HAL airport transfer pick-up times

[SusieKIslandGirl]

We have a HAL transfer from AMS to the port but not on our arrival date. When do we receive notification as to when and where to meet the bus?  Thanks!

[FlaMariner]

We've always found the lady with the HAL sign and clipboard when we made it to baggage claim and she directed us to where to find the bus.......

 

.......perhaps ask your TA for specifics though.

 

Enjoy the cruise!

Edited February 15, 2023 by FlaMariner

[CruiserBruce]

Actually, just outside of baggage claim in a foreign country, because you need to go through the Customs system.

[OlsSalt]

We have had very mixed results with HAL airport and transfers. 

 

Worst was on a redeye to Fort Lauderdale (arrival 5:30 am) and we had to wait helplessly as no one was there to greet us (as promised) and there was no kiosk set up for HAL, so we were stuck waiting and waiting for something to show up, and dared not move in case we missed anything. 

 

Others require a long wait (well over an hour or so) until enough people show up  to fill the transfer bus. Mainly they have been very poorly coordinated up front so there is a lot of hassle.  Others have had extremely long walks to get to the bus, dragging all our luggage along with us. 

 

We don't rely on them any longer and make other arrangements, plus no more red eyes (!!!) - we arrive a day ahead now, and get our own transfers to the ship. 

 

But some HAL transfers worked as hoped, taking our luggage, greeted on time with clear directions.  Try to get as much specific information about wait times for your flight arrival time, where specifically to meet if it is large airport,  and who to call if/when something goes wrong. 

[Hlitner]

I sometimes like to answer a question with a question :).  The cost of a taxi from AMS into town (and the port) is usually less than 60 Euros.  Uber will usually cost less than 40 Euros (this varies).   For a taxi, one simply walks out of the terminal, goes to the taxi queue, and will be in a taxi and on your way within a minute.   Those who use Uber know how that works and they will meet you outside the terminal.

 

For those that prefer to rely on cruise line transfers, how much do you pay for that transfer?  How long will you need to wait inside the terminal?  How long will you wait once in a vehicle?

 

We only use cruise lines transfers when the transfer is complicated or a very long distance (such as from VCE to Ravenna).  

 

Hank

 

 

[VMax1700]

1 hour ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

We have a HAL transfer from AMS to the port but not on our arrival date. When do we receive notification as to when and where to meet the bus?  Thanks!

When you say AMS do you mean Amsterdam Schiphol airport?  And you will be there for a day or two before your cruise?  In Amsterdam?  If that is the case, why would you go back to the airport to pick up a transfer?  Or are you sailing from Ijmuiden?  Even then a car service would be better than HAL transfer and getting back to the airport. https://www.staxi.nl/en/

[Taters]

8 hours ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

We have a HAL transfer from AMS to the port but not on our arrival date. When do we receive notification as to when and where to meet the bus?  Thanks!

Hi Susie, we purchased HAL transfers from the Santiago to the port in San Antonio, Chile (around 80 km) next month.  This is our first time using the HAL service instead of a taxi.  Our preliminary cruise documents became available about 10 days ago and the instructions on meeting the transfer are included there, but are very vague.  They state that we are to meet up with a HAL representative outside of the Customs area in the international terminal, but they don't say when.  I am hoping for more thorough instructions when our travel docs are finalized. 

 

For our upcoming Norway cruise from Amsterdam we are going to have our hotel call a taxi for us.  It's what we've always done when cruising from Amsterdam.

 

Cheers!

[SusieKIslandGirl]

We are staying at an airport hotel and just thought it would be easy to take their shuttle back to the airport and get the HAL shuttle but maybe I should rethink this. 

[VMax1700]

3 hours ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

We are staying at an airport hotel and just thought it would be easy to take their shuttle back to the airport and get the HAL shuttle but maybe I should rethink this. 

Depending on how much luggage and your physical capabilities, train from Schiphol airport (platforms are under the airport) to Amsterdam Centraal and then either walk or taxi to the cruise terminal.  

Or book a taxi with staxi.nl from your hotel to the cruise terminal.  Picking a random date of 15th April at 10.00am the price is about €55 (euro) for the taxi for up to 4 pax.  A seven seater is €76.  May change slightly depending on where your hotel is actually located.

[terrydtx]

Is your cruise sailing from the Amsterdam cruise port or from Rotterdam?  Many of this summer's departing cruises on both HAL and Celebrity have been moved from Amsterdam to Rotterdam about 20 miles further from the airport. Our September Celebrity Apex cruise was moved a couple of months ago. We are staying in Amsterdam for 3 nights before the cruise and have booked a private minivan transfer from our Amsterdam hotel to the Rotterdam cruise port. We have 4 in our group and the transfer is costing about $60pp. From Amsterdam city center it is about 40-60 minutes to Rotterdam depending on traffic.

Edited February 16, 2023 by terrydtx

[SusieKIslandGirl]

Our cruise originally left from Rotterdam, then changed to Ijmuiden and now is departing from Amsterdam………….for now-May 15.

[terrydtx]

35 minutes ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

Our cruise originally left from Rotterdam, then changed to Ijmuiden and now is departing from Amsterdam………….for now-May 15.

Then you are going from your hotel to the cruise port?  If so, I just checked with VIP Travel services and on May 15th a private transfer from City Center to the cruise port is 80 Euros for up to 3 passengers in a Mercedes car. You can book online at:

 

Private Transfers Schiphol | Private Transfers Amsterdam (viptravelservices.com)

[SusieKIslandGirl]

Thanks everyone for the information. The HAL shuttle is $78 which seems in line with some of the other quotes given. Just a bit more hassle taking the hotel shuttle back to the airport, I guess. Ah, the decisions.........

[terrydtx]

3 minutes ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

Thanks everyone for the information. The HAL shuttle is $78 which seems in line with some of the other quotes given. Just a bit more hassle taking the hotel shuttle back to the airport, I guess. Ah, the decisions.........

Is that $78pp?  A private transport is about that much total for both of you.

[SusieKIslandGirl]

No, $78 for both of us--$39/pp

[trixiee]

Personally, if the price was close, I would book the private car which will pick you up at the hotel.

[Taters]

A taxi from an airport area hotel to the Amsterdam Cruise Terminal is around 35 euros.  We always ask the driver what the rate will be before we get in the car.  One guy tried to charge us 60 euros. We've told him goodbye and got a different cab.  Most of the drivers are honest, but not all.

[Katygt919]

A cab from the Amsterdam cruise terminal was 90 euros and the cab line was over an hour wait.  Not a convenient place to get an Uber. May 2023. 

Edited May 29, 2023 by Katygt919
Clarification

[SusieKIslandGirl]

We called for an Uber yesterday at the Amsterdam cruise terminal around 9:30 am and it took about 20 minutes. 18 Euros to our city center hotel.