Holland America cruise tickets received - wrong port!

[Nicola]

Last Thursday we received our cruise tickets for the 3 day Noordam cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver. I noticed that our departure port showed San Pedro on our tickets... this is wrong. Every web site, even Holland America's shows that the departure port is Long Beach. I phoned Holland America on Friday and they confirmed that it was Long Beach. So if you are booked on this cruise and your ticket shows departure as San Pedro, allow some time in your arrival to quickly change to Long Beach.

[PDAZ]

I've only seen Carnival ships at Long Beach -- is this new?

[Nicola]

Holland America is owned by Carnival so I suppose they can decided which ship goes where. All I know is that this small repositioning cruise is going from Long Beach. I have a feeling that there is going to be a bit of confusion around this and I hope that Holland America has buses available to transport people from San Pedro to Long Beach on May 9th. To reiterate, I did phone Holland America and was on hold for 10 minutes while they thoroughly checked it out. As my cruise tickets were printed by Holland America, I think someone has made an error here!

[dakrewser]

Cruise Calendar (http://www.cruisecal.info/portal/Noordam/tabid/303/Default.aspx) also shows that the Noordam is in Long Beach on May 9....

[Atomica]

I've only seen Carnival ships at Long Beach -- is this new?

I took the Veendam back in September 2005 on a 4-day coastal from Vancouver to LA, and we docked at Long Beach as well. I think they use it periodically, whenever San Pedro is too busy...

[sail7seas]

Please assist this right coaster....... :)

What is the distance/drive time between the two ports?

[roadbliss]

Hi:

Our tickets say San Pedro Pier #93...

Port Calendars indicate otherwise:

http://www.sanpedrocalendar.com/scripts/calcium310.pl?CalendarName=longbeachcruiseship&Op=ShowIt&Amount=Month&NavType=Absolute&Type=Block&Date=2007%2F5%2F1

Note - you will see by the above calendar that it is indeed rare for ships other than Carnival to be in Long Beach - but not unheard of....<we arrived in Long Beach several years ago on Star Princess> :confused:

[roadbliss]

Hi;

According to google maps - the distance is about 8.1 miles or 20 minute drive - so people arriving at wrong Port should be able to relocate quickly without missing the boat - unless they are very late to begin with...

[PDAZ]

Well I stand corrected. You learn something new every day!


Please assist this right coaster....... :)

What is the distance/drive time between the two ports?



Right coaster? Are you implying that we're on the wrong coast? :p It's not far -- ten/fifteen minutes or so. Someone posted an aerial photo of the two ports on the west coast forum not long ago, and you could see that they are pretty close. We actually fly into Long Beach regardless of which port we're sailing out of...

[Bramcruiser]

Right coaster? Are you implying that we're on the wrong coast? :p

Actually I hear people all the time refer to the west as the left coast so I guest that makes the eastern seaboard the right coast.:eek: :D


David

[RlrCstr]

Luckily the ports are very close to each other, connected by a huge bridge between the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach.
If you are flying into LAX, San Pedro is closer to LAX, if flying into
Long Beach airport (regardless of which port--if you can find a good
flight to this airport, it is a really nice airport. JetBlue uses it. shorter security lines and faster to get in and out of) then Long Beach (next to the Queen Mary and a very nice Aquarium) is closer. In either case, unless it is rush hour, there will not be a great time difference between driving to one versus driving to the other.
I live north of Los Angeles near Pasadena, but occasionally drive down to see the ships when they are in port. Rarely are there ships at both ports, which is why I don't know for sure how long it will take between the two ports, but it takes about the same amount of time from my house to either port.

[PDAZ]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=523954

Th picture showing the two ports is on this thread...

[Tinknock50]

To me, it wouldn't matter how far or close these two ports are to each other.
I think it would be a royal pain, especially since we need handicap transport, to be dropped off at the wrong terminal and then have to find transport back to the right one.

[PDAZ]

Actually I hear people all the time refer to the west as the left coast so I guest that makes the eastern seaboard the right coast.:eek: :D




Well, geez, I was right in grade school when I said that Acapulco was on the east coast of Mexico! If you turn around in AZ and face Mexico, Acapulco would be on your right side -- hence, east coast! I like it! I want my grade changed :p

[Tinknock50]

Last Thursday we received our cruise tickets for the 3 day Noordam cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver. I noticed that our departure port showed San Pedro on our tickets... this is wrong. Every web site, even Holland America's shows that the departure port is Long Beach. I phoned Holland America on Friday and they confirmed that it was Long Beach. So if you are booked on this cruise and your ticket shows departure as San Pedro, allow some time in your arrival to quickly change to Long Beach.

Nicola,
You have done a great service starting this thread. Some people may only come to Cruise Critic and never discover that the port on their tickets is wrong.

