Turnaround Day in Ft Lauderdale Horrible

[sail7seas]

Why do they care if we take liquor off the ship?

 

 

When on a b-to-b, we are not (usually) making Customs Declaration though a few times we have had to. Any liquor brought ashore has to be indicated on the Declaration.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

We had no problem taking a backpack each off the ship on turnaround day. Just had to have it re-scanned on entering the ship.

 

 

You were lucky.

I was writing what has been in all the letters that have been sent to our cabin reguarding turn-around day.

[celle]

You were lucky.

 

I was writing what has been in all the letters that have been sent to our cabin regarding turn-around day.

 

Well, no. We weren't lucky, because nobody told us that. We didn't try to fool the system and we did nothing wrong.

 

We were on Eurodam, doing first a transatlantic repo cruise to New York, and then staying on for a cruise up the east coast, New York to Quebec.

 

We were invited to a meeting for b2b cruisers and given all the information about procedures for turnaround day at that meeting. We didn't receive a letter in our room. Nobody mentioned anything about the size of the bag we were allowed to take off for the day - and I can't think why there would be that restriction. Obviously, it would be ridiculous to take an enormous bag, but a small day pack should be acceptable.

 

If the bag has to be small, why could you not put sunblock etc in it and get off the ship wearing a towel around your neck? Then you could have your day at the beach. Our backpacks each had a small jacket in them, our medications for the day and some camera gear. My bag also had my folding walking stick (in case my knee got sore and I needed the stick later in the day).

 

The fact that you and I havd hd different experiences on turnaround day just reinforces what I already said - that you can't generalise about procedures and every port seems to have a different procedure. Some ports even have different procedures on different days!

[sail7seas]

I commented above we took a netbook computer carrybag and a HAL tote along with my pocketbook off the ship our last turnaround day in FLL and had no problem at all. The CBP officer asked to look in our tote, he did so, smiled and permitted us to go on our way.

 

No issue.

Edited November 22, 2013 by sail7seas

[walcherw]

I commented above we took a netbook computer carrybag and a HAL tote along with my pocketbook off the ship our last turnaround day in FLL and had no problem at all. The CBP officer asked to look in our tote, he did so, smiled and permitted us to go on our way.

 

No issue.

We have never had a problem.

I do know if you get off and on too many times they will red flag you. Once on a turnaround we were in our room and the cops (with dogs)ship staff and FEDS (about 8 guys total) came to the room next to ours and did a complete search as the young man next door (who was traveling with his mother) had been getting on and off the ship several times. They had him come out and they took the dogs in and searched the whole cabin. He told them he was getting off to go make long distance calls. They found nothing and left.

When we got off in Chilli they made us line up single file behind a rope and put our backpacks on the gound. They had a couple of dogs come down the line and smell each one. (Drugs or food i guess)We were told NO food could be taken off the ship. We all passed.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Well, no. We weren't lucky, because nobody told us that. We didn't try to fool the system and we did nothing wrong.

 

We were on Eurodam, doing first a transatlantic repo cruise to New York, and then staying on for a cruise up the east coast, New York to Quebec.

 

We were invited to a meeting for b2b cruisers and given all the information about procedures for turnaround day at that meeting. We didn't receive a letter in our room. Nobody mentioned anything about the size of the bag we were allowed to take off for the day - and I can't think why there would be that restriction. Obviously, it would be ridiculous to take an enormous bag, but a small day pack should be acceptable.

 

If the bag has to be small, why could you not put sunblock etc in it and get off the ship wearing a towel around your neck? Then you could have your day at the beach. Our backpacks each had a small jacket in them, our medications for the day and some camera gear. My bag also had my folding walking stick (in case my knee got sore and I needed the stick later in the day).

 

The fact that you and I havd hd different experiences on turnaround day just reinforces what I already said - that you can't generalise about procedures and every port seems to have a different procedure. Some ports even have different procedures on different days!

 

 

Having done quite a few back-to-back and Collectors Cruises. And the day before we have to go through immigration in many US cities, we have gotten a letter (like the one below from our most recent cruise) that also contained our Intransit cards.

 

 

 

[celle]

Thank you KrazyKruisers.

 

I'm not doubting your experience, either with cruises or with turnaround days. And I don't doubt you had the letter, too. (Thank you for posting a copy.)

 

All I am saying is that not everyone has the same experiences as you had - and we did not.

