Back to back cruise

[Chickadee910]

Have a chance to take a back to back in January.first leg Mexico second Hawaii. Will cost 350 more each . So really considering it. Just questioning layover in San Diego. Do we need to disembark. Do they just give you a bill at the end of one and start new with the second. Excited but apprehensive. Thanks for the help.

[crystalspin]

Are you booking it as the Collectors Cruise? Then it will be one "bill"...

[tuolumne couple]

it might depend if you are in the same cabin or not. if you are in the same cabin, just have HAL link your booking numbers.we have done that and didnt even need to change luggage tags, which stay on your bags to disembark at the end of your final sailing. have a great trip. back to backs are wonderful.

[Chickadee910]

Thank you for the info. My Holland cruise person is checking for me on cabin availability for the mexican cruise. But I think the additional cost is too good to pass up.

[crystalspin]

Try your best to stay in the same cabin for both legs. And definitely take both cruises -- look how far you're coming and in the Ohio winter no less!

[Loreto]

16 minutes ago, Chickadee910 said:

Thank you for the info. My Holland cruise person is checking for me on cabin availability for the mexican cruise. But I think the additional cost is too good to pass up.

Hi Chickadee910,

We did this itinerary as a Collectors Cruise last February for 25 days on the Koningsdam.  We went to Hawaii first, then after returning to San Diego, down to Mexico. 

 

When the ship returned to San Diego,  everyone had to disembark...we were given a letter explaining the procedure.  We stayed in the same stateroom, so no luggage to pack.  HAL offered a number of in transit excursions for the Collector Cruise.  We were covid tested before we arrived in San Diego.  Everyone was actually tested at the pier again on the first embarkation prior to Hawaii(in addition to the  HAL negative test requirement), and tested again on the way to Hawaii. 

 

We chose a 4 hour tour of San Diego to kill time, which turned out to be a disaster as our group was combined with a handicapped group going to the airport.  Everyone must go through immigration in San Diego and it was a mess...very slow, the handicapped people ignored the meeting time making the tour 2 hours late.  We were told our tour would now just be a "Drive By" tour and all of us intransit passengers mutinied and got off the bus  and got a refund.  We were not allowed back on the ship because the disembarkation was not completed.  I wrote to HAL and they did give me future shipboard credit and an apology.  If you choose a HAL tour do the Zoo or wine tasting...you shouldn't have a problem.

 

We received mid cruise statements when the ship arrived in San Diego from Hawaii, and then a final bill at the end of the entire cruise.  We kept the same cabin stewards, but our dining was changed from fixed seating upstairs, to everyone now downstairs for Mexico because the ship was not full..I am sure it will be full for you now. 

 

For the 5 Sea Days each way to Hawaii HAL did a good job with enrichment lectures...even stargazing.  We enjoyed the Islands and did HAL tours...loved Volcanoes National Park in Hilo.  That tour sold out before embarkation as it is in small vans.

 

I hope this helps.  The only bump was the slow immigration in San Diego.

Enjoy the cruise!

Karen

[Roz]

I've only done one back-to-back.  Never again.  It was a disaster.  Staff didn't know how to handle us.  I had to pack everything up for the cabin move.  No communication from the ship as to what to do.   This was at Canada Place.  Told us not to leave the terminal as it would be hours before we could get back on (no bypass lane for current passengers).  

[Loreto]

Chickadee I see You are from Ohio!  We are Ohio transplants to California🙁...miss Cincinnati!

Karen

Honolulu

[crystalspin]

Karen has done an excellent job of filling in the blanks, for the same port! Thanks, @Loreto!

[Seasick Sailor]

We had a B2B2B in Dec/Jan on Rotterdam and will be on her again 45 days this coming Dec/Jan. We did not have to disembark.  We met in the world stage area, waited about an hour for all to disembark, went down in a line walking through customs, showing our passports and back on the ship. We grabbed Bloody Mary's on the way and it was no big deal.