[sail7seas]

Well I stand corrected. You learn something new every day!




Right coaster? Are you implying that we're on the wrong coast? :p It's not far -- ten/fifteen minutes or so. Someone posted an aerial photo of the two ports on the west coast forum not long ago, and you could see that they are pretty close. We actually fly into Long Beach regardless of which port we're sailing out of...


:) If you look at a map, we're on the right coast. :D You've never heard that usage before? I say it all the time.

Sorry if you felt I meant anything more than that. ;)

[Tinknock50]

:) If you look at a map, we're on the right coast. :D You've never heard that usage before? I say it all the time.

Sorry if you felt I meant anything more than that. ;)

I am with you there.....I hear that all the time.:)

[PDAZ]

:) If you look at a map, we're on the right coast. :D You've never heard that usage before? I say it all the time.

Sorry if you felt I meant anything more than that. ;)

No -- takes a lot to offend me. Besides, I don't live in CA so you can trash them all you like ;) Kidding! Kidding! -- I love CA! I spend way too much time and money there!

I've actually never heard that usage before -- I must lead a very sheltered life...:rolleyes:

[Stevesan]

:) If you look at a map, we're on the right coast. :D You've never heard that usage before? I say it all the time.

Sorry if you felt I meant anything more than that. ;)

Right/Left coasts is more of a Red/Blue thing than geographical. ;) Back atcha

[Stevesan]

Well, geez, I was right in grade school when I said that Acapulco was on the east coast of Mexico! If you turn around in AZ and face Mexico, Acapulco would be on your right side -- hence, east coast! I like it! I want my grade changed :p

In Panama City, the sun rises in the Pacific (West) and sets in the Atlantic (East)!:p

[localady]

:) If you look at a map, we're on the right coast. :D You've never heard that usage before? I say it all the time.

Sorry if you felt I meant anything more than that. ;)


This Left Coaster knew exactly what you meant S7S!;) :D

[sail7seas]

Right/Left coasts is more of a Red/Blue thing than geographical. Back atcha
__________________


Dont blame me. :) You have no clue how I voted. :D


Nor do I know your leaning, either. ;)

Thanks Localady and Bramcruiser....and those who knew what I meant. I knew I couldn't be the only person who knew that usage.

To get back on track, here....... Thanks for the info about the distance between the two ports.

Nicola ..... You certainly did a good thing starting this thread. HAL may need to send faxes/e-mails to TA's to verify where the ship is docking. For most guests, it sounds like it could be an inconvenience and annoying but in some case it could be worse.

[newmexicoNita]

thanks for letting others know. I am sure there will be those who are put out because of the mistake, lets hope, not too many. This shows all of us, anyone can make a mistake. All of you enjoy your cruise regardless of how long it is from pier to pier. Actually Long Beach is a much better place to depart from NMnita

[CruiseBumm]

Actually I hear people all the time refer to the west as the left coast so I guest that makes the eastern seaboard the right coast.:eek: :D


David
I know does not have any to do with crusing, but my wife, who is left handed, keeps telling that left handed people are the only people in their right mind. DW also knows best.:o

[Oceanwench]

I also hear the term used down here in Florida -- right coast being the Atlantic side, and left coast being the Gulf of Mexico side.

[RustaRoo]

<snip> TA's to verify where the ship is docking. My TA sent me this information over two weeks ago and I will have been on board for two weeks prior to getting to California; so the change doesn't affect me at all. Interesting I'd be told and those embarking there haven't heard about it:confused:

[SDHALFAN]

:) If you look at a map, we're on the right coast. :D You've never heard that usage before? I say it all the time.

Sorry if you felt I meant anything more than that. ;)

Hi Sail,

I certainly did not take offense since we, here on the west coast, often refer to our coast as "the best coast" and that other coast as "the least coast".

Valerie:D

[sail7seas]

Never heard that one before., :confused: Valerie.

Wonder if any others have?

[SDHALFAN]

Never heard that one before., :confused: Valerie.

Wonder if any others have?



Oh lots of us here on the "best" coast have.

Valerie:D

[Chivalrygirl]

Down here in the bottom of the world we have two rather large islands. The South being known as the Mainland, and the North the Pig Island and us that live here the Pig Islanders :D

Bit like left foot and right foot eh!

The Statendam on her repositioning cruise last September tied up at Long Beach, the most beautiful place to anything else I have seen on numerous stop overs in LA. We greatly enjoyed our day in this lovely locality and the wonderful friendly and helpful people that we encountered, like the gentleman who decided to take us on a tour of the local sights after we got lost and asked him for directions back to the ship :D

[SDHALFAN]

Down here in the bottom of the world we have two rather large islands. The South being known as the Mainland, and the North the Pig Island and us that live here the Pig Islanders :D

Bit like left foot and right foot eh!

