B2B2B on the same ship and room questions

[Grammy J]

Lots of questions. Do you get a new medallion for each segment? If so, where and when do you get them?  Can you stay on the ship during the transition. Is the laundry rooms open to use on the transition day? Any advice is appreciated. We are planning our first B2B2B cruise and this will be a first for us. Thanks to all who can give us great and helpful advice! 

Edited February 28, 2023 by Grammy J

[cr8tiv1]

Need more information...ship/port?

 

Most often, you will need to do an in-transit trip.  Get off the ship/zero out passengers/get back on the ship.

 

Watch safety briefing only once

 

Laundry rooms should be open.  Elite/Suite Laundry not returned same day.

 

Embarkation in MDR / first to get reservations in Sanctuary.

 

Do not need to pack and unpack

 

I generally tell my steward to forget my room and concentrate on new passengers. 

 

 

[wcflats]

Have done both…stay on ship and get off for custom clearance.   Usually no issues if staying in your same cabin….same here we just tell steward don’t worry about doing anything with our cabin that day.

[MissP22]

btw- The laundry room has been oprn 24/7 on the Enchanted. 

[Grammy J]

We are looking at LA to Fort Lauderdale,  Panama Canal eastbound. Then circle the Caribbean. Then taking the westbound back from Fort Lauderdale to LA. It would be on the Emerald Princess. I’m still curious about how the medallions would work. Do you get a new one for each segment. All new to us. Thanks for any information. We would be able to get the same balcony room for all segments, as of now. 

Edited March 1, 2023 by Grammy J

[cr8tiv1]

You get one medallion...until the battery runs out.  At the most inopportune time.  Mine ran out less than 24 hours before disembarkation. Fortunately, my cabin was near Customer Service and I could get a new one.  Imagine if you are on Riviera Deck forward/aft...your medallion doesn't work...and you have to trapse down to Customer Service for a new one....after breakfast on disembarkation day??????

 

It will last about 2-3 weeks.  It will also be printed with your start and end dates.

Edited March 1, 2023 by cr8tiv1

[cnd crsr]

Same medallion for all.

Any time on our B2Bs through Fort Lauderdale if we didn't get off on our own to tour/shop, the in transit passengers have had to line up & exit the ship and wait to reboard until the ship has zeroed. In some ports if the in transit number is small,we have just  been asked to meet in a venue and waited until the ship has zeroed.Then we have been free to do as we please.

Enjoy you B2B2B, it is so nice not to have to pack and leave!

[beg3yrs]

7 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

You get one medallion...until the battery runs out.  At the most inopportune time.  Mine ran out less than 24 hours before disembarkation. Fortunately, my cabin was near Customer Service and I could get a new one.  Imagine if you are on Riviera Deck forward/aft...your medallion doesn't work...and you have to trapse down to Customer Service for a new one....after breakfast on disembarkation day??????

 

It will last about 2-3 weeks.  It will also be printed with your start and end dates.

Our medallions lasted for last year's B2B2B for the full 38 days. This year's 32 day B2B, DW's medallion lasted 25 days and mine went the distance.

 

Your medallion is printed with your name and embarkation date. There's no disembarkation date on it.

[beg3yrs]

20 minutes ago, Grammy J said:

We are looking at LA to Fort Lauderdale,  Panama Canal eastbound. Then circle the Caribbean. Then taking the westbound back from Fort Lauderdale to LA. It would be on the Emerald Princess. I’m still curious about how the medallions would work. Do you get a new one for each segment. All new to us. Thanks for any information. We would be able to get the same balcony room for all segments, as of now. 

In the United States, regulations require a zero passenger count on turnaround days. In your case, for both your Fort Lauderdale visits, you will receive information a few days in advance where to meet on board for "In Transit" guests. In most other countries this is not required and turn-around day is just like any other port day.

 

When the time comes you will be escorted off the ship through immigration and then to a waiting area. At this point you can leave the port to explore Fort Lauderdale and come back later. You will have an "In Transit" card to show in the terminal which will allow you to bypass all the new passenger check-in processes. If you just want to get back on the ship and have a virtual "sea day", you will be notified when you can re-board. It will be before all the other new passengers board.

 

If there is a ship excursion for in-transit passengers, you will be given separate instructions if you've signed up for it.

[Grammy J]

We both feel way more comfortable with all the great information you all have provided. This will be a cruise of a lifetime for us. If you think of anymore great tips, please share. Thanks‼️

[cr8tiv1]

13 minutes ago, Grammy J said:

We both feel way more comfortable with all the great information you all have provided. This will be a cruise of a lifetime for us. If you think of anymore great tips, please share. Thanks‼️

 

Yes....enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.  in-transit days are one of the most relaxing days on the ship.  Find a seat near Crooners....(or bar on Deck 7) and watch all the incoming passengers.  Raise a toast to each one of them.

