Back to back cruises

[chops904]

We are doing a back to back cruise inn the same ship will we have to disembark?

[LHT28]

yes if a US port for turn around day

You do not need to pack your bags unless you are moving cabins then the steward will usually help

 

You just need to get off for a shorttime the cruise line will give you instructions a few days before the end of the 1st cruise

[Hlitner]

If you are doing your turn around day in a US port there are some options. You can elect to simply get off the ship in the morning, leave the port, and do as you please. But if you want to stay on the ship (without going to explore the port of do a tour) you will be told to meet at a certain lounge on the ship (usually around 9:30). The group will then be escorted off the ship and clear Passport Control (if it necessary that day) and you will then have to wait in the port terminal in a designated holding area until such time as the ship has been "zeroed out" and released by the US authorities (CBP). Zeroing out means that every passenger has departed the ship and been properly accounted for and that CBP has also completed their crew and other ship clearance procedures. Once all that has happened you will be escorted back onto the ship. The time you are held in the port facility (which is often in an ugly area) varies from about 30 minutes to several hours (this is rare) if CBP has issues. Your cruise line will send you specific information a couple of days before the end of the first leg of your cruise.

 

If you do a back to back in most other countries around the world there is very little hassle. In fact in most European ports it is just like another port day.

 

Hank

Edited February 10, 2015 by Hlitner

[paul929207]

All of our b2b have been outside the US and we have never had to disembark.

[OCruisers]

We are doing a back to back cruise inn the same ship will we have to disembark?

 

Hi! Please tell us at which port you'll be doing your B2B and on which cruise line.

Whatever, it will be easy so don't worry about it. ;)

LuLu

[NMLady]

All of our b2b have been outside the US and we have never had to disembark.

 

That is right but as the other posts stated, in the US you must disembark.

That is because in US the ship must zero down before new passengers can embark.

[travlnblueberries]

For the ones we were on, we met in the atrium they collected our ss cards. They returned the old cards and gave us new ones. If we were staying on the ship, and we always do, we all went with security walked to customs and walked right back on the ship.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

We have done dozens and dozens of back-to-back cruises.

Round trip cruises do require that you go through immigration.

You will get a letter on the last full day of the first cruise explaining where and when to meet.

If your cruise originated in the US, after going through immigration you can not get back on the ship until it gets down to "zero" count -- meaning that all passengers are off the ship.

Only a couple of times in Ft Lauderdale have we been able to stay on the ship as the authorities came on board for our immigration. And that was because there was around 600 of us staying on for the second cruise and there wasn't going to be enough room in the cruise terminal for all us to sit and wait for the signal to get back on the ship.

We have waited anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to get back on the ship.

[osubuckeyemom]

Solo cruiser sailing on Zaandam July-August 2015 Vancouver to Seward and back. Ship arrives Seward 6AM and departs 8PM. Have independently booked 2 activities in Seward last of which should have me back to ship around 5:30-6:00PM. My first back to back as well as first non ship sponsored excursions and guessing southbound sailing like any other be it initial embarkation or just a port day. Be onboard about 2 hours or 1/2 hour respectively prior to sailing. Asking seasoned cruisers if this sounds correct and doable. Plenty of time to cancel if I'm taking a risk.

Thanks

Cathy