The Statendam on her repositioning cruise last September tied up at Long Beach, the most beautiful place to anything else I have seen on numerous stop overs in LA. We greatly enjoyed our day in this lovely locality and the wonderful friendly and helpful people that we encountered, like the gentleman who decided to take us on a tour of the local sights after we got lost and asked him for directions back to the ship :D

Hi Val,

I have to admit that this is the first time I have ever heard Long Beach (CA) described as beautiful, but hey it's not bad compared to most of the rest of the Los Angeles basin - this from someone who spent 8 years living in the greater Los Angeles area and loving every minute of it, but then I had not yet discovered San Diego.:D

As far as the "wonderful friendly and helpful people" go - well, here in southern California we are somewhat like you Kiwis and are very laid back, friendly and just go with the flow. We are lucky enough to live in a sunshine environment (most of the time) and are always happy to welcome visitors and show them around our particular piece of turf.

Come visit us in San Diego and I will be happy to chauffer (or show) you around.

Valerie:)

p.s. Having visited The Land of the Long White Cloud several times I love the North Island (I also love the South Island too) and would never consider it the Pig Island!:eek:

[ChatKat in Ca.]

Actually we don't yet have our document for the May 14th Amsterdam cruise LA to Vancouver but we got a letter telling us that our documents were wrong!

In any case, on Monday, you have the Carnivore Elation and the RCI's Monster of the Seas in port at the LA Passenger Cruise terminal (Pier 92, I think) - I think that it's limited to two or three ships. Those are the LA to Ensenada weekenders and 4 day weekly cruises so the ships were probably re-assisgned. The Port for Long Beach is next to the Queen Mary and actually just across the way - by boat! But if you are driving you must go around the harbor - no direct line. Not a difficult drive around. Just make sure your taxi/shuttle/bus driver knows it's next to the Queen Mary.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Why is HAL making so many mistakes lately? I keep rading about this being wrong and that being wrong in various threads.

[Spender Nui]

I'd hate to have a late flight, grab a cab to the cruise terminal and when I got there, amidst all the confusion, find I was at the wrong port.

[Copper10-8]

Luckily the ports are very close to each other, connected by a huge bridge between the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach.
which is why I don't know for sure how long it will take between the two ports, but it takes about the same amount of time from my house to either port.

That huge bridge is the Vincent Thomas suspension bridge however, you're still in the City of L.A. (Terminal Island) after you cross it. The distance between the two ports is 7.12 miles and the time it takes to drive it (depending on time of day - lots of truck traffic there) can be as fast as 15-20 minutes.




http://img.mqcdn.com/mqsite/icon-dirs-start1:Start out going SOUTHWEST on SWINFORD ST toward N FRONT ST.0.1 miles
2:Merge onto CA-47 N toward TERMINAL ISLAND.2.9 miles
3:Merge onto W OCEAN BLVD.2.4 miles
4:Turn RIGHT onto QUEENSWAY BR.0.3 miles
5:Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto QUEENSWAY BAY.0.6 mileshttp://img.mqcdn.com/mq/space_white
6:QUEENSWAY BAY becomes QUEENS HWY.0.5 miles
7:Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto WINDSOR WAY.0.1 miles
http://img.mqcdn.com/mqsite/icon-dirs-end8:End at Carnival Cruise Lines:
231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, CA 90802, US Map (http://javascript<b></b>:showManMap('7','http://www.mapquest.com/apart/loadmanmap.adp?id=4602b68b-00092-06c14-87c10c40:1177397748:1:2:END');)

http://img.mqcdn.com/mq/space_whiteTotal Est. Time: 14 minutes Total Est. Distance: 7.12 miles

[PDAZ]

:) If you look at a map, we're on the right coast. :D You've never heard that usage before? I say it all the time.



Noticed an article in this week's Economist... "Our correspondent Explores Left Coast Living". If the Economist uses the term, it must be legit. My apologies to all of you Right Coasters for doubting you :)

[diann744]

Sis and I are on this cruise as well and have gotten a lot of conflicting information about the port.

First was a voice mail message informing us that the docs were wrong, followed by an email saying the docs were right and then another phone message flipping it again.

Our plan is to go the closest port, but not get out of the car until we've eyeballed the ship.

Has this happened before?

[hammybee]

I wonder if HAL does not know, with certainty, which port they will dock at. Is it possible that it's a surprise to everyone, dependent upon where the port authorities direct them?

Or maybe HAL is just goofy.

Looking forward to hearing how this turns out.

[ChatKat in Ca.]

Well, I came back to post here. My TA Called today and got two answers from HAL Cust Svc. We've been told LB and San Pedro and been flip flopped a couple times now.

So I will just go to www.cruisecal. c o m when I am leaving for the ship and see what shows on the webcam. They aren't going to move the ship in harbor, so we will just have to guess and then move...I think it's funny - but - stupid.