Silent Disembarkation

[GeriatricNurse]

Is HAL now using the "silent" disembarkation process on all their ships?

[GCurry]

Is HAL now using the "silent" disembarkation process on all their ships?

Yes, they send you a note with your time slot on it, about 30 min as I recall. This was the one screw up of the cruise, as people ignored their time and tried to get off early upsetting Customs, which as we all know, are the WRONG people to get POed at you.

So it resulted in delays for the rest of us.

 

We were in Lauderdale which had three HAL, one Princess, and the QM2 all disembarking at once. The Lauderdale airport was a zoo, baggage check-in and security took forever plus it was over crowded and hot, so allow plenty of time if you are flying out of there.

[Candy]

I think many frequent cruisers (been there, done that) who did not attend the Debarkation Talk (or watch it on TV), and did not read the letter that came with the luggage tags, were simply waiting for the usual color/number announcement and got antsy and went downstairs to wait. What a crowd! On our cruise, it was complicated by a hold-up in Immigration and exacerbated by a taxi strike.

 

Needless to say, I will never again book a 10:05 plane reservation.

 

Unfortunately, comments about this system never make it to the Comment Cards, so they have to learn by trial and error. Either we must pay better attention and be patient, or they should end the "experiment"

 

Candy

[RlrCstr]

On the Ryndam in October, Customs in San Diego was very late (as in nearly an hour and a half later than planned) in clearing the ship. There were no announcements, and the public areas got more and more backed up. One would have thought after a while that they would have announced that things were not on schedule and not to try to come down to the exit level, but no...more and more people crowded in,

insisting that it was their time to leave, and not believing everyone trying to tell them that noone was able to leave and we had all been waiting

over an hour.

What a mess.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We were on the Veendam March 2008 when they first started this new system -- total disaster!!

We also happen to be on the Westerdam in May when they started the new system -- again -- total disaster!!

Thankfully on our recent Eurodam cruises, security did stop people from disembarking when it wasn't their time. Much better.

The time frame for us was 8:30 - 8:45. On the other cruises it was also only 15 minutes but you can certainly leave after -- say for example -- 8:45.

[matondo]

Westerdam cruise 11/30-12/07, the CD had to make an announcement to remind everyone what was going on but it seemed to go well at least for us. We were one of the last people off the boat and nice to just walk right off with no wait. Loved it. This time they even got our suitcases under the correct color.

[m steve]

We were in last group to disembark and our bags stood out in the area, got a porter for our 8 bags and customs passed us thru even though I was over on my liquor. Just got outside and hopped into a cab while he tried to figure where to put all the luggage. It was the easiest ever. We stayed on our balcony until it was time to depart.

[iflyrc5]

On the Prinsendam in FLL last week we got the letter but they did give us luggage tags with colors/numbers and called them over the PA. According to the letter we were suppose to be in the second group and be called at 9:15. Ship arrived at 7am, first group called at 9:15 - we were called at 9:30.

[tomtal]

We were on the Eurodam and disembarking was a doddle (word used in UK - in case you don't have know it over the pond - meaning great, easy, whatever...). Our time slot was 8.30 to 8.45 and we had a leisurely breakfast in our cabin and then went through exactly on time. I think the problem is that so many people fail to read instructions. You would be surprised how many people packed their vouchers for transfers to the airport, or had them in carry on bags, tucked away, thus making the rest of the group late to get away. It's very easy to blame Holland America for everything, but I think we really must look at ourselves as well.

[Himself]

I was skeptical about the silent Disembarkation when I heard of it but now having experienced it a couple of times, I think it is teriffic! I am amazed at how well it goes.

[Krazy Kruizers]

It does work well -- IF -- people take the time to read the letter and follow their disembarkation time.

A couple of times on the Eurodam, the CD had to come on to the PA and remind people to follow their disembarkation time and not to stand in the passageways while waiting for their time.

And it works well -- IF -- security is there monitoring the times when people are suppose to leave.

[RedmondCruiser]

The first time we used the new system it worked very well and people disembarked at the appropriate time. On a recent Mexican cruise the ship did not clear on time and three groups piled up at the gangway, which made it a big mess. The ship should have realized this and made an anouncement, which they did'nt. They need to be able to shift over to anounced departure at a moments notice, suprising that they don't see this.

[Copper10-8]

Experienced if for the first time on Veendam last month in Tampa. Getting off the ship (0900) was a piece of cake and folks actually paid attention. The backup started on the other side of the gangway at the terminal building (Immigration & Customs) - but that was not HAL's fault. It looks like it works fine IF people pay attention and don't try to circumvent this system by deciding to take off when it's not their time

[cruz chic]

It does work well -- IF -- people take the time to read the letter and follow their disembarkation time.

