First HAL cruise in October - Have a few questions

[Jewel99]

Hi everyone,

We're seriously thinking of taking a cruise in October on the Eurodam on their Eastern Caribbean itinerary. This will be our first cruise with our son (age 5 at time of travel) as well as our first cruise with HAL. I've done two cruises with RCCL but not in more than 10 years (3-day Nassau and 7-day Alaska).

I have a few questions that I was hoping I might be able to get answers to. Sorry to ask so many things... there's just so much to think about when booking a cruise lol.

- If we fly into Fort Lauderdale a day or two before the cruise and stay at a local hotel with a shuttle, does the shuttle usually take you right to the ship or are you left off far away and have to walk with luggage?
- How long does it typically take to get off the ship at the end of the cruise and get to the airport? I want to be sure I book a return flight that gives us enough time to get off.
- If you have a later flight (afternoon), can you relax a bit in the morning and take your time getting off the ship?
- One concern I have with HAL is that it's not geared heavily towards couples with a child, but my gut is telling me it won't be too much of an issue. While we hope to be able to use the kids programming a few times, it won't be used extensively. I'm just concerned there might not be a lot of kids in the 4-8 age range travelling in October as they're in school then (we'd take our son out of Kindergarten for the week) and I would hope that our son could meet some other kids his age.
- If you have the set dinnertime and miss it, can you still be seated elsewhere at another time? I've read that you lose a bit of the personalized service with the As You Wish dining but I worry about being able to always make the earlier dinnertimes.
- Does anyone have rate info on the pool cabanas or cabanas on the private island?
- Where can I find info on dresscodes for various restaurants/meals?

Thanks so much - and again, my apologies for asking so many questions.

Julie

[kryos]

If you have a later flight (afternoon), can you relax a bit in the morning and take your time getting off the ship?
I can't answer all of your hotel-related questions, because I generally don't stay pre-cruise in Florida. I don't like staying in hotels and only do so when a West Coast departure is involved.

I do know, however, that there is a certain time by which you must be off the ship. They can't begin embarking the new guests until the ones from the previous cruise have cleared the ship. So, depending upon what time the ship gets in that morning, the longest you can stay aboard is when they make the "last call" announcement and all remaining passengers must proceed to the gangway. That will generally be an hour or so after the first guests have gotten off.

One concern I have with HAL is that it's not geared heavily towards couples with a child, but my gut is telling me it won't be too much of an issue. While we hope to be able to use the kids programming a few times, it won't be used extensively. I'm just concerned there might not be a lot of kids in the 4-8 age range travelling in October as they're in school then (we'd take our son out of Kindergarten for the week) and I would hope that our son could meet some other kids his age.
There may be some kids onboard that week, but you are right ... there probably won't be many. With school in session, you will get a few kids because this is only a seven-day cruise, but it is entirely possible that your son won't have anyone else his age to hang out with. But that just means you have to do more with him ... to keep him entertained. Shouldn't be that difficult, especially since the itinerary will probably be port-intensive. Make the time in port count for lots of fun things, and the time onboard the ship shouldn't be that big of a deal. If he has another kid to hang around with, great. If not, there are plenty of board games you can borrow in the Explorations Cafe and you can spend some really great family time together.

If you have the set dinnertime and miss it, can you still be seated elsewhere at another time? I've read that you lose a bit of the personalized service with the As You Wish dining but I worry about being able to always make the earlier dinnertimes.
I wouldn't recommend anything OTHER than anytime dining with a child. You need that flexibility a lot more than you do the same wait staff each night. Maybe you are in port all day and you get back to the ship a half hour or so before your fixed seating dinner time. Now your son is cranky cause he's tired. But you have to rush him around to get him ready for a dinner he's gonna be absolutely miserable at. Far better to let him nap for an hour or so and then go to dinner at your own convenience.

