B2B Day

[travelplus]

I'm sorry to ask perhaps a redundant question but as this will be my First Back2Back(B2B) Cruise with Royal I wanted to know how they do the B2B.

 

We will be on the Brilliance ending the first segment at Barcelona and then the second segment to Tampa. As we have a Guarantee Interior Cabin for the first leg and an assigned cabin for the second leg will they know to transfer our luggage to the new room?

 

On turnaround day will there be a meeting for us in a Lounge? As we are coming in from an EU Cruise and going to a US Cruise will we need our passports to put an "Exit Stamp" or swipe our passports?

Are we to have our SetSail Pass for the second segment or is everything automated? Do we need to checkin again at the Barcelona Port or are our SetSail Pass Cards given to us onboard from Guest Services?

 

Will there be a B2B lunch in the MDR if there are enough B2Bers?   

So as B2B cruisers do we stay onboard until the 0 Count at 10:00 AM. At what time do they want us to be out of our rooms? 

Can we just take our suitcases to Guest Services and have them hold it as our next room is on the same Deck as Guest Services?  Are we to put out our luggage the night before as if we were disembarking?

 

Thank you for the responses. 

[Clarea]

All the questions you have asked will be answered by Guest Services towards the end of the first cruise. 

 

Visit Guest Services early in the first cruise and confirm you are on the B2B list.  They will send you a letter with the B2B procedure and may also have a meeting. 

 

You should only have to pack the items that are not hanging.  The stateroom attendants will move your bags and hanging items to your new stateroom.

[njkruzer]

Check with guest services during 1st cruise to make sure you are on the list for b2b.  They will deliver info to your cabin in advance of turnover day about new cards, merting places,,etc.  Yes they will move your stuff.

[travelplus]

Thanks for the reply.

[bonsai3s]

8 hours ago, travelplus said:

I'm sorry to ask perhaps a redundant question but as this will be my First Back2Back(B2B) Cruise with Royal I wanted to know how they do the B2B.

 

We will be on the Brilliance ending the first segment at Barcelona and then the second segment to Tampa. As we have a Guarantee Interior Cabin for the first leg and an assigned cabin for the second leg will they know to transfer our luggage to the new room?

As everyone said, visit guest services just to make sure they know you are a B2B.

Speak to your cabin attendant and let him know where you'll be moving.  Pack all "loose" items in your luggage...leave everything else that's hanging...they'll move them for you.  You can also introduce yourself to your new cabin steward in the event you need something for your next cabin.

 

On turnaround day will there be a meeting for us in a Lounge?

Typically, they do...but on our most recent cruise on the Navigator, B2B2B, including a crossing...we had no meetings.

 

As we are coming in from an EU Cruise and going to a US Cruise will we need our passports to put an "Exit Stamp" or swipe our passports? No.

Are we to have our SetSail Pass for the second segment or is everything automated?

Do we need to checkin again at the Barcelona Port or are our SetSail Pass Cards given to us onboard from Guest Services?

Complete both your online check-in...you won't need your second SetSail Pass....we always print the second or third SetSail Pass, and bring it with us, but they've never asked for it.  Receiving your new Seapass cards:  It differs from ship to ship, but our new seapass cards were waiting in our cabins the night before the end of the first cruise.  On the other, we picked it up early in the morning from guest services. (We wanted to disembark early for a shore excursion.)  You will also receive a "transit card".  When disembarking the ship, you'll need your old seapass card when you disembark...then, when you come back (if you choose to leave the ship), all you'll have to do is show your new seapass card along with your "transit card".  No check-in but you'll still have to go through the security line..........don't smile too much as those having to wait won't understand why you are smiling. 😉

 

Will there be a B2B lunch in the MDR if there are enough B2Bers?   

We've been fortunate and have had a "special" lunch on all our B2B's...sometimes in the MDR, sometimes at a specialty restaurant.  But it has been reported here on CC that lunch is not always served.

So as B2B cruisers do we stay onboard until the 0 Count at 10:00 AM. At what time do they want us to be out of our rooms?  Again, it will vary from ship to ship, and what your plans are for the day.  For us, in Barcelona, we disembarked early so we can spend the day in town.  You'll receive a letter in your cabin telling you what time you need to be out of your cabin.

Can we just take our suitcases to Guest Services and have them hold it as our next room is on the same Deck as Guest Services?  Are we to put out our luggage the night before as if we were disembarking?

No need to take your suitcases to guest services and no need to put out your luggages the night before......this is why B2B's are soooooooo nice....your cabin steward will move everything for you....and oh! make sure you empty your safe. Happy Sailing(s). ☺️

 

Thank you for the responses. 

 

[TravelerThom]

3 hours ago, bonsai3s said:

As we are coming in from an EU Cruise and going to a US Cruise will we need our passports to put an "Exit Stamp" or swipe our passports? No.

It is the responsibility of each visitor to the Schengen zone to get a Schengen exit stamp in their passport corresponding to each entry stamp. Failure to get the exit stamp can result in you being treated as having overstayed your previous visit (US citizens must get further approval to stay more than 90 days out of any 180 day period). From https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/schengen.html :

 

**Make sure you receive a stamp in your passport when you enter and exit the Schengen area.**

 

Bolding and asterisks are by the US State Department, not me.

[travelplus]

10 hours ago, TravelerThom said:

It is the responsibility of each visitor to the Schengen zone to get a Schengen exit stamp in their passport corresponding to each entry stamp. Failure to get the exit stamp can result in you being treated as having overstayed your previous visit (US citizens must get further approval to stay more than 90 days out of any 180 day period). From https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/schengen.html :

 

**Make sure you receive a stamp in your passport when you enter and exit the Schengen area.**

 

Bolding and asterisks are by the US State Department, not me.

 

On a cruise how does this take place if we are leaving the EU via ship?

 

[TravelerThom]

23 hours ago, travelplus said:

On a cruise how does this take place if we are leaving the EU via ship?

A likely way be be to require all passengers (b2b and new) to get a Schengen Area. Exit stamp at Barcelona, and then treat passengers as “in transit” for the remaining Schengen Area stops. 

A second way would be to require all passengers to disembark at the last Schengen port (Azores I believe) and get an Exit stamp upon reboarding. 

A third possibility is that the cruise line ignores the whole thing since the passengers will not have a problem until an alert official notes the lack of proper documentation on a future trip to Schengen. 

 

If if it were me I’d be asking questions on board at Guest Relations on the first cruise and at the b2b briefing. 

[lakelorain]

We have done 2 b2b's in Barcelona.  Both times our passports were collected two days before we docked.  They were stamped and returned to us the night before we did the turn around.  You are not required to get off the ship in Barcelona like you are in the USA unless they need to do a deep cleaning of the ship.