Back to Back

[greenlakesteve]

Looking to book a B2B and possibly a B2B2B in the fall of 2016 or 2017. Does Celebrity offer any discounts for doing this?

[wendychloecruiser]

No.

[jakejraj]

But the reboarding process is easy [emoji41]

[M&M Hayden]

But the reboarding process is easy [emoji41]

 

Not always. Depends on personnel (both port and ship) and port. We have had to wait and then watch as others start boarding before we are allowed back on. Why? Don't know. No one knew. Some ships/ports you don't even have to get off the ship, but again, I think that really depends on the port personnel.

[Hlitner]

The back to back process depends on where you have the turn around day. If it is a USA port then there are some hassles because of the US authorities. The US CBP requires ships to be "zeroed out" before any passengers can board (or reboard) which means all the back-to-back passengers (even infants) must get off the ship. They have the option to either leave the port (and return later in the day to reboard) or to wait in a "holding area" inside the terminal until the ship is "zeroed out" and cleared by the authorities. At that point they can reboard. The process might only take 30 minutes, but it can also take several hours if there are issues with the authorities. If you are in other parts of the world (such as Europe or Asia) there are no such requirements and you do not have to even leave the ship. Another Celebrity "hassle" is that on back to backs you have to report to a specific location to get a new cruise card. On some other lines (such as HAL) they will give you one cruise card that is good for the entire cruise.

 

Hank

[jakejraj]

On our b2b on Silhouette in December with a re board in Ft Lauderdale, the process was very orderly and well done. Mid morning we assembled in a small section of the MDR. Nice continental breakfast. We received our new Seapass at that time. Our group was escorted off the ship to the terminal. Waited there for 5 minutes and went right back on the ship. We were back on the ship by 11:30 am. While I am sure that snafus can and do occur, Celebrity handled our b2b extremely well.

[gold1953]

In Barcelona we were given our new cards the day before and had a choice for the change over day. We met in a conference room for instructions. They asked for one person from each cabin but many showed up in pairs . The room was far to small to fit everyone in.. I mean they couldn't get in the door . Many were complaining loudly!! What a mess!!

 

1.. we could stay onboard and go as a group through the system and sign new 'health forms' , get new pictures and embark

2. Leave early morning and return after embarking of the new cruise began.

 

We went out to Barcelona for the day and when we returned and got to the counter it was a mess!! They took our new cards from us saying they could not be for this cruise. We were at the counter for quite a while as shore staff didn't know hat was going on... Anyway we had a great day on shore.

[chemmo]

We did a b2b from Miami, also very smooth. Loved last night of first cruise when everyone else was going to put their suitcases out......

 

Do try and book the same room it does make life very easy

[judatt]

We have booked our first B2B - sailing on the Solstice next year. We leave Singapore and sail to Sydney. Then staying on for a cruise around New Zealand ending up back in Sydney. We did book the same cabin and were told we wouldn't need to do anything with our "stuff" but there would be some procedures we would need to go through when the cruise changed over in Sydney. Looking forward to being on the ship for almost a month!

[Keith1010]

We have booked our first B2B - sailing on the Solstice next year. We leave Singapore and sail to Sydney. Then staying on for a cruise around New Zealand ending up back in Sydney. We did book the same cabin and were told we wouldn't need to do anything with our "stuff" but there would be some procedures we would need to go through when the cruise changed over in Sydney. Looking forward to being on the ship for almost a month!

 

It will really be easy.

 

Unlike in the USA, the day you are in transit (in transit is when you continue to the next cruise) it will pretty much be like any port day when you can come and go as you please.

 

Keith

[TULIP9]

What is the b2b procedure like at San Juan? We will be doing this on Summit in December.

[Northern Aurora]

Since we fly to every cruise embarkation port we almost always do B2B or B2B2B cruises. Just seems a more efficient use of the air fare.

 

The lowest number of B2B passengers between legs we've experienced as been 12 with the maximum number last spring on a B2B2B series when over 500 passengers were on both the second and third legs of that series.

 

While the procedures on turnaround day can vary greatly we've never had a difficult experience. When you receive your turnaround day instruction letter just contact Guest Relations if there are any questions. And remember that each cruise is separate for accounting purposes, so such items as unused internet minutes will not carry over to the next leg.

[judatt]

Since we fly to every cruise embarkation port we almost always do B2B or B2B2B cruises. Just seems a more efficient use of the air fare.

