B2B Questions

[Iggipolka]

On a B2B, do you get to stay in the same cabin the entire time? When the ship returns to the port of origin before heading out for the second cruise, do B2B passengers have to leave the ship and clear customs, or can they stay on board?

Thanks!

[sail7seas]

We have done many b-to-b's and have another booked on Maasdam for June.


We ONLY book b-to-b's in the same cabin. We do not wish to move. The stewards would help and it would not be that big a deal especially if staying on the same deck. We just don't want to have to go through that.

Yes....If your b-to-b's bring you to a U.S. port on 'turnaround' day, you must clear Immigration. A few people here have said they have cleared Customs but I am puzzled because Customs is a Declaration of what Things you are bringing back into the Country. If you do not have your luggage going ashore with you (which you do not as it is not required) then how can you declare what you are bringing? You are bringing Nothing into the country except yourselves.

I guess our is not to reason why.......

Back-to-backs are Glorious. It is such a fantastic feeling for you to know that your cruise is not over but that most others are disembarking.

[grannynurse]

Your TA should tell you if the cabin is available on both legs. If you have to change cabins the room steward will pack and move you.
Whether or not you have to get off depends on the port of embarkation / debarkation. When we were in Amsterdam we did not have to get off, but we took a tour and they did not have us use the port entrance that embarking pax used.

I have read on this board that in some ports, I think in the USA, you have to get off to go through customs. In Europe, and when we returned to NY from Europe, the custom's inspectors got on the ship to check documents. It also happened to us mid-cruise in St. Thomas as we were coming back to an American port.
Hope this helps,
GN

[RuffinReady]

I completely agree with sail7seas. B2B's are the greatest. We are going again in May. You should tell your TA to talk with the cruise line and book you for a specific cabin for both segments. You should look at the deck plans for the price class you are going to book for and make sure which cabins you will find suitable. For instance, not on the stern or bow of the ship, or not with shower only cabins, whichever is your preference. I am very specific in my instructions to my TA and always get what I want. However, this means that you will not be eligible for an upgrade as you have chosen your cabin. If your turnarround port is outside of the U.S. you will probably have the chance to take a land tour while the others are disembarding, which is nice. In any case you will have a good day that others are using for getting off the ship and travelling. One of the perks of a B2B. If you elect to remain eligible for an upgrade and take the chance of getting a different cabin then you will have to do a demipacking the night before so the cabin steward can move you. It is a pain that I choose to avoid. You will also miss some good part of a day that you can put to better use.


Ruffin

[Ziggy7]

When we got off in FT. Lauderdale in between our b2b, we only had to walk thru customs with a card declaring 0 as we were not bringing anything off the ship, we did this at 10am after most were gone and we were able to get right back on the ship. :) For those who use the fedX shipping home boxes, you must take them thru customs, then seal the box and FedX takes them away.

[sbgood]

Ziggy,

You have hit upon a subject I was curious about. One of the things we love about the Caribbean are the nice prices on Bailey's and Kahula. Since we are on a back2back, how will our amount of purchases be handled? You mentioned boxes to send things home in, is there a place to store things from one cruise to the next? Goodness!!! I sound like a "boozer", don't I?

[sail7seas]

With the new liquor policy on HAL, if you are back-to-back, in theory you would not receive your liquor purchases which have been stored during your cruise, until the last night of your stay aboard the ship. (the end of your second cruise)


In reality, it is entirely possible it would be delivered to you the last night of your first cruise and you would then store it in your cabin for the remainder of your stay aboard.

I think there is too much chance your purchases could be lost if the liquor is not delivered to you at the end of the cruise during which you purchased it.

[RuffinReady]

If you are going to be at a U.S. port after your first segment how about declaring your booze at that point. Then you could declare additional purchases made on the next segment on your final return to the U.S. Keep your records of the first declaration so that those purchases would be exempt. You do need to check on the time limit for stays outside the U.S. to make sure that the first segment qualifies.


Ruffin

[Ziggy7]

They store your booze only, and your customs amount doubles for the 2 weeks, so if you can bring home 2 bottles duty free the first week, you can also bring 2 for the second week, For our 7 day Zuiderdam cruise we were 800.00 each family member (each week), however you can count kids in duty free dollar amounts but not for liguor or cigarettes because it is illegal to them. :)

[sail7seas]

With all respect, Ziggy, I think you may be confused.


