Back-to-Back Alaska Cruises

[Radbooks]

Does anyone know if they are allowing people to book back-to-back cruises? I know there was talk at the beginning of the summer that it wouldn't be allowed, but I don't think I ever saw a policy from HAL about it. We're scheduled to go in a couple of weeks on the N. Amsterdam and my mom would love to stay on for another week. 7 days is just so short!

 

Thanks!

[Trawler_Joy]

I booked two consecutive weeks on the Nieuw Amsterdam for the Alaska cruise(s) in September without any trouble though I'm having to move cabins. I'm a solo cruiser, using the first week for "me time," while the second week will be spent assisting my 88 year old dad and four sets of octogenarian aunts/uncles. I expect that remaining aboard at week one's disembarkation will not be allowed, which is okay with me, as I'll likely be wrangling luggage & mobility devices for the family!

Edited July 24, 2021 by Trawler_Joy
Clarification

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, Trawler_Joy said:

I booked two consecutive weeks on the Nieuw Amsterdam for the Alaska cruise(s) in September without any trouble though I'm having to move cabins. I'm a solo cruiser, using the first week for "me time," while the second week will be spent assisting my 88 year old dad and four sets of octogenarian aunts/uncles. I expect that remaining aboard at week one's disembarkation will not be allowed, which is okay with me, as I'll likely be wrangling luggage & mobility devices for the family!

Although procedures may change, in the past you would be escorted off the ship around 10:00 AM and wait in the terminal until all of the ship passengers are certified to be off the ship.  You may then reboard at will after if you wish (around 10:30 AM unless some passengers are delayed.  You will be able to come and go to help your Dad.

 

The Room Stewards in your new room will help you move to your new room as soon as it is vacated.  They will provide a trolley for hangup clothing so not much to pack.  Your new room will locked and you may go back to your former room to wait until the time you were told to pick up your new room key. A nice long breakfast works too.

 

Near the end of your first week, you will receive a letter with all of the instructions.

Edited July 24, 2021 by Crew News

[Sharon in AZ]

Yes much discussion about B2B’s have been posted. I had one scheduled for October 31st and November 7th and was made to cancel one due to CDC regulations that a B2B couldn’t be booked until after November 1st. There have been various reasons given. All I know is that I had to cancel mine, no choice given. Others have them scheduled. It’s one of those situations that if you ask 3 different HAL reps you will get 3 different answers. 

[Trawler_Joy]

24 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Although procedures may change, in the past you would be escorted off the ship around 10:00 AM and wait in the terminal until all of the ship passengers are certified to be off the ship.  You may then reboard at will after if you wish (around 10:30 AM unless some passengers are delayed.  You will be able to come and go to help your Dad.

 

The Room Stewards in your new room will help you move to your new room as soon as it is vacated.  They will provide a trolley for hangup clothing so not much to pack.  Your new room will locked and you may go back to your former room to wait until the time you were told to pick up your new room key. A nice long breakfast works too.

 

Near the end of your first week, you will receive a letter with all of the instructions.

Thanks for that incredibly helpful information!

[Crew News]

1 minute ago, Trawler_Joy said:

Thanks for that incredibly helpful information!

FWIW you will have the same dinner menus for both weeks and will be able to advise/email your second week guests what is for dinner long before they arrive.

 

A few years ago in Alaska I ordered the crab leg appetizer (received two index finger-sized  pieces).  After dinner, I expressed my dissatisfaction with the quantity.  The second week of my B2B, I ordered a different appetizer but my same waiter assured me that I should order the crab legs again but promised more on my plate.  With a huge smile, my waiter set a plate heaped with crab legs on my table and when I asked how many orders, he held up 10 fingers. 

[12cruise2]

We tried to book back-to-back Alaska awhile back; the day I booked them with a TA, I called HA for some other reason and the HA rep said no, the CDC requirements are that before 11/1/21, cruises of more than 7 days could not be set up or offered (as in back-to-back).  If you look at the conditional order of sailing, it specifically states that, but we found our travel agent and other reps at HA were not aware of it.  I believe it's on page 32 of the 42-page conditional order of sailing.  It states the cruise line must "not sail or offer to sail longer than 7 days."

 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/CDC-Conditional-Sail-Order_10_30_2020-p.pdf

[SilvertoGold]

So........ B-Bs are OK out of Seattle (Trawler Joy has this booked) but not out of Florida until Nov 1.  Is this the bottom line?

[JRG]

Boy,  maybe somebody here can explain it.   But it sure would be nice to know if that the CSO is now only a recommendation,   doesn't that mean that the cruiselines,  could,  (void where prohibited), now offer Back to Back cruises,  or is that still a limitation of the 7 day thing which, is only a recommendation.  

 

I've always felt this back to back market has been suppressed by market barriers,  and if those barriers are down then just maybe....

 

Does anybody know the actual status of booking these B2B? as food for thought?

 

Isn't this a good thing for all cruisers?

 

Edited July 24, 2021 by JRG