How Does a Back to Back Work?

[KATHYMAC68]

On 6/18/2022 at 3:44 PM, maggie416 said:

On our back to back we didn’t need to leave the ship. We assembled in one of the lounges and customs came there and checked our documents, we were issued a new sea pass card and off to went to an empty ship!

Marg

What ship?

[cruisegirl1]

On 6/18/2022 at 12:02 PM, rolloman said:

I did find out something today which has not been discussed. In my case I am cruising solo for the first leg and then family joining for the second leg.  While going through the booking process (even though I found the same cabin available for both legs) Royal would not allow me to book due to their occupancy requirements. Therefore, I had to book a standard 2-person cabin for the solo portion and then book a triple cabin for leg number 2. Fortunately, I was able to find two cabins literally right next to each other which satisfied the requirement.  Hopefully the people leave early and with coordination with my room steward, I can move my stuff myself. 

During the first  leg, try to see the cabin attendant for the second leg cabin.    If they know a B2B is in there, they will usually try to service that cabin first.  You can't move in till the room is serviced.  They may let you move your suitcases to the closet, but be aware the  room is not secure. 

 

M 

[cruisegirl1]

On 6/18/2022 at 3:44 PM, maggie416 said:

On our back to back we didn’t need to leave the ship. We assembled in one of the lounges and customs came there and checked our documents, we were issued a new sea pass card and off to went to an empty ship!

Marg

That is nice  but not the norm.  Generally as reported, we gather in a room, get new sea pass cards, escorted off, go through customs, escorted back on.  ( Sometime we get the new sea pass cards just after customs so we don't get them mixed up).  Sometimes we have to wait in the terminal for 30-minutes  to  one hour.   Years ago we had an empty ship for an hour or so, but seems the B2B are back on and then general boarding starts right after.  

 

It is nice to be able to get to our cabin at any time.  

 

We find the process is super easy, even if there is a cabin change, The letter does a good job of explaining the process.

 

M

Edited June 20, 2022 by cruisegirl1

[cruisegirl1]

On 6/18/2022 at 4:19 PM, rolloman said:

Do you remember about what time you assembled? I assume the out of the cabin by 8:30 applies to everyone including B to B cruisers

 

Most of the time is about 9AM.  We take the time  after breakfast and prior to the meet up to check out cabins around the ship.  As an example, We wanted a boardwalk cabin with a specific vantage point and walked  in the cabins to look for the cabin that meet our needs.    Then we knew what cabin to book in the future.

 

M

[Merion_Mom]

On 6/13/2022 at 7:13 PM, KATHYMAC68 said:

I have a cruise booked on Adventure in Oct to Canada/New England.

I just saw a 5 night to Bermuda on the same ship right before my CNE.

Do I need another PCR test for the second cruise?

If yes, how do I get that done?

Do I have to take all my luggage off the ship and go through check in again if it’s a different room booked?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

You are getting a lot of "general" information.  You need port-specific information.

 

You are cruising out of Bayonne/Cape Liberty.  My experiences there are roughly 50/50 - stay on ship and be led out into the terminal and back again.  You won't know which you will have until you get that letter in your cabin halfway through the first cruise.

 

The meeting time was either 8 or 8:30.  I am just drawing a blank at this moment.  

[cruisegirl1]

Heads up - I decided to put a few things in my car after the first cruise.  Decided it after lunch.  Getting off to the garage was no issue but  i did get held up in the security line getting back on.  Even though I had nothing to put through security, I still had to wait  my turn in the long lines.  I was in a priority line because of C&A and  accommodation but it  was long and slow.  Once I got through security, i showed  the sea pass I was given earlier and got on the  ship. 

 

M

[cruisegirl1]

2 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

You are getting a lot of "general" information.  You need port-specific information.

 

You are cruising out of Bayonne/Cape Liberty.  My experiences there are roughly 50/50 - stay on ship and be led out into the terminal and back again.  You won't know which you will have until you get that letter in your cabin halfway through the first cruise.

 

The meeting time was either 8 or 8:30.  I am just drawing a blank at this moment.  

MM gives good advise.  So many processes are ship or terminal specific. 

 

The letter will provide you with all the info you need. 

 

m

[brillohead]

3 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Heads up - I decided to put a few things in my car after the first cruise.  Decided it after lunch.  Getting off to the garage was no issue but  i did get held up in the security line getting back on.  Even though I had nothing to put through security, I still had to wait  my turn in the long lines.  I was in a priority line because of C&A and  accommodation but it  was long and slow.  Once I got through security, i showed  the sea pass I was given earlier and got on the  ship. 

