Hawaiian

By the aft pool, port side. It's starboard on most ships, but for some reason it's port on K'dam.

I just sailed the Koningsdam in April. Smoking has been moved to the Starboard side at the Sea View Deck.

Ha ve you arrrived b y taxi to Port Everglades? We always take a taxi form our hotel to the dock and always have to show our psssports at the security guard shacxk at the entrance to the port. I do not want to be the person who has to arrgue with the sheriff while the taxi meter keeps running:) . i cetrainly do not want to risk not being allowed to enter and check in for my cruise.

 

If yo u have not arrived to Port Everglades in a taxi and do not have a boardig pass................. you cannot know what would happen,

On March 16th, I took a Caribbean Cruise on the Crown Princess departing from Port Everglades. I took Uber from the Tri-Rail Station to the port and when we approached the guard shack at the entrance to the port, the security guard seemed more interested in flirting with my Uber driver than checking my documents. I was not asked to show anything. After some chit chat, we proceeded to the terminal.

On March 28th, I arrived at Port Everglades to board the Koningsdam. This time I took a taxi from the Fort Lauderdale Airport and once again, I was not asked for anything. I had passport in hand but I was never asked to show it. The security guard looked into the cab, saw my luggage, and waved us through.

I have only taken two cruises from Port Everglades, both of them left in March and I am certainly not an expert on this subject. I am only sharing my experience here to allay the stress and fear of not having all printed documents at your disposal.

I had no printed documents and it was not a problem for me. That is all.

We last sailed on April 18 and this is the most thorough the people near the door have been. They asked to see our boarding passes and scrutinized them.

 

Why make life difficult for someone who is doing their job? Be prepared, print it off and produce it when asked. It’s the decent thing to do. IMO, of course.

Please tell me who I made life difficult for? I showed my passport and was handed my key. I was at the check in desk for less than one minute. The porter was very happy with the gratuity he received from me. I was prepared. I was prepared to have a great time on the Koningsdam and I did!

He took them Hawaiian Host Whole Macadamia Nut Chocolates.

No, I saved those for the cabin upgrade! :')

(portions of the above deleted)

 

I am curious - every time we have sailed from Port Everglades, we have had to show our printed boarding pass in order to get in the building. What did they do to let you in?

He asked me if I had a boarding pass and I apologized and told him that I didn't but that I was checked in. I showed him my passport, I proceeded through the security checkpoint, filled out my health questionnaire, and then proceeded to the check in line. The check in attendant did not ask me for my boarding pass when I handed her my passport.

I am not advocating that everyone show up at the port without a boarding pass or luggage tags! I am only suggesting that you shouldn't fret over not having them, and I certainly wouldn't pay $25.00 to have them sent to me.

My printer was out of ink and so I just left home without them, and there were no negative consequences.

Moral of the story, showing up at the port prepared is always a good thing but it's not the end of the world if for whatever reason you don't have a boarding pass or luggage tags. You will still sail!

I find it highly amusing that people seem to be freaking out over not having printed boarding passes. I just finished reading the other thread with over 200 replies. Why all the fuss? I just sailed the 14 night Transatlantic on the Koningsdam. I arrived at Port Everglades without any luggage tags. The porter asked me what my cabin was and I told him. He wrote down my cabin number on a tag that he held in his hand, he then attached it to my bag and off I went. I proceeded indoors to check in without a printed boarding pass. I got in line, made it to the check in desk, handed over my passport, received my stateroom key, and boarded the ship without any problems. If you have checked in online, they have what they need to get you on your way. They are not going to deny boarding to you just because you don't have a paper boarding pass. Relax people. Have another cocktail! :D

Did you complete a comments card and hand it in to the front desk?

No. There wasn’t enough space on the comment card to say what I needed to say. I made phone calls, I spoke to different staff directly, and I submitted my comments on the post cruise survey. They are now well aware of my sentiments regarding their smoking policy.

I got off the Koningsdam in Rome two weeks ago after a 14 night Trans-Atlantic. My two favorite places on a cruise ship are the aft pool area in the day, and the casino at night. Unfortunately for me, these are the only two areas on the KD where smoking is allowed. We had beautiful weather for the first week of our crossing and I wanted to enjoy the Sea View Pool and Bar but I couldn't because there was a constant, overwhelming stench of cigarette smoke. It was constant. It was disgusting. You couldn't escape it. And worse, contrary to what the smoking policy states in reply #49, smoking is not permitted on the port side, it is permitted on the starboard side, the same side as the Sea View Bar. I couldn't sit at the bar to enjoy a cocktail at sunset because I was exposed to the foul odors. The wind would swirl around the entire aft deck area and sitting on the port side did not help. Their casino smoking policy is a joke. They say smoking is only allowed while playing a designated smoking slot machine but people were smoking at non smoking machines, and even the non gambling smokers would be walking around in the casino enjoying their cigarettes. That too was constant, and that too was disgusting. And finally, the man in the cabin next to mine smoked on his balcony morning, noon, and night. I reported it to guest services, as well as my cabin steward but nothing was done. He continued smoking on his balcony for 14 days. I couldn't escape the smoke. Not even on my own balcony. HAL really needs to re-think it's smoking policy.

Thank you everyone for this great information! I just booked the Veendam for an August Cuba sailing and am just getting started with my research. This thread was a gold mine of information!