 

The lowest number of B2B passengers between legs we've experienced as been 12 with the maximum number last spring on a B2B2B series when over 500 passengers were on both the second and third legs of that series.

 

While the procedures on turnaround day can vary greatly we've never had a difficult experience. When you receive your turnaround day instruction letter just contact Guest Relations if there are any questions. And remember that each cruise is separate for accounting purposes, so such items as unused internet minutes will not carry over to the next leg.

 

Your comment about internet minutes triggered a thought that I think I know the answer to but wanted to check. Since we are elite and normally get a "sack" of laundry each cruise, I'm assuming on the second leg we'll get a second "sack" each. This would be very helpful. Thanks!

[If only]

What is the b2b procedure like at San Juan? We will be doing this on Summit in December.

 

You will meet in a room then be escorted off the ship clear immigration & you will go back on as a group, get your picture taken with your new card but you will not be able to go back to your room until the normal time of 1pm. You can also go off with the group then go into San Juan & return to the specific desk to get your new card. At least that is what happened to us.

Edited August 26, 2015 by If only

[cb140]

In Barcelona we were given our new cards the day before and had a choice for the change over day. We met in a conference room for instructions. They asked for one person from each cabin but many showed up in pairs . The room was far to small to fit everyone in.. I mean they couldn't get in the door . Many were complaining loudly!! What a mess!!

 

1.. we could stay onboard and go as a group through the system and sign new 'health forms' , get new pictures and embark

2. Leave early morning and return after embarking of the new cruise began.

 

We went out to Barcelona for the day and when we returned and got to the counter it was a mess!! They took our new cards from us saying they could not be for this cruise. We were at the counter for quite a while as shore staff didn't know hat was going on... Anyway we had a great day on shore.

 

Wow, that does sound messed up. I've done loads of B2Bs both in Europe and the US, and I don't recall ever having to have my photo retaken or having to sign a new health form. Definitely in the US you have to get off and get on again (although hopefully its a straightforward "in and out", we did have to hang around in the terminal in FLL one time - it was Christmas Day, so it might have been that they were short staffed. It was only for an hour, but it was a bit annoying, because those few hours without any new passengers are precious on a B2B). I have a feeling that in Europe we didn't even have to get off and on (although I may be mistaken).

[Northern Aurora]

Your comment about internet minutes triggered a thought that I think I know the answer to but wanted to check. Since we are elite and normally get a "sack" of laundry each cruise, I'm assuming on the second leg we'll get a second "sack" each. This would be very helpful. Thanks!

 

You will receive another set of elite coupons for the second leg, along with another tote bag. Fresh robes will also be delivered.

[bubbachief]

We've done a B2B before but stayed in the same cabin. This time we need to switch cabins. How does the process work? Do the room stewards move our stuff, do we need to pack every thing or do they take stuff on hangers? When do they make the switch? We plan to go off ship in San Juan and rent a car since we don't leave until 8:30 that night. I'm trying to figure out how long the moving might take so we can plan our day.

[fleckle]

What is the b2b procedure like at San Juan? We will be doing this on Summit in December.

Early in the cruise you will receive a departure form to fill out asking for your departure plans.

All you need to do is check the box stating that you will be remaining on the ship for the next cruise, and return the form to them.

They usually provide a box for dropping it off down at Guest Relations.

 

Then a day or two before the first cruise ends, you will receive a packet with instructions for the turnaround day procedures.

The envelope may or may not contain your seapass card for the next cruise.

(Either way, no problem.)

 

 

When we did it last year, they did not give us the new seapass cards until the turnaround day, but previously we had received them earlier.

 

If you plan to leave the ship and go off to do your own thing in port that day, you are free to leave in the morning along with the departing passengers at any time once the ship has been cleared.

 

If you do that, they will give you your new seapass card when you return to the ship later in the day, and you "ding" back in with that one.

 

 

But if you plan to remain on the ship on the turnaround day, they ask you to meet with the other remaining B2B passengers that morning in one of the lounges at a set time, usually between 9 and 10.

 

Then after all the departing passengers have left the ship, they escort the remaining B2B passengers off together as a group and you "ding" out with your old seapass cards to zero down the passenger count.

 

It is just easier and more efficient for them to have the remaining passengers meet together in one place and process us all as a group instead of trying to round up stragglers who may be scattered anywhere around the ship.

 

 

The whole process typically goes quickly, usually maybe about 10 - 20 minutes from leaving the ship to getting back on, depending on how many B2B passengers they have that day.