[DAllenTCY]

Almost always, guests from the Mexican Riviera cruise must disembark at the first US port.....which in your case is San Diego. 

 

CBP does not normally conduct clearance onboard at this port.

 

If you are B2B, expect to spend some time in the terminal between voyages.

 

 

David

[Crew News]

In my many B2B cruises, Fort Lauderdale was the only port where Immigration processing took place onboard.  My last two cruises in Fort Lauderdale, everyone was required to disembark the ship.

 

If you will not be staying in the same stateroom for the second leg, your Room Stewards will help move all of your belongings to your new stateroom before you disembark in Sand Diego. They will bring a trolley for all of your hanging clothing, often just swapping your drawers with those in your new stateroom, and packing all of your suitcases will not need to repacked.

 

Your time ashore depends on the speed of processing through Immigration while ashore.

 

If you are staying on the same ship, your account balance will just be rolled over to your new cruise and the OBC for your second leg will be added your account. 

[albingirl]

I love back to backs because when other people are leaving, I'm not.  It's great fun to have more cruising ahead!

[rafinmd]

14 hours ago, Roz said:

I've only done one back-to-back.  Never again.  It was a disaster.  Staff didn't know how to handle us.  I had to pack everything up for the cabin move.  No communication from the ship as to what to do.   This was at Canada Place.  Told us not to leave the terminal as it would be hours before we could get back on (no bypass lane for current passengers).  

Vancouver is a special case at least for Alaska cruises.   Because US Immigration takes place before boarding the ship you are in Canada while ashore and effectively return to the US as you return to the ship.  Not sure why you were told not to leave.  Vancouver is a wonderful city and I would treasure a few hours there.

 

Roy

[Hlitner]

Since your turn-around day is in a US Port you will be subject to the standard CBP Zero out procedures.  This means that all the passengers will need to debark for a period of time.  You would normally have a choice of simply staying in the cruise terminal (you would be escorted as a group (all back to backs) and be kept in a holding area) until the vessel has been cleared by CBP...after which your group would be escorted back onto the ship.  The time spent in holding really varies from as little as a half hour to many hours!  It all depends on CBP.

 

Another option is to simply go off and enjoy San Diego or some other nearby part of CA,  You can get off the ship as soon as the ship has been cleared to disembark passengers (i.e. early in the morning) and you will need to return by a time specified in your instructions (usually at least an hour before sailing).  Normally you should be given some kind of "Transit" card which will help get you back onto the ship without a lot of hassle at the port (you still need to clear security).

 

The last time we had a turn around in San Diego, DW and I decided to spend part of the day at the Zoo.  It was just our luck that it rained buckets that day and we got totally drenched walking though the famous Zoo (which is highly recommended).  As we walked in the heavy rain we noticed that most of the animals were comfy in their shelters and watching us.  I imagine they were thinking we were fools to be out in the rain :).

 

Hank

[12cruise2]

We do back to backs all the time; I haven't read all of the responses, but a tip that we use if you have to change cabins--we carry 6-8 grocery bags--you know the ones that we re-use and don't weigh a thing--and if we have to change cabins, we put all the bath things in one, all the shoes in one, all the drawer stuff in one or two, that idea, then you don't have to really pack again.  Steward helps put all the hangers on a trolley, plus the bags, and it's pretty simple.  Each port has its own requirements re border protection/immigration checks; we were on the Zuiderdam in April Sea of Cortez back to back; for us, immigration came on board, we were told to go at a time certain to the dining room, pass through with our passports, and at the end, immigration came on board, checked us, then we went back to our cabins, got our stuff and disembarked.  We were using the very small terminal at San Diego so maybe that made a difference as to how things were handled--it has no space for waiting, hanging out in the "terminal."

