B2B questions turn around day

[FamilyCruiserUK]

Afternoon all.

Just a quick question, has anyone recently been on a B2B and can answer the following.

 

On first day, at check in at the terminal,  do we check in for both weeks or just week one?

 

Whats the process for the 2nd week? We are staying in the same room so no need to pack and move. 

 

Cheers all

[SilkySal]

Check-in just for the first leg of the B2B. If in the same cabin, you do nothing. Everything stays in that room. You will need to be escorted with the other people doing a B2B off of the ship, then turn around and get right back on. Very easy!

 

If changing rooms, just pack the little things from the drawers into your suitcases and add a new luggage room tag on them. Leave your hanging clothes in the closet. All of your things will be moved to your new room for you! Great!

 

[davekathy]

5 minutes ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Afternoon all.

Just a quick question, has anyone recently been on a B2B and can answer the following.

 

On first day, at check in at the terminal,  do we check in for both weeks or just week one?

 

Whats the process for the 2nd week? We are staying in the same room so no need to pack and move. 

 

Cheers all

You only are checked in at the terminal for the first leg. 

 

You will receive a detailed letter in your cabin outlining all the details for your TAD a day or two prior to your TAD. If they are offering a TAD meeting (typically a day or two prior to TAD) I suggest you attend it as there could be some good to know info TAD for your specific cruise. 

[FamilyCruiserUK]

5 minutes ago, SilkySal said:

Check-in just for the first leg of the B2B. If in the same cabin, you do nothing. Everything stays in that room. You will need to be escorted with the other people doing a B2B off of the ship, then turn around and get right back on. Very easy!

 

If changing rooms, just pack the little things from the drawers into your suitcases and add a new luggage room tag on them. Leave your hanging clothes in the closet. All of your things will be moved to your new room for you! Great!

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Much appreciated 👍

[Tlbecker1]

8 minutes ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Afternoon all.

Just a quick question, has anyone recently been on a B2B and can answer the following.

 

On first day, at check in at the terminal,  do we check in for both weeks or just week one?

 

Whats the process for the 2nd week? We are staying in the same room so no need to pack and move. 

 

Cheers all

We are currently on a B3B in the same room.  You just check in for the first sailing on on your 2nd leg, you basically check out of your first leg and check back in with your new sea pass card for your second leg.  Everyone needs to be off of the ship until you can check back into your 2nd cruise.  Enjoy!

[FamilyCruiserUK]

1 minute ago, Tlbecker1 said:

We are currently on a B3B in the same room.  You just check in for the first sailing on on your 2nd leg, you basically check out of your first leg and check back in with your new sea pass card for your second leg.  Everyone needs to be off of the ship until you can check back into your 2nd cruise.  Enjoy!

Thanks for that dissapponting we have to get off and on again. We will prob get off and have a stroll around miami after checking back in for 2nd leg. 

Thanks again

[mo&fran]

6 minutes ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Thanks for that dissapponting we have to get off and on again. We will prob get off and have a stroll around miami after checking back in for 2nd leg. 

Thanks again

There will also be instructions for doing just that. 

[davekathy]

14 minutes ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Thanks for that dissapponting we have to get off and on again. We will prob get off and have a stroll around miami after checking back in for 2nd leg. 

Thanks again

Not all B2B cruises are the same for TAD. That's why the TAD letter and the TAD meeting are important. When @Tlbecker1said, "Everyone needs to be off of the ship until you can check back into your 2nd cruise" means all non B2B cruisers have to be off before the TAD process can be completed. If you plan on getting off the ship on TAD, make sure you get your in transit passes. This allows you to reenter the ship without any delays. You still have to go thru security. Again all this will be explained in your TAD letter/meeting. 

Edited January 17, 2023 by davekathy

[nasa1974]

33 minutes ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Thanks for that dissapponting we have to get off and on again. We will prob get off and have a stroll around miami after checking back in for 2nd leg. 

Thanks again

I haven't done a B2B on Royal but have done a few on Princess. I have to think they are similar. We got off the ship and went to a waiting area inside security. As soon as everyone doing the B2B were confirmed not on the ship there was a short delay before we were allowed back on the ship and before everyone else coming on board for that cruise.  On one B2B we waited almost two hours to get back on the ship because a few passengers hadn't gotten off. When they got into the holding area there was a pretty loud round of boo's. If you plan to go into Miami, davekathy is correct about a transit pass.

