B2B cruises with RCL ??

We have done B2B cruises before (Princess and Disney) ... just wondering what RCL's procedures are for those who do B2B ...

For those who have done it but had to move staterooms, what was your experience? Was thinking of doing the Spa Junior Suite for the 1st cruise then moving to Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony for the 2nd cruise ...

Thanks ...

In US ports, you normally have to leave the ship for a short time, go through customs, and get back on the ship. This may occur 0 to 90 minutes before general boarding starts. If you are not changing staterooms, you would have access to your stateroom the entire time.

With regard to moving staterooms, you pack up all your items that are not hanging in the closet. The stateroom attendants will move your bags and hanging items to the new stateroom. Depending on the ship's procedures and the stateroom attendants, you may or may not have access to your new stateroom before all the staterooms open for new guests.

As Bob says, its dead easy. Personally, we always move our stuff ourselves (if we haven't got the same cabin), but no problems at all.

Simon

In US ports, you normally have to leave the ship for a short time, go through customs, and get back on the ship. This may occur 0 to 90 minutes before general boarding starts. If you are not changing staterooms, you would have access to your stateroom the entire time.

 

With regard to moving staterooms, you pack up all your items that are not hanging in the closet. The stateroom attendants will move your bags and hanging items to the new stateroom. Depending on the ship's procedures and the stateroom attendants, you may or may not have access to your new stateroom before all the staterooms open for new guests.

Spot on as always! Each ship is a little different but all are equally easy.

Thanks all -

A few years ago, I did a B2B on Mariner of the Seas in the Mediterranean where I also had a change of cabins. Things might be done differently now due to changes in security needs. But my experience was this:

1. I don't think my cabin attendant on the first cruise had any advance knowledge about my situation, but I asked him about what I should do. He had me pack up my belongings at the end of the first cruise and told me to leave everything in my cabin. He took care of taking it to my second cabin and explaining to my new steward what was happening. I put the luggage tags for the second cruise on my bags just in case someone got confused.

2. During the first cruise, I asked at guest services what the procedure was going to be between the 2 cruises. They told me that instructions would be left in my cabin a day or 2 before the end of the cruise.

3. The instructions did indeed arrive as planned and included a new key card for the second cruise. The instructions told me I could 2 things:

1) If I wanted to get off the ship and go sightseeing (this was in Civitavechhia, Italy), I could do so at any time after the ship was cleared. My exit would be treated like all the regular departing guests with respect to customs and immigration (very little, back then). Since I already had my key card, I could return to the ship at any time after they had started boarding for the next cruise. I was told to show my card and I would be allowed to bypass the checkin process and board as soon as I was able to board.

2) I chose option 2. This had the B2B passengers meet in a lounge around 9:30am. A guest services agent gathered us and took us downstairs to a waiting room near the gangway. There were a few people who did not yet have their key cards, so the agent gave them their cards at this time. We had to wait in the waiting room until the ship had cleared everyone off from the previous cruise. We were told this should be very quick, however, someone was unaccounted for and it ended up making us wait in the room for about an hour. Once given the all-clear, we went to the gangway and security used our old card to count us OFF the first cruise and then used our new card to count us ON the new cruise. At that point, we again had the option to go off the ship to do as we pleased in Civitavecchia (it was around 11:00am by that time) or to go back on to the ship to do as we pleased. I walked off the ship and walked around Civitavecchia for a few hours.

By the time I returned the ship, the boarding process was well underway. I showed my card and was sent thru a passage way that bypassed the entire checkin process and led me directly to the ship, where I boarded with ease. The cabins were ready by that time so I went directly to my second cabin and my luggage was already in my room without any issues.

It all went very smoothly, except the hour delay or so in the morning getting all the previous passengers off the ship.

I have heard that every ship does it their own way and I believe it. It seems very much like it's a process that is largely coordinated by one person who happens to be responsible for that chore.

We have done several B2B and love them. This one time we were escorted off went through customs and back on the ship before every one was off the ship. A staff member goofed, we were not to be on the ship until every one was off. We do love those B2B's and have another one booked on the Liberty in Sept. 17th. Why drive or fly to a port for just 7 dayes?

