WOW! Doc's Already here

[coloradospringscruiser]

We just received our doc's yesterday for our 3/23 Westy sailing. This is the earliest we have ever received docs from any cruiseline. This our second HAL cruise. We also received Blue Mariner Pins and Mariner luggage tags. Is this the norm? I thought mariner status was 25 days. This will be fourteen for us on HAL, but we have 15 on ccl as well. We are also in a SA, so I don't know if that matters. Anyways... YIPPEE, the countdown begins

[coloradospringscruiser]

We just received our doc's yesterday for our 3/23 Westy sailing. This is the earliest we have ever received docs from any cruiseline. This our second HAL cruise. We also received Blue Mariner Pins and Mariner luggage tags. Is this the norm? I thought mariner status was 25 days. This will be fourteen for us on HAL, but we have 15 on ccl as well. We are also in a SA, so I don't know if that matters. Anyways... YIPPEE, the countdown begins

[earl_m]

Congrats on getting your docs.:)

[jtl513]

I assume you mean you got those 2" diameter tin "campaign" buttons? Those don't mean anything, and we throw them in a drawer the day they arrive. Everybody is a Mariner on their 2nd HAL cruise, but the small (quarter-sized) lapel pins that are given out for 25/50/etc days won't come in the mail. Or at least they never have before to my knowledge. You will find them placed on your bed by the steward one night! :)

[coloradospringscruiser]

Thanks JTL

[jtl513]

Some people wear those big buttons when they arrive at the port airport, as an aid to having the HAL representatives spot them. We put a spare baggage tag on a carry-on for that purpose. Still other people wear them around the ship, but for what reason I do not know! I think many are on their first cruise as a Mariner, and think that those buttons gain them some benefits. In actuality, on most HAL cruises around 60% of the passengers are repeaters, and only a handful wear the buttons.

[lorekauf]

Hopefully I won't have to wait much longer for mine then. Good to know. Thanks.:D

[Krazy Kruizers]

Congratulations on getting your documents.

We always get ours 6 - 8 weeks early.

The Mariner luggage tags you got -- this is normal after you have sailed once on HAL.

The Blue Mariner Pins that were included in your documents are the big medal ones that all Mariners get with their documents. Do not confuse them with the tiny lapel pin that is given out once you get to 25 days. There was a time when many people wore those big pins on embarkation day. Some use to wear them every day of the cruise. Although others have reported seeing people wear them every day on recent cruises - I no longer see this. It has been years since we even take the pins with us.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Congratulations!!

[sapper1]

Hopefully I won't have to wait much longer for mine then. Good to know. Thanks.:D
Would you mind letting me know when you do get yours? Our TA in TO told us that they would not be mailed until two weeks before we are due to sail. Since we are leaving home one week prior to sailing that is not much of a window. If you get yours sooner, I will have some pressure to put on them. Tks, lorekauf.

[lorekauf]

Would you mind letting me know when you do get yours? Our TA in TO told us that they would not be mailed until two weeks before we are due to sail. Since we are leaving home one week prior to sailing that is not much of a window. If you get yours sooner, I will have some pressure to put on them. Tks, lorekauf.

Yeah I will let you know....probably on the roll call. HAL used to mail the documents very close to the cruise but on my last one in Oct.07 I'm pretty sure that they came about 2 months before. I'll let you know.

[PurpleCow]

We received our docs for our March 4 sailing several weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised. The badgemaker Mariner pins were in there, too, but I had already read about those in this forum and knew better than to wear the things. I do have a question about accumulated days. Do the days of the tour part of an Alaska cruise tour count toward Mariner status? If so, we'll make 25 during our upcoming cruise.

[jtl513]

Do the days of the tour part of an Alaska cruise tour count toward Mariner status? If so, we'll make 25 during our upcoming cruise.Sorry, the land days do not count. :( I wish they did ... we'd already be over 50!

[CruiserBruce]

Co Springs Cruiser:

Did you book through HAL, or your own TA? I also assume you didn't book air through HAL, as you probably won't get your docs until under 30 days.

Just curious, as we made our final payment for a later April W'Dam cruise a couple of weeks ago (early), and am wondering when we will be doing the "Doc Dance". We didn't book our air through HAL, but used a TA who doesn't like to ship docs until the last minute.

Bruce

[HAL Seattle]

The goal for documents is 45-60 days prior to the cruise, and they are sent to your home if you booked directly with HAL, or to your agent if you booked through one. (This process can delay you getting them as fast as they might have to be mailed a second time)

[coloradospringscruiser]

Co Springs Cruiser:

Did you book through HAL, or your own TA? I also assume you didn't book air through HAL, as you probably won't get your docs until under 30 days.

Just curious, as we made our final payment for a later April W'Dam cruise a couple of weeks ago (early), and am wondering when we will be doing the "Doc Dance". We didn't book our air through HAL, but used a TA who doesn't like to ship docs until the last minute.

Bruce

wee booked through a TA. We also booked our air separately

[ltsally]

Just got a call from our TA this morning that she has our docs ready to ship off to us (for a 3/25 Cortez sailing on R'dam).

Yay!!! Since we're into our third straight month with snow cover (at the moment, a good 8 inches on the ground and a snowglobe swirling going as I write), this is news to make a February day tolerable! Sunshine/warmth, here we come:D

[coloradospringscruiser]

I hear ya ltsally. Can't wait to warm my chilled bones in the Carib.

[Taxguy7]

On NCL, one time I had to call them and change the address for them to send to, as we went to our daughter's home for 3 days before leaving. The docs arrived there after we did!