Back to back same ship/cabin rules

[Paulie wallie]

We are doing back to back on same ship, same cabin and wondering what the protocol is for continuing the second week? Do you need to get off and reimbark again ? Thanks

[dorisis]

Different rules for different ports. If it is the US you will be getting a new card and you will have to disembark and reembark.

[bhopal21]

We will be doing our first B2B soon and I also have a question.

 

We have a local excursion planned on turn around day and I wanted to know if we will receive our cruise cards for the second leg before disembarking or if it was necessary to bring along the paper boarding pass like the original embarkation?

 

Mike:)

[Pam in CA]

Mike, you'll get new cards the day before. You swipe out using the old card, swipe in and get another security photo when you re-board. Since you'll be on tour, it'll be just like any other port with the exception of using the new card to re-board.

[Coral]

Different rules for different ports. If it is the US you will be getting a new card and you will have to disembark and reembark.

 

This is not always true. I have done 2 B2Bs in Alaska and have not had to disembark in Whittier.

 

It all depends on the itinerary.

 

--------

 

Cards arrive the day/evening before on B2Bs

[sminfiddle]

We will be doing our first B2B soon and I also have a question.

 

We have a local excursion planned on turn around day and I wanted to know if we will receive our cruise cards for the second leg before disembarking or if it was necessary to bring along the paper boarding pass like the original embarkation?

 

Mike:)

 

We received our new cruise cards ahead of time, along with paper "In Transit" tickets which you would use instead of the boarding pass - I kept it with me thru (second) muster time.

 

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

[dmwnc1959]

Here's what I received in my cabin approximately 5pm the night prior to Turn Around Day in Fort Lauderdale:

 

 

 

[bhopal21]

Mike, you'll get new cards the day before. You swipe out using the old card, swipe in and get another security photo when you re-board. Since you'll be on tour, it'll be just like any other port with the exception of using the new card to re-board.

 

Thanks Pam!

 

Mike😇

[Wehwalt]

What's the drill if you are changing cabins? Pam, you once said you moved it yourself.

[Pam in CA]

What's the drill if you are changing cabins? Pam, you once said you moved it yourself.

You leave your hanging clothes, pack what's in drawers and shelves (anything not hanging) in your bag and lock it. Take your valuables with you. Your cabin steward will move everything for you to your new cabin. Cruise card change same as above. Relatively simple and painless.

[san diego sue]

Just did it on the Sapphire. (Hawaii then Mexico). I can tell you the procedure is very different in LA now.

Night before we got envelope with letter and in transit card. No new cruise card. I asked at front desk and got 5 different answers(get at gangway, just show in transit card and they will let you board without new card, don't know but someone will direct you, in the terminal but you don't have to check in with new passengers, etc).

The truth,you check out with old card you go through immigration with everyone else, go back in terminal, show in transit and most didn't know about new card, finally someone directs you to check in counters and go to special needs desk. They then look at your passport, and get an envelope with your name on it (husband and wife get separate envelopes). Guess what, another letter welcoming you on board and the new cards too). We then went through security, was directed to sit in special area for in transit people. Had to wait till the ship cleared for new passengers boarding. We were first to be let on board.

We had changed cabins and Princess did move us. We had waited in our previous cabin till new one ready. All hung up clothes were put on a clothing rack . Drawer items we put in suitcases which they moved too.

[Wehwalt]

Just did it on the Sapphire. (Hawaii then Mexico). I can tell you the procedure is very different in LA now.

Night before we got envelope with letter and in transit card. No new cruise card. I asked at front desk and got 5 different answers(get at gangway, just show in transit card and they will let you board without new card, don't know but someone will direct you, in the terminal but you don't have to check in with new passengers, etc).

The truth,you check out with old card you go through immigration with everyone else, go back in terminal, show in transit and most didn't know about new card, finally someone directs you to check in counters and go to special needs desk. They then look at your passport, and get an envelope with your name on it (husband and wife get separate envelopes). Guess what, another letter welcoming you on board and the new cards too). We then went through security, was directed to sit in special area for in transit people. Had to wait till the ship cleared for new passengers boarding. We were first to be let on board.

We had changed cabins and Princess did move us. We had waited in our previous cabin till new one ready. All hung up clothes were put on a clothing rack . Drawer items we put in suitcases which they moved too.

 

Thanks all. The only thing I am worried about is my laptop. I will probably "bury" it in its bag deep within my rolling 28 inch bag. It would be hard to do much to it there.

 

I haven't quite decided what to do with my two turnaround days in Fort Lauderdale (9th and 13th). Probably go downtown the day my bag has to be moved, and since I don't shift cabins the second time, I will possibly just stay abroad except for the immigration formalities.

Edited December 25, 2013 by Wehwalt

[lor74]

Thanks for all the info. What happens with the OBCs that we have? Do I need to spend or cash it all out before the first half, or will it carry over to a single folio at the end of the trip?

 

Can someone confirm how it works at the pier in Lauderdale....will we need to sit around for 1-2hrs waiting to re-board....will we be in a special room....any refreshments...will we be first to board?

 

I read in the past that we will not need to do the 2nd muster....is that still correct?

 

Thanks!!!

[san diego sue]

At the end of our first cruise, we had no OBC left. However, the amount that would have been charged to our credit card was carried forward to new cruise.

We had OBC for second cruise that wiped out our charges on the first one.

Really nice.

Edited December 25, 2013 by san diego sue

[paul929207]

We have never had a problem drinking up, I mean using, the OBC. But we have the bill roll over to the next leg. I would think a credit would roll too.

[more cruises]

Thanks for all the info.......