 

M

In the future, ask Guest Services for an In Transit Pass.  You'll still have to go through security, but you should be whisked through all the lines with the In Transit Pass.

[cruisegirl1]

4 hours ago, brillohead said:

In the future, ask Guest Services for an In Transit Pass.  You'll still have to go through security, but you should be whisked through all the lines with the In Transit Pass.

Thanks - I had an In-Transit  pass, the problem was general boarding had started and  the  long security Iines.   Even the suite/Pinnace/Key security line was long and slow.     I was hoping the folks in from of me with 3 kids, two strollers, two carry ons,  soda, water etc would see me and let me go before them, but no.  (I never asked).  Once I got in the terminal, of course I did not need to check in, and I was able to find a shorter line  to get back on.   Agents   allowing folks on board seemed perplexed that I had a sea pass card to scan.

 

Last time I did this, I was able to get off just before the B2B group, and  was back in the terminal while the B2B were still  waiting to reboard.  They let me back in the B2B group to get on board. EASY

M

 

[island lady]

8 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Heads up - I decided to put a few things in my car after the first cruise.  Decided it after lunch.  Getting off to the garage was no issue but  i did get held up in the security line getting back on.  Even though I had nothing to put through security, I still had to wait  my turn in the long lines.  I was in a priority line because of C&A and  accommodation but it  was long and slow.  Once I got through security, i showed  the sea pass I was given earlier and got on the  ship. 

 

M

 

In PC on Harmony last November, I left extra set of fresh clothes in the car, and extra bottles of water.  

 

On TAD, I packed a duffle bag in the cabin to take pile of dirty laundry off to leave in vehicle to lessen load for the following week check out.  Nope....Security would not let me off the ship with the duffle bag after our TAD meeting ended.  Still haven't figured that one out.  

 

But we did get off the ship later to retrieve the clean clothes and water....no problem.  Had to wait until general boarding had commenced to come back on board.

[cruisegirl1]

16 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

In PC on Harmony last November, I left extra set of fresh clothes in the car, and extra bottles of water.  

 

On TAD, I packed a duffle bag in the cabin to take pile of dirty laundry off to leave in vehicle to lessen load for the following week check out.  Nope....Security would not let me off the ship with the duffle bag after our TAD meeting ended.  Still haven't figured that one out.  

 

But we did get off the ship later to retrieve the clean clothes and water....no problem.  Had to wait until general boarding had commenced to come back on board.

Seems you can get off  in the morning with general deportation  and wait in the terminal until boarding begins. Once you commit to the turnaround process, you’re pretty much stuck with that.  
 

I’ve gotten off a few times, but last time was the first I’ve gotten off after General boarding has begun 

 

m

Edited June 20, 2022 by cruisegirl1

[island lady]

5 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

You can get off  in the morning with general deportation  and wait in the terminal until boarding begins. Once you commit to the turnaround process, you’re pretty much stuck with that.  
 

m

 

Yup, that was what we were trying to avoid, that wait to get back on board.  Made that mistake in SJ one day.   Ugghh....

 

Was just surprised they would not let me take the duffle bag off later in PC on Harmony.   They were welcome to paw through my dirty laundry to check it if they wanted....guess I should have offered.  😉 

 

Had no problem at all taking off the laundry bag and then back on with clean clothes and water in Tampa.  Go figure.  😉 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 20, 2022 by island lady

[Merion_Mom]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Was just surprised they would not let me take the duffle bag off later in PC on Harmony.   They were welcome to paw through my dirty laundry to check it if they wanted....guess I should have offered.  😉 

 

Had no problem at all taking off the laundry bag and then back on with clean clothes and water in Tampa.  Go figure.  😉 

 

 

 

PC is the only port where I have ever had experienced any "attitude" from port personnel.  Must be something in the water.  😉 

[island lady]

14 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

 

PC is the only port where I have ever had experienced any "attitude" from port personnel.  Must be something in the water.  😉 

 

Good thing I live 20 minutes away from that place then.  😉 

 

Oh wait, used to live in Merritt Island (5 minutes away) for 20 years....oh no...I am doomed!!  😵

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, island lady said:

 

Good thing I live 20 minutes away from that place then.  😉 

 

Oh wait, used to live in Merritt Island (5 minutes away) for 20 years....oh no...I am doomed!!  😵

 

Gotta watch out for those East coast Floridians and that attitude! 🤣

[molly361]

5 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Gotta watch out for those East coast Floridians and that attitude! 🤣

Hey that's me too  

[island lady]

6 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Gotta watch out for those East coast Floridians and that attitude! 🤣

 

Yup, attitude increased when we moved out to "the swamp" 8 years ago.  😁

[somerandomidiot]

13 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

You are getting a lot of "general" information.  You need port-specific information.

