Questions inspired by the "online checkin" thread

[rafinmd]

I usually do my checkin pretty early but haven't recently.

 

My passport expires 11/2013, so I can't possibly complete checkin for most cruises after that date. My plans are to renew it after my trans-Pacific cruise in early May, and once renewed it will go out almost immediately for a Brazil visa for the Prinsendam. I did go into the online checkin for the Veendam (8/17-24) and have a couple of questions, 1 related to lying on the information.

 

1. This is a closed loop cruise and doesn't require a passport. I can use my NEXUS card for this cruise (I can even fly back from Halifax with it if I miss the ship). To get to the list of options that includes the NEXUS and others I have to tell HAL "I don't have a passport". Is there any reason I shouldn't do this?

 

2. I was a bit surprised to see the list of "airlines" for the travel arrangements includes Amtrak, which is what I plan to use. I can actually book a train any time now. For those of you familiar with Boston, what time should I expect to be off the ship and through the customs/immigration formalities. I am looking at potential train times of 9:45, 11:14, or 11:45.

 

Thanks

 

Roy

[paganwoman]

I just renewed my passport early (about 10 months before it was to expire) because I also had a cruise that was about 7 months before and would have just squeaked by with the 6 month rule but then I had another trip (non cruise) with air travel right between the cruise and expiration date. I was driving myself crazy trying to figure out when I could mail it and be sure I would not be on vacation when I needed my passport (as you have to mail the old one to get the new one) I gave up and just renewed it before my cruise. Now I feel better......

[sail7seas]

I usually do my checkin pretty early but haven't recently.

 

My passport expires 11/2013, so I can't possibly complete checkin for most cruises after that date. My plans are to renew it after my trans-Pacific cruise in early May, and once renewed it will go out almost immediately for a Brazil visa for the Prinsendam. I did go into the online checkin for the Veendam (8/17-24) and have a couple of questions, 1 related to lying on the information.

 

1. This is a closed loop cruise and doesn't require a passport. I can use my NEXUS card for this cruise (I can even fly back from Halifax with it if I miss the ship). To get to the list of options that includes the NEXUS and others I have to tell HAL "I don't have a passport". Is there any reason I shouldn't do this?

 

2. I was a bit surprised to see the list of "airlines" for the travel arrangements includes Amtrak, which is what I plan to use. I can actually book a train any time now. For those of you familiar with Boston, what time should I expect to be off the ship and through the customs/immigration formalities. I am looking at potential train times of 9:45, 11:14, or 11:45.

 

Thanks

 

Roy

 

 

We have disembarked Maasdam from the Canada/NE cruise many times and have always been on our way by 9:00. We could have been off earlier but we had our breakfast and didn't rush as we live in the area.

 

South Station, where you get AmTrak is VERY close to Black Falcon Cruise Terminal. To be on the safe side, take the 11:14 train. IMO You won't have to rush around at the end of your cruise, won't have to run to the train platform. Who needs that stress at the end of a cruise? :) Read this in the context that I am a 'low risk taker'. :D

 

[RuthC]

For those of you familiar with Boston, what time should I expect to be off the ship and through the customs/immigration formalities. I am looking at potential train times of 9:45, 11:14, or 11:45.

A friend disembarks the Maasdam in Boston every year, and makes an Amtrak train out of South Station about 8:20 (or so).

I believe he does self-disembark.

[Valley Girl of VA]

I usually do my checkin pretty early but haven't recently.

 

 

 

2. I was a bit surprised to see the list of "airlines" for the travel arrangements includes Amtrak, which is what I plan to use. I can actually book a train any time now. For those of you familiar with Boston, what time should I expect to be off the ship and through the customs/immigration formalities. I am looking at potential train times of 9:45, 11:14, or 11:45.

 

Thanks

 

Roy

 

I believe that you can get airline miles riding Amtrak. When you get to South Station, or if you are doing your own transportation, give them your Frequent Flyer number.

[rafinmd]

A friend disembarks the Maasdam in Boston every year, and makes an Amtrak train out of South Station about 8:20 (or so).

I believe he does self-disembark.

 

Thanks, sail and RuthC. If it's possible to make 8:20, I'd be likely to go with 9:45. 8:20 sounds a bit stressful. 11:14 as also a good candidate; that's Acela and only gets to BWI a half hour later than the 9:45.

 

I believe that you can get airline miles riding Amtrak. When you get to South Station, or if you are doing your own transportation, give them your Frequent Flyer number.

 

You don't get airline miles with Amtrak, except under very restricted conditions with Continental. They do have their own frequent rider program and I use it extensively.

 

Roy

[Krazy Kruizers]

I would rather not be rushed on the last morning of the cruise and have a good breakfast.

Therefore I would consider either the 11:14 or 11:45 AM Amtrak.

[PathfinderEss]

I'm with KK, 11:14 - 11:45 would be much easier to make then trying to push for earlier. You never know what might make disembarkation late, better to be on the safe side.

[kazu]

Roy - for the passport - I put in my old one even though I have a renewal pending - I can just change the details later;) Nothing came up on the HAl web site saying it would be expired by the time I sailed:)

 

If you are using your Nexus card (I don't have one), if it has serial numbers and an expiry date - I would just input that where it says passport? perhaps type NEXUS first or just type NEXUS?

[sail7seas]

Thanks, sail and RuthC. If it's possible to make 8:20, I'd be likely to go with 9:45. 8:20 sounds a bit stressful. 11:14 as also a good candidate; that's Acela and only gets to BWI a half hour later than the 9:45.

<snip>

 

 

 

We did Acela Boston to NYC a few years ago and it was terrific. We booked first class and they took great care of us. Handled the baggage, had a 'club' both in Boston and NYC where we could wait our train, escorted us to the platform, served us breakfast, drinks, lunch on the return trip.

 

We'd do it again. :)

 

[rafinmd]

The more I think about it the more I like the Acela train. It's a great train and gets me home almost as soon as the 9:45. First class is quite expensive (almost 3 times as much as business on a regular train), but with reward points it's quite a reasonable cost.

 

Kazu, I did the online checking using the NEXUS card. Although I'm not completely honest about not having a passport (and I'll take some liberty on that since I may not have an available passport if the Brazil visa process drags on), I've honestly told them what I plan to use on the cruise.

 

Roy