HELP, Just Booked a B2B

[LB_NJ]

We never did a B2B before.

 

What should we know?  Every bit of info would be appreciated.

 

It is on the Celebrity Constellation.  We couldn't get the same cabin.

[Northern Aurora]

There is a small discount for B2B cruises so make sure the reservations are linked.  

 

Not having the same stateroom is not a problem.  Your stateroom attendants will move your items on hangers and your luggage.  You will need to pack the items in drawers and will also be responsible for items in your stateroom safe.  There will be a succinct instruction letter delivered prior to turnaround day and likely a meeting for B2B passengers also prior to turnaround day.  The turnaround day process (ie, where you will receive your new sea pass cards) will be outlined.

 

Be aware that Celebrity handles each leg of a B2B  as separate cruises.  Any non-refundable OBC will not be moved over to the second leg.

 

B2B passengers are invited to the concierge embarkation lunch.

 

You will not be the only B2B passenger, and staff are well aware of the process.  It will be go smoothly.

[canderson]

First, you'll have help moving your stuff.  You'll pack your bags, but everything on hangers will move as they are.

Second, there will be a meeting before the 'turn' for all B2B cruisers explaining the entire process, so never fear, you'll be well informed.

If the 2nd part of your itinerary requires COVID testing other than what you may have already done for your cruise, Celebrity will take care of that for you as well.

The actual process varies slightly by ship, but depending on your 'turn' port, you may be escorted off the ship, smile at the customs man, and turn right back around and reboard -- or sometimes, the formalities MAY be done shipboard.

You'll get a brand new key card since your card is tied to each of the two separate folios for your trip.

You need to use up ALL of your non-refundable OBC for the first leg ON the first leg.  Unused OBC goes away at the end of the first 'cruise', just like it would for a non B2B situation.

 

 

[Northern Aurora]

Neither I nor "canderson" addressed the transit pass issue.  A transit pass included in your turnaround day info packet.  If folks choose to leave the ship for the day the transit pass will allow B2B passengers to avoid the sometimes long lines of embarking passengers.

[Essiesmom]

Where are your cruises sailing from?  It it from Tampa, or in the Mediterranean next year?  Things are slightly different in Europe.  Also, keep checking to see if one of your cabins opens up so you won’t have to change cabins.  EM

[Lastdance]

1 hour ago, Essiesmom said:

Where are your cruises sailing from?  It it from Tampa, or in the Mediterranean next year?  Things are slightly different in Europe.  Also, keep checking to see if one of your cabins opens up so you won’t have to change cabins.  EM

What is the difference for Europe, especially Civi? 

[Essiesmom]

23 minutes ago, Lastdance said:

What is the difference for Europe, especially Civi? 

If sailing from the US, the ship is required to zero down in the turnaround port, which is why you have to go through immigration, sometimes getting off the ship.  In Europe it is treated as just another port call.  EM

[CHEZMARYLOU]

24 minutes ago, Lastdance said:

What is the difference for Europe, especially Civi? 

In Europe you don't typically need to disembark on turn around day vs a B2B sailing from the US.

[Arizona Wildcat]

And the rules on B2B are changing today often

[LB_NJ]

6 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Where are your cruises sailing from?  It it from Tampa, or in the Mediterranean next year?  Things are slightly different in Europe.  Also, keep checking to see if one of your cabins opens up so you won’t have to change cabins.  EM

 

TAMPA

[Northern Aurora]

I've never even been to Tampa let along boarded a cruise ship there.  But, if you want to leave the ship on turnaround day you will leave the ship before the gangway is closed.  It will be closed for about 1.5 to 2 hours as the departing passengers have left and before the embarking passengers start boarding.  

 

If you want to remain on the ship then you will meet with the documentation officer, be escorted off the ship, and ring out through Security.  Once the ship reaches a zero count the B2B passengers will then line up and again pass through Security.  You will be free to enjoy a nearly empty Cafe al Bacio or do whatever.

