Back to Back Question

We are cruising back to back on the Nieuw Amsterdam in November. We will have a different cabin on the second leg. Can someone tell us how/when we will move our belongings from the first cabin to the second one? Do we have to disembark with our luggage?

They'll move your luggage for you. You have to disembark briefly while the ship is cleared, but that's it.

We are cruising back to back on the Nieuw Amsterdam in November. We will have a different cabin on the second leg. Can someone tell us how/when we will move our belongings from the first cabin to the second one? Do we have to disembark with our luggage?

We changed cabins on our recent B2B in Alaska. Your Room Steward will find out when the occupants of your new cabin will be disembarking (hopefully early) and will give you a time to be ready to move BEFORE you disembark.

You will need to do limited packing since your Room Stewards will have a valet cart to help once your new stateroom is vacated. Hanging clothes can just be hung on the cart. You may even be able to just exchange filled drawers. Once your luggage is moved, pull the door shut. You will pick up your new room keys at the Front Desk.

There will be an announced gathering point for all B2B folks until you are escorted off of the ship with your "in transit" cards (received the day before) in hand to a waiting area in the terminal. When the ship is cleared of all passengers, you will be allowed to return to the gangway. We have always disembared at 10:00 AM and were back on board before 11:00 AM. In Vancouver, we were back on board at 10:15 AM. If your new stateroom is not cleaned when your return, you can grab your camera and wander the nearly vacant ship to take unobstructed photographs.

You need take only your "in transit card" and new room key (Passport too, if you are going to leave the terminal). Take no other luggage unless you want to bring something to read.

We changed cabins on our recent B2B in Alaska. Your Room Steward will find out when the occupants of your new cabin will be disembarking (hopefully early) and will give you a time to be ready to move BEFORE you disembark.

 

You will need to do limited packing since your Room Stewards will have a valet cart to help once your new stateroom is vacated. Hanging clothes can just be hung on the cart. You may even be able to just exchange filled drawers. Once your luggage is moved, pull the door shut. You will pick up your new room keys at the Front Desk.

 

There will be an announced gathering point for all B2B folks until you are escorted off of the ship with your "in transit" cards (received the day before) in hand to a waiting area in the terminal. When the ship is cleared of all passengers, you will be allowed to return to the gangway. We have always disembared at 10:00 AM and were back on board before 11:00 AM. In Vancouver, we were back on board at 10:15 AM. If your new stateroom is not cleaned when your return, you can grab your camera and wander the nearly vacant ship to take unobstructed photographs.

 

You need take only your "in transit card" and new room key (Passport too, if you are going to leave the terminal). Take no other luggage unless you want to bring something to read.

Say.... That's a way better answer than mine. :)

Say.... That's a way better answer than mine. :)

I have had a lot of practice answering that question via email so my response is rather scripted.

We'll see you in December on the NA.

We are going on our first btb in January on the Maasdam. I've been told by friends that we have to get off when we get back to Ft Lauderdale but when I contacted a HAL representative, he said that we didn't even have to get off. From what I've heard, I don't believe HAL.

We are going on our first btb in January on the Maasdam. I've been told by friends that we have to get off when we get back to Ft Lauderdale but when I contacted a HAL representative, he said that we didn't even have to get off. From what I've heard, I don't believe HAL.

I am certain that there are possible exceptions. It will be best to ask at the Front Desk once you are on-board. If you are required to disembark until the ship is "zero'd out) of passengers, at least now you know what to expect.

We have done quite a few Collector Cruises (back-to-back) on many different HAL ships.

Only twice did we not have to get off the ship to go through immigration in Ft. Lauderdale. And that was because there were so many of us -- over 800 on one cruise staying on for the second cruise and the port authorities had no place to "hold" us in the terminal.

The last full day of your first segment, you will get a letter explaining what time to meet and where on the ship. Be certain to that your passport with you. In the letter you will get "Intransit" cards to take ashore with you. Since you are changing cabins, you will also get new ID cards -- take the old ones with you to scan as you get off the ship and the new ones to scan when you get back on the ship.

A warning about Nieuw Amsterdam. If your first segment has Key West on the itinerary, you will go through immigration there as well as the next day when you get to Ft Lauderdale. We had a bad experience last fall. We met at 9:30 -- got off the ship and went through immigration. Finally called at 10 AM to go through immigration. We had to stand in the luggage hold area for disembarking people. There were only about 6 chairs for people to sit down. Finally the last 2 people were escorted off the ship at 10:55. It was a long hour standing on a cement floor. This was at pier 21.

We are going on our first btb in January on the Maasdam. I've been told by friends that we have to get off when we get back to Ft Lauderdale but when I contacted a HAL representative, he said that we didn't even have to get off. From what I've heard, I don't believe HAL.

We, too, have done a great many b-to-b's with turn around in FLL and on rare occasions if there are a great many in transit guests, CBP Officials may come on the ship and clear guests aboard but almost always you will be required to go into the terminal with your passports and be cleared. You will then wait before you can reboard.

Here is what has been our usual experience out of all our b-to-b's:

 

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

 

If you have a different cabin, your stewards will help you move. They will bring a rolling rack for your hanging clothes, drawers are interchangeable between cabins so don't pack up what is in your drawers. You will have to accumulate all your bathroom items and anything on your counters.

 

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.

 

May not be a bad idea to have your TA contact HAL a few days before you leave and ask about the possibility for you to have one cabin for both segments. If that does not work, why don't you ask the front desk if you can stay in the same cabin for the 2nd segment as such a hassle to move, etc. Worst they can say is 'no' so you move as described above.

Sometimes, surprises do happen!

May not be a bad idea to have your TA contact HAL a few days before you leave and ask about the possibility for you to have one cabin for both segments. If that does not work, why don't you ask the front desk if you can stay in the same cabin for the 2nd segment as such a hassle to move, etc. Worst they can say is 'no' so you move as described above.

 

Sometimes, surprises do happen!

Never hurts to ask. Give it a try. :)

May not be a bad idea to have your TA contact HAL a few days before you leave and ask about the possibility for you to have one cabin for both segments. If that does not work, why don't you ask the front desk if you can stay in the same cabin for the 2nd segment as such a hassle to move, etc. Worst they can say is 'no' so you move as described above.

 

Sometimes, surprises do happen!

Waiting to a few days before the cruise -- I doubt if that would work. By then HAL will have the cabins filled.

OP's TA should have worked on this when the booking was made.

I know that if we were suddenly asked to change cabins just a few days before a cruise to maybe a cabin we wouldn't like, I would be very unhappy.

Waiting to a few days before the cruise -- I doubt if that would work. By then HAL will have the cabins filled.

OP's TA should have worked on this when the booking was made.

I know that if we were suddenly asked to change cabins just a few days before a cruise to maybe a cabin we wouldn't like, I would be very unhappy.

Asking would be one thing but it seems to me they are being told !

I most assuredly would not like that.

Where is TA and why isn't she 'working' on this?

Thank you all for the wonderful information! I had no idea that there would be a rack for moving our hanging items -- and that drawers could be interchanged! Great news!

We booked our back to back at different times. We originally planned on just going on the first segment, with our son and his fiancée. Some time later we decided to do the second segment and, by that time, our original cabin was booked for the second part.

Again, thank you all for taking the time to answer!

Thank you for coming back and explaining that you had booked the 2 cruises at different times.

Now we understand the situation.