B2B on Meraviglia

[cellfree]

On a B2B do they offer a special luncheon on the Meraviglia? They did on the Divina the end of 2022 and it was excellent. It meant you did not have to join the new cruisers that were embarking at the buffet. 

[BoundForSea]

We are doing a b2b in Feb and was curious on how they handle it. I’m assuming we don’t have to disembark and re-embark? 
 

Any info on how they manage this appreciated and any suggestions of what we can do ahead of time to make it go smoother? We’re on Mera in YC. 

[CruisingFox27]

5 hours ago, BoundForSea said:

We are doing a b2b in Feb and was curious on how they handle it. I’m assuming we don’t have to disembark and re-embark? 
 

Any info on how they manage this appreciated and any suggestions of what we can do ahead of time to make it go smoother? We’re on Mera in YC. 

If you sail to and from the USA then yes, you'll need to disembark, proceed through immigration and re-embark. The ship has to have a zero count when returning to a US port. Usually all B2B passengers meet in a lounge area, once the disembarking passengers have departed, you proceed through immigration and return to the ship. All done separately to the new embarking passengers. 

 

The above assumes you're not going ashore on a trip, in which case you'd disembark, go on your trip and clear immigration on your return. 

[ready2cruzagain]

10 hours ago, cellfree said:

On a B2B do they offer a special luncheon on the Meraviglia? They did on the Divina the end of 2022 and it was excellent. It meant you did not have to join the new cruisers that were embarking at the buffet. 

Yes from what I read the Meraviglia does offer the special luncheon in the MDR for B2B people. We have had it on the Divina, Seaside and the Seashore also. Will find out for sure in 2 weeks.

[ready2cruzagain]

6 hours ago, BoundForSea said:

We are doing a b2b in Feb and was curious on how they handle it. I’m assuming we don’t have to disembark and re-embark? 
 

Any info on how they manage this appreciated and any suggestions of what we can do ahead of time to make it go smoother? We’re on Mera in YC. 

You will meet up at a specific place and time with all the other b2b people.  After everyone has left the ship you will be escorted off the ship and go through customs.  You will then be escorted back onto the ship.  You can go as you please then. If you have the same cabin then all you do is leave your things as if nothing happened. If you need to change cabins then you pack up you belongings (clothes can be left on hangers) and the cabin steward will move your items for you.

[JAGR]

11 hours ago, BoundForSea said:

We are doing a b2b in Feb and was curious on how they handle it. I’m assuming we don’t have to disembark and re-embark? 
 

Any info on how they manage this appreciated and any suggestions of what we can do ahead of time to make it go smoother? We’re on Mera in YC. 

Not to correct @ready2cruzagain, but since you are in specifically in YC, you will be asked to meet in the Top Sail Lounge, and will be escorted off the ship, through CBP, and back on when the ship is cleared.  If you are changing rooms, you can have your junior butler pack and move, but it is appreciated if you at least move things not in the closet to your luggage.   

Edited January 8, 2023 by JAGR

[CruisingFox27]

8 hours ago, JAGR said:

Not to correct @ready2cruzagain, but since you are in specifically in YC, you will be asked to meet in the Top Sail Lounge, and will be escorted off the ship, through CBP, and back on when the ship is cleared.  If you are changing rooms, you can have your junior butler pack and move, but it is appreciated if you at least move things not in the closet to your luggage.   

It would appear, as ever, each experience may vary. We were YC for our B2B but we didn't meet in the TSL and proceed directly to customs. We were taken from the TSL to meet other B2B passengers in another lounge, then we all proceeded down through C&I before returning aboard. It made little difference to the process really but just to manage expectations for others. 

[ready2cruzagain]

18 hours ago, JAGR said:

Not to correct @ready2cruzagain, but since you are in specifically in YC, you will be asked to meet in the Top Sail Lounge, and will be escorted off the ship, through CBP, and back on when the ship is cleared.  If you are changing rooms, you can have your junior butler pack and move, but it is appreciated if you at least move things not in the closet to your luggage.   

Oh you can correct me whenever LOL. I missed that he was in the YC.

[JAGR]

13 hours ago, CruisingFox27 said:

It would appear, as ever, each experience may vary. We were YC for our B2B but we didn't meet in the TSL and proceed directly to customs. We were taken from the TSL to meet other B2B passengers in another lounge, then we all proceeded down through C&I before returning aboard. It made little difference to the process really but just to manage expectations for others. 

 

3 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

Oh you can correct me whenever LOL. I missed that he was in the YC.

I think it is safe to say that the "C" in MSC does not stand for "Consistency." LOL

[BoundForSea]

Thanks all! Good info. I called shoreside and they said the records don’t need to be noted or marked as B2B. They said the ship will know. Mmm I know how those “should” things go on MSC (Again the C in consistency!). 
 

The process for CBP makes sense. I’m sure they will let us know. It seems very standard. We like to enjoy those few quiet minutes on board between zero count and boarding. Its a little perk of the B2B!

 

thanks again. Feel free to keep the info coming as this can serve to help those in the future with B2B planning. 
 

We are embarking in Port Canaveral. That’s usually pretty smooth (at least it was on Divina the three times we sailed on her from there in past years)

 

thanks

[asalligo]

When we boarded Meraviglia last week there was a couple being very vocal about their bad B2B

experience. I do not know the details, but they were sitting with us in general population waiting to reboard at 1pm. They were clearly not YC, but why were they stuck out there with us in the terminal?  

[ready2cruzagain]

2 hours ago, asalligo said:

When we boarded Meraviglia last week there was a couple being very vocal about their bad B2B

experience. I do not know the details, but they were sitting with us in general population waiting to reboard at 1pm. They were clearly not YC, but why were they stuck out there with us in the terminal?  

If they were in the terminal waiting to board with the new people then they decided to leave the ship and the terminal and explore the outside area. When a person does that then they have to reboard with the new people coming on the ship.

[cellfree]

Started thread asking if Mera offers a luncheon for B2Bers, enjoyed it on Divina in October - a very nice touch, on Mera now, it does not do a luncheon for those on B2B. 

[ready2cruzagain]

4 hours ago, cellfree said:

Started thread asking if Mera offers a luncheon for B2Bers, enjoyed it on Divina in October - a very nice touch, on Mera now, it does not do a luncheon for those on B2B. 

Well that stinks. They do it on the Seaside and Seashore also. I will make sure and show not happy with the maitre'd