back to back cruises on same ship --HELP

[12dirtyturtle]

We are going on two 10 day back to back cruises on the Royal Princess February 7 to 27. from Ft. Lauderdale. Eastern Caribbean 10 days back to Ft Lauderdale then Southern Caribbean for the last 10 days. What do we do on day 10? do we have to leave our room, the ship. Where do we go. Has anyone done similar any tips for us. Is anyone else doing this trip? Myself 69 wife 67. We have cruised before but are not "pro's" as are only "Ruby" status.

[Shmoo here]

We are going on two 10 day back to back cruises on the Royal Princess February 7 to 27. from Ft. Lauderdale. Eastern Caribbean 10 days back to Ft Lauderdale then Southern Caribbean for the last 10 days. What do we do on day 10? do we have to leave our room, the ship. Where do we go. Has anyone done similar any tips for us. Is anyone else doing this trip? Myself 69 wife 67. We have cruised before but are not "pro's" as are only "Ruby" status.

 

Since your turnaround day is in a US port, the only given is that you will have to get off the ship, and reboard with the new passengers (generally you may be allowed to board earlier than them, or with the special boarding groups at the beginning).

 

Depending on whether you have the same room for both cruises, you may or may not have to pack up your bags. If you have the same room, usually you are allowed to just leave your "stuff" in the drawers/closets. Be sure to bring any necessary documents for re-checking in. And, for me, I always bring my valuables (jewelry, electronics).

 

If you are changing rooms, you may need to pack up your bags, but you should be able to leave them in your room, and the room stewards will see to getting them to your next room.

 

How long you will be off the ship will vary. Anywhere from being able to immediately re-board, to a couple of hours.

[Essiesmom]

Welcome to Cruise Critic. The night before turnaround day, you will receive a letter in your cabin with instructions about what to do the next morning. If you have the same room for both legs, be sure to tell your cabin steward that you are staying on. If you booked it as two separate cruises, that envelope will usually include your cruise card for the next leg. In US ports, the cruise line is required to 'zero down' the ship. You will be instructed to meet in a certain lounge at a particular time, usually around 9:30am. After the last departing passengers have clocked out, they will lead all the B2B guests off and through immigration, and back onto the ship, clocking in with your new card. If you decide to go ashore or take a tour, you will be given a transit pass so that on your return, you can bypass the checkin lines. EM

[sail7seas]

Many people are doing b-to-b's these days and if there is a large enough group on your turnaround day, CBP may instruct the ship to have all those in transit guests join at a certain location on the ship (perhaps show lounge) and they will clear you all without having to leave to ship to zero down. You will receive notification the last day of your first cruise what you must do. The most important is to be prompt and follow directions as you could hold up the start of embarkation if everyone has not been cleared. No one gets on until all who have ended their cruise are accounted for.

 

If you have the same cabin, you do not have to do anything else. :)

Enjoy.

 

[taglovestocruise]

The room stewards are pro's at this, they will tell you exactly what to do, if you are changing rooms they will move everything for you. you will find it much easier than you think. On the last night of the first leg you will be left instructions in your cabin telling you, and all the other B2B passengers, where to meet and what to do on debarkation day. happy cruising

[paul929207]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

One of the great things on Cruise Critic is the Roll Call section. There you can meet others sailing with you. To join, go to the top of this page and move the cursor over "Community". Select Roll Calls from the drop down. Scroll to your cruise line and then Click on your ship. Finally, find the thread for your sailing.

[OCruisers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

Good information from those who have already posted.

Just adding that it is EASY so try not to worry about it.

Look forward to having a great B2B cruise. :D

LuLu

[Floridiana]

We did this in San Diego and in Miami. We had to get off the ship both times. We did our own thing in both cities and re-boarded in a special fast line for 'returnees'. Other people preferred to stay in the terminal building. They re-boarded as soon as possible. In Miami there was a 45 minute 'off ship' time required.

[AlanAllyn]

We have done 3 b2b's on Royal Caribbean in Fort Lauderdale. On one, CBP came on board. On the other two, we met in a lounge about 10, were escorted off the ship through CBP and after a short wait were able to reboard. We always had the same cabin for both parts and were allowed to return to it as soon as we reboarded.

[sail7seas]

You will receive an 'in transit' card the last day of your first cruise.

Be sure to bring that with you as that is your 'pass' to avoid going through the whole

check in line when you return to reboard the ship.

[Hlitner]

Keep in mind that you have 2 options when doing a turn around day in a US Port. You can go along with the "zero out" process which means you will be advised to leave the ship (often as a group) at a certain time, wait in a secure holding area within the port facility, and be allowed to reboard once the ship has been cleared by the authorities (CBP). This can mean you will wait in the cruise terminal from as little as 15 minutes to several hours!

 

But there is another option in which you can simply go ashore for the day (like a typical port day). When you return to the ship later in the day, you will have a transit pass (usually given to you the last day of the cruise) that will help you expedite the process of reboarding.

 

There are a few reasons why we generally try to avoid back to back Caribbean cruises. You are essentially taking two cruises which mean you get two welcome aboard nights (often boring) and 2 last nights (often just as boring). Dining room menus are often the same on both cruises and much of the entertainment is repeated (especially the major production shows). But many folks do back to backs in the Caribbean so you will not be alone.

 

 

 

Hank

Edited December 24, 2014 by Hlitner