Turn around day on a bb

[bobontheblue]

What to expect on turn around day, as I have nothing to base this on having never booked a back to back prior. The turnaround port is Vancouver. What I am inquiring about is, how much time we can expect to have exploring Vancouver on that day. Should we consider a tour with Princess or just explore the city on our own. Say hop on hop off.

Port arrival is 7.00am and departure is 4.00pm. Not much time so will want to be as efficient as possible with such a tight window.

Do they allow clearance for those staying on board, to get off the ship without the usual line ups for those who choose to disembark.

[weedpindle]

Several posts on this subject, but once again.

If you are planning on staying on the ship, you will be given a notice as to a meeting time and place, usually 930-1030m, either escorted off the ship to immigration, then back on the ship, OR going thru immigration on the ship. That's it. If you are going somewhere for the day, you will get an in transit card, you get off, use the card & your cruise card to get back on. You may get a new cruise card for the second cruise the night before docking, or you may use the original card( depend if the original has both cruises covered. If you buy booze on the ship the first cruise, it will be delivered to your cabin the last night of the first cruise and you have it for the second cruise.

[ggprincess2004]

You are going to have to go through customs and immigration to disembark, however, you can do that when the ship is cleared to begin disembarkation. The speed and efficiency of the process will depend upon how many ships are in port that day. Vancouver is known to be a problem, especially for embarkation with more than one ship in port. So getting back on the ship might take more time than you anticipate, but they won't leave until the line has been cleared. Just make sure you are back ready to embark at last an hour before the stated sailing time.

[JF - retired RRT]

What to expect on turn around day, as I have nothing to base this on having never booked a back to back prior. The turnaround port is Vancouver. What I am inquiring about is, how much time we can expect to have exploring Vancouver on that day. Should we consider a tour with Princess or just explore the city on our own. Say hop on hop off.

Port arrival is 7.00am and departure is 4.00pm. Not much time so will want to be as efficient as possible with such a tight window.

Do they allow clearance for those staying on board, to get off the ship without the usual line ups for those who choose to disembark.

You'll receive printed instructions a couple of days before you reach port.

We've done several B2B and always stay on the ship (never needed to explore the ports where it occurred). If I recall correctly, if you want to get off and explore you can leave early. Since you don't need to wait for luggage, you can just leave when the general announcement for disembark is made.

If you're changing cabins, pack all your loose items in the suitcase, leaving hanging clothes in the closet and stewards will move you while you're gone.

If you're not changing cabins, just let your steward know (he probably will know already) that he can save your cabin for last.

As far as hop on/hop off or DIY. Try checking out the Port of Call boards for Vancouver and see what others have said about it. Try Google for ideas. Check your Roll Call for others in your situation.

[moki'smommy]

We did a b2b at a different port. Very easy. As above, you'll get specific instructions in your cabin the night before. If there are many cabins doing b2b, there will be a meeting location and you'll be escorted off together. In our case, there was no meeting. We were free to exit the ship at will any time after the announcement was made. We were told to exit and re-enter thru the crew gangway to avoid lines or crowds. We explored the port city (Yokohama) on our own and had plenty of time. As others have said, be back at the terminal an hour before you are told to be back.

 

They gave very mixed messages about the second leg--we were told we had to attend the muster drill, but when we showed up, the drill leader said we were excused. We got out of there real fast!

[Kamloops50]

Vancouver normally has a different line for in transit passengers and crew returning on board.Decide if you want go when you arrive in Vancouver . If its raining maybe you'll need to change your plans for the day.

[Coral]

Not sure when you are going but if your turnaround day is in May, expect chaos.

 

We were supposed to meet up on the ship but we were not escorted off and then back on like everyone says you are (and they are in other ports). Once we were off, we kept telling people we were "intransit" and all the employees were new and had no clue what that meant. They kept telling us to sit down and board the ship with everyone else. We eventually found someone who knew and helped us but of all of us who were intransit, we were the only 2 let back on the ship early.

 

If you want to sightsee, you won't have a problem. We have been to Vancouver many times and just wanted back on the ship. Again, if it is in May, it is pure chaos at the pier.

 

We were doing a LA to Vancouver to Whittier to Vancouver trip.

[martincath]

I think you got all the info needed (including warnings of early-season chaos!) above already, so I'll just say in relation to the other part of your Q: do your own independent tour, whether it's a HOHO (two choices, both go from right outside the pier) or a specific 'drive around on a coach with the same group for 4 hours' or even a private tour you book. Prices are marked up by cruiselines, and converted to USD, so as fellow Canadians you'd be doubly-mad to book via the line!

 

Assuming you do disembark, you will go through exactly the same lines as everyone else - so early is good! And with no luggage to worry about, you'll be more mobile than the folks leaving the ship for good. However, if you want to do any tour other than private you won't be able to board any until ~9am - HOHOs as well as pre- and post-cruise bus tours don't start earlier than this. Vancouver morning people are climbing mountains rather than eating breakfast or doing touristy things, so don't bust a gut getting off really early to then have to hang around.

 

If you wanted to do your own thing on foot by all means be off ASAP, the seawall and parks don't have gates so as long as it's light out you can enjoy them. Even renting bikes though, most stores are also not open before 9am, a few do open at 8am in summer.

[paul929207]

You can usually get off by 8am and will need to be back on by 3:30pm. All this and more will be in the info you are given the end of the first leg