 

I see that the letter says you can take off "a small bag or purse". I guess that our backpacks (which were not stuffed full) came within the definition of a small bag. The import of the paragraph about carrying off a bag seems to be that you are not allowed to take off a large one, such as your main suitcase, if you are doing a b2b (but why would you want to?) - which makes perfect sense. I don't see it as an embargo on taking a bag that obviously has in it things you need for a day on shore.

 

Obviously there's no "one-size-fits-all" answer to what happens on turnaround day.

[sail7seas]

Having done quite a few back-to-back and Collectors Cruises. And the day before we have to go through immigration in many US cities, we have gotten a letter (like the one below from our most recent cruise) that also contained our Intransit cards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tried to underline (but was unable) where it says a small bag or purse is permitted to be brought ashore.

 

Apparently, an HAL tote bag and a netbook computer bag qualify as 'small bag'. :)

 

Edited November 22, 2013 by sail7seas

[walcherw]

Having done quite a few back-to-back and Collectors Cruises. And the day before we have to go through immigration in many US cities, we have gotten a letter (like the one below from our most recent cruise) that also contained our Intransit cards.

 

 

 

Thank you for posting the letter.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you KrazyKruisers.

 

I'm not doubting your experience, either with cruises or with turnaround days. And I don't doubt you had the letter, too. (Thank you for posting a copy.)

 

All I am saying is that not everyone has the same experiences as you had - and we did not.

 

I see that the letter says you can take off "a small bag or purse". I guess that our backpacks (which were not stuffed full) came within the definition of a small bag. The import of the paragraph about carrying off a bag seems to be that you are not allowed to take off a large one, such as your main suitcase, if you are doing a b2b (but why would you want to?) - which makes perfect sense. I don't see it as an embargo on taking a bag that obviously has in it things you need for a day on shore.

 

Obviously there's no "one-size-fits-all" answer to what happens on turnaround day.

 

I tried to underline (but was unable) where it says a small bag or purse is permitted to be brought ashore.

 

Apparently, an HAL tote bag and a netbook computer bag qualify as 'small bag'. :)

 

 

I also tried to make that paragraph RED -- couldn't even underline it either.

celle -- you had to have gotten the Intransit cards -- which are always enclosed with the letter.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for posting the letter.

 

 

You are welcome.

[fourkittys]

2nd time trying to post this, let's just say this day has been terrible. We were led like cattle in a huge room after we went through immigration and stood in lines for almost an hour. 600+ people who were continuing on the ship for the Eastern Caribbean.

When we got back onboard....tried to use elevators but only 2 were open and packed, so we trecked up to 7th floor. I went to Neptune Lounge and that is where I broke down in tears. I was so out of breath from the stairs and just so upset in general. Oh yea, while we were waiting in the cattle line....I called Holland America and voiced our opinions of this and were told the ship was still not cleared, which I knew already. Back in the Neptune Lounge, they were very concerned and were so nice in calming me down.

We have decided this will be our last 2 week cruise where there is a turnaround day. It was totally not like we had read it would be. A lot of people were also upset. It turned out that 2 people chose to not go by the instructions and I suppose Holland had a hard time of locating their room to get them off the ship. I heard one gentleman say that the couple should be fined! I think I agree.

Anyway, with a few issues on the first week, overall, it has been wonderful. I pray the second week will be just as wonderful. We will be waving on the sail away today.

 

JUST OFF THE NIEW AMSTERDAM

I completely agree with you, this was VERY uncomfortable for most people who are primarily seniors with bad backs, legs, hips etc. To being forced to stand in a large warehouse like room with NO chairs and NO noticeable AC and having no ideas how long we would be there was absurd. I thought I had read on previouse reviews that we would be escorted to a lounge type area where we would wait in comfort. HA!

Everyone was upset although our wait was a little under an hour (a few cruises before ours they waited four hours) it was a far cry from the type of conditions we receive and expect from Holland.

This was the one sticking point in a nearly perfect cruise.

[walcherw]

JUST OFF THE NIEW AMSTERDAM

I completely agree with you, this was VERY uncomfortable for most people who are primarily seniors with bad backs, legs, hips etc. To being forced to stand in a large warehouse like room with NO chairs and NO noticeable AC and having no ideas how long we would be there was absurd. I thought I had read on previouse reviews that we would be escorted to a lounge type area where we would wait in comfort. HA!

Everyone was upset although our wait was a little under an hour (a few cruises before ours they waited four hours) it was a far cry from the type of conditions we receive and expect from Holland.

