateroom before they call "Staterooms Ready" to drop off the bags...
...although I've never been among the first to board either.

I figure if the room isn't totally ready when I get there (no big deal to me since I know I'm pushing the rules) and the steward is hard at work, I can smile big and apologize for arriving early and interrupting him - then introduce myself and ask him if its OK to leave my bag in one of the wardrobes so that its out of his way while he's busy.

I've often found that if you treat the stewards graciously - particulary on the first day - they'll usually bend over backwards to accommodate you.

[torpeedo]

There was a post on the boards a good while back by somebody who did just as Brian does, left his carry-ons in the stateroom before it was ready and went to the Lido.. But when he returned it was stolen! I believe he left the luggage in plain site and did not notify the steward. Since we read that post we decided to keep everything with us and just take turns at the Lido. Plus we have valuables in our carry-on that we would never leave out of our hands except to place in the locked safe!

[OldCodger73]

Thanks for all the interesting information, even though the thread kind of went off on a tangent. Personally, I’d never consider dropping carry-ons off in the cabin at boarding. The stewards must be under incredible time pressure to get the room ready for the next occupants and I certainly wouldn’t want to do anything that might inconvenience them or slow them down.

We’ll have a medium size camera backpack, a small slingshot camera bag and a small knapsack and, since the answers about secured on-board storage tend to be contradictory, take them to the Lido with us. After lunch we’ll find a place to hang out until the cabin is ready, then drop off the backpack and knapsack and explore the Volendam until lifeboat muster and sail-away.

[RuthC]

Call me bad, but...
Well, er, since you asked---
you bad, you bad. ;)

[wander]

Cruisequeen10 shows how cruise lines can never win with some folks. They change procedures to make things more convenient for passengers but for some, it is never enough! If folks continue to "push the envelope" I fear it will be back to waiting in crowded, stuffy waiting rooms for all of us.

Hopefully it will not reach that point, but if enough folks refuse to follow the guidelines - it will happen IMHO.

[cruzincurt]

On the ships we've been on recently, they close the fire doors at the elevator/stairs lobbies so you can't even enter the stateroom corridors prior to the "rooms are ready" announcement. At the Lido, one of us sits at the table with the "stuff" while the other fills up their plate. Then we switch.

I agree with most of the above. I'd rather be sitting in the Lido at 12:00 with my carryons than in the terminal.

[willowoodf]

The one time we thought about leaving our carryons in the "secured" area, when I went there it was just one of the sort of meeting rooms, the door was open, and there was nobody around watching them. Just a lot of bags in an open room. Since then, we've just taken our carry-ons with us to lunch. We are usually still in the lido eating lunch when they call the "cabins ready" so we just wheel on up to the room. No big deal to have our carryons with us at the lido table.

Mary

[Pam in CA]

Silly question -- why does it take so long to get the cabins ready? 1PM seems awfully late. Why can't you just go to your cabin when you embark, drop off your carry-on and lock the door?

[Scrumpy]

If everyone is off the ship by 10AM or thereabouts, that is only three hours to fully strip and clean all the cabins assigned to a room steward. It doesn't sound like an excessive amount of time to me. I've seen some of the other cabins and some folks leave a lot of stuff all over the place. We tend to USE the trash can/recycling bin, but open doors have shown papers, drink bottles, dirty glasses, etc. all over the place. I imagine between sorting that out, changing the linens and towels, possibly rearranging the bed configuration, cleaning/filling ice buckets, re-stocking the bathroom, and other normal cleaning, they are under a lot of pressure to finish by 1-1:30pm. I'd love to think they get a little lunch break somewhere in there, but I bet they don't... I really like getting on the ship early and don't mind exploring and waiting a few hours in another area. I agree with other people; it beats waiting at the terminal. :)

[Candy]

... and don't forget... SANITIZE everything!

Candy the ZuiderPrincess

[sail7seas]

I think they do a remarkable job getting the cabins ready by 1:30 P.M.

I way, way prefer enjoying lunch in Lido or roaming around the ship while waiting for our cabin to be available than the long wait we used to have hanging around the terminal buildings.

There is always the choice to not arrive at the ship until 1:30 or later and then you will be able to go to your cabin upon boarding.

[Randyk47]

On our last cruise I'd say our cabin was 90% ready for the next occupant by the time we left and we were in the first group called at 8:45 AM. Other than the bathroom, final vacuuming and dusting there wasn't much left to be done. I actually noticed that the steward had "pre-positioned" new robes, slippers, linens, etc., in the cabin but in the "front closet" the day before. Guess he assumed....and at least in our case rightly....that we'd not bother the stuff. This actually was the second time on HAL we'd be allowed to stay in our cabin until our group was called. Previously we'd been "evacuated" to a lounge waiting for our call.

[richwmn]

To the question posed by the OP, last October on the Zuiderdam when I got to the designated storage area I was asked if my bag contained a Laptop. When I answered that it did, the crew member said he couldn't take it. Just goes to show, even within HAL, different policies on different ships.

As far as the cleaning is concerned, on my last two cruises I have been able to remain in my stateroom until time to disembark. The room steward is hard at work cleaning his area as soon as the first passengers are out of their staterooms. It is very possible that he has been given a list showing the order the staterooms should be vacated.

Rich

[rkacruiser]

I, too, appreciate the early embarkation that is now available. Having lunch in the Lido certainly beats sitting on uncomfortable chairs in the terminal, waiting for boarding.

I do wish, however, that those who are early embarkers--if that is a word--would leave the Lido for another area of the ship after they have finished their lunch. Too often, seats/tables are being taken by folks who are done eating and waiting for the "Staterooms are now available" announcement. This makes it difficult for those arriving in the Lido for lunch to find a place to sit and enjoy their first lunch aboard.

[Spender Nui]

Don't forget that HAL now lets you remain in your cabin until it's time to get off the ship. That has to delay the completion of getting all cabins ready. As mentioned, we used to board around 2:00 or 2:30. Although it would be nice to check right in to your cabin when you board, the tradeoff is a [lus.

[Pam in CA]

If everyone is off the ship by 10AM or thereabouts, that is only three hours to fully strip and clean all the cabins assigned to a room steward. It doesn't sound like an excessive amount of time to me. I've seen some of the other cabins and some folks leave a lot of stuff all over the place. We tend to USE the trash can/recycling bin, but open doors have shown papers, drink bottles, dirty glasses, etc. all over the place. I imagine between sorting that out, changing the linens and towels, possibly rearranging the bed configuration, cleaning/filling ice buckets, re-stocking the bathroom, and other normal cleaning, they are under a lot of pressure to finish by 1-1:30pm. I'd love to think they get a little lunch break somewhere in there, but I bet they don't... I really like getting on the ship early and don't mind exploring and waiting a few hours in another area. I agree with other people; it beats waiting at the terminal. :)Ahhh... OK. Thanks for the info. I'm used to Princess where if you check-in at Noon, you board right away and can go right to your cabin. When you disembark, you leave your cabin before breakfast so that the crew has time to clean and set up. Same amount of time, different schedule.