Koningsdam Vancouver embarkation: progressive cruise check-in schedule

[SilvertoGold]

I am not getting a clear picture of how "priority"  for 5 starts, etc is working with all these delays, problems, etc. Any info would be appreciated.

[Crew News]

16 minutes ago, SilvertoGold said:

I am not getting a clear picture of how "priority"  for 5 starts, etc is working with all these delays, problems, etc. Any info would be appreciated.

It was my experience for the past two check-in sessions in Vancouver that 4&5* Mariners, Pinnacle/Neptune Suites, and Club Orange were given priority for the initial HAL facial recognition scan.  All passengers from all ships were then combined for Security scanning and another facial recognition scan for US Immigration.  Passengers were then filtered back their respective ships and seated according to their priority status,  When boarding started, the priority guests began boarding first. If boarding had already started, all passengers boarded immediately after the final facial recognition scan.

 

"Priority" only made a difference for the initial scanning and if seated,

[SilvertoGold]

4 minutes ago, Crew News said:

It was my experience for the past two check-in sessions in Vancouver that 4&5* Mariners, Pinnacle/Neptune Suites, and Club Orange were given priority for the initial HAL facial recognition scan.  All passengers from all ships were then combined for Security scanning and another facial recognition scan for US Immigration.  Passengers were then filtered back their respective ships and seated according to their priority status,  When boarding started, the priority guests began boarding first. If boarding had already started, all passengers boarded immediately after the final facial recognition scan.

 

"Priority" only made a difference for the initial scanning and if seated,

Excellent, Roger. Thanks. BTW: in looking at theCanada Place schedule for this year I see that the start of the season had a lot of 3 ship days. Going forward, many days are two ships and a few just one ship, so I am hoping things settle down and embarkation will improve!  Your posts are great to read (the soup and the cookies to the rescue! I need to remeber that!).

[julia]

We arrived YVR at 10:45am yesterday (Sunday May 5th).  The immigration kiosks at YVR were quick and simple to use. Collected our bags and exited, crossed over to escalators up to the SkyTrain.  Purchased two "concession fares" (seniors), boarded train (no problem with luggage) to Waterfront Station. Although our deck 7 check in time was 11:30, we did NOT want any part of the Canada Place zoo. There's a nice brew pub right in Waterfront (thx @martincath) called Rogue, where we had a casual lunch, surrounded by lots of folks with marathon medals around their necks.  Around 1pm, we walked a few blocks over to CP, went down the ramp (as told), handed off one bag to porter, and noticed no crowds. It does get a bit "much" with riding escalators up, then back down, but there's personnel directing everywhere. We glided thru it all, with zero lines, and were onboard in about 30 minutes. Went directly to our aft balcony cabin, started unpacking the carry on, and the large bag was delivered in minutes.  Done.  Sailaway was wet & soggy, but happy! Today is a smooth sailing, thermal suite, drink package kinda day!  🎶🫢🍸⬆️

 

Finally, I do not care if we make President's Club... late boarding is the only way to go!

[CoolHandLNC]

FWIW, we arrived a little after 13:00 for a 14:00 boarding time HA Koningsdam May 11 2025 from Vancouver. Nobody was checking boarding times, but we breezed through and were on board in about 30 mins. 

[Khlela]

This likely would be super helpful if people actually followed the instructions and port staff enforced it. However, we all know people will still arrive whenever they want and it sounds like it’s not being enforced. Alas, this likely will have very minimal impact.

 

I’m also curious, given four and five star, NS, PS and also OC all get priority. That has be a good chunk of the ship right? Is there priority within the priority does anyone know? Like the stars, NS and PS board before CO? I know those with mobility issues are priority as well. I don’t care really as long as I’m on the ship eventually. But it just makes me wonder how much of a “priority” it actually is at this point. 

[julia]

23 minutes ago, Khlela said:

This likely would be super helpful if people actually followed the instructions and port staff enforced it. However, we all know people will still arrive whenever they want and it sounds like it’s not being enforced. Alas, this likely will have very minimal impact.

 

I’m also curious, given four and five star, NS, PS and also OC all get priority. That has be a good chunk of the ship right? Is there priority within the priority does anyone know? Like the stars, NS and PS board before CO? I know those with mobility issues are priority as well. I don’t care really as long as I’m on the ship eventually. But it just makes me wonder how much of a “priority” it actually is at this point. 

There is NO priority when everyone has priority! 😅🫢

It's still a cluster... arrive later, skip the crowds and chaos!

