Back2Back cruise in FLL

I have been searching for 5 days on the forum and can not seem to find any information as to what the procedures are for doing a Back2Back in FLL.

We have booked the Eurodam for 14 days doing a Western/Eastern cruise.

Wondering what we must do on turn around day in FLL. Must we get off the ship? Or, do we somehow get cleared on the ship? Or, do we not have to do anything IF we want to stay onboard?

Thank you in advance for the help.:)

I have been searching for 5 days on the forum and can not seem to find any information as to what the procedures are for doing a Back2Back in FLL.

 

We have booked the Eurodam for 14 days doing a Western/Eastern cruise.

 

Wondering what we must do on turn around day in FLL. Must we get off the ship? Or, do we somehow get cleared on the ship? Or, do we not have to do anything IF we want to stay onboard?

 

Thank you in advance for the help.:)

As a veteran of a number of FLL B2B, here is what will happen:

1. You will receive a letter on your last day telling you where to gather on Disembarkation Day aboard ship and to leave all of your luggage in your room.

2. At the gathering location on Disembarkation Day, you will be escorted off of the ship to a waiting area for all B2B'ers.

3. When all of the other passengers have left the ship (ship is "zero'd out"), you will be permitted to return to the ship.

4. Spend the time until the new passenger embark to take lots of pictures without other passengers in the way.

Make sure you let crew members you meet on the first week that you will be returning. You get a smile from them and they will remember you the second week. This is especially true for the PG and bars.

The letter you get on the last full day of the first cruise will give you the time and place to meet -- usually around 9:30.

Be sure to bring your passport with you to go through immigration in the cruise terminal.

We have waited anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours before we got back on the ship. So take a book to read -- just in case. Most times you do not get a lot of time between the time you get back on the ship and the new passengers start to get on.

We did this cruise last year on the Nieuw Amsterdam. We all, except one couple, were at the appropriate spot, did the walk, cruised through emigration showed our passports and were in the waiting area. We waited and waited and waited, about an hour later this older couple came down the stairs. They had been in the Crow's Nest waiting, not sure why, for a personal invitation I guess. They were not pleased when they were booed by the other 700 guests on the b2b.

If you are thinking of buying items in the Ship's Shops, wait until the second week, they offered us a one time discount from 10-20% on jewelry, watches, t-shirts etc. My husband had his eye on a watch, so with the 40% then 15% (which we picked) and no taxes, it was a good price. along with some other items.

Enjoy!

We have had that happen several times where some people thought that they didn't have to get off the ship and go through immigration.

On our B2B in the spring we didn't actually get off the ship . We got the information packet the day before. I think we went to the Queens room. They had the machine there to scan your card, have a seat (they had coffee, tea, pastries). When the count got down to zero we scanned back on from the Queens room. If you had to go to the bathroom you had to sign out and back in. It really worked well I thought. Plenty of seats for everyone.

We did a back to back last year with the turnaround in FLL. Four of us took a taxi to a shopping center near the cruise port that the crew uses. We were off the ship at about 9 AM but it took us about 1/2 hour to clear immigration. We took nothing but passports, room card, credit cards and shopping bags. Some of us just used the time to walk on a steady surface (we had just finished a transatlantic), while others found the Starbucks for coffee and internet time. We lunched at a south Florida deli (food we could not get on the ship) and resupplied at a grocery store, junk food, mixers and soft drinks. It was interesting to watch what the crew was taking back on the ship. We took the crew shuttle back to the ship and were back on board at about 2:00 PM.

We have had that happen several times where some people thought that they didn't have to get off the ship and go through immigration.

We always go through Immigration on our own on b-to-b's and out of a great many of them, never had any problem. It takes them a mere minute if they need to look to check the computer manifest to see we have already cleared. Everyone from CBP personal, Hotel Director, Captain, Security Officer have all told us it is just fine to go on our own as long as we do so within the expected time period.

This is how we always have done b-t0-b's in Port Everglades:

 

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.

There have been times when there were so many b-to-b's that CBP Officials came aboard to clear us and we did not go ashore unless we wished to after we were cleared.

What happens when you have to change rooms for the second leg of the B2B?

What do you do with your luggage (should we pack everything up) and when do you get your new room key?

What happens when you have to change rooms for the second leg of the B2B?

 

What do you do with your luggage (should we pack everything up) and when do you get your new room key?

This was our situation in Alaska 2014 when we got an upsell on our first week and then had to move back to our original room for the second week. Our Room Steward let us know what time to be ready to transfer on Turnaround day. We were told to do limited packing and that a valet cart would be available for hang-up clothes.

With the help of our current Room Stewards, our luggage and hanging clothes were moved to the new room (not yet completely ready) and we proceeded to our designated waiting location (Atrium) to await our escorted disembarkation. We were given our new room cards at that time.

When we returned to the ship and our new room (then completed), we finished unpacking.

What happens when you have to change rooms for the second leg of the B2B?

 

What do you do with your luggage (should we pack everything up) and when do you get your new room key?

Most of the drawers on HAL ships are interchangeable between cabins. Leave your drawers filled and you can transfer the empties from your new cabin back to the old cabin.

The only things you need to 'pack' are those items in your bathroom and on countertops.

All hanging garments can be rolled on a hanging cart like bellhops in hotels use.

Your stewards will help you.

