Unconscionable Rotterdam TA boarding line

[boze9999]

HAL Is Forcing 1000 people to wait outside in 85° heat! The line wraps around the building and out into the street! Not one Holland America representative available to monitor crowd control or to inform everybody what is going on!

[Crazy For Cats]

I’m seeing the same report for those boarding the Nieuw Amsterdam.  On that FB post they stated that everyone needs a Covid test.

[john2003]

This situation is my worst nightmare of cruising. Leadership suddenly disappears so the problem just compounds and one is caught with no options.

[Vict0riann]

Do you suppose a few people did not follow their assigned boarding times?  

[richwmn]

1 minute ago, Vict0riann said:

Do you suppose a few people did not follow their assigned boarding times?  

My thought as well

[Vict0riann]

26 minutes ago, Crazy For Cats said:

I’m seeing the same report for those boarding the Nieuw Amsterdam.  On that FB post they stated that everyone needs a Covid test.

 

Is that NA or NS?  NA is in Huatulco today?

[Laminator]

I agree with the above posters. There is no way HAL had boarding times for 1000 pax this early. 

[albingirl]

Wow.  Glad I'm not there.  People must be ticked off and I sure would be in that heat.  Think people should adhere to boarding times.  But never mind, rules are for thee and not for me.

[VMax1700]

It has been mentioned by several posters on previous threads that the boarding times do not matter and to turn up whenever you feel like it.

A comment, now, would perhaps be in order........

[MAVIP]

HAL Passengers embarking in USA ports need a certificate of s negative pcr or antigen test made 3 or 2 days before boarding/embarkation. Is it not? And no free test at embarkation like here in Amsterdam? 

See craxy for cats f.e.

 

Edited April 17, 2022 by MAVIP

[Laminator]

39 minutes ago, john2003 said:

This situation is my worst nightmare of cruising. Leadership suddenly disappears so the problem just compounds and one is caught with no options.

My option would be to leave and come back in 3 hours. Not a chance in hell I am standing in that line. 

 

Edited April 17, 2022 by Laminator

[12cruise2]

Sorry, but I can't believe THAT many people would show up at the same (wrong?) time AND that the line is not moving--boarding has never gone slowly like this without their being either a delay in boarding the ship in the first place, or as someone mentioned, covid testing--covid isn't over either for crew or guests--just because many are tired of covid and wish to be done with the prevention rules doesn't mean covid and its ability to be easily transmitted are gone.

Plus, on board, if one crew member becomes infected, they have to isolate and it seems that those with whom they have had contact also have to isolate until they do not test positive.  And passengers are still getting it and transmitting it to others. . . .so I wouldn't be surprised if HAL is being more strict about testing, at the port.

Edited April 17, 2022 by 12cruise2

[Laminator]

I read on the roll call board for this cruise HAL is requiring everyone to take a covid test. I read that HAL sent out an email that this poster posted on the roll call Friday stating that all pax must have a negative covid test 24 hours prior to departure for this TA cruise. I am sure that is causing the vast majority of this issue. 

[Mary229]

I am at the port.   The CDC ordered testing for everyone on the Rotterdam and the Statendam at 8 am today.  It is actually moving fairly well.  I don’t have a clue why they made this decision 

[Laminator]

2 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I am at the port.   The CDC ordered testing for everyone on the Rotterdam and the Statendam at 8 am today.  It is actually moving fairly well.  I don’t have a clue why they made this decision 

Someone posted in a roll call that the EU changed their requirements yesterday. 

[richwmn]

10 minutes ago, 12cruise2 said:

Sorry, but I can't believe THAT many people would show up at the same (wrong?) time

Unfortunately I CAN believe that many people would show up at the same wrong time. Check out at most hotels is still either 11am or noon. Several threads on Cruise Critics and on at least two Facebook pages have asked if the boarding times are being enforced and most of the answers have been that they are not. The common response has been to show up when you want to and you will be able to board.

 

[Crazy For Cats]

39 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

 

Is that NA or NS?  NA is in Huatulco today?

Sorry Nieuw Statendam 

[Mary229]

PS I showed up 15 minutes before my appointed time

Edited April 17, 2022 by Mary229

[Mary229]

1 minute ago, Laminator said:

Someone posted in a roll call that the EU changed their requirements yesterday. 

Interesting. I will let you know if I hear anything.   The Rotterdam is reportedly full and the Statendam is at 1200 pax

[Laminator]

2 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

PS I showed up 15 minutes before my appointed time

See....you are part of the problem...LOL!!!

 

[ShipWalker]

Cruising is an adventure. (Sometimes even before you get on the ship.) 😀

[travelwide]

I can attest to the fact that the masses are outside on the sidewalk for the NS. Glad we are not among them.

[raesive]

Waiting in the NS line. It's more organized and less chaos than an hour ago when we arrived, but still crazy. Broward FD stopped by to hand out waters before a crew member showed up with more. Still going to be on today tho!

[Tampa Girl]

I thought that it was the port who set the rules and established the process.  How much say does HAL have in the way in which a port authority manages embarkation?

[POAII Cruiser]

This had nothing to do with assigned times. Holland America required all people to be tested at the terminal prior to boarding. The terminal had to be set up for testing. Holland America should have dispensed with the three day prior test if they knew in advance that all passengers would be tested at the terminal. it's poor planning on Holland Americas part and incompetence with shoreside management.