Back to Back Procedure

[sandav]

We are doing a B2B with Eclipse Transatlantic and the Norwegian Fjords. Can someone tell me how this works. At the moment we have cabins on two different decks so we are unsure how we will change cabin. Also if we leave the ship after the first cruise, I assume we will have to go through security again before we reboard. Will we have to wait then until boarding starts for the second cruise or can we reboard when we wish. I know this question probably has been asked many times but hopefully someone will respond.

Sandra

[Kristal Blade]

You will get help to move between cabins. No need to pack your cases. You put your clothes on their hangers onto a wheeled rack, the room boys will transfer it for you.

There may well be several people doing B2B too so they will hold an info meeting for you and tell you procedures. You will get a transfer pass so you don't need to get in line with the new passengers as they board. You will be told what time you can disembark and reboard, but it is all very easy and you will get an info sheet about it, as well as the meeting. You will be able to reboard as often as you like. You might also be able to take on another couple of bottles of wine, booze is expensive in Norway.

Enjoy your cruise.

[Hlitner]

Since your turn around day is in Europe there will be no problems (it can be a real hassle if a turn around day is in a US port). You will be issued a new cruise card for the 2nd cruise and we have found that the procedure can vary from ship to ship. But you will normally get a notice (in your cabin) about when and where to report to get your new cruise card (for the 2nd cruise). As to changing cabins, most of the work will be done by your steward. We normally leave all of our hanging clothes on hangers and the steward brings a cart to move all those items. We usually put all our other stuff in our luggage and the steward moves the luggage on the same cart as the hanging stuff. In the morning (when you change cabins) we empty our cabin safe and move it directly to the safe in our new cabin. We suggest that sometime in the last few days of your first cruise that you stop at the Guest Relations desk and inquire about the procedure on your ship. But it is very routine for the staff and they always try to make it as painless as possible.

 

As to reboarding, since you already have your new cruise card you can bypass the check-in lines and just walk through to the ship like any port. In some ports they will give you a "Transit" card to show the staff and in others you just bypass the lines and tell anyone who asks that you are reboarding.

 

Hank

[Celebrity Cruises]

We are doing a B2B with Eclipse Transatlantic and the Norwegian Fjords. Can someone tell me how this works. At the moment we have cabins on two different decks so we are unsure how we will change cabin. Also if we leave the ship after the first cruise, I assume we will have to go through security again before we reboard. Will we have to wait then until boarding starts for the second cruise or can we reboard when we wish. I know this question probably has been asked many times but hopefully someone will respond.

Sandra

 

Same Stateroom: Typically, guests on Consecutive Cruises will be booked on the same ship with the same stateroom from one leg to the next. Since they will be occupying the same stateroom number for both legs, the guests are permitted to leave their belongings onboard in the room during the transition from the first sailing to the second. However, the guests must still exit the ship, due to custom regulations.

 

Different Staterooms: Due to availability or preference, some Consecutive Cruise bookings may have a different stateroom from one leg to the next. The process for this situation is slightly different that when the guest has the same stateroom. On the last night of the first sailing, the guests should pack their belongings, but leave them inside their stateroom (they should not leave their luggage outside the stateroom, as the ship advises.) On the morning of debarkation/embarkation they should contact the Guest Relations desk to arrange for housekeeping to move their luggage to the new stateroom they will be occupying.

 

Debarkation/Embarkation Process for all Consecutive Cruise guests:

 

• At the end of the first leg, all guests on Consecutive Cruises will be asked to meet at the Guest Relations desk, or another designated area onboard. They will be escorted off the ship to a meeting place where they will wait until customs clears the ship for general boarding.
  
• The guest's credit card will be charged for their onboard expenses at the end of each leg.
  
• Once the second leg can begin boarding, the guests will be escorted back onboard.
  
• The credit card information for their onboard expense account will be transferred to a new SeaPass card, and a new SeaPass card will be provided to them. The guest's credit card will be charged for their onboard expenses at the end of each leg.
  
• With prior approval from U.S. Customs, it is not necessary for guests to clear Customs until the end of their last cruise. The Manager of Security will request permission from the U.S. Customs Department.
  
• When guests go ashore between cruises, they may not take items that were brought onboard or purchased during any voyages. At the end of the last cruise, guests must clear U.S. Customs at which time every item purchased during all voyages must be declared.
  

[Hlitner]

Celebrity, you are quoting policy for turn-arounds in US ports. The procedure, as you should know, is somewhat different in non-US ports. And when we did a back to back on the Silhouette in Europe we found our steward very helpful and Guest Relations less then helpful. As to changing cabins, we did it so we could do one cruise in Aqua and the other in a regular balcony (best of both worlds for dining). With our turn-around in Civitavecchia, nobody cared what we carried off or on the ship :).

 

Hank

[sandav]

Thanks for the help. I asked about security as we will be going into Southampton on the turn around day. As there will be no security scanners at the top of the ship's gangway as on port days, we will just have to go through the security scanners at the port when we come back. That's what we expected to happen. If we can reboard when we like that will be a bonus but by the time we get back, the ship will be boarding anyway. Also wondered if we could stay with our luggage while it is getting moved and if asking for wire hangers might be the best idea as from what I remember, the whole hanger can't be removed from the closet. As we're moving down two decks also I expect there might be some wait for the elevators as other guests will be leaving the ship. We'll keep an eye out for our first cabin to become available again but if not we're really excited about our first B2B and delaying that day before the end of the cruise feeling when you have to pack up.

Sandra

[chemmo]

We loved doing b2b, so nice going to breakfast last morning cruise one knowing you have lots more fun ahead of you....

 

We were lucky and didn't need to change cabin, so keep your eyes open!

[mamoni]

I checked in online for the first leg of my b2b and ran into some computer issues. I called X and they cleared things up on their end. I asked the rep if I needed to check in for the second leg online and she said no, that they would find me on my first leg and contact me. I'm now second guessing their answer and think I should check in online for the second leg. Does anyone know?

[Northern Aurora]

I checked in online for the first leg of my b2b and ran into some computer issues. I called X and they cleared things up on their end. I asked the rep if I needed to check in for the second leg online and she said no, that they would find me on my first leg and contact me. I'm now second guessing their answer and think I should check in online for the second leg. Does anyone know?

 

We almost always do B2B or B2B2B cruises, and have never checked in on-line for the next leg. We have never had to present a XPass for the next leg. When the disembarkation questionnaire is distributed there is a box to check indicating that you will be continuing on the ship.

[mamoni]

We almost always do B2B or B2B2B cruises, and have never checked in on-line for the next leg. We have never had to present a XPass for the next leg. When the disembarkation questionnaire is distributed there is a box to check indicating that you will be continuing on the ship.

 

Thanks for the info! This is my first B2B so I wasn't quite sure how it worked.