Average time before cruise when docs arrive

[SueOverend]

We're travelling from the UK to California on Dec 27th, but won't be cruising until the 6th Jan on the Oosterdam. The last day for post in the UK will be 23rd December as the 25th & 26th are holidays. I'm a little concerned whether we'll get our docs in time. Would be interested in knowing what the "normal" document dance is from your experiences. If they fail to arrive, does anybody know if HAL can arrange for our documentation to be copied for us to collect at the port on arrival. Many thanks.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We don't do HAL air - so our documents usually arrive 6 - 8 weeks before we cruise. But of course we live in the states.

You are like us - we always go to our embarkation ports several days early.

From what I understand, if you don't get your documents before you leave and you have completed the immigration forms on line and printed them out, that is all you need to show at check-in. You will have to explain them why you don't have actual cruise ticket.

But I would certainly start checking if you don't have your documents by Dec 1.

[jhannah]

Around 6 weeks is our experience. I'd think you would have yours well before you leave town. Have a great cruise!

[BumperII]

I think some of this might depend upon booking and the type of booking. If one has booked a particular cabin, one might expect the docs a little sooner than one who books a "guarentee". We always book "Guarentee", so we usually get our docs anywhere between two and three weeks prior to embarkation.

And one time we booked on the spur of the moment, early December, we decided to book a Christmas cruise. We received the docs about ten days ahead of time, but we didn't know the cabin until we checked in. It was no problem at all. The curbside baggage guys had a list, and just wrote our cabin number on the luggage tags. Comes under the heading of problems solved in one minute or less.

You can pretty well solve any problem as long as you have the required travel identification including passport and the trusty plastic credit card. If you are booked and have a reciept, all you need is the proper ID and you can get on board.:)

[3 Fan]

We are on the Volendam sailing October 24, 2006. Our documents arrived today, 46 days before sailing. Who's counting!

[lougee1043]

We're travelling from the UK to California on Dec 27th, but won't be cruising until the 6th Jan on the Oosterdam. .

saw your one post on the roll call board for the odam jan 6 sail -- looking forward to meeting you and john on that cruise -- check in there every so often so you can learn where the meeting place will be for hellos all around

are you staying in san diego pre cruise or elsewhere

[duck tune]

We've always received our documents for HAL at least 4 - 6 six weeks before the cruise so I would think you would get yours before you leave the UK but Dec 1 is a good date to start calling HAL if you don't have your documents.

[SueOverend]

saw your one post on the roll call board for the odam jan 6 sail -- looking forward to meeting you and john on that cruise -- check in there every so often so you can learn where the meeting place will be for hellos all around

are you staying in san diego pre cruise or elsewhere

Lougee,
We've got just the one night in San Diego before the cruise. Before that we have 4 nights in LA, then 5 nights in Mammoth Mountain skiing. We'll be pretty exhausted by the time we join the ship, as we have about an 8 hour drive to do on 5th. We'll probably be the only people boarding the ship with Ski boots, goggles, gloves etc!! Look forward to meeting you.

Everybody else, thanks for your reassurance. We've booked our own air and have a specific cabin, so there should be no delays from that point of view. I just can't remember how soon we got our documents last year.

[lougee1043]

[quote=SueOverend]Lougee,
We've got just the one night in San Diego before the cruise.We'll probably be the only people boarding the ship with Ski boots, goggles, gloves etc!! Look forward to meeting you.quote]

where are you staying in san diego--- a shame you cant leave your ski stuff somewhere in san diego so you dont have to deal with it getting on and off the ship

[Mack704]

DW and I are cruising on the Maasdam Oct. 17. We received our docs yesterday, (YEA!), a good six weeks prior. This is our first HAL cruise. On RCCL, X, And CCL I seem to remember 2-4 weeks. I guess six weeks is the norm for HAL. Kudos to them.

Harvey

[earl_m]

Usually I recieve mine about 10 days before leaving, maybe because
I live in Canada it takes a little longer.

[Bouff]

Hi there.

As another UK cruiser, although first time, perhaps I can help.

I had this anxiety as well especially as I had booked through a USA on-line agency. However I had been able to speak with the TA on the 'phone so there was also the benefit of human contact!

We have made our own flight arrangements and Hotel bookings in the Big Apple.

We are sailing on the Noordam on the 24th October. Our documents arrived on 2nd September having been sent by the TA from Florida on 28th August. I was most impressed.

I guess it depends on how and with whom you have booked as there has been a thread about one agency wanting to charge $25 to send the docs to the UK. The franked postage was under $10, $9.50 I think.

I hope this helps and have a good cruise!!

[grannynurse]

Using our own air, we receive our documents approx. 6 weeks ahead of sailing.
We had to travel to the port separately last year and knew we would arrive at different times so our TA arranged for a separate set of documents to be waiting for my DH at check-in. He just had to remind the agent at the desk that I had completed check-in about an hour before. He knew because we were in touch by cell phone. As long as your immigration forms are complete and accurate you won't have any trouble getting aboard. You can tag your luggage at the port before you hand it over to the porters.
GN