A Question For the Knowledgeable

[TampaBrad]

My wife and I have cruised using various lines for the past six years. On all of those cruises, we received a small booklet in the mail giving us luggage
sticky things to put around the handle and other pertinent information.
This year we received an e-mail confirmation of our cruise. My wife has
already put our boarding information on the HAL website. We went
through RCI to book the cruise. They tell us that HAL no longer sends these booklets through the mail. Did I receive the correct information?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Yes -- you got the correct information:

HAL Launches New Electronic Cruise Documents
Holland America Line Launches New Electronic Cruise Documents
Beginning with Spring '09 cruises, Green Express Docs Speed Up
Vacation Planning


Seattle, March 3, 2009 — To make vacation planning easier, Holland
America Line will now provide its guests with quick, convenient and
“green” cruise documentation through its new Express Docs program that
begins with cruises departing May 9, 2009. The premium line’s
eco-friendly cruise documents, Express Docs provide guests with clear,
concise and easily accessible cruise and air travel details. Guests
have 24/7 access and can print boarding passes at their leisure before
a cruise.


"Express Docs provide all the same information our guests expect and
will also help them finalize vacation plans much quicker and they
provide greater flexibility in providing copies for family and
friends,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president,
marketing, sales and guest programs. “Guests who still prefer paper
documents can request full cruise documentation and tickets to be
mailed.”


Beginning on March 10, 2009, guests sailing on all cruises departing
after May 9, 2009, can now request Holland America Line’s Express Docs
and receive a comprehensive, personalized travel summary including
cruise and flight information, itinerary, special request information,
shore excursion reservation information, transfer vouchers, important
notices and a boarding pass to be printed out and brought to the ship
for check-in. While online confirming voyage details, guest can easily
navigate to a shore excursion page to view and book available shore
tours.


Once final payment is received and the immigration questionnaire is
completed, guests will be able to access their boarding pass
approximately 50 days prior to the voyage date. Suite guests will
receive a special boarding pass to use at the Suite Check-in Desk at
the pier.


Guests with Holland America Line transfers will not need vouchers as
transfer information is included in the Express Docs forms. Luggage
tags will be available from Holland America Line staff at the pier or
airport at which guests arrive before boarding the ship.


The Grand World Voyage, Grand Voyages and Alaska CruiseTours will
continue to receive traditional documentation packets due to the
extensive detail provided for these types of extended vacations.
Guests sailing on these departures still may register their
immigration information online at Cruises to Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and the world on Holland America, one of the best cruise lines (http://www.hollandamerica.com/) and issue
their "Signature Boarding Pass" for boarding.

[Typhoon1]

You will no longer have all that useless paper to sort through. That entire pack of paper and booklets was essentially useless.

[Krazy Kruizers]

And unfortunately you will not get the lovely blue document folder that all that useless paper junk came in.

[Love the beach]

Guess I'll hold onto my beautiful blue folders-- maybe they will become antiques!

[allentownahoy]

We depart May 10 on the Statendam and I just got my blue holder with all the documents. I would have been fine going electronic though.

[travelite]

My wife and I have cruised using various lines for the past six years. On all of those cruises, we received a small booklet in the mail giving us luggage
sticky things to put around the handle and other pertinent information.
This year we received an e-mail confirmation of our cruise. My wife has
already put our boarding information on the HAL website. We went
through RCI to book the cruise. They tell us that HAL no longer sends these booklets through the mail. Did I receive the correct information?

Yes you have the correct info. They have a new system....no booklets, no badges, new luggage tags.

[Typhoon1]

And unfortunately you will not get the lovely blue document folder that all that useless paper junk came in.

I have a drawer full of blue Sateen document folders. What should I do with them?

[HALFans]

I have a drawer full of blue Sateen document folders. What should I do with them?

They really are beautiful little folders, with the jacquard woven Holland America logo in the cloth and everything.

What were you planning to do with the drawer full before you found there weren't to be any more?

I think the ones before that were blue vinyl weren't they?

[DFD1]

I don't mind the e documents except for the luggage tags. We recently sailed on NCL and were required to print our luggage tags on regular 8.5x11" paper and fold them in a convoluted (sp) fashion and wrap them around the luggage handles and tape them in place.

They worked okay, but when I turned the luggage over to the porters, I had my doubts if I would ever see my bags again. Fortunately, I did.

[jtl513]

I think the ones before that were blue vinyl weren't they?No, black "pleather". :)

[serendipity1499]

I don't mind the e documents except for the luggage tags. We recently sailed on NCL and were required to print our luggage tags on regular 8.5x11" paper and fold them in a convoluted (sp) fashion and wrap them around the luggage handles and tape them in place.

They worked okay, but when I turned the luggage over to the porters, I had my doubts if I would ever see my bags again. Fortunately, I did.

I believe you will also be able to get your HAL luggage tags the same way you got your NCL ones on-line..There was another thread on the luggage tags a few weeks ago..Will try to find it for you & post the URL on here..

Enjoy your cruise..:)Betty

[jtl513]

I believe you will also be able to get your HAL luggage tags the same way you got your NCL ones on-line..There was another thread on the luggage tags a few weeks ago..Will try to find it for you & post the URL on here..

Enjoy your cruise..:)Betty DutchByAssociation's blog (http://dutchbyassociation.blogspot.com/) shows the new tags. They are long and narrow, and only have room on the back for name, cabin, and sailing date. He didn't say anything about them being printable on-line.

[Stevesan]

It must have been the cruise fairy who last week mailed to me a shorex booklet and a blue sateen folder containing a "know before you go" booklet,
blank immigration forms, the "Your Travel Documents" booklet, perforated cards with HAL phone numbers and other miscellany.:confused:
The only thing lacking from the my previous HAL cruise four years ago is the boarding pass which is on line.

And yes, I did fill out all of the on line forms and info.

[GeriatricNurse]

I have a drawer full of blue Sateen document folders. What should I do with them?


Maybe list them on ebay!

[Typhoon1]

They really are beautiful little folders, with the jacquard woven Holland America logo in the cloth and everything.



The most expensive little blue folder I ever bought.:eek::eek:

[scottjeanne]

We are sailing on May 1 on Veendam and already have our "little blue package" It arrived two weeks ago.

[schwabby]

I just called the other day and booked friends who have never sailed HAL before. I was asked if she wanted paper or e-docs. I requested paper so they would get their nice blue folder. This was for a cruise in September. So, I guess at this point it is still an option to get paper.

Schwabby

[leoandhugh]

If I ever feel the need to use one of those "lovely blue folders" all I have to do is select from what has become a 1/2 drawer full of them - from HAL, Celebrity, Orient - have a great selection from which to choose:)

[serendipity1499]

DutchByAssociation's blog (http://dutchbyassociation.blogspot.com/) shows the new tags. They are long and narrow, and only have room on the back for name, cabin, and sailing date. He didn't say anything about them being printable on-line.

Thanks JTL..Knew I saw it somewhere but not sure where! It's called CRS..;)