Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Back to back cruise question

drcandon

By drcandon,
in Holland America Line

 Share

Recommended Posts

drcandon

drcandon

Posted
Posted

Hi Folks..

 

This is the first time we have done back to back on HAL (or any cruise line). I have a question of what happens when you return to port to go out again on the second leg ( specifically Ft. Lauderdale). I have conflicting info from other cruisers - some say you have to get off the ship and go in a holding area, others say they have a holding area on board that you just go to and wait for port clearance...For those who have done a BtoB at Ft. Lauderdale..which is it???..We are on an upcoming Nieuw Amsterdam cruise..thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CruiserBruce

CruiserBruce

Posted
Posted

Agree. In the past, going to a holding area ashore was common. Have heard more cases recently of the immigration issues being handled on board.

 

In either case, you will receive a set of written instructions a few days before your turnaround day arrives.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
iflyrc5

iflyrc5

Posted
Posted
Agree. In the past, going to a holding area ashore was common. Have heard more cases recently of the immigration issues being handled on board.

 

In either case, you will receive a set of written instructions a few days before your turnaround day arrives.

 

I agree. I the past we had to get off. We did a B2B2B2B last year. Twice we did it in the show room but on one turn around we had to get off while they did a deep cleaning of the ship because of Noro.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rkacruiser

rkacruiser

Posted
Posted

Off the Nieuw Amsterdam on January 18th after sailing on the 2 previous cruises. On January 6th, the turn around day (and before the Fort Lauderdale airport shooter incident), we were able to stay aboard and clear whatever on the ship. On other b2b sailings, I have had to get off and get cleared in the terminal.

 

It is all dependent on Customs/Immigration as to what they want to do and maybe on the number of ships in port that day. On January 6th, only Caribbean Princess was in port with us and there were at least 6 agents in the room on the Nieuw Amsterdam where we were cleared.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Silverback969

Silverback969

Posted
Posted

I've done several BTBs, both on Holland America, and another similar line, not in the CCL family. of ships. On all of those B2Bs, there was a holding area ashore. We were escorted, as a group, through customs, to a holding area for a short while (more than 5 minutes, less than 20 - 25, then shepherded back onto the ship. We had the entire ship to ourselves for the better part of 2 hours before the next cruisers were processed aboard. As the others indicated, YMMV, depending pretty much entirely on what Customs and Immigration prefer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ski ww Holiday Sharing Rare

ski ww

Posted
Posted

We did New Years b2B2B on the Eurodam We did not have to get off. We reported to the Main Show room & Customs checked us there. As others said you we get a letter to your cabin the night before explaining the procedure. What was new was that we did not have to attend the muster drill for the next two segments. That's the first time that happened.

Allan

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Krazy Kruizers

Krazy Kruizers

Posted
Posted

We have done quite a few back-to-back / Collector Cruises.

Sometimes we have had to get off the ship and sometimes we met in the show lounge. It all depends on the authority and/or how many people are staying over for another cruise.

You will get a letter the day before explaining what will happen on turn around day.

You will need to take your passport with you.

Several times when we had to get off the ship, we were in the terminal for 1 1/2 hours. There are some people who just can't follow directions and no one is allowed back on the ship until it is down to zero count. This has happened in Ft Lauderdale, Tampa and San Diego.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jobinhume

jobinhume

Posted
Posted

I'm in a similar situation for the first time, so I appreciate the tips. With regard to the holding area, I assume that it's OK for us to get off the ship with those disembarking, head out for the day and come back at the same time as those who are embarking. Is that true, can we handle being cleared that way or do we need to wait in this holding area before we head out to the town

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CruiserBruce

CruiserBruce

Posted
Posted
I'm in a similar situation for the first time, so I appreciate the tips. With regard to the holding area, I assume that it's OK for us to get off the ship with those disembarking, head out for the day and come back at the same time as those who are embarking. Is that true, can we handle being cleared that way or do we need to wait in this holding area before we head out to the town

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

You may leave with the disembarking pax, or even take an excursion, if you wish. Again, all explained in the paperwork that will be given to you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 11 months later...
sail7seas

sail7seas

Posted
Posted
All of your responses dealt with US back-to-back. Anyone been on an overseas BTB? We will be doing it in October in Barcelona on the Oosterdam?

 

 

We did a great many b-to-b and when we turned around in FLL< we got off ship on our own, and waited until all could reboard , then if we wished to go out and ab ogt in FLL< we left when '

back ab oard persmission was grantted. When we returned, we had our 'in transit cards and passports, and went back aboard.

 

Immigration officicials always said that was fine and we had no problem as long as we were prompt about leaving the ship when they wanted the b-to-b-s off. which we always were.

 

We understood the need to zero the ship down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cruise4food

Cruise4food

Posted
Posted
I'm in a similar situation for the first time, so I appreciate the tips. With regard to the holding area, I assume that it's OK for us to get off the ship with those disembarking, head out for the day and come back at the same time as those who are embarking. Is that true, can we handle being cleared that way or do we need to wait in this holding area before we head out to the town

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

 

 

Both times when I did B2B in Boston, they gave an in-transit badge to use in the terminal. You can re-board thru the same security section as the crew. As I hesitantly approached the security area after returning from Faneuil Hall I heard my name called by the cruise director, who was also returning from a break off the ship. She said “Follow me” and needless to say, there was no delay at all.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites
boards Holiday Sharing Rare

boards

Posted
Posted
We did a great many b-to-b and when we turned around in FLL< we got off ship on our own, and waited until all could reboard , then if we wished to go out and ab ogt in FLL< we left when '

back ab oard persmission was grantted. When we returned, we had our 'in transit cards and passports, and went back aboard.

 

Immigration officicials always said that was fine and we had no problem as long as we were prompt about leaving the ship when they wanted the b-to-b-s off. which we always were.

 

We understood the need to zero the ship down.

You didn,t answer the question about an international BTOB cruise? We are doing one in Rome, what happens there?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CruiserBruce

CruiserBruce

Posted
Posted
You didn,t answer the question about an international BTOB cruise? We are doing one in Rome, what happens there?

 

Foreign turn around ports are treated like any port day...no special process. On our last turn around in Rome, we were directed to use the crew's gangway, so we didn't have to go through the masses trying to checkin and get on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

Posted
Posted

We\ve done B2B's in several European ports and they are a breeze.

 

The only exception we've seen is if you are coming from certain ports and hitting the U.K. We arrived from the Baltics and had to do immigration in the U.K on the P'dam. We were warned so it was no surprise. We didn't have to 'zero down" as they do in FLL, but everyone had to go through in Tilbury. No biggie - I had discovered a little town with a ferry ride that was where Pocahontas was buried - the customs people even showed us the invisible path to the ferry.

 

Europe is a breeze even if you do have immigration - which is rare - nothing like FLL.

 

Everyone is basically cleared before we disembark so if they need to go through the motions, although they are alert, it is a non issue and non confrontational.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...