Please subscribe to my channel. I'd appreciate it! 😃What's the one thing you wish you knew before your first cruise embarkation day?" Share your experiences and insights to help fellow cruisers have an even better time! 🚢😊
hi i am ging to be traveling on an alaskian cruise in sept of next year. leaving vancover bc. i hear it is very expensive there. do you have any recommendations??? i dont know if this is needed but i wil be on the koningsdam??
@@kathleenmcallister494 bring layers to stay warm and I'd book your excursions ahead of time. 😄 and pack REALLY warm clothes (like winter coat and gloves!)
As an operation manager with a major airline for over 30 years....PLEASE DON'T TRY TO FLY IN ON THE SAME DAY AS YOUR CRUISE! There are just too many factors impacting schedules, many totally out of the airline's control. Buy a hotel room, cut the stress and the stress on everyone trying to get you there. I can't tell you how many times, we have passenger meltdown because they naively thought they could "just catch a flight that morning."
Thanks for the comment! I guess I live in Atlanta so there are usually 3+ flights that morning, so we risk it if it's a direct flight and not snowing where we are flying from. But totally agree! When my mom flies from the NE (or if she lived anywhere else) she usually almost always goes down a day ahead of time
I'm being a Mom--ATC staff shortages, month end crew illegalities or crew illegalities caused by weather far removed from a city can cause complete schedule meltdowns in cities completely remote from the problem. I can hear you now....yes, Mom....Thanks for your great videos--they are so helpful! @@cruisetipswithchristina
Your condensing of pertinent information regarding embarkation is truly amazing. Yes, there’s definitely some stress at times but I must say, my wife and I found your video…. even more stressful (hey I’m teasing you, just so you know). A hotel should not be required the day before for a number of reasons: *The proximity to the port. *Favourable weather. *Multiple departing flights. *Road conditions. *The late afternoon embarkation. However, it’s obvious you’re a kind person as well as providing lots of great advice. Thank you Christina !
Thanks for the comment! That's a good point. I suppose it depends on where you are flying in from, if weather is bad where you live, and if you have a connecting flight. I live in Atlanta, so it's easy to fly down day of. But with cruises departing earlier and earlier (now around 2:30pm/3pm instead of 5:30pm)...I wouldn't want to cut it close!! Last time just getting an Uber to arrive at the airport to take us to the terminal took about 40 minutes because the first one got lost and the 2nd one was another 15 min wait. (yikes!)
Tip 4A: make a photocopy or mobile phone picture of your passport (picture page and last page). If you loose or forget the passport book, the photo can be enough.
Didn't really find your video helpful.First off if you are a 4 or 5 Star Mariner on HAL you would know about having priority embarkation. So for the regular cruiser Do Not arrive too early.HAL assigns boarding times. If your boarding time is let's say @ 1 for a 5 o'clock sailing do not arrive at 10. All your going to do is wait longer. An hour to an hour and half prior to your boarding time is sufficent. 2nd Do not take your luggage to your room. Again,your room will not be ready and you don't want to be dragging your suitcase around the ship. 3rd,always arrive at least the day before especially if you are flying to your embarkation city. With the way airlines are a mess currently,bite the bullet on a hotel room. One you will be well rested before you board and two it will be less stressful.
Thanks so much for the comment! I appreciate all comments and feedback! I've personally always been able to get into my room when I drag my suitcase...but Holland America is changing things. That's a good point! I think last time it was 12pm. And good tip to board 1.5 hours before your boarding time!! And agree about getting a hotel room. Good tips!! Thank you! Sounds like you are a Holland America cruise expert!!
Oh yay!!! I'm so glad to hear that you found the tips helpful! And if you haven't already, please subscribe to my channel for more cruise tips! youtube.com/@cruisetipswithchristina?sub_confirmation=1
Yes! I like the Holiday Inn Express (www.booking.com/hotel/us/holiday-inn-express-fort-lauderdale-convention-center-cruise.en.html?aid=7921728&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2) the most. It's right across the street from Starbucks, Ross, and places to eat before you leave for your cruise too! More info in this article by me too! veryeasymakeup.com/hotels-near-fort-lauderdale-cruise-port/
Agree!! They are horrible!! Definitely better to do Uber or Lyft. And thank you for leaving comments on many of the videos. I appreciate it!! 😃😃 You must cruise with HAL a lot?
@@cruisetipswithchristina actually most of my experience is with Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. We are taking our first HAL cruise at the end of March! nieuw statendam. Very excited! My mother and stepfather cruised with them for 15 or 20 years. I think they were three or four star Mariners, too bad you can’t transfer loyalty points! Haha
Many of the hotels have a shuttle service...but it's like $12-$15 per person and it's actually cheaper to take an Uber!!! I know Holiday Inn Express had a shuttle. Most of them do...I'd call the hotel before you book if that's something you really want to do, but I'd recommend against it. Uber instead.
Maybe...they have always let me take my water bottle through and it's always open. I guess I don't look like I'm trying to sneak on alcohol in a water bottle...I'm traveling with my mom on a HAL cruise after all 😆😂
People seem to like the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown. Maybe a slightly older hotel, but well priced, great location, super close to cruise port, friendly staff.
Thank you for your cruise tips. We are going on Alaskan Cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam on 3 weeks.This will be our 1st cruise and appreciate all your tips. Can you suggest Vancouver cruise port hotel?
The Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel looks good! www.booking.com/hotel/ca/vancouver-marriott-pinnacle-downtown.en.html?aid=7921728&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2 Close to cruise port, around $300, and great reviews.
