How does HAL handle B2B

[Barney9]

Sailing on the Ryndam out of Tampa in Nov. What is HAL's procedure at Tampa?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

We have done quite a few back-to-back cruises out of various ports -- including Tampa.

The day before the end of the first cruise you will get a letter explaining what to do the next morning.

We were told where and what time to report. We were escorted off the ship around 9:30 -- went through immigration in the terminal - have passport reay. We had to wait in the sitting area of the terminal for the ship to be completely cleared -- passenger count must be down to ZERO. Then we were allowed back on the ship.

The last couple of back-to-back cruises our ID card was programed for the entire back-to-back cruise.

[TLHB70]

Krazy Kruizers, I am so glad you posted this. We just booked a collector's voyage. I asked HAL about it on the phone when I booked. The rep (not PCC) told me that we would be allowed to stay on the ship at Ft. Lauderdale (home port), that we would not have to get off the ship at all if we did not want to. I found that strange as they have to do a turnover for the new cruise. I have been unclear about what to expect.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Only once did we not have to get off the ship to go through immigration in Ft Lauderdale -- in winter 2009 when the Noordam had 280 people staying on the ship for a second voyage.

The Officials did not want that many of us in the terminal at the same time as others would be arriving -- can get very conjested in the seating area if we are not able to get back on the ship right away -- which has had several times.

We did everything in the show lounge. The cruise staff checked off our names -- then we showed our passports to the officials -- it was all over in a couple of minutes.

All other times in Ft Lauderdale we have had to get off the ship to go through immigration.

[TLHB70]

I guess we will just wait and see what they tell us to do that night before.

You did not have to remove luggage or anything, though, correct?

I assume we just get off like we do at all other ports and just leave our things in our room.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We always book far enough in advance that we don;t have to change cabins -- thus everything stays in the cabin.

We always tell our cabin stewards at the beginning of the first cruise that we are doing back-to-back cruises.

All you need when you get back into Ft Lauderdale is your ID card to get off and back on the ship. AND your passport to show to immigration.

[Essiesmom]

If you choose to get off on turnaround day, they will give you a transit pass so that you can bypass the lines (like the crew) when returning to the ship. EM

[TLHB70]

We always book far enough in advance that we don;t have to change cabins -- thus everything stays in the cabin.

 

We always tell our cabin stewards at the beginning of the first cruise that we are doing back-to-back cruises.

 

All you need when you get back into Ft Lauderdale is your ID card to get off and back on the ship. AND your passport to show to immigration.

 

 

I assume we are in the same room. We have booked SA 7050. They never said that we had to change rooms. I assume we are good to go.

[English_in_Spain]

Our last two B2B cruises at Ft Lauderdale, we had to meet in the Queens Longe then leave the ship. We had to show passports to immigration then wait on the top level of the terminal until the ship was cleared and ready for us to re-board.

No new passengers were allowed to the upper level while we were waiting there.

Whether you have the same cabin or not does not affect if you have to leave the ship,

[Krazy Kruizers]

English In Spain

That is not always true.

There have been a couple of ocassions when the other passengers were allowed to come to the upper level -- even though we intransit passengers had not gotten back on the ship.

One was due to the fact that the ship was being inspected.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I assume we are in the same room. We have booked SA 7050. They never said that we had to change rooms. I assume we are good to go.

 

If you booked this cabin and the cruise as a Collector's Cruise -- yes you will have the same cabin.

[topcop]

We're doing a BTB in February (South & Eastern) and we have done it before. Just like the other have said, in Ft. Lauderdale you have to disembark, go through immigration then wait with the other BTB travelers until the count is to zero. We got off the ship real early, took a taxi to an ATM & 7 Eleven and got back on without a problem through a special entrance.

 

Also, the ship hosted a special luncheon in the dining room just for the returning passengers. Free champaign included.

[TLHB70]

Whether you have the same cabin or not does not affect if you have to leave the ship,

I do not mind having to leave the ship for the turnover. I just did not want to have to change cabins.

If you booked this cabin and the cruise as a Collector's Cruise -- yes you will have the same cabin.

Great!

[TLHB70]

We're doing a BTB in February (South & Eastern) and we have done it before. Just like the other have said, in Ft. Lauderdale you have to disembark, go through immigration then wait with the other BTB travelers until the count is to zero. We got off the ship real early, took a taxi to an ATM & 7 Eleven and got back on without a problem through a special entrance.

 

Also, the ship hosted a special luncheon in the dining room just for the returning passengers. Free champaign included.

 

I was wondering if we were able to leave the terminal in case there was something we wanted to do/see. Glad to see that is possible.

[Stakeout]

been on a number of back to backs... the latest policy is that you must meet with a member of the Staff onboard the ship ... get off the ship .. go thru immigration with Passport... wait for the ship to clear... all the group gets back on the ship.... then you can get off at your leisure with an 'in-transit' card ... when returning back to the ship just show the 'in-transit' card and you bypass the regular boarding procedures

 

BTW this also is the procedure even if you book B2B's as 'one cruise' ... for example if you have a two part 10 and 11 day cruise out of Ft Lauderdale booked as a 21 day cruise.. when you return to Ft Laud after the first 10 day part.. the procedure is as above.. they have to clear the ship

[Krazy Kruizers]

Yup -- that is just what I said.

[m steve]

and sat for more than an hour waiting for one couple who decided to wait til the last minute to disembark. The one good thing on a B2B is that you get the duty free delivered to your cabin at the end of the first week.

[Krazy Kruizers]

One time we sat 1 1/2 hours in the terminal waiting for the ship to clear in Ft Lauderdale.

[Essiesmom]

One time we sat 1 1/2 hours in the terminal waiting for the ship to clear in Ft Lauderdale.

WE had to wait to reboard in FLL last year on Oosterdam because the ship was having three inspections that day. EM