B2B info

[suewheldon]

We will be on our first B2B June 4 and 11 and wondered what’s the procedure for changeover day (June 11). We have the same cabin. 

[uktog]

You will be invited to a meeting a day or so before turn around day. Everything will be explained saying because it slightly varies from Port to Port. However in essence you will be given a time to meet to go to the gangway and punch out your old key card and authenticate your new cruise card which was sent to your room earlier. You are free to go ashore and explore. If you want to leave earlier than the meeting time to swap cards you usually can. 
As you are in the same room you won’t have to attend muster drill on your second cruise. 

[laurieb]

You'll receive a letter in your cabin with a time and date for a b2b meeting, where you'll be informed of the procedures which are very easy.  You'll be able to purchase a bev package if you're planning to.  You don't need to disembark between cruises, but will need to take your old and new key card to the security check to check out and check back in.

[lisiamc]

8 minutes ago, uktog said:

You will be invited to a meeting a day or so before turn around day. Everything will be explained saying because it slightly varies from Port to Port. However in essence you will be given a time to meet to go to the gangway and punch out your old key card and authenticate your new cruise card which was sent to your room earlier. You are free to go ashore and explore. If you want to leave earlier than the meeting time to swap cards you usually can. 
As you are in the same room you won’t have to attend muster drill on your second cruise. 

That’s good news! Is that a new (or new-ish) policy? We’ve always had to attend all muster drills, whether b2b or b2b2b, although the last time was pre-Covid by a year or so.

[suewheldon]

Thanks. Our turnaround SHOULD have been Venice which would have given us a day to get off and wander around. Not sure what we will do with our time in Ravenna. 

[AJCM]

On changeover day do your laundry; get specialty restaurant bookings done before guests arrive and generally just enjoy the feeling of how fortunate you are to enoy B2B

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, suewheldon said:

Thanks. Our turnaround SHOULD have been Venice which would have given us a day to get off and wander around. Not sure what we will do with our time in Ravenna. 

A turnaround day in Venice could barely scratch the surface.  A turnaround day in Ravenna is plenty to see the most amazing mosaics:

https://mandalameadow.com/ravenna-mosaics/

 

[AJCM]

Sue

 

Be warned - there’s no going back. Once you’ve done a B2B you’ll probably find that every trip you start planning in the future, you’ll go straight to B2B alternatives. 

[Baynanno1]

3 hours ago, lisiamc said:

That’s good news! Is that a new (or new-ish) policy? We’ve always had to attend all muster drills, whether b2b or b2b2b, although the last time was pre-Covid by a year or so.

 

Staying in the same stateroom for B2B the second muster drill attendance was not required on our cruises in 2019.

 

If one changed staterooms, attendance was required at another muster drill.

[laurieb]

14 minutes ago, Baynanno1 said:

 

Staying in the same stateroom for B2B the second muster drill attendance was not required on our cruises in 2019.

 

If one changed staterooms, attendance was required at another muster drill.

Yes, either rooms, or it may if you have a different muster station, if you do change cabins.

[PirateWife]

Did B2B in November. Did not do muster drill/video a second time. It was our first B2B but that is all we want to do now. No more 7 to 10 day cruises. Too short. It is very relaxing knowing you don't have to pack up the night before, you can eat a leisurely breakfast while everyone else is hurrying and spend a day in the port with no plan. On two of our cruises there have been ship shore excursions we could take and return to the ship. The best part after a day in Lisbon on our November cruise was walking around all of the people waiting to test and embark and go right on ship.

[excitedofharpenden]

8 hours ago, suewheldon said:

Thanks. Our turnaround SHOULD have been Venice which would have given us a day to get off and wander around. Not sure what we will do with our time in Ravenna. 

Go and see the mosaics. They are stunning. 

 

https://www.tripsavvy.com/ravenna-travel-guide-1547793

 

Phil 

[Mrs Miggins]

We loved Ravenna  We saw the mosaics, had a lovely lunch, and enjoyed wonderful gelato in the stunning indoor market.  Information was lacking on board but a map and information was available from the Trumpy Tours guide onboard our shuttle bus.

[jcbc522]

We are on the Onward B2B turnaround day today.  Yesterday at 5:15 we had a meeting in the Cabaret Lounge with champagne/juice and hors d'oevres.  Short meeting with B2B info.  No testing needed.  We stayed in the same cabin.  This morning we were asked to go to Mosaic and wait to be called.  We were given our new keys and went down to 4 and gave them our old keys and got our photo taken for the new keys.  So easy.  We were in Ravenna yesterday and today.  Azamara provided complimentary bus transportation into and back from Ravenna both days.  You were free to leave the ship today anytime.  There is a beach close to the ship that looks nice, however, the port is all fenced in so it appears to be quite walk to get there.  It was nice to have the ship to ourselves for a few hours.  They served a nice lunch for the B2B guests.  We went into Ravenna yesterday not realizing that we could have gone in today instead.  We talked with a few people who went to San Marino yesterday and said that it was quite a nice excursion.  Not sure how many overnights are on the schedule for Ravenna, but that it the experience this cruise.  On to Athens!  This is our first time on Azamara and loving CD Eric DeGray and Caption Carl Smith.  

[suewheldon]

17 hours ago, AJCM said:

Sue

 

Be warned - there’s no going back. Once you’ve done a B2B you’ll probably find that every trip you start planning in the future, you’ll go straight to B2B alternatives. 

We have taken mostly 14 day cruises (have to make the journey worth it!) but couldn’t find any when we booked last year.  Hence the B2B. 

[Kitekat]

As an aside to the actual process, if you chose a wine package with more bottles than your first cruise you will be able to carry the remainder over onto your next cruise too. This can be a way of making good savings on the wine packages. Talk to one of your sommeliers

[mjwaruba]

We will be changing rooms between the 1st and 2nd leg.  Do the stewards move your things? We have usually stayed in same cabin.  We are in the same room on the 3rd leg.  It would be great if cruise line provided transport to and from Civitavecchia and Rome.  I'd love to see the Colosseum again the the lower level that they have opened up.

[Kitekat]

They will move your hanging clothes and your suitcases but you need to put your stuff from the bathroom and drawers into your cases. We were able to make our move really early as the next cabin was cleaned first and it was literally next door! But the stewards were very helpful.

[mjwaruba]

3 hours ago, Kitekat said:

They will move your hanging clothes and your suitcases but you need to put your stuff from the bathroom and drawers into your cases. We were able to make our move really early as the next cabin was cleaned first and it was literally next door! But the stewards were very helpful.

Thank you.