CLT & DTW Express Posted August 4, 2014 #1 Share Posted August 4, 2014 DH and I are sailing our first B2B. :) Just wondering what most folks do. Do you stay on board or do you go out into port city (FTL)? If you stay on board are there activities for B2B cruisers or ???? Thanks for any suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted August 4, 2014 #2 Share Posted August 4, 2014 We stay on and enjoy an empty ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWORK2CRUISE Posted August 4, 2014 #3 Share Posted August 4, 2014 We make it a port day and go off on our own to explore. They usually do have something for B2B travelers to enjoy. When we were in Copenhagen we got off early and walked all around before returning for the B2B luncheon served in Portofino. At some point you must disembark. Usually you can return right away if that is your choice. You should receive info in your cabin near the end of your first cruise. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tserface Posted August 4, 2014 #4 Share Posted August 4, 2014 The most fun thing is being on the ship when there is hardly anyone else aboard. There was also a really nice lunch just for repeat cruisers. Some people went ashore, but we had already spent a couple of days at that location so we decided to just chill on the ship. While waiting for lunch I sat in the Promenade and people watched while drinking a tasty coffee and my wife took the opportunity to get non-people-filled pictures around the ship. It was really quiet. I also had fun watching people slowly start to drift in dragging their roll-a-boards and looking all excited. It made us feel a little more special having that run of the ship for a few hours. It was also interesting watching people running too and fro dragging their suitcases to get off the ship while we just got to stay on. We got our comeuppance a week later when we had to get off and other friends that we'd met during the cruise were staying on another week. What goes around... Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLT & DTW Express Posted August 4, 2014 Author #5 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Thank you for the quick replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelerThom Posted August 4, 2014 #6 Share Posted August 4, 2014 ...At some point you must disembark...True more often than not when you are B2Bing, but not always true. This depends on the local port, immigration and customs officials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSinPNS Posted August 4, 2014 #7 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Customs requires the ship to be at zero count before boarding starts. Depending on the numbers, the time off the ship may be 30 minutes or an hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisegirl1 Posted August 4, 2014 #8 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Also - we've done several B2B and each time there was NO special lunch. Once we were told that lunch was at 1PM in the dining room. When we ( and anther couple) arrived at the dining room, we were then told that special lunch was cancelled and we can have lunch at the Windjammer! Apparently they need a specific number of B2B to justify the nice lunch. B2B are more popular so perhaps they don't have a problem getting the quotas. enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinman66 Posted August 5, 2014 #9 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Get off the ship as unless it is a high level cruise nothing is open Just bars and windjammer Sometimes they want you off and may offer a free shore tour otherwise find something else to do till at least 2pm anyhow Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CecilCtyCruiser Posted August 5, 2014 #10 Share Posted August 5, 2014 We have done numerous b2b's and there has never been a special lunch, even when there were quite a lot of us. Sent from my KFAPWI using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted August 5, 2014 #11 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Stay onboard and enjoy the peace and quiet for an hour or so. We get any deck chair we want.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmama Posted August 5, 2014 #12 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Immigration depends on port but the ship does have to clear to zero. Usually you,get your next week' s sea pass the night before, then all b2b cruisers meet in a lounge and are all taken off the ship together, show passport and come right back on. Then you can do what you want. They do not open boarding to new passengers until that is done. you can leave ship on your own, but will not be allowed back on until general boarding starts. For us, it is dependent on what port we are in whether we get off or not. Most times we stay on. As has been said, it is the most quiet and peaceful you will have it all week. You can go to and from your cabin also, which new passengers cannot do until the call for cabins ready is made. We have had b2b lunches sometimes, but not on every ship,so that part is not a sure thing. One thing is for certain though! B2b is the best and once you do it, it is hard to go back to just a week cruise. Even with that b2b starts to feel short so you start looking at b2b2b :) Have Fun!!!!! Sent from my SCH-I915 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubrrick Posted August 5, 2014 #13 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Immigration depends on port but the ship does have to clear to zero. Usually you,get your next week' s sea pass the night before, then all b2b cruisers meet in a lounge and are all taken off the ship together, show passport and come right back on. Then you can do what you want. They do not open boarding to new passengers until that is done. you can leave ship on your own, but will not be allowed back on until general boarding starts.For us, it is dependent on what port we are in whether we get off or not. Most times we stay on. As has been said, it is the most quiet and peaceful you will have it all week. You can go to and from your cabin also, which new passengers cannot do until the call for cabins ready is made. We have had b2b lunches sometimes, but not on every ship,so that part is not a sure thing. One thing is for certain though! B2b is the best and once you do it, it is hard to go back to just a week cruise. Even with that b2b starts to feel short so you start looking at b2b2b :) Have Fun!!!!! Sent from my SCH-I915 using Forums mobile app The zero count is for customs in the United States. In the U.S. even on a B2B, you must clear immigration. When travelling overseas, in European countries, depending on the country, you may or may not need to disembark and re embark. We have travelled on several B2B or B2B2B in Europe, where we stayed onboard, had a wonderful private lunch, and lounged. Sometimes, in certain ports, we are off by 9AM, and not back till one of the last, around 3:30 PM, so that we can enjoy the port city. Different rules for different countries. Fort Lauderdale.......you must dis embark. Enjoy your cruise!!:) Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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