B2B Cruises

[tommy]

We have done 15 cruises this will be our first B2B.Same ship different itinery.Any tips would be appreciated.Like what to do about customs if anything.Also was anyone upgraded,the rep at Holland said theres a good chance we may be upgraded. TOM&DEB

[localady]

Hello! We did a B2B on the Ryndam in July. As far as customs, we filled out the form when we first got on board and never filled another thing out! We received our new key cards for the room our 2nd week the night before disembarkation. The morning of disembarkation we packed our non-hanging clothes and accessories and our cabin steward assisted us in moving upstairs when the new cabin was cleaned. In the mean time we took a wonderful tour of the SeaLife Center in Seward compliments of HAL. It was quite easy, but we were in American waters and had gone thru immigration when we got on in Vancouver.

I hear of many upgrades, but I have yet to receive one on HAL.:rolleyes: After 6 cruises I've stopped holding my breath, although we hear from people who had booked an "A" and been upgraded to an "S", I figure it is either my karma or TA! I am not sure that having a B2B gives you any more chance of an upgrade. I hope you enjoy your B2B, upgrade or not!

[tommy]

Thanks for the reply,We have the same cabin for both weeks.Its a CatA,The Holland rep said he put a notation on our reservation requesting a upgrade if possible.He said he has had luck doing this in the past.Either way we are happy with our room.Thanks again TOM

[kryos]

Thanks for the reply,We have the same cabin for both weeks.Its a CatA,The Holland rep said he put a notation on our reservation requesting a upgrade if possible.He said he has had luck doing this in the past.Either way we are happy with our room.Thanks again TOM
I'm doing a b2b on the Zuiderdam starting this coming Saturday. I had booked an inside guarantee when I originally made the reservation for the first segment. Since I later decided to add the second segment, there were no more guarantees left, so I went with the cheapest grade of inside cabin. It appeared that I would be in a different cabin each week.

While the upgrade was not a major one ... no, no penthouse suite ... :) ... HAL gave me a better category of inside cabin than what I paid for on the second segment, and assigned me to that cabin for the first segment as well. Now, I won't have to move.

As for having to go through customs at the end of the first segment, according to my TA that won't be necessary. He told me that I would only be asked to vacate the stateroom for a couple of hours so that the stewards could give it a thorough cleaning before the second half of the b2b.

Hope this info helps.

Blue skies and enjoy your cruise!

--rita

[cruzlover56]

We were on BtoB on the Zuiderdam this summer . We did have to leave the ship and go through customs again. I think it was because we left the US (Cozumel) and returned. It was not an ordeal....about 15 minutes, show your passport get it stamped and straight back onto the ship. The wonderful thing is having the ship to yourself between BtoB's

[Ziggy7]

We were on BtoB on the Zuiderdam this summer . We did have to leave the ship and go through customs again. I think it was because we left the US (Cozumel) and returned. It was not an ordeal....about 15 minutes, show your passport get it stamped and straight back onto the ship. The wonderful thing is having the ship to yourself between BtoB's

I agree Julie :)
We just got home from a b2b,we were the last to get off the ship (no luggage), pass thru immigration, with nothing to declare, back thru security, back on the ship to the front desk for new cabin cards. We disembarked at 11am and were back on the ship 10 minutes later.



By the time we decided to do the next week our original cabin was taken so we had to move to a new cabin, HAL was wonderful in helping with this, I packed all non-hanging stuff in suitcases, they came about 10 am to move our hanging clothes and suitcases to our new cabin, it was a breeze.

[tommy]

Thanks for the replies,Were the menus,and shows the same both weeks.Also the movies and shows on the tv. TOM

[jazzsea]

When we did our back to back on Ryndam, we had the same entertainment on both cruises. It really didn't matter because we had missed some on the first segment and managed to catch it on the second one. The movies changed, which was great.

Enjoy.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done quite a few back-to-backs.

You do have to get off the ship and go through immigration.

We have always gotten our new cards the night before our second segment.

The entertainment and movies were all repeated.

Menus were also the same.

[Ziggy7]

Thanks for the replies,Were the menus,and shows the same both weeks.Also the movies and shows on the tv. TOM
yes, the menus, and some of the shows were the same both
weeks just different days. No the movies and tv movies were different both weeks.

[elmorejj]

We have done several BtoBs and have only had to get off the ship once. Maybe its the ports we visited or maybe it was when they came aboard to do immigration, I don`t know, but I know it was only once. We handed in two different Immigration forms, one for each week. The food stays the same each week.
On the Costa Atlantica when we did BtoBs, they brought a different menu for the pax who were on a BtoB with totally different menu selections...that was a nice touch.....jean :cool:

[kryos]

We were on BtoB on the Zuiderdam this summer . We did have to leave the ship and go through customs again. I think it was because we left the US (Cozumel) and returned. It was not an ordeal....about 15 minutes, show your passport get it stamped and straight back onto the ship. The wonderful thing is having the ship to yourself between BtoB's
Maybe because I am doing eastern itinerary first, I won't have to leave the ship? The western itinerary is the second half of the b2b.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Ziggy7]

Maybe because I am doing eastern itinerary first, I won't have to leave the ship? The western itinerary is the second half of the b2b.

