workinggal Posted December 22, 2017 #1 Share Posted December 22, 2017 We are on the Jan 28th Western Caribbean on the Rotterdam. This is our first Holland America Cruise. We plan to purchase City View trolley tickets through Holland America. Will we have priority disembarkation for this tour? Thank you for any advice. Link to post Share on other sites
TAD2005 Posted December 22, 2017 #2 Share Posted December 22, 2017 We are on the Jan 28th Western Caribbean on the Rotterdam. This is our first Holland America Cruise. We plan to purchase City View trolley tickets through Holland America. Will we have priority disembarkation for this tour? Thank you for any advice. On your tour tickets, it will indicate where and when you report for your tour. Bring everything you plan to take ashore with you and checkin early. Usually you will pickup a ticket which has a color and number. When they call your color and number, they will lead your group down to the gangway and you will meet your tour. Because Key West is a walk around port, once the ship is cleared, which takes no time since you are arriving from another US port, Tampa, everyone is OK'd to get off the ship whenever they want to. There is no priority disembarkation for tours. They get you together in a lounge or meeting room, so that you all get off together, and the tour guide is not looking around for stragglers. A little hint. Probably for half price, you can purchase a ticket for either the City View Trolley or the Conch Train Trolley right near the pier. Eliminate the middle man and you will save a bundle. Link to post Share on other sites
retafcruiser Posted December 22, 2017 #3 Share Posted December 22, 2017 A little hint. Probably for half price, you can purchase a ticket for either the City View Trolley or the Conch Train Trolley right near the pier. Eliminate the middle man and you will save a bundle. This hint should come with a caution. The trolley is only near the downtown pier. If you are docked at the Navy pier (which we have always on our cruises), you have to be shuttled to town center. Link to post Share on other sites
TAD2005 Posted December 22, 2017 #4 Share Posted December 22, 2017 This hint should come with a caution. The trolley is only near the downtown pier. If you are docked at the Navy pier (which we have always on our cruises), you have to be shuttled to town center. Very true. It all depends on the number of ships in port with you. There are websites that will show you how many ships will be in port with you. If you are the only ship, as we were both times on our cruises with HAL, you will be right downtown, where access to the different trolley tours sell tickets. Link to post Share on other sites
Hlitner Posted December 23, 2017 #5 Share Posted December 23, 2017 For what its worth, the Old Town Trolley Car tour costs about $25 (for seniors) if purchased online. I think its also about the same price if you purchase when you want to take the tour. That tour also gets you a decent local map (Key West is a place made for walking) and a discount book (off many other local attractions). If HAL is charging much more than $25 you might want to reconsider booking the ship excursion. As to priority disembarkation, it is really meaningless in ports where you dock. Everyone (including tours) exit the ship at the same security point and there is really no advantage to a cruise line excursion. Hank Link to post Share on other sites
Krazy Kruizers Posted December 23, 2017 #6 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Depending on where you dock, depends on where your tour will meet. Smaller ships like the Rotterdam often get to dock at Mallory Square. When we have docked there, our met ashore. Link to post Share on other sites
Scrapnana Posted December 23, 2017 #7 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Very true. It all depends on the number of ships in port with you. There are websites that will show you how many ships will be in port with you. If you are the only ship, as we were both times on our cruises with HAL, you will be right downtown, where access to the different trolley tours sell tickets. Viking Sky and Carnival Freedom will also be in port with Rotterdam. Port Schedule shows Rotterdam at "*****" which I am guessing is the Outer Mole. Link to post Share on other sites
*Miss G* Posted December 23, 2017 #8 Share Posted December 23, 2017 We bought our trolley tickets from the guy selling them at the pier. They were a couple of dollars less than if we'd purchased them at the trolley and were charged directly to our shipboard account. Link to post Share on other sites
workinggal Posted December 23, 2017 Author #9 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Thanks to all. The information is helpful. Link to post Share on other sites
rafinmd Posted December 23, 2017 #10 Share Posted December 23, 2017 The one time where priority disembarkation for a tour would be useful would be a case of arriving at the first US port after an overseas port. That would generally buy an earlier group number to meet with immigration. Roy Link to post Share on other sites
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