Joining the second part of a cruise

[Aussie Jeep]

Hello all. I will be joining the Veendam in Rio De janeiro for the second part of a longer cruise which had started in Fort Lauderdale. From cruisers who have previously done this how is the boarding experience. What time are you usually allowed to board the ship? Any other information greatly appreciated. Thanks

[catl331]

we joined the Prinsendam on the last leg of a 64 day cruise. Barcelona to Ft. Laud. We just walked right from a morning arrival. We took HAL transportation with another lady from the airport and at the pier they escorted us to the front desk where we checked in and got our picture done etc. Went right to the room but our luggage beat us there! This worked this way as there probably were not many new arrivals; there were departures though.

 

Now, this was Spain and this was the last leg. HAL does this all the time and I bet has it down pat. It sure was easy!

[KirkNC]

Hello all. I will be joining the Veendam in Rio De janeiro for the second part of a longer cruise which had started in Fort Lauderdale. From cruisers who have previously done this how is the boarding experience. What time are you usually allowed to board the ship? Any other information greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

We did a similar trip on the Maasdam last year. The boarding time is like any other cruise, around 11:00. One thing different was you check in onboard in the theater. Also when you arrive, look for the porters to take your luggage, they were in a building to the right. You then enter a large building full off small shops, once you run that gauntlet you will be at the pier.

Edited March 10, 2016 by KirkNC

[CruiserBruce]

Agree with others, we were part of less than 100 that joined Statendam in Lima Peru a couple of years ago. We boarded at about noon. Simple. When you board you will be told where and when your muster drill will be held.

[RMLincoln]

We were among 60 who boarded in Civitavecchia. We boarded between 11:00 and 11:30 but we were checked in at a desk in the terminal, no lines, very personal. We had a small muster drill with all the newcomers assembled at one station to hear and see the instructions together.

 

I didn't board in Rio but I've stopped there on a port call. It was quite busy so be patient and leave plenty of time to navigate through it. Sounds like a great trip. m--

[Aussie Jeep]

Thank you

[Hflors]

Were you all charged for the whole cruise or just the part you were onboard for?

 

I ask because I know a person who wanted to sail from San Diego to Honolulu which was the first part of a 30 day Hawaii/Tahiti cruise. The cruise line said she could do it, but she would be required to pay for the whole cruise.

[jtl513]

Were you all charged for the whole cruise or just the part you were onboard for?

When a cruise is sold in segments, you only pay for the segments you cruise. We only paid for one segment of a 64 day cruise.

 

I ask because I know a person who wanted to sail from San Diego to Honolulu which was the first part of a 30 day Hawaii/Tahiti cruise. The cruise line said she could do it, but she would be required to pay for the whole cruise.

Hunh? :confused: That would violate the PVSA if it was a foreign-flagged ship! Was that HAL?

.

Edited March 11, 2016 by jtl513

[Hflors]

When a cruise is sold in segments, you only pay for the segments you cruise. We only paid for one segment of a 64 day cruise.

 

Hunh? :confused: That would violate the PVSA if it was a foreign-flagged ship! Was that HAL?

.

 

Yep it was Rotterdam. When she found out they would charge her for the whole cruise she decided not to go. I think you are right about the PVSA, but maybe it didn't come up as she didn't go any further than the price!

[Dave in NJ]

They are probably not as flexible today, this was some years ago and I had booked SS Rotterdam from Lauderdale to Acapulco. When looking at Rotterdam's schedule I noticed she was in NYC 2 days earlier and living just outside NYC I was able to book the 2 days from NYC to Lauderdale. It has a hoot, that was the last leg (not a segment) of the World Cruise.

[RMLincoln]

We bought a segment I think. It was the 21 day back end of the 42 day Atlantic Adventurer returning from Italy to Florida. It was not an especially cheap price, not like a repositioning cruise. m--

[Rusty Scupper]

We recently were on a 47-day, two-segment cruise on the Maasdam with the second segment boarding in Rio.

From the accounts of some who joined us, there was insufficient staff at the airport and the cruise port.

Passengers were arriving from international flights late into the evening and could not find promised HAL representatives at the airport.

Traffic from the airport was a nightmare.

A passenger said there was only one person at the port checking guests when he arrived.

Some people with unassigned cabins were in a Catch-22: they could not get through port security without a cabin number and they only could get a cabin number by boarding the ship.

There were two reasons for the problems. 1. Rio's chaotic carnival celebration strained all the available resources and there were 11 ships in port. 2. The service providers who were contracted by HAL did not perform as promised, according a ship's officer.

I would imagine HAL will be more careful in screening local services for future calls. During carnival, however, the situation is ripe for difficulty. We did meet one couple who flew in from Texas early without incident.