Back-to-back question

What happens to passengers on the "turn around" day on a back-to-back cruise? Are we able to use the pool? Do we have to get off the ship? Do we have full access to our cabin? I've heard HAL does B2B better than anyone else, but since we've never done one before, we don't know what that means. Thanks for any information.

What happens to passengers on the "turn around" day on a back-to-back cruise? Are we able to use the pool? Do we have to get off the ship? Do we have full access to our cabin? I've heard HAL does B2B better than anyone else, but since we've never done one before, we don't know what that means. Thanks for any information.

For those of us who were doing B2B cruises in either Ft. Lauderdale or Tampa we met around 9:a.m. in a lounge or near the front desk & as a group were escorted off the ship into a special waiting room for a short time..The ship has to be zeroed out in the U.S.

If we had a tour that day or just wanted to spend the day in town they gave us a re-boarding pass to get back on the ship later..However most of us just got off the ship & waited for Customs to clear the ship, not all the Psgrs.. Usually it's for about an hour or so & then we were taken back on board, unless the ship was being inspected by the CDC or the Coast Guard..That takes longer..

No problems..In San Diego we got off the ship with only our purses & were cleared through Customs & went to the Zoo & had lunch in town..When we were ready to reboard we showed our in-transit boarding pass & re-boarded..

Be sure to take your passports with you! Can't remember anything about the pools as we don't use ship pools..[g

We have done several B2B cruises at a few different ports and it has been pretty much the same for each one. The ship has to have a zero count of passengers for the officials so everyone has to get off. You will get instructions the evening before about what will happen and when, so just follow along. It is usually just step off the ship and wait in a separate area in the terminal for a few minutes, then get back on the ship. This all happens about 9 or 9:30 am. Everything is available to you when you get back on, just like another port day including your cabin, the pools and hot tubs, the Lido and MDR for lunch. We have never had to move to a different cabin and hopefully you are not either. On 1 occasion, our cabin was not 'made up' when we got back on at about 9:15 as our steward had to prepare so many cabins for new guests - we were ok with this as not a big deal and we knew he would get to us.

We did a b2b last year. You meet in a lounge take escalator down to terminal walk in a circle and then back up the escalator. It takes about 45 minutes.

If I were you,and you're not from Florida I would get off the ship for the day.

We live close to the port and found it a wasted day. The spa and pools were closed and staff was working towards getting the next group on.

If I remember correctly, the pools remain open, at least on my last cruise they did. Please correct me if I am mistaken. The only thing that you'll need to watch out for is that smoking is not allowed when bunkering of fuel is on the way.

Just know that a lot of staff is being taken from their positions to assist in the turnaround operation and venues will close or run at a limited capacity.

Last Jan on the Noordam we got off as our cruise was over however people on b2b's went to Queens Lounge for a bit but did not have to leave the ship . I heard this second hand so I cannot say for sure .

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I can't say for sure as I haven't done a B2B on HAL, but I would doubt that the pools would be open. Our experience the pools are closed during "code orange" (first 3 days on cruise), so I would think that once the first cruise "closes out" they would clean the pool and block it off.

Typically B2B passengers must debark if the turnaround is a US port (as noted, the ship must "zero out"). In Europe, some B2Bs you stay onboard, and check in for second leg onboard, sometimes you will debark to check in.

On the 3 European B2Bs I've been on, it has pretty much been like a port day. We were given In Transit cards. We used a different exit ramp than those disembarking. You will have to do the fire drill again. You may have some (but not all) repeats of the entertainment on the 2nd leg.

We've always had access to our rooms on the turnaround day, although they may need to access your room for maintenance. I don't know about the pool, but I don't remember being told we couldn't use it (but on the day you embark, see if the pool is open & also ask about this).

As far as getting off the ship, once we did have to go to immigration for passport inspection by 9 or 10am, whether or not we were leaving the ship. That was the only time, however.

Enjoy your cruise!

We've always viewed it as just another port day and set out on a shore excursion, so I can't comment on facilities available during the day.

Someone mentioned the MDR being open for lunch, but I believe that is still only available to Mariners.

We have done a number of B2B. In every case, we met at a pre-designated location on the ship between 9:30 and 10:00 AM and were given "in transit" cards that would let us return. As previously mentioned, EVERY passenger must leave the ship, hence "zeroing" out the ship.

All "in transit" passengers remained in an isolated waiting area until the Customs Border Patrol officials verified that there were no longer passengers on board. During our last cruise, July Alaska, the Hotel Manager stopped by the "in-transit" area to talk with the passengers. We learned that not only could we not board until the ship was "zeroed" but incoming passengers could not even process through the terminal security checkpoint.

