Princess and B2B'S

[mpdog42]

Has anyone done a B2B in the Port of Los Angeles yet? What were the procedures during turnaround day?

Thanks so much for the info!!

[cr8tiv1]

When is your cruise?  I just returned at the beginning of November.

1.  Met at Vista Lounge at 8:30 AM for a rapid antigen test

2.  Waited in lounge until we were escorted off the ship (around 9:30 ish)

3.  Went through Custom (CBP) with our passports

4.  Waited in Elite Lounge until we wee allowed back on the ship around 10:30.

 

[mpdog42]

13 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

When is your cruise?  I just returned at the beginning of November.

1.  Met at Vista Lounge at 8:30 AM for a rapid antigen test

2.  Waited in lounge until we were escorted off the ship (around 9:30 ish)

3.  Went through Custom (CBP) with our passports

4.  Waited in Elite Lounge until we wee allowed back on the ship around 10:30.

 

Feb/march

[HBCcruiser]

2 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

When is your cruise?  I just returned at the beginning of November.

1.  Met at Vista Lounge at 8:30 AM for a rapid antigen test

2.  Waited in lounge until we were escorted off the ship (around 9:30 ish)

3.  Went through Custom (CBP) with our passports

4.  Waited in Elite Lounge until we wee allowed back on the ship around 10:30.

 

 

It was the same on Oct 27, 2021. The entire process took about 2 hours tops. Everyone is given the antigen card/test to administer themselves with health staff observing and assisting. Everyone was negative on our B2B so we then waited in the Vista Lounge for US customs to clear the ship. The staff give you a slip of paper stating "In Transit". You need that and your passport as you exit, go through customs (no luggage that will stay onboard) and re-enter the terminal. We did not wait very long in the elite lounge before they called us to go through the metal screening and back onboard. 

[srpilo]

Same Medallion's both cruises, or a new one for the second cruise ?

[Cuedon]

Usually the same medallions on B2Bs, though sometimes the system does weird things. 

[HBCcruiser]

10 minutes ago, srpilo said:

Same Medallion's both cruises, or a new one for the second cruise ?

Yes, same medallion. They will give you a sticker to place on top of your old medallion should you bump up in loyalty levels. (Ruby to Platinum for example).

[cr8tiv1]

5 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

Yes, same medallion. They will give you a sticker to place on top of your old medallion should you bump up in loyalty levels. (Ruby to Platinum for example).

 

Due to a different issue, they replaced my medallion with the correct color.  I can't imagine Princess being so "economical" that they would hand you a sticker.  

[HBCcruiser]

6 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Due to a different issue, they replaced my medallion with the correct color.  I can't imagine Princess being so "economical" that they would hand you a sticker.  

They did! It was kinda funny IMO. 🤣

[Cuedon]

They may not bother issuing new labels/medallions to reflect newly earned tiers either-- somebody I was with was rather upset that she'll forever have a gap in her collection, since she went straight from Gold to Platinum on a series of B2Bs, skipping Ruby, that they refused to issue her.

[kiwimum]

We were in the Majestic for a B2B and had our test done in the Medical Centre.   We missed the mass testing as it was a port day and were on a Princess Excursion.  

[mpdog42]

Just wanted to thank everybody for the answers to my question!!

Edited November 10, 2021 by mpdog42
incorect spelling

[5:00_Somewhere]

I also want to thank you for this information.  To our surprise, after more than 30 cruises, we are doing our very first B2B in 3 weeks (from Port Everglades), and realized we really don't know the details of the procedure, but what is described here is pretty much what I was expecting.  Although, we're having an issue right now that the second leg of our trip has "disappeared" from our Medallion app (our Princess CVP is working on that), but not too concerned as the first leg is there.

One additional question: Has anyone seen what happens if someone tests positive for Covid? I've read elsewhere that you are pulled aside and isolated while the crew packs your belongings and you are sent home.  Although we are careful, and plan to be careful on the cruise, I'm thinking of taking a rapid home test along just to have a possible heads up whether or not we need to pack (in anticipation of the possibility of being sent home) before the turn around process. Not trying to be pessimistic, but think I'd rather pack my own stuff up, if that were necessary, than have someone else do it for me. 