 

All of this will be covered in the succinct instruction letter.   Some passengers have posted copies of the B2B letter on Cruise Critic.  Hopefully a search will find them, or someone will post another copy again.

[canderson]

1 hour ago, LB_NJ said:

 

TAMPA

Our Connie B2B last November had us off and on fairly quickly.  Would likely have been quicker but it was the Connie's restart.

 

As noted above, we were offered transfer passes that would have allowed some time in Tampa.  We almost went that route to see the little aquarium there near the pier, but had already scheduled 1pm spa appointments.

 

[LB_NJ]

This has probably been asked before.

 

If you purchase alcohol in the onboard duty-free shop, they usually let you pick it up the night before departure.

 

If you purchase alcohol in the first leg of a B2B, do they let you pick it up the night before the end of the first leg?  Can you then put it in your luggage and have it moved between cabins?

[Denny01]

Our experience was yes, they brought the wine we bough in various ports to our SR the day prior of the first leg. And you can get your ship-purchased also. But I have seen a post prior that said they didnt allow it to be returned until the end of the 2nd leg. But most experiences, including mine was the 1st leg return.

 

Could have changed. DIdnt do a B2B after reopening.

 

den

[Kitekat]

If you are given a transit pass - a postcard sized card highlighting you are a transit passenger - and you decided to go ashore, remember to take it with you. It will speed you through all the lines as you will be directed to the shortest queues etc to get your new cabin pass. It feels like a magic ticket!

[the penguins]

On 9/1/2022 at 8:17 PM, Essiesmom said:

If sailing from the US, the ship is required to zero down in the turnaround port, which is why you have to go through immigration, sometimes getting off the ship.  In Europe it is treated as just another port call.  EM

The ship still needs a zero count but usually you just meet up in Craft Central, walk round to the on board security hand in your Sea Pass (you have now technically left the ship), walk back round to Craft Central, collect your new Sea Card and you are now "back on board". All done as a group but please be ready at the stated time as embarkation arrangements can't start until the ship has the "zero" count. 

[the penguins]

On 9/1/2022 at 6:46 PM, Northern Aurora said:

Neither I nor "canderson" addressed the transit pass issue.  A transit pass included in your turnaround day info packet.  If folks choose to leave the ship for the day the transit pass will allow B2B passengers to avoid the sometimes long lines of embarking passengers.

If only that was always the case. We did the first Trans-Pacific Sydney to Hawaii on Solstice. Due to a massive Norovirus outbreak the ship had to be deep cleaned. All B2B were given the choice of leaving independently and not returning until 3.0 pm or we could have a free bus tour. We chose the bus. Just before 3.0pm the guide got a call to keep us out for an extra hour. An hour later a call to keep us out a further hour. He refused the second request as by then we needed drinks, food and a bathroom stop. We arrived back to find not a single passenger had boarded ( some had been waiting over 4 hours), no provision for B2B guests ( the deck we had been told to was unmanned), eventually we were directed to a different desk but the staff did not have a camera to take our new photos, we were told the pics would be done on the ship. Once on board we realised noone had told security they would be doing the pics so more chaos and delays. We heard later that some of the new passengers had waited over 6 hours.

[LB_NJ]

On 9/1/2022 at 12:43 PM, Northern Aurora said:

There is a small discount for B2B cruises so make sure the reservations are linked.  

 

 

How do I make sure the 2 cruises are "linked".  Tried called Celebrity and they were not very helpful.  

[39august]

I'm not sure "linked" is exactly the proper terminology. They are two separate cruises. Just make sure X is allowing the $50 per cruise discount. 

[LB_NJ]

3 minutes ago, 39august said:

I'm not sure "linked" is exactly the proper terminology. They are two separate cruises. Just make sure X is allowing the $50 per cruise discount. 

They are not showing a discount, any way to fix that?

[bama4cruisin]

10 minutes ago, LB_NJ said:

They are not showing a discount, any way to fix that?

Did you book directly with Celebrity or through a TA?  If a TA, They should be able to accomplish this.