[swin26]

It is interesting- the language on the notice for boarding in Rotterdam is much softer - recommendations not a new implementation 

’IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION
We look forward to welcoming you on board Rotterdam. In order to ease terminal
congestion, we recommend that guests follow the progressive cruise check-in
schedule below. Our 4 & 5 Star Mariners, Club Orange, and Pinnacle & Neptune
Suite guests are invited to arrive anytime. If you have purchased a Holland
America Line pre-cruise hotel or transfer, your check-in time will be provided
at your hotel or the airport. Guests travelling on shared transport or arriving
as a group will be checked in together.
10:30 AM - Decks 10 & 11 Panorama & Sun Decks
11:30 AM - Decks 7 & 8 - Schubert & Navigation Decks
1:00 PM - Decks 5 & 6 - Gershwin & Mozart Decks
2:00 PM - Decks 1 & 4 - Main & Beethoven Decks
Check-in begins at 10:30 AM and boarding will begin at 11:30 AM. All guests
must be in the terminal by 2:30 PM.’

[SilvertoGold]

3 hours ago, swin26 said:

It is interesting- the language on the notice for boarding in Rotterdam is much softer - recommendations not a new implementation 

’IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION
We look forward to welcoming you on board Rotterdam. In order to ease terminal
congestion, we recommend that guests follow the progressive cruise check-in
schedule below. Our 4 & 5 Star Mariners, Club Orange, and Pinnacle & Neptune
Suite guests are invited to arrive anytime. If you have purchased a Holland
America Line pre-cruise hotel or transfer, your check-in time will be provided
at your hotel or the airport. Guests travelling on shared transport or arriving
as a group will be checked in together.
10:30 AM - Decks 10 & 11 Panorama & Sun Decks
11:30 AM - Decks 7 & 8 - Schubert & Navigation Decks
1:00 PM - Decks 5 & 6 - Gershwin & Mozart Decks
2:00 PM - Decks 1 & 4 - Main & Beethoven Decks
Check-in begins at 10:30 AM and boarding will begin at 11:30 AM. All guests
must be in the terminal by 2:30 PM.’

I thought this new check-in plan was initiated in Vancouver at the request of Canada Place.  Is this actually HAL's new plan for all ports?

[QuattroRomeo]

Our Noordam embarkation info just arrived for our cruise out of Vancouver. No mention of any progressive check-in. That was short-lived!

 

 

 

[nw gardener]

Just boarded the Koningsdam,  surprisingly painless. Only one other ship today so that helped, Royal Princess.  No progressive check in,  and received email similar to @QuattroRomeo earlier this week.  Arrived via cab at 1130, dropped off in parking garage and handed luggage off to porters.  Up to check in, no lines, off to security and then customs.  Breezed through,  on board and in cabin at 1210. Lunch at dive in ordered on the app, now in crows nest for mariners reception and breaking in the beverage package.  Looking forward to a great week,  no matter the weather 😀

[LeDemonBlond]

 Our embarkation on June 1st with the Koningsdam went really well.  The embarkation note from HAL a couple of days before read:

 

As a reminder, check-in for your Holland America Line cruise will begin at 10:00 AM at the Port of Vancouver. In order to minimize congestion and wait times, we suggest arriving earlier than 11:30 AM or after 1:30 PM as there will be other ships in port sharing the cruise terminal, and all guests will proceed through shared security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection screening. We appreciate your patience during this process. Boarding will begin at 11:30 AM and those who arrive early may wait in the terminal until boarding begins. All guests must be in the terminal by 2:00 PM.

 

We arrived about 10:20 at the port along with hundreds of our fellow travelers who took to heart arriving before 11:30. Our party was split up as some were dropped off on P2 where we  dropped our luggage off and those who were dropped off on the street. That group walked directly to Hall D where they were accepting luggage. I was on P2 and needed to take an elevator up to I think was the Concourse level from where it was a short walk to Hall D. Met up with the rest of our party of 6. From there we were in a long line up to get our picture taken and scan our cruise boarding pass. The line moved fast as I think there were at least a dozen cameras and importantly a person to help at each camera station. From there we went into another hall where we were seated with a few hundred others. However, that went fast as each line of seated passenger's were escorted off to U.S. customs. I think we only sat for maybe 10 minutes. As mentioned, they verify your picture at customs and then your off to be seated in a much smaller seating area. My picture did not verify so I had to talk with a customs agent but there was no line up and was quickly able to sit with my party. Less than a 2 minute wait and then escorted to where we could walk up 2 gang planks to the ship. We were in the lido at 11:20   The rooms were ready by Noon

[RobertoF]

Embarkation in Vancouver today is a nightmare.  It has been three hours and we are still waiting in line at customs. I don't see how the ships could possibly leave on time today.

[leerathje]

2 hours ago, RobertoF said:

Embarkation in Vancouver today is a nightmare.  It has been three hours and we are still waiting in line at customs. I don't see how the ships could possibly leave on time today.

 

Three ships in port today...I really think that customs has a difficult time dealing with three ships.

 

L.