This was our situation in Alaska 2014 when we got an upsell on our first week and then had to move back to our original room for the second week. Our Room Steward let us know what time to be ready to transfer on Turnaround day. We were told to do limited packing and that a valet cart would be available for hang-up clothes.

 

With the help of our current Room Stewards, our luggage and hanging clothes were moved to the new room (not yet completely ready) and we proceeded to our designated waiting location (Atrium) to await our escorted disembarkation. We were given our new room cards at that time.

 

When we returned to the ship and our new room (then completed), we finished unpacking.

Most of the drawers on HAL ships are interchangeable between cabins. Leave your drawers filled and you can transfer the empties from your new cabin back to the old cabin.

 

The only things you need to 'pack' are those items in your bathroom and on countertops.

 

All hanging garments can be rolled on a hanging cart like bellhops in hotels use.

 

Your stewards will help you.

 

Thank you for the info. I'll check with our room stewards during the first leg of the cruise and arrange the times for transfer with them.

The exception would be if you are on a ship with significant Noro Virus issues. You would be required to leave the ship for an extended period of time. Hal will usually arrange some type of tour for you at their expense. This occurred on Veendam this winter on b2b Panama Canal cruises.

On our B2B in the spring we didn't actually get off the ship . We got the information packet the day before. I think we went to the Queens room. They had the machine there to scan your card, have a seat (they had coffee, tea, pastries). When the count got down to zero we scanned back on from the Queens room. If you had to go to the bathroom you had to sign out and back in. It really worked well I thought. Plenty of seats for everyone.

Which ship was this?

The exception would be if you are on a ship with significant Noro Virus issues. You would be required to leave the ship for an extended period of time. Hal will usually arrange some type of tour for you at their expense. This occurred on Veendam this winter on b2b Panama Canal cruises.

This happened to us in San Diego on the Zuiderdam last May. Those who were continuing on to Vancouver had to leave the ship and not return until a designated hour so a deep cleaning could be done. HAL provided a free shuttle to either Horton Plaza or Balboa Park. Of course we were picked up later as well and returned to the ship.

When do you pay your tips on a back to back?

Do you get a GIFT ?

thanks

When do you pay your tips on a back to back?

 

Do you get a GIFT ?

 

thanks

Every time we did b-to-b, we always gave over and above tips at the end of the first segment and again at the end of the second segment. Sometimes crew is leaving or will have different assignments so we never take the chance on missing them and not saying thank you.

When do you pay your tips on a back to back?

 

Do you get a GIFT ?

 

thanks

At the end of the first segment, we give out tips. We have had crew leave at the end of a cruise. We have even had crew leave in the middle of a cruise and all but one time we knew about it and were able to tip them. And then we tip again at the end of the second segment.

The crew do appreciate it when they get their tips at the end of each cruise as they also have to shop for personal items.

We do not give gifts. Their quarters are very tiny and they do not have a lot of space to store gifts. They appreciate money -- for their own spending and to send home.

At the end of the first segment, we give out tips. We have had crew leave at the end of a cruise. We have even had crew leave in the middle of a cruise and all but one time we knew about it and were able to tip them. And then we tip again at the end of the second segment.

Great point and I wouldn't have thought of that. We are on our first b2b this year. I had read about notifying the staff/bartenders but had not carried that to the tip practice. Thanks!

When do you pay your tips on a back to back?

 

Do you get a GIFT ?

 

thanks

I interpreted this as the poster asking if Holland America gives you a gift.

:p

I did back to back cruises on the Nieuw Amsterdam last February. On the first day of the second cruise there was bucket of ice and 2 champagne glasses on the dresser. Two days later a bottle of champagne appeared. There was no note or anything. I just ass/u/me..d it was a gift from the ship for doing back to back cruises. I guess it could have also been a travel agent gift. However, I never asked and really don't know where it came from.

The answer to the question "do you get a gift?" is maybe; but it might depend on the specific ship/hotel manager.

FWIW, recently we have gotten "thank you" gifts (with a note) when doing back to back Carnival cruises.

Interesting - maybe we'll get a little "thank you" ourselves!

ScriptOhio, love that signature. Hoping mine can look like that in what will likely be the far, far, distant future...sigh!

I interpreted this as the poster asking if Holland America gives you a gift.

:p

 

I did back to back cruises on the Nieuw Amsterdam last February. On the first day of the second cruise there was bucket of ice and 2 champagne glasses on the dresser. Two days later a bottle of champagne appeared. There was no note or anything. I just ass/u/me..d it was a gift from the ship for doing back to back cruises. I guess it could have also been a travel agent gift. However, I never asked and really don't know where it came from.

 

The answer to the question "do you get a gift?" is maybe; but it might depend on the specific ship/hotel manager.

 

FWIW, recently we have gotten "thank you" gifts (with a note) when doing back to back Carnival cruises.

We did back-to-back (really called Collectors Cruises) on the Nieuw Amsterdam in November 2013 and again in March/April. Did not get any gifts -- no champagne, etc.

We did back-to-back (really called Collectors Cruises) on the Nieuw Amsterdam in November 2013 and again in March/April. Did not get any gifts -- no champagne, etc.

It's interesting as the best thank you gifts we received for b-to-b/collector's cruises was on Nieuw Amsterdam. :) It was a few years ago and a Thanksgiving cruise but we had complimentary Tamarind Dinner, 'out of the ordinary' cocktail party and I think there was something else. It wasn't necessarily our favorite ship/cruise but we enjoyed the gifts. :)

i like gifts! thank you!