 

You are cruising out of Bayonne/Cape Liberty.  My experiences there are roughly 50/50 - stay on ship and be led out into the terminal and back again.  You won't know which you will have until you get that letter in your cabin halfway through the first cruise.

 

The meeting time was either 8 or 8:30.  I am just drawing a blank at this moment.  

Didn't have to get off the ship on Oasis, June 10th. The customs guy was at the meeting point. The letter only had generic information. The meeting time was 8AM but the line didn't move until about 8:45. I assume that was when the customs guy arrived.

[flamingos]

7 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Last time I did this, I was able to get off just before the B2B group, and  was back in the terminal while the B2B were still  waiting to reboard.  They let me back in the B2B group to get on board. EASY

 

That's my question - our B2B is in Copenhagen and we probably want to get off on turnaround days.

[njkruzer]

2 hours ago, flamingos said:

 

That's my question - our B2B is in Copenhagen and we probably want to get off on turnaround days.

Don't know about b3b there but beware if I remember correctly port was nit near the center of town.  Not sure how far it was from a train or bus stop.  I seem to recall a longish taxi ride from our hotel to 5he ship.

[KATHYMAC68]

On 6/15/2022 at 6:03 PM, Rogueperson said:

 

I'm doing the same thing on Adventure in September.  Bermuda first, then Canada/New England!  Also my first B2B

How will you complete the ArriveCan? And when?

[RobInMN]

Just completed a B2B on Jewel in Amsterdam (first B2B). The process for that port/ship was even easier than I've seen described on this forum. No getting off the ship, no meeting in a lounge waiting for a customs officer. No passport check (all though, they did say to have it with us).

Our letter said to be at the theater by 8:45 (no time window), so I was mentally prepared for either case. I was very surprised when all they did was hand us new SeaPass cards and a transfer card (in case we wanted to get off the ship). We then went to a security officer about 5 feet away who scanned us out of the first cruise with our old card and onto the second cruise with our new card. They handed us our cards back, and then we were told we can leave and hang out in any public area. Just to please not go in the cabin halls until the general announcement. And then the lunch anytime between 11:30 & 12:30 (but you could always do WJ if you wanted).

I think they said there was about 160 of us.

[njkruzer]

20 minutes ago, RobInMN said:

Just completed a B2B on Jewel in Amsterdam (first B2B). The process for that port/ship was even easier than I've seen described on this forum. No getting off the ship, no meeting in a lounge waiting for a customs officer. No passport check (all though, they did say to have it with us).

Our letter said to be at the theater by 8:45 (no time window), so I was mentally prepared for either case. I was very surprised when all they did was hand us new SeaPass cards and a transfer card (in case we wanted to get off the ship). We then went to a security officer about 5 feet away who scanned us out of the first cruise with our old card and onto the second cruise with our new card. They handed us our cards back, and then we were told we can leave and hang out in any public area. Just to please not go in the cabin halls until the general announcement. And then the lunch anytime between 11:30 & 12:30 (but you could always do WJ if you wanted).

I think they said there was about 160 of us.

Interesting you couldn't go back to cabins. On our b2bs we were always allowed to go to our cabin.

[OCSC Mike]

6 hours ago, njkruzer said:

Interesting you couldn't go back to cabins. On our b2bs we were always allowed to go to our cabin.

Pretty sure it’s b/c they do some industrial sanitizing in the cabin hallways now. Something akin to fogging them with I’m not sure what.

 

I’m currently on my 1st B2B (just a 3/4-nighter) on Indy & tomorrow is TAD. So far it’s gone smoothly. Received the expected instructions on day 2 to meet in a lounge. Told my cabin attendant on day 1 & he seemed prepared & ready to assist when the time comes as we’re moving cabins.

 

Not expecting any issues but will try to post a quick update tomorrow for those interested. We’re just trying to decide how to spend our short time on an “empty ship”, lol. Sitting by the pool/Solarium seems like a boring idea but not sure there’s much else to do. (Yes I realize this is a good problem b/c we’re not going home).

[flamingos]

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

Told my cabin attendant on day 1 & he seemed prepared & ready to assist when the time comes as we’re moving cabins.

 

We will also be moving cabins, so I'm interested in hearing how this works out.