[LB_NJ]

1 hour ago, bama4cruisin said:

Did you book directly with Celebrity or through a TA?  If a TA, They should be able to accomplish this.

 

Thankyou.

I had booked with Celebrity.  Some of their agents are very good and helpful.  Some are clueless.

 

Called again and got one of the helpful ones.  She linked the cruises and also gave me a $100 discount on each cruise since they were B2B. I think the discount is more since they are longer cruises.

 

I have tried to find a good TA but to date have been unsuccessful.

[Northern Aurora]

20 minutes ago, LB_NJ said:

 

Thankyou.

I had booked with Celebrity.  Some of their agents are very good and helpful.  Some are clueless.

 

Called again and got one of the helpful ones.  She linked the cruises and also gave me a $100 discount on each cruise since they were B2B. I think the discount is more since they are longer cruises.

 

I have tried to find a good TA but to date have been unsuccessful.

 

Now that you have the B2B discount the cruises are now linked.  And you are correct -- the discount amount (not OBC) is based on the length of the leg.  

[Northern Aurora]

11 hours ago, the penguins said:

If only that was always the case. We did the first Trans-Pacific Sydney to Hawaii on Solstice. Due to a massive Norovirus outbreak the ship had to be deep cleaned. All B2B were given the choice of leaving independently and not returning until 3.0 pm or we could have a free bus tour. We chose the bus. Just before 3.0pm the guide got a call to keep us out for an extra hour. An hour later a call to keep us out a further hour. He refused the second request as by then we needed drinks, food and a bathroom stop. We arrived back to find not a single passenger had boarded ( some had been waiting over 4 hours), no provision for B2B guests ( the deck we had been told to was unmanned), eventually we were directed to a different desk but the staff did not have a camera to take our new photos, we were told the pics would be done on the ship. Once on board we realised noone had told security they would be doing the pics so more chaos and delays. We heard later that some of the new passengers had waited over 6 hours.

 

We have done four turnaround days in Sydney.  In Australia the officials want the B2B passengers physically off the ship.  I mean totally off the ship and not on an outer deck.    We generally go to the Botanic Gardens to wander the grounds as there is a nice coffee shop/cafe which we enjoy.  The mess you encountered was due to the special instance of a significant norovirus outbreak onboard.  In Sydney, once the boarding process has commenced for the new embarking passengers the transit passes allow B2B passengers to quickly re-board.

 

In the US B2B passengers who don't wish to leave the ship are generally taken to an outer deck where we go through security and ring out.  Then the line turns around and with our new sea pass cards we ring back onto the ship.  Occasionally the process will happen in the cruise terminal.

[the penguins]

16 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

We have done four turnaround days in Sydney.  In Australia the officials want the B2B passengers physically off the ship.  I mean totally off the ship and not on an outer deck.    We generally go to the Botanic Gardens to wander the grounds as there is a nice coffee shop/cafe which we enjoy.  The mess you encountered was due to the special instance of a significant norovirus outbreak onboard.  In Sydney, once the boarding process has commenced for the new embarking passengers the transit passes allow B2B passengers to quickly re-board.

 

In the US B2B passengers who don't wish to leave the ship are generally taken to an outer deck where we go through security and ring out.  Then the line turns around and with our new sea pass cards we ring back onto the ship.  Occasionally the process will happen in the cruise terminal.

Another great choice in Sydney is Hyde Park Barracks. It has a wonderful interactive exhibition/experience covering the Transportation of Convicts from England to Australia.

I agree our experience in Hawaii was unusual and I posted it to illustrate that things do not always go smoothly. We have done quiet a few including in the USA, Australia, South America and the UK. Some involving cabin changes and some not. Our only rule is never to book an excursion for changeover day as for us the potential for problems outweighs any benefits.

We have the same rule when we have to clear immigration part way through a cruise e.g. Boston on a Transatlantic before disembarking in New York or Florida or Lahaina before disembarking in Honolulu.