purchasing airport to ship transfer from HAL

[goin'toalaska]

I called this weekend to purchase a transfer from airport to ship, and was told that I could not purchase it thru HAL b/c I had bought my cruise through a travel agent, and only the travel agent could purchase the transfer for me. Is this right? That seems very odd to me because literally the first sentence on the first page of my travel docs says "To purchase a transfer to the ship, call 1-800 . . . " (or something like that). I've been really unhappy w/ my travel agent, and would prefer to work directly w/ HAL.

[arzz]

For cruises in and out of North America we have always been able to purchase an airport transfer upon arrival at the airport (once you find out which terminal HAL will be in) and return transfers can usually be purchased on board if necessary. The HAL people are usually found in baggage claim wearing red vests but I am not sure that they are always at every terminal in a given airport and I am also sure that their hours are limited to the day the cruise ship leaves.

If this info is currently incorrect -- someone out there please correct it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The only time we have booked HAL's transfers is when we need to get from Seattle to Vanouver and vice versa. Our TA does book the transfers for us. The price is added onto our cruise cost and everything is paid off at once.

[jazzsea]

Which airport to which ship?
Once you arrive at the baggage claim area of the airport, look for the Holland America Line representative. He or she will be wearing a bright red jacket and will be holding a clipboard. You can purchase your transfer to the ship from the representative. I have done this. Once I paid the driver (lots of years ago) and once it was charged to my onboard ship account. Very easy to do and you need not discuss it with your TA.

[dakrewser]

Take a taxi - less time, lower cost.

[Maclean girl]

Yes, you can purchase the airport transfer through HAL. Your TA needs to contact HAL's shore service department... I am not sure exactly what it is called but it is not the regular department you would call.

I know this because the couple traveling with DH and me were told the same thing as the OP. We contacted our TA to find out why we had been able to purchase it when we booked the cruise originally and why our friends had been told that they could not do it. So, please persevere with your TA...or do as someone else has suggested....turn up at the airport luggage area and watch for the HAL representative who will sell you a transfer. As for timing etc, our ship sails from Harwich at 5 pm and the HAL rep will be at the Heathrow airport from 9am till 1 pm.The bus will leave as it fills up, apparently. Perhaps that will give you some idea.

[ldog]

Don't bother with the HAL transfers. They are double what you would pay on your own. Take a taxi and you won't have to wait for a big bus to load up. Y

[DAllenTCY]

HAL transfers are not sold at the airport, at least not in San Diego or Los Angeles. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity do sell them, however.
David
P.S. A taxi or shuttle is more convenient anyway.

[Maclean girl]

I think that it depends on how far it is from the airport to the port as to whether or not it is cheaper to take a taxi. According to our TA, we have a 2 1/2 hour bus ride to get from Heathrow to Harwich to board our ship. I think that I would not want to do that on my own as a taxi from Heathrow just into London is @ 60 GBP so I cannot imagine what a 2 1/2 hour taxi ride would cost! Not to mention that sometimes convenience is worth the extra money, esp if you are carrying luggage etc.
As I said before, the contact at HAL is at "World Wide Shore Services" if you decide to go that route. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[TheOrginalMrsSmith]

The price of $48.00 US from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and returning is alot less expensive than a $75.00 cab fare each way.

I booked the transfer from the HAL website but it is not run by HAL.