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Grand Caribbean Sampler questions


Bentley5700
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We're looking at the "Grand Caribbean Sampler" Ruby cruise on Feb 15. The itinerary says Ft. Lauderdale to 2 ports and return. Then we go back out to 1 port and return. The cruise is for 9 days.

Questions:

 

1. What do the continuing passengers do while the Ruby is back at Ft. Lauderdale mid-cruise?

 

2. If we must disembark, can we leave our stuff in our cabin?

 

3. At the mid-cruise return to Ft. Lauderdale, what happens to breakfast? In particular, is the suite breakfast in Sabatini's still on?

 

Thanks.

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We're looking at the "Grand Caribbean Sampler" Ruby cruise on Feb 15. The itinerary says Ft. Lauderdale to 2 ports and return. Then we go back out to 1 port and return. The cruise is for 9 days.

Questions:

 

1. What do the continuing passengers do while the Ruby is back at Ft. Lauderdale mid-cruise?

 

2. If we must disembark, can we leave our stuff in our cabin?

 

3. At the mid-cruise return to Ft. Lauderdale, what happens to breakfast? In particular, is the suite breakfast in Sabatini's still on?

 

Thanks.

 

Back if FLL, you can take a Princess excursion or just enjoy the ship, or walk around the area. You will be given instructions on when you and others staying on board need to meet and be walked thru US authorities and do a u turn and head back aboard. YOu will be issued new cruise card.

You can leave your stuff in your cabin, assuming you have the same cabin.

 

For more details there are lots and lots of threads about dealing with back to back cruises in Ft Lauderdale.

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We're looking at the "Grand Caribbean Sampler" Ruby cruise on Feb 15. The itinerary says Ft. Lauderdale to 2 ports and return. Then we go back out to 1 port and return. The cruise is for 9 days.

Questions:

 

1. What do the continuing passengers do while the Ruby is back at Ft. Lauderdale mid-cruise? No activities during the turn around day, just like when you originally boarded. You will receive a letter in your cabin giving you instructions. You will meet in a lounge or DR with a staff member with your passport, new and old cruise card and intransit card. Around 10 the staff member will walk you off the ship, through immigration and then back onto the ship. If you like you can leave the ship on your own to go into town. You can reboard after general boarding has started.

 

2. If we must disembark, can we leave our stuff in our cabin? Yes, leave all your luggage and stuff in your cabin. Do not fill out the Customs form. This is done at the end when you disembark.

 

3. At the mid-cruise return to Ft. Lauderdale, what happens to breakfast? In particular, is the suite breakfast in Sabatini's still on? Can't comment here. I know the buffet is open.

 

Thanks.

 

May I suggest that you look at the Emerald Princess 10 day voyage or the Panama Canal 11 day partial transits. These are single cruises with more ports that do not return to Ft. Lauderdale for a turn around.

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Back if FLL, you can take a Princess excursion or just enjoy the ship, or walk around the area. You will be given instructions on when you and others staying on board need to meet and be walked thru US authorities and do a u turn and head back aboard. YOu will be issued new cruise card.

You can leave your stuff in your cabin, assuming you have the same cabin.

 

For more details there are lots and lots of threads about dealing with back to back cruises in Ft Lauderdale.

 

Thanks for the info. The cruise is marketed as a 9-day cruise with no reference to back to back. If it is really back to back separate cruises, do we get 2 bar set-ups and 2 first night freebies at Crown Grill?:cool: (We book suites.)

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Thanks for the info. The cruise is marketed as a 9-day cruise with no reference to back to back. If it is really back to back separate cruises, do we get 2 bar set-ups and 2 first night freebies at Crown Grill?:cool: (We book suites.)

 

If you look at the schedule, it is also marketed as a 4 day and a 5 day cruise.....and put together as a 9 day cruise. So, yes, it is a back to back. Princess is doing a lot of that now.

 

People usually got both dinners and bar set-ups, but don't know what they do for these shorter cruises.

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If you look at the schedule, it is also marketed as a 4 day and a 5 day cruise.....and put together as a 9 day cruise. So, yes, it is a back to back. Princess is doing a lot of that now.

 

People usually got both dinners and bar set-ups, but don't know what they do for these shorter cruises.

 

Upon further review, the free night at Crown Grill is only for 6 day cruises (and higher). If they consider both to be under 6, I am completely out of luck. As for the free mini-bar setup, there is no restriction on days, so that is a possibility.

 

None of these things are major factors - it's still a good looking trip. All will be known in time. Still wonder about Sabatini's breakfast at the half-way stop.

 

Thanks again.

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Still wonder about Sabatini's breakfast at the half-way stop.

 

Thanks again.

 

We've been in suites on 3 different ships and Sabatini's was never opened on disembarkation day (even if you were on a B2B). They probably don't want departing suite passengers to linger too long over breakfast :D. The MDR should be open as an alternative to the Horizon Court or you can order breakfast (from the suite menu) delivered to your cabin.

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Still wonder about Sabatini's breakfast at the half-way stop.

 

 

I believe that Sabatini's is not an option on turnaround day. However, being in a suite you can still order regular room service or room service from the dining room breakfast menu while it is open.

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We booked a 14 day to Alaska and didn't even realize it was two 7 days. It was treated as a 14 day, as in we got the $250 stock OBC. We had to bring our passports/cards to the the dining room and that was it. We didn't have to get off. They had our new cards all ready.

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We booked a 14 day to Alaska and didn't even realize it was two 7 days. It was treated as a 14 day, as in we got the $250 stock OBC. We had to bring our passports/cards to the the dining room and that was it. We didn't have to get off. They had our new cards all ready.

 

Did you get two cruise credits (for Captains Circle) or just one? And did the number of days for each of the cruises have a bearing?

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We booked a 14 day to Alaska and didn't even realize it was two 7 days. It was treated as a 14 day, as in we got the $250 stock OBC. We had to bring our passports/cards to the the dining room and that was it. We didn't have to get off. They had our new cards all ready.

 

In Ft. Lauderdale you must get off and go through immigration.

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Did you get two cruise credits (for Captains Circle) or just one? And did the number of days for each of the cruises have a bearing?

If you book as a single cruise you get credit for a single cruise. If booked as two cruises you get two credits. However, some have reported that you may be able to get the additional cruise credit if you visit the Captain's Circle desk and ask.

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I had to call after the cruise to get it put as two cruises. We had been told we would have to get off but it ended up we didn't. Cruise started and ended in Vancouver. When we did our b2b Disney out if Port Canaveral we had to get off. Maybe it was because there were so many if us.

Did you get two cruise credits (for Captains Circle) or just one? And did the number of days for each of the cruises have a bearing?
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I had to call after the cruise to get it put as two cruises. We had been told we would have to get off but it ended up we didn't. Cruise started and ended in Vancouver. When we did our b2b Disney out if Port Canaveral we had to get off. Maybe it was because there were so many if us.

 

When you board the ship in Vancouver you first go through immigration into the US and thus the rest of the cruise to Alaska is considered as already being in the USA.

 

Thus, when you reach the end of the first segment there is no need to go through immigration and therefore no lawful need to get off of the ship.

 

If you do a B2B that turns around in Port Canaveral or Port Everglades, you reach that port after being in a foreign country and thus must go through immigration and thus the need to get off of the ship for a little while.

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