Holland America Lines Disasterdam

[Boatdrill]

To the OP: I'm very sorry for the frustration and disappointment you experienced.

 

You did all the right things..contacted the cruiseline and asked their policy, and brought the proof of your conversations with you.

 

Yet you haven't mentioned what specifically was the reason that you were denied boarding ? What were you missing ?

[SandRaven]

Hi all,

OUCH! Please note that ejammer had confirmed with HAL prior to cruising that his documentation was sufficient. Chastising him for not having a passport is not helpful, since he's missed out based on bad information. I love HAL, and certainly hope that they will do the right thing and comp him in a sufficient manner.

[Boatdrill]

While I appreciate the hindsight advice of all the experienced cruisers here, was an inexperienced newbie like me suppose to ignore the expert adamant reassurance of Holland America Lines own representative? Is the cruise line not accountable for the advice and recommendations of their own employees?:confused:

 

Yes, they ought to be, to some extent. At the very least, I hope you've contacted the supervisor who advised you and let her know what happened.

Edited February 16, 2013 by Boatdrill

[ejammer]

My apologies to sail7seas. I assumed they where probably a HAL rep, since they where using the Holland America Lines logo in their signature. My bad. I will edit that out now. Thank you.

[Boatdrill]

I totally understand.

 

My friend who (who has no money invested in this trip btw) tells me..he's born in Canada to American service member parents...just like you...

 

He didnt have a regular birth certificate...

 

He needed a "Report of consular Birth form" or something like that....Which is what they give Americans born abroad.. Im sure you know that now...We found a list of acceptable documents on our cruise lines website (celebrity)

 

My friend had that original document....and he WAS permitted to sail....

 

.

 

Glad it worked for you !

 

The info here, from http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/index.html

 

Special Groups

"Closed Loop" Cruises: U.S. citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present a government issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization). Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the foreign countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents."

 

Of course, the last sentence should read : Check with your cruiseline to ensure that you HOPEFULLY have the appropriate documents" :)

Edited February 16, 2013 by Boatdrill

[IRL_Joanie]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the empathy, encouragement, and support. Yes, I know I need to get a passport to avoid this in the future. Had the HAL rep told me this in the first place, instead of reassuring me that I would not need one, I could have gotten one. However, that is not what they told me (see chat convo transcript above), hence, the reason I did not get one, because, obviously based on the word of their own company representative, I would not need one.

 

While I appreciate the hindsight advice of all the experienced cruisers here, was an inexperienced newbie like me suppose to ignore the expert adamant reassurance of Holland America Lines own representative? Is the cruise line not accountable for the advice and recommendations of their own employees?:confused:

 

Yes, but only, in this case to a point. They gave you the correct answer that pertains to someone born under todays laws for someone in a somewhat similar situation situation. BUT, it appears that YOU could not be covered under what they knew.

 

I believe that you fell between the cracks in this and that this might help people to see that if they have a question of this sort, they should contact the US State Department.

 

I do not place blame on the HAL representative or Supervisor.

 

I do believe that IF you write (snail Mail) to HAL Headquarters in Seattle and explain in great detail what transpired, and ask politely for reimbursement of your cruise, they might, just might not only do the reimbursement on top of the other goodies that you mentioned in your original post.

 

Joanie

[sail7seas]

In this day and age, to travel without a passport is a bad choice IMO

 

It is not always someone else's fault for the choices we make.

 

 

I agree HAL rep gave you poor advice but IMO it was poor choice on your part to elect to leave the U.S., travel voluntarily without a passport. In this day and age, I personally do not think that a good choice.

 

Just because you think you can do something, it doesn't mean you should.

 

Just my opinion....... Sorry.

[Jade13]

Lessa123, No, I have not posted this previously on this site. I have, however, shared this horrific experience on a few other venues, and will continue to do so, in hopes of helping others avoid this experience. Perhaps you read one of those (or are having a psychic experience about one I haven't yet posted somewhere else), or perhaps you read another similar one, as I am confident I am not the only one who has experienced this type of tragedy with Holland America Lines: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/holland.html

 

You would have had the same problem with other cruise lines, and besides Carnival and Princess, also Celebrity/RCCL brands.

[496and706]

Before your cruise, how did you fill out your e-docs? I just went to my e docs for my next cruise and the word "passport" appears at least twice on the first page. You are also required to put your passport number on your documents.

 

Who filled out your documents for you?

[cruz chic]

In this day and age, to travel without a passport is a bad choice IMO

 

It is not always someone else's fault for the choices we make.

 

 

I agree HAL rep gave you poor advice but IMO it was poor choice on your part to elect to leave the U.S., travel voluntarily without a passport. In this day and age, I personally do not think that a good choice.

 

Just because you think you can do something, it doesn't mean you should.

 

Just my opinion....... Sorry.

Agree 100%. I know that OP doesn't want to hear it but it's time to take personal responsibility.

[RuthC]

I don't know how the OP could not have known that she needed a passport to travel outside the country. There has been ample news reports during the last two years, advising U.S. citizens that they will need a passport. Further, if the OP had thought to check the HAL website, she would have seen that a passport was needed. It is unfortunate that she had to learn the hard way that the necessary information should come from an authentic source and not over the telephone from a questionable source.

