Back to back cruise

[imola]

In May we did a 3B on the Navigator out of San Pedro, CA.  First off no covid testing was done between cruises as it had been in January.  We were required to meet in the Star Lounge at 845.  We were told to bring our ID, passports, Vaccination cards to go through customs.  They had coffee, juice and lovely pastries available for those who had not gotten up early enough for breakfast.  If you were there on time (like us) there was about an hour wait.  Then off we went as a group to clear customs which was a breeze.  Then waited briefly in a sitting area before being escorted back aboard the ship.  Had full access to our cabin but we were in the same one for all 3 legs which made it easy.  We were told that all B2B cabins are cleaned first.  They were also offering a special lunch in the dining room for B2B passengers.  Limited menu and we went once.  We found the process all very easy and the staff very accommodating on this ship.  We are doing a 3B again but on the Radiance starting in October going from San Pedro to New Orleans.  We are hoping the process remains as easy with this ship. 

 

If you have questions/concerns about the process just go to guest services and speak with them.  I am sure they will attempt to address them before the turn around date.  Enjoy your trip. 

[island lady]

Harmony last December...350 B2B pax.   Ship at that time was only 40% capacity...so that was a high percentage.  We met for TAD meeting in the theater due to so many.  Long line to enter the theater to pick up new cards...and those Vaxx wrist bands.  Mandatory Covid test the morning before. 

 

That one was awful.  They marched us onto the gangway along the terminal...stood there for 20 minutes.  Then down to baggage claim to walk through facial recognition, and line up in the cattle gates for 45 minutes down there!!  Many were complaining due to not being able to stand that long.  

 

This of course was during heavier Covid restrictions.  They were supposedly fumigating the promenade we had all walked through.  

 

After that, the following B2Bs later in the month and into January...they were smart and had us all sit inside the terminal in the waiting area in a separate section near the entrance to get back on the ship.  By that time the new pax were already coming into the terminal and were trying to sit with our group.  Kept getting waved away by agents.  Then we were told to start to board...some of those same pax (the ones with "The Key") were furious that we were boarding before them. 🙄

 

A real mess for sure.  Happy it is going along better now.  

 

 

[RobInMN]

copy-n-paste from a different thread:

Just completed a B2B on Jewel in Amsterdam (first B2B). The process for that port/ship was even easier than I've seen described on this forum. No getting off the ship, no meeting in a lounge waiting for a customs officer. No passport check (all though, they did say to have it with us).

Our letter said to be at the theater by 8:45 (no time window), so I was mentally prepared for either case. I was very surprised when all they did was hand us new SeaPass cards and a transfer card (in case we wanted to get off the ship). We then went to a security officer about 5 feet away who scanned us out of the first cruise with our old card and onto the second cruise with our new card. They handed us our cards back, and then we were told we can leave and hang out in any public area. Just to please not go in the cabin halls until the general announcement. And then the lunch anytime between 11:30 & 12:30 (but you could always do WJ if you wanted).

I think they said there was about 160 of us.

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, Surfguyxxx said:

That's great.  I've always had to get off, walk around and get back on.  Recently it was a group of about 40 or so and it was not fun.  

Yes, it was nice to have had this experience for a b2b as all my others I had to get off the ship like you!

[island lady]

4 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Yes, it was nice to have had this experience for a b2b as all my others I had to get off the ship like you!

 

That is why we adore TAD.  😉  

 

Will be bummed in September for our single week Harmony cruise...having no TAD on that one.  But it was a last minute booking to break up a five week stint at home.  

 

Three weeks later...Wonder becomes our home for 4 weeks.  🥰

 

 

 

 

Edited August 2, 2022 by island lady

[davekathy]

On our Explorer B2B cruise 

3 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Yes, it was nice to have had this experience for a b2b as all my others I had to get off the ship like you!

Our March B2B cruise on the Explorer the entire TAD process was held in the theater. Never left the ship. Smooth and quick. If I remember correctly (hmmm, what's going on here) there was approximately 50 of us consecutive cruisers. 

[island lady]

Just now, davekathy said:

On our Explorer B2B cruise 

Our March B2B cruise on the Explorer the entire TAD process was held in the theater. Never left the ship. Smooth and quick. If I remember correctly (hmmm, what's going on here) there was approximately 50 of us consecutive cruisers. 

 

Yours was in the theater?  Did not know that.  Ours ended up being in the forward lounge.  Customs came on board, we each marched past them...they barely looked at our passport...and we were off on our own.  Best TAD ever!  🙂 

[davekathy]

5 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Yours was in the theater?  Did not know that.  Ours ended up being in the forward lounge.  Customs came on board, we each marched past them...they barely looked at our passport...and we were off on our own.  Best TAD ever!  🙂 

Agree and ours was the same process but in the theater.  Maybe due to the number of people (?). 

[island lady]

5 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Agree and ours was the same process but in the theater.  Maybe due to the number of people (?). 

 

You had the better class of pax on that first leg. 😉  

 

The only one we had in the theater indeed was a heavily attended B2B TAD on Harmony.  

[davekathy]

8 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

You had the better class of pax on that first leg. 😉  

 

The only one we had in the theater indeed was a heavily attended B2B TAD on Harmony.  

Other than you and Bucky. I'll agree with that. 

[island lady]

22 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Other than you and Bucky. I'll agree with that. 

 

😄 😄 

[Cigar King]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

Harmony last December...350 B2B pax.   Ship at that time was only 40% capacity...so that was a high percentage.  We met for TAD meeting in the theater due to so many.  Long line to enter the theater to pick up new cards...and those Vaxx wrist bands.  Mandatory Covid test the morning before. 

This was the worst we had.  My wife was just getting over a broken foot and that wait was killing it.  Eventually we were able to get a wheelchair.  It's a lot of work pushing it up the walkway onto the ship.  Mental note to tip those guys if we ever have to use them.

[island lady]

15 hours ago, Cigar King said:

This was the worst we had.  My wife was just getting over a broken foot and that wait was killing it.  Eventually we were able to get a wheelchair.  It's a lot of work pushing it up the walkway onto the ship.  Mental note to tip those guys if we ever have to use them.

 

I broke my foot on the first night of Brilliance cruise out of Tampa.  Wheelchair and crutches.  Oh yeah, Bucky did most of the pushing of the chair, but there were crew members that helped as well...and yes, they received tips for pushing my butt up the ramp.  😉 

[Cigar King]

I miss the Brilliance, although we have several on the Serenade coming up.  We were on the Brilliance for the last 3 cruises before shutdown.  Wild, first kind of normal, second what's up, last full-blown panic.  Very memorable cruise.

[djsinric]

We do have the same cabin.

[flamingos]

5 minutes ago, djsinric said:

We do have the same cabin.

That makes life a lot easier. If you are so inclined, tell your room steward to skip your cabin on TAD, since that is their busiest day. 

[island lady]

15 hours ago, flamingos said:

That makes life a lot easier. If you are so inclined, tell your room steward to skip your cabin on TAD, since that is their busiest day. 

 

That is what we do as well.   But I bring him/her my used towels for exchange.  

[brillohead]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

That is what we do as well.   But I bring him/her my used towels for exchange.  

I have them leave me extra towels the night before, and just leave the used towels on the floor under the sink until evening service on TAD.