Blue skies ...

--rita
No, you will have to get off, even the staff take turns getting off. Anytime you exit the us and go to a forein county, you will need to get off for a b2b, you just dont have to declare anything as you are not yet taking it off the ship.

[kryos]

No, you will have to get off, even the staff take turns getting off. Anytime you exit the us and go to a forein county, you will need to get off for a b2b, you just dont have to declare anything as you are not yet taking it off the ship.
Thanks for the clarification. I guess my TA was wrong.

Oh, well ... at least I can get right back on again. I wanna use the pool that day ... before all those "chair hogs" have a chance to get onboard. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Ziggy7]

I wanna use the pool that day ... before all those "chair hogs" have a chance to get onboard. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita
You will be able too, you might be processed by 10am and new pax dont arrive till 11:30 am, most hit the Lido resturant and wait for their cabin at around 1:15pm, then its hog city hehehehehe

[tomc]

That even applies to Canada?

[tommy]

It seems like some people had to get off and some didnt.I called Holland and the rep said the same thing if you do have to go thru customs declare nothing and you get right back on.He also said sometimes you can do the customs on the ship. TOM

[grannynurse]

Hi,
we didn't have to get off this summer in Amsterdam, BUT, we handed in our passports mid way through the first leg (they made copies for people who didn't bring copies), and returned them the day before we arrived in the Netherlands.
Last year the officials boarded in London and sailed to Rotterdam with us. Sometimes, if the officials come on board, or arrangements are made, you do not have to get off.

Arriving in Ny, again, inspectors boarded, and we went through customs on the ship.

I've never done a B2B in the Caribbean, perhaps it's different.

We booked a B2B, but about 3 months before we sailed, the cruise was changed to a combined cruise under one booking number. We kept the same room card; it was a very hassle-free experience. Maybe it was because 900+ out of 1290 odd pax were doing the whole 34 days. We only boarded about 300 in Amsterdam and a few more in Dublin.

Go figure!
GN

[tomc]

My b2b has only one booking number, which kinda surprised me. That's why I was wondering if (a) going from US-Canada-US this way was considered just one cruise and not an immigration/customs deal, or (b) making it one booking number, and therefore one cruise, eliminated any customs stuff in Canada. Our arrangement with Canada might be different from what we have with other countries, also.

[RuthC]

My b2b has only one booking number, which kinda surprised me. That's why I was wondering if (a) going from US-Canada-US this way was considered just one cruise and not an immigration/customs deal, or (b) making it one booking number, and therefore one cruise, eliminated any customs stuff in Canada. Our arrangement with Canada might be different from what we have with other countries, also.
tom, you are taking two separate cruises. The single booking number is for HAL's convenience, that's all. It certainly isn't for your's; believe me.
You will have to pass Canadian muster heading north, as you have done in the past. I've never done the southern route, but am willing to bet the rent that you will need to clear American Immigration on your first US port heading south, and US Customs when you arrive back in Boston.

If I lose the bet will you take a check?

[localady]

Actually we took a B2B on the Ryndam and here is how the immigration/customs worked on our cruise ( Vancouver to Sitka and return):

We went thru Canadian Immigration on the way thru the Vancouver airport. 50 minutes later, we went thru US Customs prior to embarkation at Canada Place. Never had another immigration issue until we got back to Canada Place where we disembarked. We went thru immigration again as we left the Ship at Canada Place, I can't recall if it was Canadian or U.S. (it was far too early in the am to notice!:eek: ) When we arrived the next day at the Vancouver airport we then went thru immigration. I believe it U.S. but again it was very early. We never went through Customs or immigration once we got back to the U.S. at all. Hope this helps!:cool:

[tomc]

If I lose the bet will you take a check? Only if it's in the mail, as most checks tend to be when I ask where they are.

[grannynurse]

Hey Ruthie,
For 2 cruises I should have received 2 tiles, and, BTW, invitations to 2 mariner award parties. How many tiles did you get? I remember your saying something about only 1 party for us B2Bers.
GN

[RuthC]

Granny, we took one cruise, not two. Therefore, one tile and one free drink.

[longtimecruiser]

Don't forget Ruth, we not only got one tile and one free drink but the "mixed nuts" too.

[sail7seas]

Hey Ruthie,
For 2 cruises I should have received 2 tiles, and, BTW, invitations to 2 mariner award parties. How many tiles did you get? I remember your saying something about only 1 party for us B2Bers.
GN


On every one of our b-to-b's, we have always been invited to the Mariners' Party for each segment and always got new tiles for each segment.

Thre has never been an occasion when we did not go to both parties.

[RuthC]

Don't forget Ruth, we not only got one tile and one free drink but the "mixed nuts" too.Should I presume you mean the mixed nuts in the jar? Or the ones we saw on the dance floor? ;) You know the one's I mean!