In regard to changing rooms make sure that YOU take everything out of the safe.We do a B2B every January and enjoy it and then the private lunch for the B2B folks

In regard to changing rooms make sure that YOU take everything out of the safe.We do a B2B every January and enjoy it and then the private lunch for the B2B folks

The special lunch on turnaround day is dependent on the number of consecutive cruisers. Each ship handles their consecutive cruisers differently. So not having a special lunch on turnaround day is not out of the ordinary.

The special lunch on turnaround day is dependent on the number of consecutive cruisers. Each ship handles their consecutive cruisers differently. So not having a special lunch on turnaround day is not out of the ordinary.

Agreed. It was not offered on my B2B on the Mariner a few years ago.

Our booking is for the 9-night Canada/New England cruise aboard the Anthem next fall followed by the 5-night Bermuda cruise. However I just booked a 7-night Florida/Bahama that departs the day after the Anthem arrives back at Cape Liberty, aboard NCL's Breakaway, which departs from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

I would rather cruise to Bermuda aboard the Anthem as opposed to Nassau, Bahamas aboard the Breakaway ... plus it means packing, overnighting at a hotel, then boarding a new ship ... but I just could not pass up the opportunity to book a Haven Spa Suite Balcony and with NCL's current "Free at Sea" promotion, we would get all 5 options as we booked a Haven class stateroom.

Anyways, we'll take our time to decide which one as the Haven stateroom experience will cost us 2K more ... but the opportunity to cruise in a Suite which is still on our cruise bucket list may prove to be too irresistible.

As was already stated it depends on the ship and port. In US ports you will have to leave the ship but all you have to take is your old seapass and passport. So specifically we did oasis in port everglades. They had us meet at 9:45am in one of the bars, we walked off the ship at 10am. We sat in a place in the terminal building separate from everyone else. They gave us the health questionnaire form and gave us our new seapass. When they were ready we stood up they had us turn in the form, a CBP agent looked at our passport for about 2 seconds, and we walked back on the ship at 10:30am. General boarding started around 11:15.

In our case we kept the same room and it was very nice, we didn't do a thing different than any other day, and our stateroom attendant cleaned our room while we were off the ship.

We are finally going to do our first B2B coming up in August.

I am assuming we get all the previous goodies from our profile again that we got

the first week?

Last sunday on allure it wasn't so smooth. We sat at thenschooner bar till 11:15. Escorted off the ship and sat in the terminal for 5 minutes or so. Then was told to walk back on the ship. Did not have to see cpb officer or anything. Could be that cpb did not have enough agents as there was still a line waiting to get through customs for that mornings departure.

As we were waiting and probably walkingoff the ship they were letting the new passengers on board. When we finally got back on the ship there were quiet a lot of passengers on the promenade already.

Thisnwas quiet differnt than the other b2b we did on freedom and indy.

We are finally going to do our first B2B coming up in August.

 

I am assuming we get all the previous goodies from our profile again that we got

the first week?

They are treated as two totally seperate cruises, so you should do. If not...complain!:D

Simon

They are treated as two totally seperate cruises, so you should do. If not...complain!:D

 

Simon

That is what I will do (if needed). Just wondered if anyone had any problems getting

their goodies. I sure don't want to miss my bubbly on ice for sail away on the balcony

for our 2nd leg. ;) :D

As was already stated it depends on the ship and port. In US ports you will have to leave the ship but all you have to take is your old seapass and passport. So specifically we did oasis in port everglades. They had us meet at 9:45am in one of the bars, we walked off the ship at 10am. We sat in a place in the terminal building separate from everyone else. They gave us the health questionnaire form and gave us our new seapass. When they were ready we stood up they had us turn in the form, a CBP agent looked at our passport for about 2 seconds, and we walked back on the ship at 10:30am. General boarding started around 11:15.