Our experience is that we have been off the ship from 15 - 55 minutes. When we returned, Code Orange was in effect and most facilities were closed for cleaning, to include the hydrotherapy pool.

The period of time before incoming passengers began boarding was a great time to take pictures of all of the ship's facilities without other passengers in your pictures.

Make sure that you tell any crew members that you meet your first week that you will be returning for a second. You will get a great smile and they will remember you the second week.

If you have to change staterooms, you need only do limited packing as the room stewards will help you move with a bell captain's cart before you disembark.

Note that your bill will be for the full two weeks and you will receive it the day before you disembark.

You can carry over your internet minutes.

On all of our B2B we have received two free Pinnacle Grill dinners that could be used on either of the first or last days of the cruise.

It has been reported that any alcohol you purchased during the first week will be delivered to your room the last day of your first week which leaves you a nicely-stocked bar for your second week.

Enjoy your cruise.

We have done a great many b-to-b's and for those with turnaround in FLL, this is the procedure we have followed in recent years:

If you have the same cabin, you leave all your personal property in place in your cabin.

The last night of your first segment, you will receive a letter telling you the requirement for Immigration clearance, when and how to go and dining hours for 'turnaround day'.

 

You will have to exit the ship, go into the terminal with your passport and clear Immigration. You will not be permitted back aboard until the ship has 'zeroed down' meaning all who are meant to be leaving have done so.

 

You can choose to either go as a group following the instructions as to where to meet or you can go on your own. We always go on our own. There has been some negative conversation that you must go with the whole crowd but that is not true. In a very large number of b-to-b, we have always gone on our own and security at the gangway, CBP Officials in the Terminal, Shore Operations people in the terminal and Security when we reboard all have told us it is fine and never have we had a problem.

 

We always wait until they call the last of the disembarkation colors/numbers and go then as that usually should mean a short wait ashore. Our average wait has been in the range of 30-45 minutes but it can vary. If there is a selfish idiot who takes their sweet time about leaving despite repeated calls to disembark, no one can board until they leave.

 

You can reboard by just clearing through security but no need to go to the check in lines or get a 'number'.

 

You should bring the 'in transit card' that will be enclosed with the letter you receive and your ship's ID, as always.

 

B-to-b's are fabulous. We've done a great many and always enjoyed each and every one.

On most of our btb we have had to get off the ship so they could go down to a zero count but on a few we were able to stay on. Everything on the ship was open and avalible to us.

If the ship comes to U.S. port, there is normally a zero down.

This does not happen in a non-U.S. port.

There are some rare occasions when the CBP authorities will come aboard to process the b-to-b's but that is an exception and not the rule.

If the ship comes to U.S. port, there is normally a zero down.

This does not happen in a non-U.S. port.

 

There are some rare occasions when the CBP authorities will come aboard to process the b-to-b's but that is an exception and not the rule.

Yes. On our recent B2B on the Veendam our turnaround was in Quebec. We could stay onboard or come and go as we please. No Transit card required.

Yes. On our recent B2B on the Veendam our turnaround was in Quebec. We could stay onboard or come and go as we please. No Transit card required.

It's like that when we did b-to-b Boston to Montreal to Boston. We never had to zero down and if we did not choose to leave the ship, we did not have to clear Immigration.

We always want a transit card as it enables you to bypass the check in process, go through security and go immediately back aboard when you return to the ship after being ashore.

I don't care for b2b's because it seems like such a wasted day. I have had all sorts of experiences from walking through a lounge to be checked to getting off the ship and having to stay off for a couple of hours. I thought it would be neat to have the ship to ourselves but between the 2 hour turnaround and one time needing to change cabins (they were supposed to help us move but forgot about us and we were stuck in the cabin) I've never really felt it was worth it. I think the next time we do one (considering one for a holiday cruise) we will treat it as a port day like someone suggested and go do some sort of excursion.

St. Louis Sal

I don't care for b2b's because it seems like such a wasted day. I have had all sorts of experiences from walking through a lounge to be checked to getting off the ship and having to stay off for a couple of hours. I thought it would be neat to have the ship to ourselves but between the 2 hour turnaround and one time needing to change cabins (they were supposed to help us move but forgot about us and we were stuck in the cabin) I've never really felt it was worth it. I think the next time we do one (considering one for a holiday cruise) we will treat it as a port day like someone suggested and go do some sort of excursion.

 

St. Louis Sal

Montreal is such a great city we never 'wasted' a day staying aboard. We always went out and about and enjoyed the city.