[memoak]

7 hours ago, 5:00_Somewhere said:

I also want to thank you for this information.  To our surprise, after more than 30 cruises, we are doing our very first B2B in 3 weeks (from Port Everglades), and realized we really don't know the details of the procedure, but what is described here is pretty much what I was expecting.  Although, we're having an issue right now that the second leg of our trip has "disappeared" from our Medallion app (our Princess CVP is working on that), but not too concerned as the first leg is there.

One additional question: Has anyone seen what happens if someone tests positive for Covid? I've read elsewhere that you are pulled aside and isolated while the crew packs your belongings and you are sent home.  Although we are careful, and plan to be careful on the cruise, I'm thinking of taking a rapid home test along just to have a possible heads up whether or not we need to pack (in anticipation of the possibility of being sent home) before the turn around process. Not trying to be pessimistic, but think I'd rather pack my own stuff up, if that were necessary, than have someone else do it for me. 

On all of our B2B cruises are shown as one cruise in the app but 2 cruises on the personalizer

[5:00_Somewhere]

46 minutes ago, memoak said:

On all of our B2B cruises are shown as one cruise in the app but 2 cruises on the personalizer

 

Both legs of our B2B previously showed as one "Journey Period" on the App. I even made Crown Grill reservations for the second leg on the App (once Dine My Way finally started working). But, sometime over the past few weeks the second leg of the B2B disappeared from the App (along with all record of our CG reservation).  Don't know why, but we are informed that this has happened to many people. 

Edited November 12, 2021 by 5:00_Somewhere

[mcrcruiser]

We also are doing a B2B from San Pedro,.L.A.  but Dec 3rd & 10th ,2022 . We are hoping that covid will be far behind us by that time  . We sail on Discovery Princess in a  handicap stateroom  with my scooter 

[TracieABD]

13 hours ago, 5:00_Somewhere said:

I also want to thank you for this information.  To our surprise, after more than 30 cruises, we are doing our very first B2B in 3 weeks (from Port Everglades), and realized we really don't know the details of the procedure, but what is described here is pretty much what I was expecting.  Although, we're having an issue right now that the second leg of our trip has "disappeared" from our Medallion app (our Princess CVP is working on that), but not too concerned as the first leg is there.

One additional question: Has anyone seen what happens if someone tests positive for Covid? I've read elsewhere that you are pulled aside and isolated while the crew packs your belongings and you are sent home.  Although we are careful, and plan to be careful on the cruise, I'm thinking of taking a rapid home test along just to have a possible heads up whether or not we need to pack (in anticipation of the possibility of being sent home) before the turn around process. Not trying to be pessimistic, but think I'd rather pack my own stuff up, if that were necessary, than have someone else do it for me. 

 We are doing our first B2B as well... I had the exact same thoughts. 

[TracieABD]

5 hours ago, 5:00_Somewhere said:

 

Both legs of our B2B previously showed as one "Journey Period" on the App. I even made Crown Grill reservations for the second leg on the App (once Dine My Way finally started working). But, sometime over the past few weeks the second leg of the B2B disappeared from the App (along with all record of our CG reservation).  Don't know why, but we are informed that this has happened to many people. 

 This has happened to us as well... only our first cruise has disappeared. I spent some time on the phone with Princess... who said it is a glitch. I asked if there is any issue with us boarding if the cruise does not show up on the app... and was assured that we are booked- it is paid in full- and all is well.

 

I sure wish they would get it fixed though...

[philv]

Anyone do a b2b recently in Ft. Lauderdale? We are doing first b2b on the CB in February and would very much like to hear about procedures on turnaround day. Especially what happens if you test positive.

[srpilo]

2 hours ago, philv said:

Anyone do a b2b recently in Ft. Lauderdale? We are doing first b2b on the CB in February and would very much like to hear about procedures on turnaround day. Especially what happens if you test positive.