Not every cruise sailing from the US requires a passport. Is a passport a good idea? Of course. But it is not necessarily required.

People have the right to make their own decision as to whether or not they will take the chance to travel without a passport when it is not required.

[ejammer]

Thank you 496and706. Sail7Seas has also confirm their non Hal rep status, and I have personally apologized to them for that. Since they where using a Holland America Lines logo in their signature line, it was my erroneous assumption that they where acting in an official capacity. I am attempting to edit that out of that particular post, but am having difficulty doing so at this time. It appears the system is making me wait at least 20 minutes from my last edit before I can edit it again.

[sail7seas]

My apologies to sail7seas. I assumed they where probably a HAL rep, since they where using the Holland America Lines logo in their signature. My bad. I will edit that out now. Thank you.

 

 

Thank you.

 

I have used the HAL logo since I first started posting here oh so many years ago. By now, I think it safe to think they don't object. :D

 

[496and706]

A lot of HAL fans like to put various HAL pictures/logos etc in their posts.

 

This is the HAL message board after all.

 

Just like I have also see Princess logos and if you go to another board, all you see are wall-to-wall whale tail logos.

 

There are towel animals, pictures of blue hulls and mickey ears, too.

[Boatdrill]

"In this day and age, to travel without a passport is a bad choice IMO

It is not always someone else's fault for the choices we make.

I agree HAL rep gave you poor advice but IMO it was poor choice on your part to elect to leave the U.S., travel voluntarily without a passport. In this day and age, I personally do not think that a good choice.

Just because you think you can do something, it doesn't mean you should."

 

Since you are a 5 star Mariner, you have the benefit of travel experience.

 

We all understand that passports are the best form of proof of citizenship.

 

But for whatever reason, many people travel on cruises without them. That's the way it is.

 

It was the OP's first cruise ! Can't we give him a break ?

 

He didn't have a passport, but he had what was okayed by HAL reps, and had the written documentation to back it up.

That's more than what most people who are denied boarding are able to produce.

 

I'm not saying he should have been allowed to sail.

My point is that to keep saying "should of had a passport" is a bit condescending, and that's unusual for HAL passengers.

We're a bit more gracious than that. Right, 5 Stars ?

Edited February 16, 2013 by Boatdrill

[ejammer]

It's a pretty logo. Just figured since it was copyrighted, only official company reps would be using it. However, I am confident you are probably correct that they would not object to your endorsements. ;)

[everywhere]

where weer you sailing from today that you have already waited 4 hours to be turned away and the ship has already sailed????

[3rdGenCunarder]

Before your cruise, how did you fill out your e-docs? I just went to my e docs for my next cruise and the word "passport" appears at least twice on the first page. You are also required to put your passport number on your documents.

 

Who filled out your documents for you?

 

The question about e-docs is a good one. We have passports, so we fill in those numbers, and don't wonder about alternate IDs. It's a while since I've done a closed-loop cruise. Do those docs require you to fill in information about identification?

 

We recently flew to Florida. When we did the preflight online info, we had to tell them what form of ID we would be using at check-in, even though it was just a domestic flight. It seems any means of travel beyond driving your own car requires some kind of ID nowadays.

[3rdGenCunarder]

where weer you sailing from today that you have already waited 4 hours to be turned away and the ship has already sailed????

 

I don't think OP's experience happened today.

[sail7seas]

It's a pretty logo. Just figured since it was copyrighted, only official company reps would be using it. However, I am confident you are probably correct that they would not object to your endorsements. ;)

 

 

You probably have noticed the image has a clear "R" encircled indicating it is copyrighted.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 16, 2013 by sail7seas

[496and706]

I always thought that a circled c meant copyright. What does r stand for? Registered trademark ?

[3rdGenCunarder]

I always thought that a circled c meant copyright. What does r stand for? Registered trademark ?

 

Yes, registered trademark. It means that no other company can use that logo. Since Sail isn't using it to sell anything, I don't think HAL will object to her use of the logo. As someone else posted, lots of people do this to show what their favorite line is.

Edited February 16, 2013 by 3rdGenCunarder

[KirkNC]

My only comment -- you should have gotten a passport.

Then all this would have been avoided.

 

Ditto, pretty much everyone knows you need a passport. Don't blame HAL for that, blame the terrorists.

[496and706]

Thank you. After I posted that, my husband gave me a quick detailed explanation on copyrights, trademarks and intellectual properties, etc., etc.

[ejammer]

where weer you sailing from today that you have already waited 4 hours to be turned away and the ship has already sailed????

We where boarding in Fort Lauderdale. Eager and excited to be going on our first cruise, we were one of the first in line. After showing them my documentation, they had us stand-by in the waiting area, while we watched the other passengers board the ship. We where told that the person custom's person who could ok everything was busy escorting sick disembarking passengers from the previous cruise to the hospital. Three hours later, when we finally got to talk to that custom's officer, he originally indicated everything would be fine, and we should be able to board. He called his supervisor, who also confirmed that everything should be fine, but advised him to check with the ship management. An hour later, he returned saying the Captain would not authorize our boarding. It was a four hour nightmare roller coaster ride of emotions like nothing we had ever experienced, nor desire to ever go through again. :(