We've been to FLL so many times we sometimes got off the ship but more often we remained aboard but for zeroing down. In years past, when embarkation didn't start until after 1 p.m. and there was no zeroing down, we loved having the ship almost to ourselves for at least 3 or so hours..... but for others also doing a b-to-b but there seemed to be far fewer until recent years.

Before 9/11 all we did on Intransit day was to get off the ship, show our passports in the terminal and get back on the ship via the crew entrance. Quick and simple.

To the OP - you will get a letter the day before explaining where you are to meet and at what time.

We have had some bad experiences on Intransit day. Many times the wait is quite long as there always seem to be someone who thinks they do not have to go through the process like everyone else.

Yes -- you will have full access to your cabin. Many times the pools are closed.

HAL refers to many of their back-to-back cruises as "Collector Cruises".

Breakfast will be earlier on Intransit Day -- closing down by 8 -- as they need to get everything cleaned up.

By the way -- where will you be sailing from?

If the ship comes to U.S. port, there is normally a zero down.

This does not happen in a non-U.S. port.

 

There are some rare occasions when the CBP authorities will come aboard to process the b-to-b's but that is an exception and not the rule.

Our last back-to-back changeover was in Venice and we didn't have to get off or do anything special with Italian authorities. Of course we did get off but stayed out of way, by our own choice, until the majority of disembarking passengers were gone. It was a mixture of fun because we were excited to be in Venice and sadness as we'd met some great people on the first keg and were sorry to see them leave.

Last Jan on the Noordam we got off as our cruise was over however people on b2b's went to Queens Lounge for a bit but did not have to leave the ship . I heard this second hand so I cannot say for sure .

 

 

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I don't believe that is possible..They have always zeroed down on our B2B's in the USA.. One time we went to the Queens Lounge & were given Number as so many were doing the back to back...When they called our Number we were taken off the ship..Have never been able to stay on board when the B2B was in the USA..

When we did our ROV on the Noordam in Nov/Dec 2010, we asked 2 couples who were our best Friends to join us.. One couple was able to join us for the full 20 days but our other Friends, who were at our wedding, could only join us on the second half of the B2B.. We made arrangements with the planner to have our ROV on the second half of our cruise..

Turnaround day, we left the ship but got right back on, went up to the Lido & snagged a table for 6 close to the Lido entrance, so we could see our Friends come in.. The four of us had so much fun waiting for them & so special having all of them there.. It was also the first time the second couple had been on HAL..

As has been posted, what happens is dependent on the port. If your turn around port is in the USA, the authorities mandate that the ship be "zeroed out" before they can start to board passengers for the next cruise. This means that you would have to leave the ship, pass through immigration, either wait until you can reboard or you could just leave the port and return later.

It is a different story in the rest of the world where you can normally just come and go as your please and treat it like a regular port. Personally, we hate turn around days in the US and try to avoid booking those cruises like the plague. But others seem not to mind.

Hank

OP here---thanks for the replies everyone! I should have mentioned this is a B2B out of Ft. Lauderdale (someone asked) It appears there are some variations, but now I have a good idea of what to expect. I appreciate the responses!!

We did a B2B about a year ago (FL) and we all met at one of the lounges. We then went to the terminal and just walked around it and back to the ship, about 30-40 minutes total. Pools, etc were open. We did have to go through another safety drill, however.

I don't believe that is possible..They have always zeroed down on our B2B's in the USA.. One time we went to the Queens Lounge & were given Number as so many were doing the back to back...When they called our Number we were taken off the ship..Have never been able to stay on board when the B2B was in the USA..

 

When we did our ROV on the Noordam in Nov/Dec 2010, we asked 2 couples who were our best Friends to join us.. One couple was able to join us for the full 20 days but our other Friends, who were at our wedding, could only join us on the second half of the B2B.. We made arrangements with the planner to have our ROV on the second half of our cruise..

 

Turnaround day, we left the ship but got right back on, went up to the Lido & snagged a table for 6 close to the Lido entrance, so we could see our Friends come in.. The four of us had so much fun waiting for them & so special having all of them there.. It was also the first time the second couple had been on HAL..

Once a few years ago we had over 700 staying on for a second cruise. The authorities said that the terminal could not handle that many people -- Ft Lauderdale -- pier 26. So we had immigration on the ship -- had to walk through Queen's Lounge.

We did a B2B about a year ago (FL) and we all met at one of the lounges. We then went to the terminal and just walked around it and back to the ship, about 30-40 minutes total. Pools, etc were open. We did have to go through another safety drill, however.

Since the Costa Concordia accident, HAL now makes us all do the second drill.