 

If you test positive on the antigen test, you'll be retested with a PCR test, more than likely they'll send you to your stateroom to wait for the PCR results, and if positive will be instructed to pack your belongings and then at some point within their Covid protocols disembarked

[5:00_Somewhere]

Wanted to report back about our experience on the Sky Princess B2B out of Ft. Lauderdale 12/4-12/18.

 

The day before "Turnaround" we received two letters in our cabin telling us the procedure for the day: one giving us a 15 minute window to get our Covid tests in the Vista Lounge early on the morning of Turnaround day; and another with direction to meet in one of the main dining rooms at 9:30 to prepare to walk off the ship to clear customs. This was also accompanied by a paper card to show upon returning to the ship if we chose to go ashore after clearing customs instead of returning to the ship immediately.

 

When we showed up at the Vista Lounge the next morning, we were directed to one of approximately 10 discrete testing stations placed around the lounge (each surrounded by partitions). The swab test was administered by a person in medical attire, and we were told we would only be notified if we were positive, and we were free to leave. The entire process took less than 5 minutes.

 

We got breakfast and then met in the designated dining room at 9:30 with what  we were told would be approximately 200 other passengers (though it looked like more). After a few minutes, one of the staff an announcement was made telling us that if we were in the dining room it meant we had tested negative, and then giving a brief overview of the process. After a few minutes more we were led off the ship to the shoreside customs area where we lined up in 2 long lines.

 

It took approximately 20 minutes to get to the front of the line, where we were directed to stand in front of what looked sort of like an iPad on a mic stand, remove our masks and glasses and look into the device for facial recognition processing. After a very few seconds the device lit up green indicating we had been cleared, and we were permitted to either go ashore or get right back on the ship. There were a very few people for whom the facial recognition technology did not work (perhaps a half dozen), and they were quickly processed by the human customs personnel. Likewise, some of the people in wheelchairs.  

 

I looked at my watch just as I stepped back on the ship and noted that the entire process had taken exactly 1 hour. We were then free to go about our day as we chose. All the usual dining, drinking and other venues were open.

 

I hope that's helpful.

[roxievegas]

We were on the Majestic Dec 11 - 18 and then continued Dec 18-22.

On Dec 17 - sea day we meet in the Alfredo restaurant = we did not administer the test ourselves.  One of the medical staff took a nose swab from us and then we had to wait.  They gave instructions on what would happen on port day and then it was announced that all guests were negative and we could go.

On Dec 18 - turnaround day,  We meet in the Crown Grill and walked off the ship, did a facial recognition with customs and walked back on the ship - did not show any paperwork to anyone, but we had passport, vaccine card and "in transit" card with us

[Waynetor]

It used to be that a muster drill only needed to be attended monthly when doing B2Bs.  With the new process of just watching a video and getting medallion scanned on first day - does this need to be repeated for each new voyage?

[5:00_Somewhere]

11 hours ago, Waynetor said:

It used to be that a muster drill only needed to be attended monthly when doing B2Bs.  With the new process of just watching a video and getting medallion scanned on first day - does this need to be repeated for each new voyage?

 

Good question. There was actually a little confusion on board about this, but as it turned out we did NOT need to do the muster drill for week 2.

 

After doing the muster on day 1 of week 1, we discovered that you do NOT have to watch the video before checking in at your muster station. So, on week 2, we simply stopped by our muster station on our way back to our cabin after clearing customs and they said their device (for scanning medallions) showed that we'd already satisfied the muster drill requirement.

[MissP22]

2 hours ago, 5:00_Somewhere said:

 

Good question. There was actually a little confusion on board about this, but as it turned out we did NOT need to do the muster drill for week 2.

 

After doing the muster on day 1 of week 1, we discovered that you do NOT have to watch the video before checking in at your muster station. So, on week 2, we simply stopped by our muster station on our way back to our cabin after clearing customs and they said their device (for scanning medallions) showed that we'd already satisfied the muster drill requirement.

Do you have to check in at only your muster station the first time or can you just pick any one?