Logistics of Switching Cabins during a B2B

[AlbertaCruisers]

So, I am thinking about upgrading the second half of our B2B on the Summit, the price for the first week is too high to make it possible to do both weeks. We have always had the same cabin for both weeks when we have done a back to back.

 

I see from searching that sometimes the cabin stewart might help move you with a rolling hanger thing, and sometimes that doesn't happen.

 

We would be moving decks as well. (Oceanview cabin on deck 3 for the first week and A2 on deck 9 for the second)

 

I really like B2B's for the relaxation on the turnover day. Normally we do the walk off and on the ship thing for customs and then head straight to the pool deck.

 

For anyone that has switched cabins, how big of a hassel is it? Did you pack the night before or in the morning? Did you get to move before you had to leave to do customs or after?

 

I'm a bit concerned about them letting a new person on the ship with a key to my room with my stuff still in it and don't quite get how the logistics will work.

 

I really want to upgrade the second week, but I don't want to add a lot of unnecessary stress into our vacation.

 

Thanks for any help and advice.

 

Susan

[AlbertaCruisers]

Actually, and with that, does anyone know if there is any issue with having two different TAs for two different legs of the B2B? Better offer from a different TA for the second leg of the B2B but not the first week.

[gold1953]

I had a different TA for each leg of a B2B last year. No problem. Tell your room attendant the night before .Also go and see the attendant for the new cabin so they know to do yours first.

Everything still needs to be out by the regular time so no issue with new cruisers coming in. We went out early and came back to our new cabin with our things there!!

[AlbertaCruisers]

I had a different TA for each leg of a B2B last year. No problem. Tell your room attendant the night before .Also go and see the attendant for the new cabin so they know to do yours first.

Everything still needs to be out by the regular time so no issue with new cruisers coming in. We went out early and came back to our new cabin with our things there!!

 

Thanks! So the room stewards actually moved your stuff over?

[varoo]

It is easier if you can remain in the same cabin for both legs, or course, but switching is not that big a deal.

 

As previously suggested, discuss it with both your original and new stateroom attendants in advance so both are aware of what you are doing.

 

We asked our original stateroom attendant to schedule our cabin as the last one to be made up that day, which he was happy to do.

So we were able to kept the old cabin until the new one was ready (which didn't take long at all) and then moved our belongings directly from one to the other.

 

We like to keep as much clothing as possible on hangers, so there is no need to pack them and the hangers go directly from the first closet to the luggage cart, to the second closet.

 

Even knowing that the stateroom attendants will move your stuff for you if you are not there, we just feel more comfortable being there for the move and making sure that nothing gets left behind or drops off along the way.

That is why we do not plan any excursion at the turnaround port for that morning if we are changing cabins.

 

It is a lot faster and easier than packing from home, or packing to go home, because there is no need to pack carefully. Also, there are no decisions to be made - you just take it all. You have plenty of room in the suitcases since most of your clothing remains on the hangers.

 

Like many others, we pack using plastic bags because that eliminates any need to sort things out. Scoop up everything from one shelf or drawer into a plastic bag. Then that bag goes right into the corresponding shelf or drawer in the next cabin.

Depending on the furniture configuration, sometimes you can even swap out the corresponding drawers without needing to pack or unpack the contents, but you can't count on that.

 

You "ding" out with your old room key card and back in with the new one, so I don't think the room key cards of the new passengers would even work for your old cabin until you were officially out of it, but I could be wrong, so ask on your ship if you have any concerns.

 

We moved from our old cabin to our new one before the newly arriving passengers even started boarding.

 

[AlbertaCruisers]

Thanks for the detailed info! Did you move before leaving the ship for customs or after?

[4774Papa]

So, I am thinking about upgrading the second half of our B2B on the Summit, the price for the first week is too high to make it possible to do both weeks. We have always had the same cabin for both weeks when we have done a back to back.

 

I see from searching that sometimes the cabin stewart might help move you with a rolling hanger thing, and sometimes that doesn't happen.

 

We would be moving decks as well. (Oceanview cabin on deck 3 for the first week and A2 on deck 9 for the second)

 

I really like B2B's for the relaxation on the turnover day. Normally we do the walk off and on the ship thing for customs and then head straight to the pool deck.

 

For anyone that has switched cabins, how big of a hassel is it? Did you pack the night before or in the morning? Did you get to move before you had to leave to do customs or after?

 

I'm a bit concerned about them letting a new person on the ship with a key to my room with my stuff still in it and don't quite get how the logistics will work.

 

I really want to upgrade the second week, but I don't want to add a lot of unnecessary stress into our vacation.

 

Thanks for any help and advice.

 

Susan

Susan,

We did B2B on Infinity and changed cabins from a deck 6 to an AQ on 9. We did an excursion that day, so we had to pack all our things and put on the new luggage tags. I tipped the cabin steward and he moved our luggage to our new cabin. We got the key cards the day before.

[Oville]

We've done it a few times and it isn't a hassle but it's not super easy. My suggestion is to pack everything except your hanging clothes. Sometimes there is a valet cart for your use but it is no guarantee. We have on more than one occasion carried are own clothes and bags to the new cabin. Remember, it is turn over day and everyone is very busy.

 

Having said all that, we've never switched decks just same cabin catergory on the same deck and not too far away. It is essential you speak to both cabin attendents before the move and just pray neither are about to go on holiday.

