Turn around day

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

15 hours ago, 1884Vic said:

Thanks all.  I am leaning towards doing something in FLL that day . Trying to stay out of the way doesn't sounds like a vacation day.  We know FLL well and don't mind fooling around for a few hours so there is less stress on the staff. 

 

 

Yes turnaround day can be busy, but we still found some relaxing places on the ship.  The busiest area is around the cabins as they have to get them ready for the new guests.  We just told our cabin steward to skip our cabin that morning.  All we did was make up the bed.  It is not hard to find quiet places and you do not have to try to stay out of the way.

 

We spent most of the morning relaxing in the Crow's Nest.  The area around the Lido pool was quiet with just a few people around the pool.  In fact, most of the public areas were already clean and quiet once the ship reached zero count.  On other cruises, we have spent part of the turn around day in the Ocean Bar.

[T8NCruise]

17 hours ago, 1884Vic said:

Thanks all.  I am leaning towards doing something in FLL that day . Trying to stay out of the way doesn't sounds like a vacation day.  We know FLL well and don't mind fooling around for a few hours so there is less stress on the staff. 

 

 

 

We've done a few turnaround days, one included changing cabins - that can be a challenge! - and how they do it seems to depend on the port.  Usually you gather somewhere in the ship, then get escorted off and back on again once everyone else has departed.  Last cruise we were simply seated on the promenade deck, and then allowed back into the ship once it zeroed down.

I really enjoy the ship in that couple of hours before everyone new passengers board.  Everything seems to be open and operating as per usual, though I don't know about the thermal spa.  Never use it.

[Btimmer]

The biggest challenge we've faced when changing cabins on a turnaround day is when the persons occupying the cabin we are moving to don't vacate the cabin until the last possible moment.  All we need to do when transferring cabins is to move our items and put valuables in the safe.  The crew can then have the cabin for the day and we'll put away our items later in the day after we return from our day's activities.

[kevingastreich]

On 2/29/2020 at 6:36 PM, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

We just did a turnaround day in Ft. Lauderdale in January.  We had the option to get off the ship for the day, take a ship’s tour, or remain in the ship.  Those who  chose to spend the day off the ship, went through immigration in the port.  For those of us who decided to stay on the ship, we met in the showroom.  Once everyone else was off the ship, we were escorted off the ship for immigration inspection.  We saw the immigration officer who looked at our passports, and then we returned to the ship.

 

If you decide to explore Ft. Lauderdale on your own, you will need to get to take a taxi, Uber or Lyft into town.

We just did this same thing. It took about an hour start to finish and we were back on board having lunch.

[WisRiver]

We did a B2B in Fort Lauderdale.  Another guest told us about the crew shuttle.  It takes you from the ship to a shopping center on 17th Street.  The cost was a couple of dollars.    We walked down 17th Street and caught the Water Taxi.  We rode the Water Taxi to one of the ocean front stops and ate lunch on the beach.  We did some shopping on the 17th Street shops,  caught the crew shuttle and were back on board by 3 PM.  

[kevingastreich]

On 3/1/2020 at 4:06 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

I have read that it is.  I have not tried to do so.  The staff is already under so much pressure to embark the new guests that I feel it's an intrusion on my part to request Room Service.

 

Having Room Service Breakfast available on the morning of disembarkation is a unique service of HAL that many other cruise lines do not allow.

Room service was available on turn around day as well as disembarkation day on our recent cruise.

[rkacruiser]

3 hours ago, WisRiver said:

the crew shuttle

 

How does one learn about from where and when this shuttle operates?  

[WisRiver]

As we were leaving the ship, we saw crew members in street clothes.  We asked them where the crew shuttle stopped.  They said "follow us".    Since you cannot predict where the ship will dock, the crew members will know.  There is a number of shops that serve the cruise ship crews where the shuttle stops.  

[rkacruiser]

1 hour ago, WisRiver said:

As we were leaving the ship, we saw crew members in street clothes.  We asked them where the crew shuttle stopped.  They said "follow us".    Since you cannot predict where the ship will dock, the crew members will know.  There is a number of shops that serve the cruise ship crews where the shuttle stops.  

 

In Port Everglades when the ship is docked at Pier 26 and I am walking from the Mid-Port Parking  Garage to the Terminal, I thought that I saw a van that had a sign that said "Crew Shuttle".  Is that the area to which you found the shuttle?  But, what's its schedule?  How does one know?

[WisRiver]

I cannot remember at which pier we docked in FLL.  There appeared to be no set schedule.  We just followed the crew.  The van filled up, we left, and that was it.    Same way for the return from the shopping center.  We just verified that the pickup for the return was the same place as where we were dropped.  Things may change over time.  I would ask crew when you get to FLL.  

[rkacruiser]

19 hours ago, WisRiver said:

I cannot remember at which pier we docked in FLL.  There appeared to be no set schedule.  We just followed the crew.  The van filled up, we left, and that was it.    Same way for the return from the shopping center.  We just verified that the pickup for the return was the same place as where we were dropped.  Things may change over time.  I would ask crew when you get to FLL.  

 

Thank you for your reply to my question.  I appreciate it, particularly I have never considered trying to use the crew shuttle if I wanted to leave the Port for awhile.

[Btimmer]

4 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Thank you for your reply to my question.  I appreciate it, particularly I have never considered trying to use the crew shuttle if I wanted to leave the Port for awhile.

When we walked to the shopping area, we discovered the crew shuttle, and learned where it departed from Terminal 6 at that time.  But we were committed to walking and enjoyed our 2 way walk.  We'll consider the crew shuttle on our upcoming turnaround day visit.

[rkacruiser]

2 hours ago, Btimmer said:

When we walked to the shopping area, we discovered the crew shuttle, and learned where it departed from Terminal 6 at that time. 

 

Terminal 6?  That is not very convenient for the guests or crew that usually disembark from HAL ships that dock at Terminals 19, 21, or 26.

[Btimmer]

4 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Terminal 6?  That is not very convenient for the guests or crew that usually disembark from HAL ships that dock at Terminals 19, 21, or 26.

We found it quite convenient as it's the closest terminal to the shopping area.  26 is a fair hike.