Moving cabins on a B2B

[Banditswife]

We are just curious as to how this works.  We booked the least expensive cabin on NS in April to join my son & daughter in law on a cruise.  But then I got a casino offer for an OV guarantee, so we decided to make it a B2B & booked the cruise prior.  I did ask the cost of upgrading the cheaper one & it was too much $ for us right now.  And I didn't want to downgrade the casino OV, so I know we will be moving cabins between the 2 cruises.

How does this work?  Do we have to pack everything up & move it ourselves?  I've heard/read that cabin steward helps with this process, but how much help is my question.  Wondering about timing as well.  Do we have to vacate 1st cabin by a certain time?  I am sure 2nd cabin won't be available right away, so I am wondering about that timing as well.

[iflyrc5]

You will need to pack all of the loose stuff and items on the shelves in the closets but not the items on hangers.  On turnaround day the room stewards will move you hanging items and the packed items.  You will need to get your new ship cards from guest services.  If this is in a US port you will need to go through the CBP check and the crew will move you stuff during that time.  You will need to get you new ship card before getting off for the CBP check as you will need it to get back on the ship.

[OlsSalt]

We just did this - cabin on Deck 8 down to cabin on Deck 4. It is a little different from a same cabin B2B since you will need to use both your old cabin key card and get a new key card for your new cabin.

 

PACKING UP: Print up your luggage tags for the second cabin number and attach them to your bags and pack up all your items in drawers in those bags. (Bring them from home) Then leave your bags with the new tags in the old cabin.  The cabin stewards will be informed of this cabin change. Leave everything else on hangers,  which will get also moved and put in your new cabin closets..

 

WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AND CHOICES FOR TRANSIT DAY: They will provide you a print out the day before about the process to follow to "check out" using a transit card. However, when you leave the ship for the day you will check off the ship with your old key card, and will  have obtained a new key card for you new cabin number to get back on the ship. 

 

MEET AND WAIT: Or if you don't plan on leaving the ship that day to go somewhere else, you will  meet in a designated area on the ship and get your new cabin number key card from an assigned staff member. Then you will be escorted as a group off the ship using your old cabin number key card to the terminal. There will be a US Immigration photo- facial recognition- scan to go through confirming you are the same person that got scanned when you boarded the first time (but maybe already  a few pounds heavier!).  Then you wait for the ship to officially be cleared,  in the terminal (no chairs and it was a bit cold in San Diego) - about 20 minutes?).

 

REBOARDING: Then your group will  be allowed to reboard  the ship, using your new cabin number key card. Go to your new cabin and all your clothes will be hanging up in your new cabin and you just need to unpack the items in your suitcases which are waiting for you too.

 

The process was as simple as could be - but the instructions were confusing. They did recogize there would be a group that would be changing cabins at this time; not just people staying in the same cabins - they don't need new keys.

 

But you will - that was the run around and confusion about when and from whom- but you will eventually get them. Except some waits along this process, or choose to get off the ship and spend the day elsewhere and come back at your leisure after the ship gets cleared for new embarkations.

[OlsSalt]

---Edited same message for a little more clarity -I think I made it sound more confusing than it was. 

 

We just did this - cabin on Deck 8 down to cabin on Deck 4. It is a little different from a same cabin B2B since you will need to use both your old cabin key card and get a new key card for your new cabin.

 

(Konigsdam process here - may differ for other ships - we waited in the show lounge once on a same cabin B2B, this time we waited in the Lincoln Center lounge)

 

PACKING UP: Print up your luggage tags for the second cabin number and attach them to your bags. Pack up all your items from your drawers in your suitcases.  (Bring the new cabin number tags from home, or I guess you can get them printed on board)

 

Then leave your packed bags with the new tags inside the old cabin in the morning of the transition - not in the hallway the night before.  The cabin stewards will be informed of this cabin change. Leave everything else on hangers,  which will get also moved and put in your new cabin closets.

 

WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AND CHOICES FOR TRANSIT DAY:  LEAVE THE SHIP OR STAY ON THE SHIP: They will provide you a print out the day before about the process to follow to "check out" and include  a transit card so you won't have to go through the whole full embarkation process again - if you want to come and go later, after the new embarkation process starts for new passengers.

 

However, if  you want to leave the ship for the day you will check off the ship with your old key card, and will have obtained a new key card for you new cabin number in order to get back on the ship. The instructions will cover this. 

 

MEET UP AND WAIT: Or if you don't plan on leaving the ship that day to go somewhere else, you will  meet in a designated area on the ship and get your new cabin number key card from an assigned staff member.

