Grand Princess B2B Cabo to Hawaii

[Sprocket]

So we're thinking of adding the 5 night cruise from LA to Cabo when we book the cruise to Hawaii in December '21.  If we have the same cabin will we have to pack everything up and disembark etc?  Really hoping we just have to present ourselves and passports to customs somewhere on the ship itself.  I tried searching and it is not user friendly as I'm sure you're all aware lol.

[Astro Flyer]

43 minutes ago, Sprocket said:

So we're thinking of adding the 5 night cruise from LA to Cabo when we book the cruise to Hawaii in December '21.  If we have the same cabin will we have to pack everything up and disembark etc?  Really hoping we just have to present ourselves and passports to customs somewhere on the ship itself.  I tried searching and it is not user friendly as I'm sure you're all aware lol.

For consecutive cruises you don’t need to remove your things between cruises when in the same cabin. If having different cabins cabin attendants will move your items.

 

It’s been my experience that during US turnaround days we’ve had to get off the ship & board first. They give passengers instructions & an in-transit card near the end of the current cruise.

 

Although during the pandemic procedures can change & the CDC has not yet decided what the procedure will be for testing. A recent CC article speculated that turnaround could even take more than one day.

[Sprocket]

Thanks that's what I thought the process would likely be.  If turnaround takes more than one day they will have to change the itinerary as it stands the ship arrives in LA and departs on the same day.   Interesting times for the cruise lines ahead I'm sure, sure glad my only role in all of this is just to show up!

[Astro Flyer]

1 hour ago, Sprocket said:

Thanks that's what I thought the process would likely be.  If turnaround takes more than one day they will have to change the itinerary as it stands the ship arrives in LA and departs on the same day.   Interesting times for the cruise lines ahead I'm sure, sure glad my only role in all of this is just to show up!

You’re welcome...we have B2B 7-day cruises from LA (MR & CA Coastal) booked for fall ‘21 and spring ‘22 & hoping to sail all of them & hopefully your cruises will sail as scheduled. 🤞🤞

Edited December 21, 2020 by Astro Flyer

[caribill]

4 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

 

 

It’s been my experience that during US turnaround days we’ve had to get off the ship & board first. They give passengers instructions & an in-transit card near the end of the current cruise.

 

 

 

If you want to tour on your own or with Princess on turnaround day, the above applies.

 

If you have no desire to do that, then around 10 AM everyone still on board must meet. Most of the time the group will be led off the ship, though immigration, and then led right back on to the ship. Some of the time they will do the immigration on board instead and you will not have to leave the ship.

 

 

[skynight]

9 hours ago, Sprocket said:

So we're thinking of adding the 5 night cruise from LA to Cabo when we book the cruise to Hawaii in December '21.  If we have the same cabin will we have to pack everything up and disembark etc?  Really hoping we just have to present ourselves and passports to customs somewhere on the ship itself.  I tried searching and it is not user friendly as I'm sure you're all aware lol.

You do not have to pack and move anything if you remain in the same cabin. Your cabin steward will clean your cabin just like any other day.

Our experience in San Pedro was that you had to leave the ship. Immigration did not come on board. You will be instructed to meet in a specific venue, theater, DR, lounge, at a specific time in the morning probably around 10am. Bring your medallion, and passport with you. As a group you will be guided off the ship, through immigration, through the terminal and then back onto the ship. You will receive instructions in your cabin. Read and follow them exactly. In your case I don't believe there will be too many in the group, maybe around 100.

If you want to walk into the downtown area, fairly long walk a few miles to stores, then you can leave at anytime disembarkation has begun up until final call. You can return once general boarding has begun. Bring your medallion, passport and intransit card with you. You will be required to go through immigration on disembarkation and security when you re-enter the terminal. The intransit card gives you boarding priority should you return during a busy time.

[skynight]

9 hours ago, Sprocket said:

Thanks that's what I thought the process would likely be.  If turnaround takes more than one day they will have to change the itinerary as it stands the ship arrives in LA and departs on the same day.   Interesting times for the cruise lines ahead I'm sure, sure glad my only role in all of this is just to show up!