 

A couple of times on the Eurodam, the CD had to come on to the PA and remind people to follow their disembarkation time and not to stand in the passageways while waiting for their time.

 

And it works well -- IF -- security is there monitoring the times when people are suppose to leave.

Agree 100%...and that is the thing security has to treat people like babies because they have to act like them. There were way too many rude people on my Nov.2008 Statendam cruise and they acted like total hooligans in so many situations. The first port in the US they acted this way and then made it a total disaster again for disembarkation. If security would have asked for their luggage tags color a lot of these issues could have been avoided. It's too bad that a group of 150 people or so could have such a huge impact on enjoyment of a cruise.

[cruiserfromohio]

All this silent stuff is great, but what if the ship is late? My experience on the Zuiderdam last month is even though your letter may say 8:15 - 8:30, if the ship s late by 1 1/2 hours what happens -- mass confusion, as there are no announcements to tell people what to do. Use the tags, people understand them! If not, make announcements on the PA system -- even if it is not HAL's fault -- like the Homeland Security folks are running slow, so we'll delay your estimated embarkation by 15 minutes. Most of the problem with "people ignoring" the procedure is that they're not kept up-to-date on the situation.

[Sun-Sand-Palm-Trees]

Just wondering if Holland still has the option to disembark at any time provided we carry your own luggage off the ship? :confused:

 

We arrived in FLL 12/23 last year and walked right off, breezed thru customs, got a taxi immediately and were on our way to the airport. It was wonderful compared to what we encountered with Royal a few months later.

[RuthC]

Just wondering if Holland still has the option to disembark at any time provided we carry your own luggage off the ship? :confused:

Yes, self-disembark is still available, but it's not at any time. You have to be in the first group off the ship. Otherwise the people packing off their own bags would clog up the passage of those with only carry-ons.

[serendipity1499]

Our silent disembarkation worked extremely well last month..Our luggage was easy to find..the porter took us to the curb & even came back to help us load the luggage into our car..Service was excellent..

The only thing we disliked was that we were asked to leave our cabins & sit in public areas..We've always liked the fact that HAL permitted us to stay in our cabins until disembarkation..

But overall it was fine..

Betty

[GS99]

Noordam - 12/07/2008 debarkation was scheduled to be silent but Drew Murdock announced early it was to be changed to an announced one due to "labour difficulties" on shore. It appeared to go smoothly. (I was on a back to back.)

 

Noordam - 12/17/2008 debarkation was scheduled to be silent and was and seemed to run like clockwork. I was near the front desk and watched as the self-porters left smoothly and orderly (many thought debarkation was from deck 1 where it was announced and took place from deck 3) and our 9:30 to 9:45 slot ran smoothly, with us finding our luggage, getting a cab and getting to FLL quickly. Getting home took longer as Toronto was suffering from snow issues.

 

This back to back was my first cruise and I was amazed at how quickly they turned things around.

[Sun-Sand-Palm-Trees]

Does Holland still offer the option to carry your own luggage off the ship and depart at any time?

 

We arrived 2 days before x-mas last year and simply walked off, cleared customs and were at FLL airport in no time. This was so much better than our experience with Royal a few months later.

[GS99]

Does Holland still offer the option to carry your own luggage off the ship and depart at any time?

 

We arrived 2 days before x-mas last year and simply walked off, cleared customs and were at FLL airport in no time. This was so much better than our experience with Royal a few months later.

 

See http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=17439847&postcount=17 (three or so above here).

[RuthC]

Does Holland still offer the option to carry your own luggage off the ship and depart at any time?

:confused: :confused: :confused: You already asked this in post #16, and it was answered in post #17.

[DeepWaterMariner]

We did the silent disembarkation from the Statendam this morning in FLL...easiest, most stress free I've ever had in forty years of cruising. Things were running ahead of schedule so PA announcements let us know which time slots could advance there disembarkation times. We were allowed to wait in our cabins or in lounges.

[Bookfinder]

I must agree with "Himself" and say we really like the Silent Disembarkation. Our first time to sail on HAL was last April and was surprised when it was announced but thought it was terrific. It sure beats having to lug your luggage to one area full of other passengers and their luggage to wait your turn. We were on the Oosterdam and it went very well and we were at the airport in record time.

 

Bookfinder

[miramichirivergirl]

The silent treatment was used on the Veendam disembarkation Dec 21 - no real issues. We like to stay in the disembarkation port one extra night to avoid the calamity at the airports on turnaround day. Worked great this time too - stayed at the Ren. at the International Plaza in Tampa - shuttled to the airport and had a great flight the next day!