 

Then you will be escorted as a group off the ship using your old cabin number key card and into a secure part of  the terminal. There will be a US Immigration photo- facial recognition- scan to go through, confirming you are the same person that got scanned when you boarded the first time (but maybe already  a few pounds heavier!).  

 

Then you wait for the ship to officially be cleared,  in the terminal (no chairs and it was a bit cold in San Diego) - about 20 minutes?).

 

REBOARDING: Then your group will  be allowed to reboard  the ship, using your new cabin number key card. Go to your new cabin and all your clothes will be hanging up in your new cabin and you just need to unpack the items in your suitcases which are now waiting for you in your new cabin too. 

 

The process was as simple as could be - but the instructions were a bit  confusing. They did recognize there would be a group that would be changing cabins at this time; not just instructions for people staying in their same cabins - since  don't need the new keys.

 

But you will - there was a bit of a  run around and confusion about when and from whom you get the new key cards- but you will eventually get them when the time comes to go off the ship and wait for the ship to clear.  

 

Expect some waits during this process,  unless you choose to leave the ship for the day and come back after the ship has been already cleared. If you need seating during the wait in the terminal, be sure to ask to have it made available for you before hand.

 

Have a great cruise and we are so happy we extended ours, it was worth the hassle of the cabin change. HAL did a great job with this.

[Banditswife]

Thank you OlsSalt & iflyrc5- we have done 1 B2B previously, but in the same cabin.  I am sure we will figure it out.  We will be in Port Everglades, so hopefully not cold while we wait.  But I will take a jacket just in case.

[DaveOKC]

When changing cabins, do you just leave the hangered clothes in the closet or put it on the bed so that the stewards can see it?  

[Arizona Wildcat]

7 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

When changing cabins, do you just leave the hangered clothes in the closet or put it on the bed so that the stewards can see it?  

Open the closet.  Leave things hanging.  Toss everything else in a suitcase on the bed.

Last time we changed cabins the procedure took less time that the 15 minutes to read this thread.

Have never had to leave the cruise terminal.  Usually stayed on board.  Just checked out with our old sea pass, walked to customs and immigration (if required) and then either went into town or immediately checked back in with our new seapass

[DaveOKC]

Thanks

 

[Roz]

I've only changed cabins once on a B2B and it was a disaster.  I knew more about the process than the staff onboard.  This was at Canada Place.  It was bedlam that day.  I did not receive the service that others have reported in the past.  

[HALcruiser2001]

Looking at a really complex process, I would be inclined to pack, leave and come back on with other pax.  It sounds like it would be way easy for bags to get lost or misplaced.

[aa7yy]

1 hour ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Open the closet.  Leave things hanging.  Toss everything else in a suitcase on the bed.

Last time we changed cabins the procedure took less time that the 15 minutes to read this thread.

Have never had to leave the cruise terminal.  Usually stayed on board.  Just checked out with our old sea pass, walked to customs and immigration (if required) and then either went into town or immediately checked back in with our new seapass

Our swap was a lot like this except we hung around to accompany everything to our new room then got out of the way. Left the ship with a Transit pass and when we re boarded our new card was at the new room.

[cwd79]

We did this in Nov. on the Rotterdam. First time for us. Everything went smoothly. Our cabin stewards moved our luggage to the new room which was only a few doors down. We had packed everything up that morning. We went to the World Stage and checked in and there was a large group of people doing the B2B and we sat and waited until we were escorted to the cruise terminal to have our passports checked. Then escorted back on ship. Since we changed rooms we didn't have the new room keys so we had to wait in the guest service line which was LONG... That was my only complaint with the whole experience was the long line to get new room keys. We have another B2B in August and we decided to stay in the same room. 

[Banditswife]

We will be on the NStatendam in Port Everglades.  And I imagine going from deck 1 (OV guarantee) to deck 6 inside.  We know our cabin # for the 2nd portion of the 14 days.  I will print boarding passes & luggage tags for both cruises if possible.  If not, will go to guest services a day or 2 before.

 

Sometimes their offers are crazy:  when we booked the original cruise we were on the NS.  We booked that particular cruise to join my son & DIL.  My son had offers for that one & for a Eurodam 20 day thru the canal, so he booked both.  He will have 7 days on NS, then 1 day in Ft Lauderdale, then board the Eurodam for 20 days.  When we booked we tried to see if the same offers were available to us & were told "NO."  Fast forward 6 weeks & we get offers for the OV guarantee, so we booked it, making it a 14 day.  Then today, hubby & I both got offers for the 20 day Eurodam thru the Canal.  Why were these offers not available when we booked originally & why not earlier this week before we booked the OV guarantee?  The 20 day offer is tempting, but I don't think I can leave my pets for 35 days.  Being on a ship for a total of 34 days would be nice.  

Edited January 13, 2023 by Banditswife