20 day transit from Vancouver to Ft. Lauderdale through the Panama Canal.

This was our 30th HAL cruise, we are both 5 star mariners. Neptune Suite.

Our boarding time was 10:00 am (priority boarding for Neptune Suite guests). We got to the Vancouver terminal at 10 am. Waited about 30 minutes before baggage screening opened. Ushered to another waiting area where we waited another 30 minutes before US customs opened. Finally cleared customs and then proceeded to have our vaccinations documents checked, then have a face identity scan, which did not work. Had to go to another line to have passport scanned manually, another 30 minute wait. Then were told we had to go to another sitting area and wait to be called onto the ship. When I asked where the Neptune Suite priority seating was, terminal employee had no clue what I was asking and told us to just sit anywhere. After another 30 minutes, I overheard one of the terminal employees say that Neptune suite passengers are allowed to sit in another area for priority boarding. If I had not heard this, we would have waited much longer. Finally boarded the ship after 2 hours of waiting. The Vancouver terminal staff are poorly trained and did not have a clue as to how to direct crowds. Not sure why, as they had all summer to learn their jobs! Read more