As for dress codes, you will probably have two formal nights during a seven-day cruise, but no biggie. If you don't want to play "dress up" that night, you could always choose to eat in the Lido. They offer "semi" table service in the evenings. You just pick your sides along the buffet line and then order your entree (pretty much the same things that are being served in the dining rooms that night). Your entree is cooked to order and then brought to your table. If you really want to eat in the dining rooms on formal nights, just "clean up" ... dress decent ... and on a Caribbean type of cruise, you will fit in fine.

Blue skies and enjoy your cruise ...

--rita

[Modern_Viking]

In general, the advice is not to get a flight out of FLL that leaves before noon on the day you sail back in. It is normally possible to make earlier flights, but I'd rather not have to worry about being late on the last day of my vacation!

In general, I would expect that all disembarking passengers are expected to be off the ship by 9:30 or 10:00 am. You may request a "late" disembarkation time if you wish. I really enjoy HAL's hot room service breakfast on the last day and the ability to stay in your cabin until you head to the gangway to get off.

I believe that for passengers with fixed dining in the main dining room, the "as you wish" section of the dining room is off-limits. You must arrive within 15 minutes after your scheduled seating, or you will need to have dinner elsewhere. Your options would be (on Eurodam) the Canaletto / Lido buffet, room service, or the two extra cost restaurants. Only the Lido and room service are always available without a reservation.

If a local hotel offers a shuttle bus to the port (and just because they offer a shuttle to the airport, it doesn't guarantee they have an access pass for the port), you should be dropped off in the same basic place as people arriving in taxis, private cars, etc. So, I don't think there would be a disadvantage.

As for dinner dress codes, in the main dining room for smart casual nights (5 per week) the rule is no shorts, t-shirts, distressed jeans (or just no jeans, depending who you ask), hats, etc. For formal nights, the rule is a suit or tux or slacks/blazer/tie for men and then the female dressy equivalent.

[KAYEF]

The shuttles have always dropped us off RIGHT at the ship. The unloaded suitcases are handed (by us) to the people checking them on; it's a breeze.................have never had to haul luggage.
ENJOY!!

[the2ofus]

Well, I'm not quite smart enough to figure out how to snip so I can type my answers in white space so this will have to do.

- If we fly into Fort Lauderdale a day or two before the cruise and stay at a local hotel with a shuttle, does the shuttle usually take you right to the ship or are you left off far away and have to walk with luggage?

Have stayed in hotels with shuttle to port many times. Usually you reserve your shuttle transfer time when you check in at the hotel. All the shuttles have always taken us directly to the embarkation point for our specific ship.

I would hope that our son could meet some other kids his age.

On every HAL cruise I have taken there have been some families of ships officers on board with children ranging from infants through school age. Not a large number, but some. There also have been families who home-school their children. The smaller numbers of children get more individualized attention from the Club HAL counselors and seem to have a good time.

- If you have the set dinnertime and miss it, can you still be seated elsewhere at another time? I've read that you lose a bit of the personalized service with the As You Wish dining but I worry about being able to always make the earlier dinnertimes.

Twice, when I missed my early fixed seating time, I went to the dining room and asked the Maitre d' most politely if it would be possible to be seated later. I was accommodated at late seating at a table of six or eight similar "lost souls" and had an enjoyable time.

- Does anyone have rate info on the pool cabanas or cabanas on the private island?

Check out the shore excursions section on the HAL web site as though you were getting ready to book excursions. You will find all the information you need. (Then come back here for opinions as to which beach cabanas are most desirable :D) We've reserved clamshells and been very comfortable.

- Where can I find info on dresscodes for various restaurants/meals?

If you haven't yet checked out the Know Before You Go info on the HAL site, you need to do that. Lots of basic info there, but for the inside scoop come back here.

Thanks so much - and again, my apologies for asking so many questions.

Julie

Don't sweat the small stuff, go with the flow and plan to have a wonderful time. Enjoy and then tell us all about it.

