Oosterdam Review - Day 1 - Alaska Explorer

[RuthC]

Originally Posted by Doh15

We will be on the Oosterdam in a couple of weeks and our checkin docs list the boarding time as 1:00 pm. Is that because we have not sailed with HAL before, are not in suites, or are boarding times staggered somehow?

None of the above. Your documents say boarding is at 1:00 because the documents were never changed from that time when HAL went to early embarkation.
In most ports, embarkation starts at about 11:30. It's suites and disabled first, followed by first come/first served.

[Doh15]

Originally Posted by RuthC

None of the above. Your documents say boarding is at 1:00 because the documents were never changed from that time when HAL went to early embarkation.
In most ports, embarkation starts at about 11:30. It's suites and disabled first, followed by first come/first served.

Thanks very much for explaining!

[jayisgerman]

Originally Posted by Doh15

Thanks for the detailed review.

It seems as though you boarded around 11:30 am, and I think I've seen other TRs with that boarding time. We will be on the Oosterdam in a couple of weeks and our checkin docs list the boarding time as 1:00 pm. Is that because we have not sailed with HAL before, are not in suites, or are boarding times staggered somehow?

I think they cleared the ship right around 11:30 AM for boarding, but we saw people coming on as late as 3:30 PM (though technically that was not allowed according to the HAL site, due to DHS regulations. Not sure if those may have been delayed pre-cruise tours or employees, etc. ). I think I would not have gotten there earlier than 11:00 AM and not later than 2:00 PM. Our window worked out perfect for us. Enjoy your travels!