[davekathy]

The TAD process can even vary from week to week on the same ship. Nothing is set in stone especially the the costumes process of staying on the ship or getting off the ship on TAD. 

[bonsai3s]

1 hour ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Thanks for that dissapponting we have to get off and on again. We will prob get off and have a stroll around miami after checking back in for 2nd leg. 

Thanks again

davekathy is spot on.

 

* Yes, make sure you have your "In-Transit" card if you decide to leave the ship. You can skip all the queues, (except for the security line), and re-board the ship using your new seapass card and In-Transit card.

 

* If you decide to stay onboard, there will be a special lunch for b2b passengers (if the number of b2b passengers is low or below the threshold...then no special lunch.)

 

* You will have access to your cabin. (Just be mindful that other cabins are being cleaned and your cabin steward will be busy.) Remove any items from your balcony...they often clean/spray the balcony on TAD.

 

* There's a free trolley that goes around the Miami cruise terminal (with stops near all the terminals, A-G)...trolley goes around dowtown Miami, then loops back to the cruise terminal.

(Years ago, we had no plans during our TAD, and just rode the free trolkey for one loop...took about 1 1/2 hours....free excursion...smile)

[SeaTeach]

Getting off and on the ship as a B2Ber is not the same as getting on for 1st leg (if you wish  to "remain on ship" so to speak). You are not with the masses but in a B2B group. I have had a seamless turn around where we walked to the gangway, dinged out, did a u-turn around the dingy, checked in a few feet away. Also have dinged out, entered terminal, sat for a few minutes , dinged back in. In Nov we stood for about 20 minutes before dinging back on. Also have had other variations. As said before, each turn around is different but nothing like getting on for first leg. There is also usually a luncheon for B2Bers- some great some not so good.

 

You will receive notification about what to do.

 

If you'd like to retrieve old sea pass card go to guest services.

 

[Psycho and Barb]

We have been lucky and never had to leave the ship.  We met at the specified location on the ship...Main dining room.  Royal had people come around to each table and do all the paperwork.  After about an hour they gave us, our new sea passes, and we went to leave the dining room.  A customs agent was there and looked at our passports and said have fun.  They had a security individual who scanned our old cards to sign off the ship and our new ones to sign back on.

[cruisegirl1]

2 hours ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Thanks for that dissapponting we have to get off and on again. We will prob get off and have a stroll around miami after checking back in for 2nd leg. 

Thanks again

 
Mid cruise  you will receive a letter in your cabin, explaining the entire process

 

You only get off the ship to walk through customs in the terminal and then go right back on the ship. You never have to  leave the terminal.  The whole process usually takes about an hour.  You meet about 9 o’clock, wait for the ship to clear, go through customs, come straight back on. It is now about 10 o’clock and you are free to go on the ship. I don’t know what is disappointing,, it  is the US customs process. 

M

Edited January 17, 2023 by cruisegirl1

[maggie416]

On our last back to back we had to assemble in one of the venues on the ship. Customs came in, checked our paperwork. We then received our new seas pass cards and off we went. Never had to leave the ship.

Marg

[FamilyCruiserUK]

47 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

 
Mid cruise  you will receive a letter in your cabin, explaining the entire process

 

You only get off the ship to walk through customs in the terminal and then go right back on the ship. You never have to  leave the terminal.  The whole process usually takes about an hour.  You meet about 9 o’clock, wait for the ship to clear, go through customs, come straight back on. It is now about 10 o’clock and you are free to go on the ship. I don’t know what is disappointing,, it  is the US customs process. 

M

Thanks for the reply. Dissapponting due to the fact the customs agent dosnt come onto the ship. They have done this on a P&O cruise out of barbados, when entering a US port. I guess like others have said its what the process is like on the day. Nothing to worry about will crack on do what is required and then have a look around miami.

[FamilyCruiserUK]

39 minutes ago, maggie416 said:

On our last back to back we had to assemble in one of the venues on the ship. Customs came in, checked our paperwork. We then received our new seas pass cards and off we went. Never had to leave the ship.

