Q about B2B vs One 14 Day Cruise - During Turnaround Day

[toberman]

I'm curious about the procedures for guests who are on a B2B vs one long cruise on turnaround day. If I understand correctly all B2B cruisers must leave the ship and re-board. But do not all the 14 day people have the option of staying on the ship? Maybe they have to get off as well - just don't know.

 

Reason I'm asking is cause, being Cdn, I've already booked one segment of the cruise at 20% exchange and the second portion of the cruise is now at 30%. If I cancel the original booking and book the 14 day cruise I have to pay 30% for the whole thing. Cheaper to book the B2B. Plus 2 different perks as opposed to one. Also, if I book now (or soon) I can get the same cabin on both legs.

 

Not a game changer, just wondering if even though I'm on a B2B I might be able to stay on the ship. Wife is in a wheel chair and it would be beneficial to not have to get off on turnaround day.

 

Yeah, yeah I know - call Princess. But if I call 10 times I'll prob get 6 different answers - looking for someone with experience.

Thanks in advance for any info.

[Kinkacruiser]

B2B cruisers do need to disembark in the USA, wait as a group in the terminal and be escorted back about an hour later. It's something to do with a zero passenger count. However we didn't need to disembark on our turnaround day in Southampton (just met on board and had our names checked off). You will be told via written instruction the day before.

[Nan_Sea]

Either way you will have to leave the ship briefly on turn around day. It is a very easy procedure and there are people available to push to wheelchair.

[shredie]

Either way you will have to leave the ship briefly on turn around day. It is a very easy procedure and there are people available to push to wheelchair.

 

You wait with your fellow b2bers in the terminal until they declare the all clear. It's a nice way to get to know folks. I'm sure your wife will get extra special attention from the staff.

[toberman]

So the pax on the 14 day segment have to get off as well? That's a lot of people!

[vickie_bernie]

So the pax on the 14 day segment have to get off as well? That's a lot of people!

 

yes, no matter how you booked it (two 7 days or one 14 day) you will all have to do the same procedure.

[OCruisers]

So the pax on the 14 day segment have to get off as well? That's a lot of people!

 

Yes, even when you book it as a 14 day and it could have been a 7 day B2B, you have to ... but it's easy and they "mother hen" you through it. :)

On Princess you do NOT have to attend the second muster drill! :D

 

LuLu

[paul929207]

I look at the cost of the cruise and the value of the OBC I will get to see which way to book works out the best. We did a b2b2b two years ago and got nearly $1000 more OBC by cooking it as three cruises.

 

On the other hand, the same year, we did a b2b. We saved about $600 by booking as one cruise.

[AKman2495]

Depending on where turnaround occurs, Princess may have tours available for the "in transit" passengers.

 

Last year we were in transit during a 14 day cruise that was really 2 7 day cruises B2B. We took a tour option out of FLL to see the everglades and Flamingo Gardens.

 

So, basically, we treated it as a port day.

 

When we got back, w just breezed through security and went right to the ship.

[toberman]

Thanks everyone. It just seems like a problem for anyone who has the full 14 day adventure planned. I expect it on a B2B, but should they? It doesn't make sense to me right now to re-book the B2Bs for a higher cost than 2 segments.. esp if everyone has to get off the ship anyway!

[skynight]

Thanks everyone. It just seems like a problem for anyone who has the full 14 day adventure planned. I expect it on a B2B, but should they? It doesn't make sense to me right now to re-book the B2Bs for a higher cost than 2 segments.. esp if everyone has to get off the ship anyway!

If your turn around day is in the USA then all passengers must leave the ship, it is U.S. law. It does not matter how the cruises are booked, singles or multiples. As stated by others it is a simple procedure. All those that wish to stay on board meet at a designated location, usually a DR, around 10:30am. A staff member escorts the group or groups off the ship, walks them through immigration, and then re-boards once all passengers have exited the ship. If you wish to have your 14 day adventure with touring, shopping or some other port activity you just exit the ship at anytime with your passport, cruise card, intransit card, and last time in S.F the Customs declaration, pass through immigration and customs and be on your way. You can re-board anytime after general boarding has started. You will receive detailed instructions in your cabin, just follow them it is easy. You should book your cruises which ever way gives you the be price, don't even concern yourself about the legal procedures on turn around day when booking.