This was the one sticking point in a nearly perfect cruise.

We will know for sure in 2 weeks. We leave here in one week. I am ready...we have 4 inches of new snow in our front yard.

[celle]

celle -- you had to have gotten the Intransit cards -- which are always enclosed with the letter.

 

As I said in Post#114, we were issued with our new room cards and the In Transit card on the evening before we arrived in New York. But we did not receive the letter you posted. We did receive a very brief letter, which again reminded us that everyone had to get off the ship, that everyone had to pass through US immigration, and that we could go independently, or gather in a certain lounge, to disembark as a group.

 

Our letter had nothing concerning customs allowances or the size of day bags.

[Krazy Kruizers]

JUST OFF THE NIEW AMSTERDAM

I completely agree with you, this was VERY uncomfortable for most people who are primarily seniors with bad backs, legs, hips etc. To being forced to stand in a large warehouse like room with NO chairs and NO noticeable AC and having no ideas how long we would be there was absurd. I thought I had read on previouse reviews that we would be escorted to a lounge type area where we would wait in comfort. HA!

Everyone was upset although our wait was a little under an hour (a few cruises before ours they waited four hours) it was a far cry from the type of conditions we receive and expect from Holland.

This was the one sticking point in a nearly perfect cruise.

 

 

This was the first time that we had to stand in line in the luggage area in Ft Lauderdale. We have always passed through immigration and gone back upstairs to sit and wait to get back on the ship no matter which pier we have been at.

A few years we also had to stand in line before going upstairs for about 15 minutes when we were in Tampa. Again we were in the luggage area with no seats.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We will know for sure in 2 weeks. We leave here in one week. I am ready...we have 4 inches of new snow in our front yard.

 

 

I hope they get situation straightened out by the time you get on the ship. As I said, it was brought up at the Question and Answer session that a few of us were invited to.

[Krazy Kruizers]

As I said in Post#114, we were issued with our new room cards and the In Transit card on the evening before we arrived in New York. But we did not receive the letter you posted. We did receive a very brief letter, which again reminded us that everyone had to get off the ship, that everyone had to pass through US immigration, and that we could go independently, or gather in a certain lounge, to disembark as a group.

 

Our letter had nothing concerning customs allowances or the size of day bags.

 

 

Our ID cards have always been issued for the entire Collectors Cruise. So we don't get new ones. Did you switch cabins?

[celle]

Our ID cards have always been issued for the entire Collectors Cruise. So we don't get new ones. Did you switch cabins?

 

I keep saying that not everyone's experience is the same, no matter how many b2b cruises you have done. Please can you just accept that?

 

Please go back and look at Post #114, where I explained what happened on each of our turnaround days, on different cruises. Every turnaround day was different.

 

No, we didn't switch cabins on any of our b2b cruises. Yes, we were issued with a new ID card for the Dover-New York-Quebec cruise, but not for the Kobe-Vancouver cruise. Both cruises were with HAL, both were Collector's cruises, but on different ships.

 

I totally sympathises with the original poster's experience at FLL. The only time we entered the US there, it was the first US landfall at the end of a cruise from South America. They only had 2 immigration officers to deal with approximately 2,000 disembarking passengers - one line for US and Canadian citizens and one for all the rest of us. It was a total zoo, with people and luggage backed up everywhere, not helped at all by the officious auxiliary people herding us like cattle and screaming at us!

[walcherw]

Maybe HAL is reading these post and will have it all GOOD for us on our turnaround.:D

Edited November 24, 2013 by walcherw

[mamaofami]

Maybe HAL is reading these post and will have it all GOOD for us on our turnaround.:D

 

Hope so, for you and for me.

[mightycruisequeen]

Really, the only times that turnaround day has been "horrible" for us is when we weren't cruising back to back, and we had to go home instead of getting back on the ship. :)

Edited November 24, 2013 by mightycruisequeen

[Krazy Kruizers]

Maybe HAL is reading these post and will have it all GOOD for us on our turnaround.:D

 

Believe me -- HAL already knows about the mess in Key West and our turn-around day in Ft Lauderdale as both were a mess.

Eight of us were invited to the Question and Answer session and 6 of us talked about the messes.

[walcherw]

Believe me -- HAL already knows about the mess in Key West and our turn-around day in Ft Lauderdale as both were a mess.

Eight of us were invited to the Question and Answer session and 6 of us talked about the messes.

 

I think they MIGHT have it right