Staggered Boarding Times-Port of Seattle (Oosterdam)

[qsuzi]

Does boarding at the Port of Seattle now start at 12:30pm and not the previous 11:30 am start we experienced in June 2016? Per an e-mail from HAL, our next cruise on the Ooosterdam will have staggered boarding times as noted below.

 

We invite our 4 and 5 Star Mariners, Pinnacle and Neptune Suite guests to arrive anytime between 12:30 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. Board times by deck are:

1:00 PM - Deck 7, Deck 8 & Deck 10 (Rotterdam, Navigation & Observation)

1:30 PM - Deck 5 & Deck 6 (Verandah & Upper Verandah)

2:00 PM - Deck 4 (Upper Promenade)

2:30 PM - Deck 1 (Main)

Are staggered times now the new norm for HAL cruises?

[Alberta Quilter]

Hi Suzi! Yes, this seems to be the new norm in Seattle. Others have reported receiving the same email and have also said that they show up at the regular time and have not been turned away. Enjoy your cruise!

[Sequim88]

We got the same notice before our June 11 sailing. We checked in at about 11am and boarded with the rest of the wheelchair folks at 11:45 (after the suites people). Since the photographers were all set up already it was apparent they were not boarding strictly by the schedule. Not sure what the process was after we boarded but suspect they "flushed out" the very crowded waiting area fairly quickly in the order indicated on the schedule. As soon as the line got short enough they probably called the next group. Our guess was the staggered time suggestions/requests are to reduce the initial crush of people in the waiting area.

 

If they really did start at 12:30 it would just about totally eliminate anyone getting to do lunch in the MDR which was open from Noon to 1pm and fully staffed so obviously they were ready for people being onboard at Noon.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I wonder if wheelchair people get a different time to get on the ship?

[dfish]

It isn't just Seattle. I got that same email for my cruise out of Amsterdam last month.

[qsuzi]

Hi AQ:D

 

Thanks to all for your response.