 

The exception for us at San Juan occurred once when they could not locate some passengers who had failed to check out, so they could not zero down the count and we were held in the terminal for nearly an hour that day until they resolved the problem.

 

 

We've done a B2B before but stayed in the same cabin. This time we need to switch cabins. How does the process work? Do the room stewards move our stuff, do we need to pack every thing or do they take stuff on hangers? When do they make the switch? We plan to go off ship in San Juan and rent a car since we don't leave until 8:30 that night. I'm trying to figure out how long the moving might take so we can plan our day.

We find it helpful to notify both the old and new stateroom attendants in advance.

We ask the new stateroom attendant to call us that morning to let us know as soon as the previous occupants vacate the cabin so that we can remove our contents from the safe and lock it all up in the safe of the new cabin.

 

It is easiest to leave clothing on hangers and have it moved that way, so all you need to pack up is the loose stuff. They bring around a hotel type luggage cart with a hanging rod across the top.

 

We find it helpful to dump the contents of each drawer or shelf into a separate plastic bag, and put all the plastic bags into the suitcases.

 

That way it keeps everything together that we like to have together, and we just unload each plastic bag directly to the corresponding drawer or shelf in the next cabin.

(Although it is easier when moving from a regular cabin to a suite than vice-versa.:D )

 

The stateroom attendants will move everything for you and you don't need to be there at the time.

When possible, we prefer to be there to do a last minute check to make sure nothing has been left behind, just as we do when checking out of a hotel room.

 

But if you are going off for the day, it should not be a problem if you have everything packed up (except for the stuff on hangers) so there are no loose items lying around.

 

Edited August 27, 2015 by fleckle

[TULIP9]

fleckle

Thanks for that information. Very useful. I hope it will not be more complicated as we are British?? One further question you can help with, will we have to go through the safety drill on the second cruise?

[chemmo]

New cruise, new drill.

[Hlitner]

fleckle

Thanks for that information. Very useful. I hope it will not be more complicated as we are British?? One further question you can help with, will we have to go through the safety drill on the second cruise?

 

Once upon a time many cruise lines would excuse passengers from subsequent drills on back-to-backs. But since the Costa Concordia disaster, the cruise lines have tightened-up their procedures. The result is that Celebrity and most lines now require that everyone attend each safety drill. On Celebrity the drills are normally held in various public lounges where you watch a short video and get the usual lecture on procedures.

 

Hank

[TULIP9]

Once upon a time many cruise lines would excuse passengers from subsequent drills on back-to-backs. But since the Costa Concordia disaster, the cruise lines have tightened-up their procedures. The result is that Celebrity and most lines now require that everyone attend each safety drill. On Celebrity the drills are normally held in various public lounges where you watch a short video and get the usual lecture on procedures.

 

Hank

 

Thanks for that. Oh well I suppose itsone of those things we have to put up with for Health and safety

[winnipegmanitoba]

What is the b2b procedure like at San Juan? We will be doing this on Summit in December.

 

Which sailings will you be on? We will be doing B2B2B on Summit from Dec. 5 to 26. You should join the roll calls for your sailings.

[Snit13]

We've done a B2B before but stayed in the same cabin. This time we need to switch cabins. How does the process work? Do the room stewards move our stuff, do we need to pack every thing or do they take stuff on hangers? When do they make the switch? We plan to go off ship in San Juan and rent a car since we don't leave until 8:30 that night. I'm trying to figure out how long the moving might take so we can plan our day.

 

We will be B2B in Feb. 2016 and the cabin from 1st cruise was not abailable for 2nd cruise so we were going to have to switch cabins. The day before yesterday I checked for price drop and the cabin from cruise was available for second cruise. I quickly called Captain's Club and had reservation changed so now we do not have to switch. If you are not upgrading cabins, I suggest you monitor the cruises and maybe you too will be lucky and snag the same cabin for both cruises. When we did B2B on Shilouette we had to exit ship as a group, walk to terminal, show our passports to someone and turn around and immediately walk back to ship. I imagine it differs from port to port and ship to ship. No big deal if you read and follow their directions.

[varoo]

A question for those who do multiple consecutive back-to-back cruises:

 

How does the extra $50 back-to-back bonus work?

For example, if you do 6 consecutive cruises back-to-back

 

Di you get $50 five times?

(for connecting cruises 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4, 4 and 5, 5 and 6?)

 

Or do you only get the $50 three times?

(for connecting 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6?)

 

TIA