B2B experience?

[MoonSurf]

For those that have done B2B with Virgin, would you provide some details of the experience?  How is luggage handled if have to switch cabins?  Do you have to disembark at all?

[cantgetin]

The rules for B2B are largely determined by Customs agents at the port where the turn around occurs.  I've even had it differ on the same line, same port from one year to the next.  This is the current Miami experience on VV.  On the last night, you'll get a letter in your cabin with all the details.  If you are changing cabins, pack up all your stuff and leave your suitcases in your cabin--they will appear in the new cabin "magically."  You will be instructed to meet at a particular lounge toward the end of the normal disembarkation process.  This was Sip, but could vary based on number of people doing B2B.  You will be escorted off the ship when the people leaving are done/almost done at Customs.  All you'll need are your ID and boarding documents.  You go thru Customs and  back onto the ship.  If you are in the same room, you have stateroom access right away.  If you change rooms, you may have a wait before your room is ready, but have access to public areas.  Very easy.  Just remember your documents. You do have to do check in again after Customs, so you'll need proof of vaccination or negative test again.  NOTE....these things change, and anything could be different when you cruise, particularly if the covid rules change.  

[neverendingcruising]

Just did a back to back on Valiant out of Barcelona. We were sent to Sip where you were checked in and asked to sit. Your name was called and a security officer tapped you off the ship and sent you to a person that checked you in for the next cruise. Once complete you went back to the same security officer who then tapped you on to the ship. We were even able to use the same bands. We did not change rooms so I cannot speak to that part. It seems to be specific to Barcelona that you do not have to get off the ship. There is also no customers check in Barcelona when ending a cruise. 

[cantgetin]

Interesting....Barcelona was where we didn't have to get off the Disney Magic on a B2B.  

 

[starbar36]

I'm doing the TA then the following MerMaiden cruise. As a European, would I have to go through immigration as well as customs before I got back on the ship or could that treat be saved until the end of the second voyage?

[neverendingcruising]

Most likely you will have to get off the ship and go through customs. 

[kriscii]

On 9/29/2022 at 8:24 PM, MoonSurf said:

For those that have done B2B with Virgin, would you provide some details of the experience?  How is luggage handled if have to switch cabins?  Do you have to disembark at all?

If it is Miami then you leave your luggage and they move it. All the B2B cruisers are then taken to customs and then back to ship. Hopefully your luggage will be in your new cabin and you can have the ship pretty much to yourself and the other B2B passengers.

 

If you have a similar cabin on both cruises, they may try and keep you in the same cabin. 

[neverendingcruising]

We called Sailor Services in advance since we had the same category on both cruises and they made sure we were in the same room for both voyages. 

 

We also confirmed as soon as we got on board as well. 

Edited September 30, 2022 by neverendingcruising

[CineGraphic]

1 hour ago, neverendingcruising said:

We called Sailor Services in advance since we had the same category on both cruises and they made sure we were in the same room for both voyages. 

 

We also confirmed as soon as we got on board as well. 

 

We are booked for a B2B with lock it in limited view guarantees.

We asked when booking if we would would have the same cabin for both sailings, and they could only say that they'd "try". That's good enough for me.

[MoonSurf]

Thanks to all for the great info.  I should have specified it is Miami.  I'm also booked with the lock it in rates for both.  Wanted to have an idea of how they do things.  Can roll with however it ends up.  Looking forward to the brief lull between debarkation and embarkation crowds.  But really looking forward to all the great food everyone talks about.

[gkbiiii]

I'm doing a total of 20 nights on Valent Lady in November, from Miami.  6 nights-8 nights-6 nights, which will be my longest cruise to date!

[cantgetin]

8 hours ago, gkbiiii said:

I'm doing a total of 20 nights on Valent Lady in November, from Miami.  6 nights-8 nights-6 nights, which will be my longest cruise to date!

And complimentary beverage package on each one......

[sid_9169]

On 10/1/2022 at 12:47 PM, MoonSurf said:

Thanks to all for the great info.  I should have specified it is Miami.  I'm also booked with the lock it in rates for both.  Wanted to have an idea of how they do things.  Can roll with however it ends up.  Looking forward to the brief lull between debarkation and embarkation crowds.  But really looking forward to all the great food everyone talks about.

When I cruised in June, they gave me a letter saying to meet near the champagne bar for a quick corona virus test, and then briefly walked off the ship to customs. After that, we went back into the terminal to check in again for the next sailing, and waited about twenty minutes before re boarding the empty ship. Now that they've dropped the testing, I assume that the process will be exactly the same minus the nasal swab...

 

Also, I was in a different cabin on both sailings (my choice) and they offered to move my stuff but I did it myself. I actually brought all of my hanging items still on the hanger to the new cabin and returned the empty hangers to the old cabin...

 

It was definitely nice to enjoy the completely empty ship for a couple of hours.

[jon81uk]

I would guess the European ones don’t need people to disembark for passport control as you stay within Europe the whole time. Whereas the cruises out of Miami stop in Mexico or Puerto Rico and the Bahamas therefore as you’ve left the USA passport control probably want to do checks.