Connecting Flight in Amsterdam.

[miranda99]

hi everyone. We go on our first cruise in 3 weeks and I'm starting to get a bit concerned about the flights.

We have booked our flights through Royal Caribbean and are hoping that means they will help if anything goes wrong with the flights. We start our cruise in Barcelona and are travelling from Newcastle airport, England.

We just received flight details a few weeks ago to find we have to change planes in Amsterdam. I can do without that as I hate 'taking off ' and now have to do it twice on the way and twice on the way back, but I can live with it provided everything goes smoothly.

I have a couple of questions and am hoping someone can help.

1 - We have about 2 and a half hours in Amsterdam airport before we get the connecting flight to Barcelona - is this enough time and do we need to pick our bags up and recheck them in again? I had assumed not but people I've spoken to about this are questioning this so now I'm not sure.

2- We are due to land in Barcelona at 12.15 and should be checked in on the ship by 3pm the same day. This doesn't seem like a lot of time and I'm beginning to worry about it. Having said that, it's Royal Caribbean that has booked us onto these flights so surely it should be ok and they'll take responsibility if it's not? Or am I being naive?

I really wish we'd booked separate direct flights now but as there's only 3 weeks to go it's a bit late to be thinking that now

[Talisker92]

Dear Miranda99,
I can understand you are anxious. Your bags will be checked through to Barcelona. When checking you bags in England, make sure the tags have 2 sets of airport designators. AMS for Amsterdam and BCN for Barcelona.
Two and a half hours is sufficient time to change planes in Amsterdam
When you get to Barcelona, look for the ship's representatives outside the baggage claim area. If you have paid for transfers to the ship they will help you to the coach to get to the ship.

[Sauer-kraut]

Make sure you read your air/cruise documents carefully. There should be a contact telephone number to call if you encounter delays. Also you're very lucky that you don't have to get a train/tram/taxi and someone will be awaiting your arrival at the baggage claim or nearby.

You probably won't encounter any problems, have a fantastic time and don't worry!!

[Dayenu]

I have limited mobility, and our 3 hrs between the flights in AMS were more than enough to check out souvenirs, get coffee, get bored

If your flights reservations are made by the cruise line, this means, the transfer to the ship is included. Look for RCI representative after you got your luggage. Don't worry if you don't have any vouchers or something in writing - that person will have a list of people who get on the shuttle, but last names.

[miranda99]

Thank you guys, you've put my mind at rest, I'm sure I'm just get g jitters but I'm very excited too

[SadieN]

Regarding your luggage question--

If the flights are on the same airline (or affiliate) then your luggage will be sent on through.

[penguinscott]

Sounds like fun! I just got back from Barcelona! Loved it! And I'm headed to Amsterdam in a few weeks!

A good rule of thumb to remember is that airlines request your arrival for international flights about 2 hours before departure. So even if you're transitioning, that's an adequate amount of time.

When I came home a few months ago and transitioned throught Newark coming back to California, I was amazed at the guy behind me in line having a major freak out because his connecting flight was in 40 minutes. We were still in line for customs! Oops. Someone wasn't thinking!

[Heymarco]

Originally Posted by penguinscott

Sounds like fun! I just got back from Barcelona! Loved it! And I'm headed to Amsterdam in a few weeks!

A good rule of thumb to remember is that airlines request your arrival for international flights about 2 hours before departure. So even if you're transitioning, that's an adequate amount of time.

When I came home a few months ago and transitioned throught Newark coming back to California, I was amazed at the guy behind me in line having a major freak out because his connecting flight was in 40 minutes. We were still in line for customs! Oops. Someone wasn't thinking!

It's different in Europe. We consider intercontinental flights domestic

[penguinscott]

Originally Posted by Heymarco

It's different in Europe. We consider intercontinental flights domestic

I'm well aware of that. I travel for a living.

The point is to consider what the airline tells you for arrival for a flight when scheduling a pass through flight. If the airline says to be at the airport 2 hours before a flight, don't think 30 minutes to get through customs will get you on your flight will be enough.

[jocap]

We did this journey- Newcastle, Am, Barc, with NCL a couple of years ago, and both flights were with KLM, which uses N/C as one of its sites. There was lots of time inbetween....the hop from N/C to Am is just up in the air then down again... -in fact, we were hanging around in Schiphol for quite a while, going out. The airport is very well marked, and there's lots of people to ask.
Returning, we didn't have as long, but you still have to walk all the way down the corridor to the end of the gates, then go downstairs and walk all the way back- but at least you've no luggage except hand luggage. We actually joined the same plane we'd just left...... There was little food provided- I seem to remember it was a Waggon Wheel! , so try to get a snack before flying back.
Newcastle airport is such a gentle relief after the might of Schiphol and Barcelona.....Enjoy!
Jo.

[robber12]

Hi there. This is our first cruise.
We are also changing planes in Ams to get to Bcn.
We have received our luggage tags from RCCL but I think they are the ones for the ship.
Will the Airport tags be sent seperalty or do we just use the cruise liner ones?
Im sorry for being a bit thick but this is the first time we have ever changed planes half way through a trip.
We are really excited !

[Sauer-kraut]

Originally Posted by robber12

Hi there. This is our first cruise.
We are also changing planes in Ams to get to Bcn.
We have received our luggage tags from RCCL but I think they are the ones for the ship.
Will the Airport tags be sent seperalty or do we just use the cruise liner ones?
Im sorry for being a bit thick but this is the first time we have ever changed planes half way through a trip.
We are really excited !

Do your cruise documents have your flights listed? You should probably look at what the luggage tag says, if only the ship's name and your stateroom number is there, then DON'T PUT THEM ON UNTIL YOU ARE AT THE PORT!

You might have to do online check-in or use a kiosk at the airport. Be sure to read your documents carefully!

[jocap]

Usually the flight tags are added at the airport....it's all computerised, so it should say on the tag- but that's as it disappears from view....I know people are worried about losing luggage, but these airports are used to dealing with exchanges at hubs like Am or Zurich- there shouldn't be a problem.
Cruise tickets go on the cases just before you embark, or once you're in Barcelona- before you hand over your luggage to a porter at any rate.
Jo.

[miranda99]

Thanks for your input everyone, I'm glad to hear you did the same journey and everything was ok Jo.

This time next week, if all goes according to plan, we'll be in the Schipol airport. Excited? Just a bit

[jocap]

Originally Posted by miranda99

Thanks for your input everyone, I'm glad to hear you did the same journey and everything was ok Jo.

This time next week, if all goes according to plan, we'll be in the Schipol airport. Excited? Just a bit

Have a wonderful time, and enjoy the flights.....as I say, you seem to go straight up, then head down again from N/C to Am, so there's no time to worry! It's not a long journey from there to B/C- eat your Waggon Wheel, and you're nearly there...
Jo.