This is always the case for turn around days at U.S. ports. Have never seen a Princess itinerary that has an overnight at U.S. ports on turn around day. Princess does have itineraries at ports in other countries that have an overnight on turn around day. For example Quebec City, Buenos Aires.  

[caribill]

19 hours ago, skynight said:

This is always the case for turn around days at U.S. ports. Have never seen a Princess itinerary that has an overnight at U.S. ports on turn around day. Princess does have itineraries at ports in other countries that have an overnight on turn around day. For example Quebec City, Buenos Aires.  

 

I think the poster was referring to the possibility that CDC rules for cleaning the ship between cruises during the pandemic combined with testing all disembarking passengers and all embarking passengers could eliminate a same day turnaround.

[Sprocket]

On 12/22/2020 at 12:52 AM, caribill said:

 

I think the poster was referring to the possibility that CDC rules for cleaning the ship between cruises during the pandemic combined with testing all disembarking passengers and all embarking passengers could eliminate a same day turnaround.

Yes thanks for clarifying.  We are so looking forward to this cruise and appreciate all the information.

[jondfk]

Yes, we did a B2B on Royal in San Pedro in October of '19.  5 day Cabo followed by 10 day sea of Cortez.

 

The process, as described by others was fairly smooth.  About 60 of us were B2B.  We met in a lounge about 10AM and were escorted off the ship and to customs / immigration.  We gathered just outside of customs and were taken back through the security tent - this was a bit chaotic as (many, many, many) early arrivers were already there being screened for boarding - the group sort of broke up at this point.  We kept a close eye on our escort and were able to locate her in the boarding hall once we finally got through.  There was no signage in the boarding hall itself.

 

The only real hitch came when she motioned for us to reboard.  A really rude gent SPRINTED to the front of the line screaming (and I do mean SCREAMING I'm Elite, I'm Elite, I'm Elite) - he literally pushed a wheelchair aside and made it as far as the bottom of the escalator before port security physically restrained him.  Once the commotion cleared, and the wheelchair was taken aboard, the rest of us rejoined the ship.  

 

As for your belongings, aside from your medallion and passport everything else can stay in the room.  Do note that technically rooms were not available until 1:00PM.  We played along and had an adult beverage and early lunch allowing the stewards to do their work. 

 

The entire process took about 75 minutes including waiting in the lounge to start and a short wait in the boarding hall.

 

Finally, I would note that it would not have been possible to devise a longer route.  The gathering point was near the bow, exit from the ship was midship, immigration about the aft end of the ship, security line back to midship, and finally rebounding near the bow.  We basically walked the length of the ship twice to complete the process.

[skynight]

35 minutes ago, jondfk said:

 As for your belongings, aside from your medallion and passport everything else can stay in the room.  Do note that technically rooms were not available until 1:00PM.  We played along and had an adult beverage and early lunch allowing the stewards to do their work. 

 

The entire process took about 75 minutes including waiting in the lounge to start and a short wait in the boarding hall.

 

Finally, I would note that it would not have been possible to devise a longer route.  The gathering point was near the bow, exit from the ship was midship, immigration about the aft end of the ship, security line back to midship, and finally rebounding near the bow.  We basically walked the length of the ship twice to complete the process.

In the numerous b2b's, b2b2b's, b2b2b2b's, over the last ten or so years we have never had any difficulty returning to our cabin once on board. We generally suggest to our cabin steward that they leave our cabin until last so they can concentrate on newly boarding passengers.

Turn around in Ft. Lauderdale is handled much smoother than San Pedro. In Ft. Lauderdale the group never leaves the secure area. It's really just walk off, past immigration and walk back on. Sometimes immigration even comes on board. In San Pedro we had to actually leave the terminal walk outside through disembarking and arriving passengers back through security up to a waiting area before we were allowed to re-board.

Note that you are not required to go to muster on the 2nd voyage. 

During the pandemic the process may become more complex. But, someday it will probably return to normal.

Edited December 31, 2020 by skynight