My #1 recommendation would be the Rotterdam Marriot Hotel: www.booking.com/hotel/nl/rotterdam-marriott-hotel.en.html?aid=7921728&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2 Only 11-15 minutes from the cruise port, GREAT for walking around (lots of restaurants and attractions nearby, including the Rotterdam Centraal Station -= easy access to airport), and great reviews on both Google and Trip Advisor. If you want something unique with great ratings, check out the Suite Hotel Pincoffs Rotterdam. Have a fun cruise!!
The one place I would not take an Uber to a Holland America ship to embark is Seattle. Pier 91 where Holland, America, and princess cruise out of Seattle. The Uber Lyft drop off is quite far from the terminal as in about 300 yards It’s better to take a hotel/cruise line shuttle or a taxi because they will drop you right next to the cruise terminal.
@scottlenyo8579, If we are having a limo driver take us to the terminal would they still have to drop us off where Uber drops off, or do you know if there is a closer drop off for friends or private cars?
We took a hotel shuttle, it dropped us off right by the terminal entrance. Private cars & limousines can do the same, apparently the rideshare can as well but they choose to drop off at the ride share stand because it’s faster for them to exit that way.
Hey Christina! 👋 Thanks for the great info! I have my 1st cruise on Holland America Eurodam this Sat 10/28 out of FT. Lauderdale Fl. I did get the earliest flight direct out of Philly and should get in by 11:25am. My ship departs at 3pm. I did 2 months back book the Transfer from the airport with Holland America to the Port (was like $35 round trip) so I didn't care. Hope will be quick to and fro guess will see? I'm sailing 11 night Eastern Caribbean and keeping my fingers crossed weather cooperates as pretty sketchy in Sint Maarten St Johns Antigua Barbuda St Thomas etc etc where we are going. Hopefully all will be ok? I did see you recommended the Holiday Inn Express near the Port in FLL. I might consider as staying in FLL 4 nights 11/8-11/12 as taking a 2nd cruise 11/12 with Virgin Voyages out of Miami. I'll catch your other vid you attached on Embarkation while onboard! If you have any other suggestions for me please let me know. I plan on dining at Tamarind 1 night and maybe Pinnacle as well. Don't know how the Canaletto is menu looked so-so. Thanks again for any info! Keep up the great work! New sub also! 🙂 P.S I got an upgrade from my interior room to an Oceanview for $98 so took it! I was on deck 5 now on D/Main lower deck 10--. Apparently they placed me mid ship said better less rocky feel etc and is under the Lincoln Center where they have music. Hopefully should be quiet in this area? Have a great day! 🙂
Back to back cruises!!! Wow!!! And completely different vibes too!! I think the airport transfer should be fine! If you booked it with Holland America then they won’t leave without you!! I’d recommend making reservations at the restaurants ahead of time…eat in the main dining room on formal night and speciality restaurants on other nights. Ask for assigned table in dining room so you can meet people! You may love the hydropool and the unlimited laundry…especially if you are going on a cruise after your Holland America one!! The traffic from Ft Lauderdale to Miami can be bad…so keep that in mind. And check out my videos on what to do in St Thomas so you know what to expect!
Not sure yet actually!!! We usually book a cruise in January...but need to book that! I may go with my mom on a cruise in October. It kind of depends on my work schedule and some other things that I'm figuring out right now... When is your next cruise?!!
@cruisetipswithchristina My next cruise is in February 2025. Still about a year and a half away. I am going on the Nieuw Statendam leaving Ft. Lauderdale on Feb 15th 2025 . 7 day cruise , Eastern Caribbean 😎
Getting to cruise terminal early is not as simple as it sounds. Last HAL voyage was 14 days through Panama Canal, Feb 2023 on Zaandam. Stayed in an HAL hotel overnight. The next morning was total horrible. Seemed like staff had no clue what they were doing. Loaded wrong ship passengers on bus and had to off load them and luggage. Bottom line we got to ship at 1pm. Missed Mariner / Neptune suite early boarding and luncheon due to hotel staff screw ups. They did not care we had priority boarding either.
Oh my goodness. That sounds HORRIBLE!!! Where was the cruise terminal? Was this something where you paid Holland America to shuttle you from the hotel to the ship? So sorry that you had such a horrible experience. Yikes!
@@shereerevilla9576 No, I wish!!! I used up all of my vacation days for this year until I accumulate more! 😂🤣 How many days is the Northern Isles cruise? Sounds like a perfect time to go!!
Here's the other video I recommend you watch with what to do AFTER you board the ship on Embarkation Day! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fMOeQQzxAKo.html
We have a new group for Holland America cruise lovers! Join it here! facebook.com/groups/708374760628704/ #hollandamerica #cruiselovers #hollandamericaline
Your tips don't seem to apply at all to embarkation on HAL from a port in Europe. I'm certainly not flying in the same day or driving up to the terminal. Make sure you state the limits of your video in advance so people know whether they should watch.
That's a fantastic point. Thank you, thank you!!! I didn't even think about Europe, as most of the cruises I've been on recently leave from the U.S. Thank you!! Any tips for people who are embarking on HAL from a port in Europe? Helpful things to know?
hi Christina thanks for info - very informative. Only my second cruise. So we are driving from Canada to Fort Lauderdale to meet our ship which is the Rotterdam HAL,. Can you tell me what hotels are close to port and what about parking our vehicle. Would we leave at hotel or is their parking at the port. Depending on what time we arrive there, we may not need hotel but would be handy to have. But then parking may be an issue. Any information would be helpful....thank you...
Happy to help! I like the Embassy Suites. Check out this guide for more info: veryeasymakeup.com/hotels-near-fort-lauderdale-cruise-port/ For parking...I've actually never done that myself. I know that the cruise terminal. It looks like it is $20/day: www.porteverglades.net/cruise/parking/