Edited July 23, 2022 by 12cruise2

[Chickadee910]

Than you everyone think we will do it….more excitement…I do love my sea days

[Loreto]

12 minutes ago, Chickadee910 said:

Than you everyone think we will do it….more excitement…I do love my sea days

You won't be disappointed!  We have gone to Mexico 8 times with HAL and I never tire of the beauty of the ports, especially Cabo San Lucas. In between cruises the area around the port in San Diego is nice, or take an excursion with HAL  You don't want to be in Ohio in the winter🙂!

Karen

Cabo San Lucas

[disneyochem]

Thinking about a B2B next summer in Alaska disembarking/embarking in Whittier.  How is that process?  Not much to the cruise terminal there so can’t imagine spending much time waiting.  Ship is the Noordam.

 

And, unfortunately looks like we might be switching cabins.  The cabin we really like is available on the Northbound journey is already booked on the Southbound!  

[T8NCruise]

I've done many B2Bs.  It seems to depend on the port whether you have to disembark or not.  Usually you gather in a pre-determined location onboard and when everyone else has left the ship we have been escorted ashore and then back.on.  the last time, in Boston, we gathered on the lower promenade for awhile then were cleared to go back inside.  OR you can choose to go ashore and come back later.

We have also changed cabins and it has been an easy.process.  Just pack up your drawer contents, hanging stuff goes as is and a housekeeping team moves everything.  The biggest glitch (minor) is getting your new card.

[Crew News]

14 minutes ago, disneyochem said:

Thinking about a B2B next summer in Alaska disembarking/embarking in Whittier.  How is that process?  Not much to the cruise terminal there so can’t imagine spending much time waiting.  Ship is the Noordam.

 

And, unfortunately looks like we might be switching cabins.  The cabin we really like is available on the Northbound journey is already booked on the Southbound!  

Changing rooms is easy and will be facilitated by your Room Stewards. Often they just change drawers with the new stateroom as soon as the previous occupants leave.  All of your belongings will be locked in your new stateroom and you will pick up your new key at the time given in your instruction letter from Guest Services.

 

You will be escorted from the ship as part of the "zeroing out" process and be allowed to return usually within an hour.

Edited July 24, 2022 by Crew News

[SilvertoGold]

12 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Changing rooms is easy and will be facilitated by your Room Stewards.

Or, you can be left on your own if you don't say you need help.  The Supervisor has a list and knows who is moving but sometimes it just doesn't work out well without letting them all know when you wish to move.  What we have done is get the new cards at the Front Desk and just move on our own.

[Florida_gal_50]

31 minutes ago, SilvertoGold said:

Or, you can be left on your own if you don't say you need help.  The Supervisor has a list and knows who is moving but sometimes it just doesn't work out well without letting them all know when you wish to move.  What we have done is get the new cards at the Front Desk and just move on our own.

Yeah it was a little disorganized on my cruise on the koningsdam in November 2021.  I had to move everything out of the drawers.  The only thing the moved was my hanging items.  He took my luggage that was fairly full of my room stuff smashing the walls all the way.  This was a supervisor. I was fine moving my own luggage but he insisted.  

[StLouisCruisers]

We did a B2B which turned over in Whittier once, but I think that was a Princess ship.  What I do remember is the in transit people didn't even leave the ship.  Weather was rainy, and we only had to check in and out with our cards, and that was it.  I took a few photos of the luggage trucks arriving, the train coming in from Anchorage, and buses arriving, all from a covered promenade deck.  DH and I always move our own things when we have to change cabins.  Get one of those hotel valet carts from Housekeeping, and take drawers from one room to another.  No one is as careful with your belongings, as you are!

[disneyochem]

2 hours ago, Crew News said:

Changing rooms is easy and will be facilitated by your Room Stewards. Often they just change drawers with the new stateroom as soon as the previous occupants leave.  All of your belongings will be locked in your new stateroom and you will pick up your new key at the time given in your instruction letter from Guest Services.

 

You will be escorted from the ship as part of the "zeroing out" process and be allowed to return usually within an hour.

Great!  Thanks for the quick response.  I have the cruises on a hold.