[Jewel99]

Well, I've taken one more step towards booking this cruise - it's soooo exciting :-)

Our TA has put the cruise on a hold while I check things one last time before we put down our deposit.

It looks like a beautiful ship and I've been so impressed with all of the amazing info and advice from this site.

[DavidPatrick]

If you check online make sure that the motel has a shuttle to pick you up at the airport and deliver you to the ship. I forgot last month and it was $50 from the airport and $45 to the ship by cab. Most motels display on their website whether or not that they are motels for cruisers. Yes the van etc. drops you off right at the check in line with no walk involved at Ft. Lauderdale. Try and pick up some bottled water before you leave for the ship as it is expensive onboard. You can fill your own bottle at the Lido buffet in the am at the ice tea dispensor. Yes there are some children onboard the Eurodam as we just cruised in March on it. They as most boats do, have a childrens play room and persons to watch them.
I saw small children eating in the main dinning room at dinner, but you have the option of the Lido buffet which serves the same food at dinner time, but without the fancy tables and waiters. Plus NO dressup required.:)

[Jewel99]

In general, the advice is not to get a flight out of FLL that leaves before noon on the day you sail back in. It is normally possible to make earlier flights, but I'd rather not have to worry about being late on the last day of my vacation!


We're looking at two Southwest flights. One leaves at 12:35 p.m. and the other at 3:25 p.m. The earlier flight would be ideal, but I don't know if we'd be cutting it too tight or not.

Thanks!

Julie

[K&RCurt]

I haven't seen an answer to your question on the cost of the pool side "cabanas" on the lido deck yet. I was urious about this also!

What week in October are you looking at? We are on the 10/24 sailing, so if that is what you are considering, please stop by the roll call board and say Hi!

[Jewel99]

I haven't seen an answer to your question on the cost of the pool side "cabanas" on the lido deck yet. I was urious about this also!

What week in October are you looking at? We are on the 10/24 sailing, so if that is what you are considering, please stop by the roll call board and say Hi!

I did find the rates for the cabanas, but now my brain isn't functioning. I think they are $199 for the week on the Lido deck and $299 on the Retreat (bigger, more perks).

There are also cabanas on the private island (Half Moon Cay) for $249 for the day for up to 4 people that include things like A/C, a fan, chairs, table, spritzer shower, etc. The clam shells on Half Moon Cay are $14 (finally something that fits our budget lol).

We're travelling Oct 17 on the Eurodam (assuming I don't chicken out and cancel the courtesy hold). It's very exciting :-)

[happy cruzer]

You seem to like to do a lot of research. Cruise Critic has few boards that you may want to visit for detailed information.

The cruise air board could give you some advice on the Southwest flight to pick. I would tend to book the later one and try to standby on the early one. But I would ask the regular fliers on the cruise air board how they would do it. Each air line is a bit different.

Ther is a departure port board that will have hotel and transportation info. I think it is the east coast departures then florida departures.

Each port of call will have board that will talk about excursions too.

[RuthC]

We're looking at two Southwest flights. One leaves at 12:35 p.m. and the other at 3:25 p.m. The earlier flight would be ideal, but I don't know if we'd be cutting it too tight or not.
You should make the 12:35 flight without breaking a sweat. You won't even need to be in the first group off the ship.

[Jena]

Jewel99, I just got off the Eurodam on Apr 18th. What a beautiful ship! I think you will enjoy it very much. I can't tell you how many children your child's age will be on the ship at that time, but I would think he will have a good time. We were on the early fixed dinner and you are given a 15 minute window. The worst that happens if you miss dinner time by a lot you go to the Lido (the menus are almost the same at dinner, and the food is delicious in both). Getting off the ship is painless. We had a 9:45 time to get off. We had our car parked in the park and fly. We had to take their shuttle back to our car. By 10:15 we were on our way. It was fantastic! Good luck bon vogage and don't worry too much.