[caribill]

Thanks everyone. It just seems like a problem for anyone who has the full 14 day adventure planned. I expect it on a B2B, but should they? It doesn't make sense to me right now to re-book the B2Bs for a higher cost than 2 segments.. esp if everyone has to get off the ship anyway!

 

It makes sense to USA immigration folk even if it does not make sense to everyone else.

 

As pointed out, it is U.S. law, not a Princess thing.

 

Rarely immigration has come on board to do the immigration work there, but most of the time it is just on shore.

[FirstCruiseBeth]

Last year we did Vancouver to Whittier and return, back to back and as far as we remember we did not have to get off the ship at Whittier. We were given our new cards the night before and had to meet in one of the lounges after breakfast at a deignated time where we were checked and then we could go back to our cabin or wherever. In fact we did then leave the ship to go on a tour (26 Glaciers tour which was brilliant) but I don't think we were required to and we didn't all leave the ship together.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Last year we did Vancouver to Whittier and return, back to back and as far as we remember we did not have to get off the ship at Whittier. We were given our new cards the night before and had to meet in one of the lounges after breakfast at a deignated time where we were checked and then we could go back to our cabin or wherever. In fact we did then leave the ship to go on a tour (26 Glaciers tour which was brilliant) but I don't think we were required to and we didn't all leave the ship together.

 

That is because you actually re-entered the U.S. in Vancouver at Canada Place just prior to checking in for your cruise. On those itineraries, the ship is a little piece of the U.S. floating through (for a little while at least) Canadian waters.

 

In Fort Lauderdale, we generally disembark the ship at our leisure in the morning while leaving passengers are disembarking. We can run a couple of errands and make it back to the ship when the intransits are reboarding.

[Daisyloo]

If your turn around day is in the USA then all passengers must leave the ship, it is U.S. law.

 

This is not necessarily so. We have done 2 B2B cruises, one on Princess and one on HAL (Dec 2014). Princess had us leave the ship. HAL had us report to the main theatre. We were scanned in and had to wait there for about 45 minutes til everyone was cleared. Then we were allowed to leave the theatre and go about our business. Both our B2B's were in Fort Lauderdale after Caribbean cruises.

Edited September 2, 2015 by Daisyloo

[msw.delafield]

toberman,

Theoretically, how you book your trip shouldn't change your process/procedure for the turnaround day.

That said, you should book cheapest or most advantageous for you financially.

Regardless if booked as two separate or one single cruise, you would be subject to the turnaround 'experience'.

I've been on some where we were a small group of a dozen or so, and others where the group was a full third of the ships passengers.

My experience has been when we are only a small few, we trended to get off and sit until the ship clears.

When we were a exceptionally large group they accommodated and processed us on board in one of the large dining rooms.

We have done most turnarounds in the US, two in San Juan, one in Los Angeles - I expect procedure would also depend on your turnaround port as well?!

For what it's worth, these have been our experience.

[skynight]

This is not necessarily so. We have done 2 B2B cruises, one on Princess and one on HAL (Dec 2014). Princess had us leave the ship. HAL had us report to the main theatre. We were scanned in and had to wait there for about 45 minutes til everyone was cleared. Then we were allowed to leave the theatre and go about our business. Both our B2B's were in Fort Lauderdale after Caribbean cruises.

In the HAL case, Hal managed to get immigration to come on board. This isn't always possible. This past February in S.F. we were told that on the cruise before ours immigration came on board, on our turn around days we had to exit and re-board. Same ship, same port. Not matter how it is done, the passenger must still go through immigration on turn-around day at U.S. ports, there is no getting around this process.

[Pierlesscruisers]

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Edited September 3, 2015 by Pierlesscruisers
duplication