 

Good luck and have a great b2b on the Summit.

[Essiesmom]

WE changed cabins on Infinity and it was somewhat of a pain. You can't move until the new cabin is ready. There was no cart. I finally started moving our cases to the new cabin and set them in the corridor. this rather spurred the new steward to get the cabin ready. EM

[cruisestitch]

The procedure varies depending on whether you are in the US or not.

 

In the US, you need to leave the ship, pass through Customs/Immigration and then return to the ship.

 

In Europe, you probably do not need to leave the ship unless you want to.

 

In the US, you can 1) take a ship's excursion that day 2) go out on your own or 3) choose to stay on board

 

In each of these cases, you will use your old card to check out of the ship, and then be issued a new card for coming back on. You'll need a new photo, and you'll need to stop at Guest Relations to have a new imprint of your credit card, as these will not carry over.

 

If you take a ship's excursion, you go to the meeting point as always. They will then give you instructions for getting the new card when you return.

 

If you go off on your own, you'll receive a "transit pass" to show on your return, along with instructions of where to go to get the new key card once you clear security and enter the terminal.

 

If you choose to stay on board, you and the others who make that same choice will be given a meeting point, you will be the last off the ship, a ship's officer will escort you out through Customs/Immigration and back to the ship.

 

In Europe, you can often skip the step where you need to get off the ship. You may get your new card the evening before the disembarkation day, along with instructions of how to get it activated for your new room assignment.

 

In most cases, coordination between your previous room steward and your new steward will make the move easy. In a few cases, as described by previous posters, it gets a bit tricky, but usually it is a pretty easy process, done mostly by the two stewards involved.

 

If you find that the interactive TV system doesn't work on cruise #2, go to Guest Relations and have them re-set the system. Sometimes it doesn't get done automatically and you can't order room service or see your account until someone punches some new information in the system.

[Nancyquilts]

I understand that the clothes on hangers are supposed to be brought that way to the new cabin. Ours were dumped on the bed. :eek:

[gold1953]

We were in Europe and had to leave the ship. We all met the day before and were issued new cards. Then given a choice.. we could meet with the group in the morning and be escorted off the ship and back on . Then new pics are taken. The other option was on our own. We chose to leave to explore Barcelona but we had to leave by 8:30 and could not return until embarking started for the new cruise. We then were told to get in line and sign our medical papers. That was the slow part for us . Some bypassed this and had no problem

 

Our belongings were in our new cabin and clothes were hanging. Just needed to unpack the other stuff

It was smooth and painless!!

[AlbertaCruisers]

Thanks for all the information!

[fleckle]

Actually even at US ports, the procedure varies.

 

For example, on the northbound Alaska cruise to Seward, we do not go through immigration upon arrival in Seward because we have already pre-cleared US immigration.

 

It is your choice whether or not to leave the ship there, and if you do (which most B2B passengers do), you just walk right out whenever you wish.

 

[WestLakeGirl]

Since you don't want to do an excursion that day it should be pretty easy to make sure that your clothes and possessions are moved before you exit the ship.

 

There shouldn't be any way for the new people with their new keys to have access to anything of yours unless something is inadvertently left behind.

[AlbertaCruisers]

Since you don't want to do an excursion that day it should be pretty easy to make sure that your clothes and possessions are moved before you exit the ship.

 

There shouldn't be any way for the new people with their new keys to have access to anything of yours unless something is inadvertently left behind.

 

Thanks for the info. It appears the change would occur before we leave the ship, which would make me happy.

 

Thanks to everyone.

 

Sue

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

I just completed a B2B2B. We changed cabins on every leg due to bargains that popped up. We did nothing but inform the butler and the stewards. All the hanging clothes remained on their hangers and reappeared in our new closets. We packed the rest of our stuff in our suitcases and those too were moved by the stewards. We did not participate in the process at all--they really don't want you to.

[gold1953]

Also ..if you ask you can lock your valuables in the new room safe even if the cabin has not been cleaned

[Project_gal]

Also ..if you ask you can lock your valuables in the new room safe even if the cabin has not been cleaned

 

Thanks for that tip. I had not thought about valuables in the safe!

 

Sue

[TommyD3]

The problem is not if the new cabin has been cleaned, but if it has been vacated by the old passengers. One time we had to switch cabins and the old passengers were still in the cabin until after we were required to meet for the B2B check out/ check in process. The cabin stewards are supposed to help you but many times we have had to do the move ourselves.

 

It is like everything else on Celebrity - if you are 80 years old they bend over backwards for you, if you are 30 they ignore you. I have seen it SO MANY times....

 

One time we packed everything in our suitcases since we had shore excursions. We marked the luggage with the new cabin number so the room steward could move it while we were gone. We get back to the ship and find out they upgraded us from a Concierge to a Sky Suite. The luggage was sitting in the Concierge cabin. They would not let us get our luggage since it was no longer our cabin. Took over an hour to get a manager to get it for us!!!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Also ..if you ask you can lock your valuables in the new room safe even if the cabin has not been cleaned

 

Our butler offered to check on this for us. By the time we were to leave on our shore excursion, the cabin we were moving to had not been vacated. He indicated that the alternative was to use the safe at guest relations.

 

We decided we trusted the butler and the cabin attendant we'd had for the TA more than other unknown folks, so simply locked the valuables in our suitcases. Everything was fine.