Can someone confirm how it works at the pier in Lauderdale....will we need to sit around for 1-2hrs waiting to re-board....will we be in a special room....any refreshments...will we be first to board?

 

I read in the past that we will not need to do the 2nd muster....is that still correct?

 

Thanks!!!

 

Super easy in Fll. We met in the Wheelhouse Bar (on the Ruby) at 10:30. They escorted us off, we sort of waved our passports at immigration as we walked off. Then we sat in the waiting room until they were sure there were no more passengers on board, then we were escorted back on. Whole thing took less than 30 minutes.

 

We never received any info about our turn around day even though we asked our steward twice and once at passenger services so we just reported to the meeting location a little early and let the crew track down our new cards and in- transit card.

[caribill]

The truth,you check out with old card you go through immigration with everyone else, go back in terminal, show in transit and most didn't know about new card, finally someone directs you to check in counters and go to special needs desk. They then look at your passport, and get an envelope with your name on it (husband and wife get separate envelopes). Guess what, another letter welcoming you on board and the new cards too). We then went through security, was directed to sit in special area for in transit people. Had to wait till the ship cleared for new passengers boarding. We were first to be let on board.

 

We never received any info about our turn around day even though we asked our steward twice and once at passenger services so we just reported to the meeting location a little early and let the crew track down our new cards and in- transit card.

 

Amazing how Princess has taken a procedure that was simple and worked (deliver the new cruise cards to your cabin the evening before turnaround) and turn it into a confused hassle.

[caribill]

This is not always true. I have done 2 B2Bs in Alaska and have not had to disembark in Whittier.

 

 

That is because you were already in the USA before you arrived in Whittier and thus there was no need for immigration, customs, and governmental requirement to process all passengers.

[Coral]

That is because you were already in the USA before you arrived in Whittier and thus there was no need for immigration, customs, and governmental requirement to process all passengers.

 

Correct. Someone stated that if it is a US port, you have to leave the ship. I was just pointing out there are situations where you don't. We did a Vancouver to LA and LA to Mexico where we didn't either.

 

The OP didn't state which trips they were on.

[OCruisers]

We've done many B2B cruises ... whatever the requirements of the ports are, they are quick and painless. :)

 

LuLu

~~~~

[Nancyquilts]

I'm glad we did a back to back in San Francisco in September! Those of us who weren't leaving the ship for the day met at 10:30 at Vines on the Deck 5 of the Grand. As we sat there, our old cards were checked out and our new ones enabled by the same hand-held machine they use at muster drill. I can't think of anything easier and wish they would do this at all the ports. Then we were able to go back to our cabin.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Nancyquilts

[sminfiddle]

I read in the past that we will not need to do the 2nd muster....is that still correct?

 

Thanks!!!

 

On the Caribbean Princess turning around in Houston, the letter states you only are required to participate in the muster drill on the first embarkation of your B2B journeys. It goes on to say that if you are changing cabins, they highly recommend attending the muster in your new location.

I think that is a very good recommendation.

 

The turnaround lines for In Transit passengers is handled at Customs at the same time as crew, entertainers getting off the ship to go shopping. At Bayport, Princess had a shuttle for crew that at least ran to a Target and a Wal-Mart.

I think that's a good service for the crew, as it is way farther than walking distance to get to any retail.

 

In Transit passengers are the very first to reboard, ahead of weddings, Bon Voyage and Special Assistance. The photographers were there at their embarkation backdrop but had not started taking their cameras out so that was one "checkpoint" we were allowed to skip :)

 

Thanks all. The only thing I am worried about is my laptop. I will probably "bury" it in its bag deep within my rolling 28 inch bag. It would be hard to do much to it there.

Rather than worry, I'd just lug it off ship - you'd just have it and your passport and not far to go. Unless I were doing an excursion in port - but that's not the same as the typical B2B turnaround, is it?

[Wehwalt]

On the Caribbean Princess turning around in Houston, the letter states you only are required to participate in the muster drill on the first embarkation of your B2B journeys. It goes on to say that if you are changing cabins, they highly recommend attending the muster in your new location.

I think that is a very good recommendation.

 

...

 

Rather than worry, I'd just lug it off ship - you'd just have it and your passport and not far to go. Unless I were doing an excursion in port - but that's not the same as the typical B2B turnaround, is it?

 

Obviously, safety is first, last and everything, and any crew member or experienced passenger will tell you that. It's a good recommendation and on my first turnaround day, when I do change ends of the ship, I may follow it. That being said, all muster venues are on the same deck and are not really venue-specific. If you have been on the ship for several days, you know where the new venue is. It's a close call and I see why they don't require it

 

Regarding the laptop, I shall just play it by ear. Lugging it off ship carries its own risks (drop, strap breaks, overweight superannuated passenger shoving through me for no good reason).

[san diego sue]

On our B2B we changed cabins and our new cabin was clean and ready for us by 10:30am.. We put all our valuables in the safe(ours was a netbook so it fit, and also a tablet). If it didn't we would have taken it with us. Those cabins are wide open on turn around day.

We had planned on taking all our electronics with us in a tote bag but wound up leaving them in safe. Did take the cameras with us.

There is a whole crew cleaning, not just your room steward.

If we had a laptop, would have taken it with us.

[RetiredNTraveling]

Thanks for all the information that everyone has shared!

 

We are beginning to look into a B2B in the Western Caribbean out of Houston in a year or so. The 7 day cruise sounds very relaxing and peaceful. We prefer seas day to port days and this cruise shows only 3 port days out of 7 which is perfect with us.

 

Our next cruise however is hopefully a 15 day Hawaiian cruise, so there would be no B2B on it.