Marg

Thanks for that. Seems it can be either way. So wil just wait and see. Thanks again.

[brillohead]

Miami has the Facial Recognition for Customs, so they'll have you walk off the ship after everyone else is off, go through Facial Recognition, then get back on the ship.  

If you actually want to get off and spend the day in Miami, you do NOT have to attend the Consecutive Cruisers meeting if you don't want to.... you can go to Guest Services earlier that morning and get your new SeaPass Card and your In Transit Card and leave whenever you want.  Then when you come back, you show your In Transit card instead of going to the people with tablets to check in.  

[JamesEM]

I did a b-3-b on the Symphony this past Sept. had to pack all my stuff, my bags were delivered to my new cabin.

[audome78]

Just one more point.

 

Just because you are checked in for both cruises, don't assume that guest services knows that you are B2B. I've h had that situation before, and did NOT received the B2B letter in my cabin.

 

I always swing by guest services on the second or third day and verify my status and confirm that I will be getting the letter.

 

Have fun! The last night of the first cruise is satisfying knowing that none of the luggage in the hallway is yours!

[BND]

We have done 4 b2b's.  One in 2016, one in 2021 and two in 2022.  We had to get off the ship and back on for all four (Oasis, HOTS, EN, Jewel).  We also had to wait a bit in the terminal for all of them.  We also always have the same cabin-we won't book a b2b any other way.  We have b2b's coming up this Oct, one in Apr 2024 and another in Nov 2024.   For everyone, there has been a letter in our cabin a few days before.  We have met in the theater, Schooner Bar and Centrum, so it varies by ship.  It's pretty much always organized chaos as there's usually a few people who are late getting off the ship which delays the walkoff/walkon for the b2bers.  We then walk by Customs, flashed our passports and then waited to reboard.  One time we waited all of about 5 minutes and once (HOTS), we stopped three times to wait somewhere (promenade, terminal before customs and terminal after) which meant it took us 1.5 hours to do the process and we boarded right before suites started boarding.  On Jewel, we were back onboard 45 min before boarding started.   It's never the same.

Edited January 18, 2023 by BND

[FamilyCruiserUK]

29 minutes ago, BND said:

We have done 4 b2b's.  One in 2016, one in 2021 and two in 2022.  We had to get off the ship and back on for all four (Oasis, HOTS, EN, Jewel).  We also had to wait a bit in the terminal for all of them.  We also always have the same cabin-we won't book a b2b any other way.  We have b2b's coming up this Oct, one in Apr 2024 and another in Nov 2024.   For everyone, there has been a letter in our cabin a few days before.  We have met in the theater, Schooner Bar and Centrum, so it varies by ship.  It's pretty much always organized chaos as there's usually a few people who are late getting off the ship which delays the walkoff/walkon for the b2bers.  We then walk by Customs, flashed our passports and then waited to reboard.  One time we waited all of about 5 minutes and once (HOTS), we stopped three times to wait somewhere (promenade, terminal before customs and terminal after) which meant it took us 1.5 hours to do the process and we boarded right before suites started boarding.  On Jewel, we were back onboard 45 min before boarding started.   It's never the same.

Ah best planning is to let GS know mid week. Then expect the usual royal poor organising and mess about factor. I think we will get a in transit pass and go off to the bayside for a look around and food. 

 

Thanks to all those that have replied. 

[vacationlover_mn]

Do I need to notify someone that we are doing a B2B?  Would notifying the suite concierge be enough?

[BND]

14 minutes ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Ah best planning is to let GS know mid week. Then expect the usual royal poor organising and mess about factor. I think we will get a in transit pass and go off to the bayside for a look around and food. 

 

Thanks to all those that have replied. 

We never talked  to GS about it.  The LA knows who is b2b and they've always had a letter delivered to us in our cabin.    Also, the issues are pretty much always surrounding the stragglers which is kind of dumb as there is literally nothing open on the ship after breakfast.  Our last b2b, on Jewel, there were 4 people they were trying to find for a good 1/2 hour after last numbers were called.   

Edited January 18, 2023 by BND

[BND]

2 minutes ago, vacationlover_mn said:

Do I need to notify someone that we are doing a B2B?  Would notifying the suite concierge be enough?

You don't need to let anyone know.  The LA knows and is the one that handles it.