Lessons learned and I haven't left yet. Zuiderdam August 26, 2023 from Boston

[intandemNV]

I will be on the Zuiderdam leaving August 26th from Boston.  This is a first time cruising from the northeast coast and we are excited to see this part of our beautiful country as well as new Canadian ports! We are 3 star mariners and love cruising with Holland America. I did a few things differently this time and have learned a few lessons.  First, this was the first time that I booked a guarantee cabin. A verandah. It was making me anxious not knowing where my cabin would be , so 2 months out I called to ask about upgrading. We booked thru Holland America so I called them directly. The woman I spoke to talked me out of upgrading, stating that there were no verandah cabins left and we would most likely be getting an upgrade. I anxiously awaited for a cabin assignment and exactly 2 weeks out we got a verandah cabin (VC). That is great, but for me the waiting isn't worth saving a few dollars and not knowing where you will end up. Lesson learned!

 

A week before the cruise I received an E Mail stating our boarding time is at 2:40. Yikes. I have always loved that first lunch after boarding the ship. I have read on here that some people arrive early but I am a rule follower and would be afraid to do that. So, I sent an Email to guest relations asking if it might be possible to board any earlier. The only response was receiving an Email that changed my time to 3pm!  When I got the Email I had a good laugh. They schooled me!  I'm sure there are many with real problems that need guest relations help and I shouldn't have bothered them with my silly request. We are changing hotels the night before departure to a Hotel that is walking distance to the ship with an 11am checkout. I'm thinking we will check out, drag our bags to the port, hand them off, and then go look for a restaurant nearby to have lunch. I'm not familiar with this port but hope that this might work out. 

 

So, no more guarantee cabins for me - too much stress waiting to find out where I'll be, and secondly,  don't bug guest relations - you will be punished.

I can't wait for this cruise and hopefully I will find time to do a few short reports on our cruise while we are on the ship.

[DaveOKC]

Not a fan of guarantee cabins, especially now with many ships being sold out well prior to sailing.  Thus the chance for a good upgrade is not great IMO.  FOr a Verandah category I would consider purchasing CLub Orange and taking advantage of the free upgrade - you get to select your cabin this way.

 

As to boarding, I would just check out of the hotel and walk over to the pier.  Chances are good that they will let you checkin after 10:30 and board at 11:30.

[Rubyfisch]

I'm on your cruise as well, and it's my first Holland America cruise. I got a 2:40 boarding time and asked my travel agent to call and see if she could get me an earlier one. She got us a 1 pm time. It's seems like there are a lot of late boarding times on our cruise.

[intandemNV]

11 minutes ago, Rubyfisch said:

I'm on your cruise as well, and it's my first Holland America cruise. I got a 2:40 boarding time and asked my travel agent to call and see if she could get me an earlier one. She got us a 1 pm time. It's seems like there are a lot of late boarding times on our cruise.

Sounds like it pays to have a travel agent! Enjoy !

[Rubyfisch]

4 minutes ago, intandemNV said:

Sounds like it pays to have a travel agent! Enjoy !

I would never use a travel agent for anything but a cruise, and I would never cruise without one.

[Cruise NH]

We are on the current Zuiderdam cruise out of Boston.  Plenty of people ignored their boarding time and got on the ship whenever they arrived.  Boarding in Boston was a breeze.  Just check out of your hotel at 11 and walk on over.  I wouldn’t get there before 11 IMOP.

[SilvertoGold]

HAL changes check-in times quite a lot. I don't think the change to 3pm for the OP had anything to do with the email to Guest Relations. Just a normal change based on whatever HAL uses to assign chek-in times.

[alwaysfrantic]

On the cruise the following week I had been a 2 pm and hit the email changing it to 11 am 

[Cruisin4now]

Lucky y’all!  We too are on the upcoming cruise, I’ve sailed with HAL twice prior and our boarding time is 3:40!  🐔 dinner for me!

[sambamama]

I never book a cruise without a TA.  You have to know what you can live with booking a guarantee.  Me, I 've been very happy booking guarantees, and every cabin has worked out well.  Many times I get upgraded to an entire category higher long before the ship sails.  For example, I booked an L guarantee, and was upgraded to a C 2 weeks ago.  If there are any upsells, I am now in position to end up with a balcony!

[Mr. Boston]

To the original poster, if you do drop off your bags early there is a very nice Legal Seafood restaurant a short walk from the pier that has protected waterfront seating both indoors and out. We had lunch there yesterday and I couldn’t think of a nicer start to a cruise.  Bon voyage!

[3rdGenCunarder]

2 hours ago, Mr. Boston said:

To the original poster, if you do drop off your bags early there is a very nice Legal Seafood restaurant a short walk from the pier that has protected waterfront seating both indoors and out. We had lunch there yesterday and I couldn’t think of a nicer start to a cruise.  Bon voyage!

 

Skip Legal Seafood and go to Yankee Lobster. Great lobstah rolls!!!!

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

9 hours ago, Rubyfisch said:

I would never use a travel agent for anything but a cruise, and I would never cruise without one.

 

Couldn't agree more. Any other travel I book for myself. Even flights to a cruise and pre-cruise hotel I take care of. But my TA has access to more info than I can find, especially the Advantage Fare, which HAL's website doesn't show.

 

I don't like guarantees. Like OP, I fret too much about it. My "need to know" is way too strong for that uncertainty.