It matters not how long you are out of the country nor whether you are on a cruise or in Europe or in the Caribbean etc.

All that matters is that you have been out of the country a minimum of 48 hours and have not used your duty free exemption within the last 30 days. You will get a higher allotment if you have visited the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Perhaps that is why you thought you got 'double' the duty free allotment for your second week. Did you go to St. Thomas, St. Croix or St. John on your second week? We do get double deduction if we have been to the USVI.

When we have traveled in Europe for far more than 2 weeks........no additional allotment because we were gone 2 weeks or more. Same for a cruise.

[jhannah]

Sometimes upgrades are given so B2B pax can be accommodated in the same cabin. When we sailed the Rotterdam, some tablemates were upgraded to the PH so two sisters traveling B2B could keep their same stateroom. Sweet!

[Ziggy7]

With all respect, Ziggy, I think you may be confused.


It matters not how long you are out of the country nor whether you are on a cruise or in Europe or in the Caribbean etc.

All that matters is that you have been out of the country a minimum of 48 hours and have not used your duty free exemption within the last 30 days. You will get a higher allotment if you have visited the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Perhaps that is why you thought you got 'double' the duty free allotment for your second week. Did you go to St. Thomas, St. Croix or St. John on your second week? We do get double deduction if we have been to the USVI.

When we have traveled in Europe for far more than 2 weeks........no additional allotment because we were gone 2 weeks or more. Same for a cruise.Yes sail we did, went to St. Thomas :) Thanks for the correction Sail, me thinks I need to leave these kind of questions to you pro's hehehehe :)

[sail7seas]

Glad I could assist. ;)

[Ziggy7]

Glad I could assist. ;) Good thing we are also going to St. Thomas on our second b2b too hehehehe or I would be into trouble with cutoms !!! eeeeeeks ! Do they have online puters in customs jail ????

[sbgood]

I'm wondering, if I left the ship entirely and found a place to store the liquor, like back at the pre-cruise hotel or a locker at the bus station. Is there a bus station? ha ha I suppose I should call Hal and inquire.

[dakrewser]

I'm wondering, if I left the ship entirely and found a place to store the liquor, like back at the pre-cruise hotel or a locker at the bus station. Is there a bus station? ha ha I suppose I should call Hal and inquire.

Um, was there going to be a question? What you outline wouldn't make a difference to US Customs if that was what you intended to ask.

:) -dave

[Ziggy7]

I'm wondering, if I left the ship entirely and found a place to store the liquor, like back at the pre-cruise hotel or a locker at the bus station. Is there a bus station? ha ha I suppose I should call Hal and inquire.Why would you do this ????? To save on duty fee's ????? I have heard that the duty per bottle is very minimal, certinly not worth the cost of taxi to wherever.:confused:

[aaannnthony]

Regarding the "booze" question on buying when doing a b-2-b, here's how we've done it, twice on Princess and once on Celebrity....you make your purchase in the shop on the last day of cruise one and carry it to your cabin!

I'm sure HAL is same as Princess and Celebrity; they can't be bothered with storing and delivering the many purchases made by pax on the last day of a cruise, so, they permit last day purchases to be carried to your cabin.

[dakrewser]

Regarding the "booze" question on buying when doing a b-2-b, here's how we've done it, twice on Princess and once on Celebrity....you make your purchase in the shop on the last day of cruise one and carry it to your cabin!

I'm sure HAL is same as Princess and Celebrity; they can't be bothered with storing and delivering the many purchases made by pax on the last day of a cruise, so, they permit last day purchases to be carried to your cabin.

???You can't buy booze from the shop while you're docked in a US port....

[aaannnthony]

Excuse me, but, on the last day, you're always sailing to your disembarkation point, you're not docked.....that's when you make your purchase!

[dakrewser]

Excuse me, but, on the last day, you're always sailing to your disembarkation point, you're not docked.....that's when you make your purchase!

Oh, you mean the Last Full Day. 'Cause on my last day on the ship I have breakfast, gather my things and debark for home. Sadly.

-dave

[aaannnthony]

Okay, Dave.....no problem....you interpreted differently my response!