 

In our case we kept the same room and it was very nice, we didn't do a thing different than any other day, and our stateroom attendant cleaned our room while we were off the ship.

You don't have to leave the ship in Seward but on the one way from Vancouver, you have already cleared US immigration. We had a full day planned, so we disembarked with the departing passengers and picked up our new Seapasses on the gangway before dinging out with the old ones (some friends who went on a tour said that the passes weren't there later in the morning). We were also given a card that said "In Transit," to show when we returned. I think that those who remained onboard were given a meeting time onboard to get their new cards.

We are changing cabins in the spring on a B2B on Serenade, so will be interested to see how that goes. We're only moving down 2 doors, so if the prior occupants depart early will just move our stuff over.

You don't have to leave the ship in Seward but on the one way from Vancouver, you have already cleared US immigration. We had a full day planned, so we disembarked with the departing passengers and picked up our new Seapasses on the gangway before dinging out with the old ones (some friends who went on a tour said that the passes weren't there later in the morning). We were also given a card that said "In Transit," to show when we returned. I think that those who remained onboard were given a meeting time onboard to get their new cards.

 

We are changing cabins in the spring on a B2B on Serenade, so will be interested to see how that goes. We're only moving down 2 doors, so if the prior occupants depart early will just move our stuff over.

We are doing the opposite. Boarding in Seward, and our turnaround is in Vancouver.

Apparently we don't have to get off the ship at all there, but I think Bucky wants to get

out and explore a bit. Not sure if we then have to wait to board again until the next

cruisers start to board. Have the same cabin, so that should be pretty simple. :)

Our booking is for the 9-night Canada/New England cruise aboard the Anthem next fall followed by the 5-night Bermuda cruise. However I just booked a 7-night Florida/Bahama that departs the day after the Anthem arrives back at Cape Liberty, aboard NCL's Breakaway, which departs from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

 

I would rather cruise to Bermuda aboard the Anthem as opposed to Nassau, Bahamas aboard the Breakaway ... plus it means packing, overnighting at a hotel, then boarding a new ship ... but I just could not pass up the opportunity to book a Haven Spa Suite Balcony and with NCL's current "Free at Sea" promotion, we would get all 5 options as we booked a Haven class stateroom.

 

Anyways, we'll take our time to decide which one as the Haven stateroom experience will cost us 2K more ... but the opportunity to cruise in a Suite which is still on our cruise bucket list may prove to be too irresistible.

Have you found reasonable transportation from Bayonne to a hotel in NYC for the night between the 2 cruises? Thinking about doing the same for 2017 sailing on the Vision. Thanks!

We are doing one out of Rome next year. I'm curious how it will go.

When we did B2B in Sydney we moved cabins. We were told we needed to pack up everything, put new tags on the suitcases and leave them in the cabin. They apologized for having to pack our hanging items. They said there were so many B2B's they could not offer their usual assistance. I believe there were somewhere between 200 and 300 staying on.

If you do choose to leave the ship during the turn around day, do you just walk off with everyone else? And when do you need to be back on board?

Thanks

You wait with other B2B'ers in a lounge with a crew member while the ship is cleared of other passengers, so no, you can't get off with everyone else. I'd imagine you can afterwards though.

We've done one B2B and it was a luxury to have all the ship to just ourselves for the few hours!

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If you do choose to leave the ship during the turn around day, do you just walk off with everyone else? And when do you need to be back on board?

 

Thanks

If you want to get off the ship before the B2B guests, notify Guest Services so they can make arrangements to get you your new SeaPass card. Then you walk off whenever you like, but you cannot re-board until general boarding has started. When you are leaving, confirm the all-aboard time with the security people.

If you want to get off the ship before the B2B guests, notify Guest Services so they can make arrangements to get you your new SeaPass card. Then you walk off whenever you like, but you cannot re-board until general boarding has started. When you are leaving, confirm the all-aboard time with the security people.

Thanks, Bob!

Is there a 'rule of thumb' about when to be back? The ship is scheduled to leave at 5PM (Civitavecchia), so I was thinking about 2:30 - 3PM?