[Bwana Tom]

We always discuss the situation with our cabin steward. If you are changing cabins between cruises you also need to let them know then pack up your loose items back into your suitcases, leave your hanging closet cloths on the hangers and the steward to transfer everything for you. In this case don't forget about your safe items. We clean it out and put it in our carry bag and pack it with us. Princess is very efficient when it comes to B3B cruisers. It runs very smoothly. We've done these many times all the way to 4x cruises B2B and have never had a problem. We figure the worst part of cruising are the flights to get there. We live so far away from any cruise port it simply makes good sense to do B2Bs. One of the nice things about doing so is once you get back on the ship between cruises you pretty much have the ship to yourself until the new passengers come aboard.

No worries whatsoever; you will have a great time!

[Grammy J]

We will have onboard credit on each segment. If we do not use it all during each segment, will it follow us to the next segment? Thanks for all the help‼️

[DCThunder]

35 minutes ago, Grammy J said:

We will have onboard credit on each segment. If we do not use it all during each segment, will it follow us to the next segment? Thanks for all the help‼️

Yes, unused OBCs roll over to the next segment.  BTW, if your Captains Circle status changes during a segment, you can get a new color Medallion on the next segment from Guest Services.  You'd also get any on-board perks your entitled to.

[Bwana Tom]

44 minutes ago, Grammy J said:

We will have onboard credit on each segment. If we do not use it all during each segment, will it follow us to the next segment? Thanks for all the help‼️

The OBC usually carries over from one cruise to the next, but I always stop by the customer service desk and ask to make sure. It is an easy thing to do and it helps to ensure there is no problem down the road. 

[MustangGT]

@Grammy J - we just did a B2B with a turnaround in Ft. Lauderdale. One piece of advice - check with the Loyalty & Events person (formerly known as Captains Circle Host) to find out how many passengers will be doing the turnaround.  Last year it was only 150 or so.  This year it was over 850!!! 
Last year, we met with the group and the process was quick - off the ship, walk through customs and right back on the ship.  

This year, we waited forever for all 850 people to show up, waited for our Group to be called, went through Customs and then had to wait in the Elite Lounge to reboard.  While waiting in the Lounge, we watched a steady stream of Groups walk off on the gangway.  Seemed like it took forever!

You have the ability to leave the ship when disembarking starts (bring your medallion, passport and “in transit” card) and enjoy walking around or having coffee off the ship.  When you return to the ship, you will board ahead of the new passengers once boarding begins.  Next time we plan to get off and explore if the turnaround numbers are high.

 

Rest assured, you will be given very clear instructions in writing and all will be well!

[Grammy J]

Great advise! We will check and see how many B2B are on the ship. We will check and make sure our OBC follows us. And our captain circle status will change during the cruise. We will make sure we get that taken care of. You’re all great and we appreciate all the answers and help‼️

Edited March 1, 2023 by Grammy J

[cr8tiv1]

4 hours ago, Grammy J said:

We will have onboard credit on each segment. If we do not use it all during each segment, will it follow us to the next segment? Thanks for all the help‼️

 

OBC on your folio will roll over to the next cruise.

 

Bank in Casino WILL NOT.  You will need to cash it out by the last night (there are a few times you have to do it earlier/port dependent).  Then reopen another casino account and start over.

[KLM3164]

3 hours ago, DCThunder said:

Yes, unused OBCs roll over to the next segment.  BTW, if your Captains Circle status changes during a segment, you can get a new color Medallion on the next segment from Guest Services.  You'd also get any on-board perks your entitled to.

Thank you for this information. We are doing a B2B in November and status will be Platinum on first leg and Elite on second leg. While I don’t care about the color of my medallion I was hoping I’d get the perks of laundry and mini-bar set up. 

[skynight]

Medallion - You keep the same one as long as the battery does noes not die. If it does die during the trip just go to passenger services to get a new one.

Laundry should be open during turn around day.

You will have two turn around days in Ft. Lauderdale. All passengers are required to go through immigration on these days. There are two options. In both cases read the instruction provided in your cabin and follow them exactly.

Option 1) Disembark anytime after the disembarkation process has begun up until final call, around 9:30/10:00am Take your passport, medallion and intransit card with you. Go into town. Re-embark anytime after general boarding has begun, around 11:00 to noon.

Option 2) Report to the designated location on the ship, usually the theater, at the time noted according to the instructions received in your cabin. You will be grouped together and escorted off the ship, through immigration and then back on the ship.

If you are changing cabins speak with your cabin steward. The cabin steward will arrange the move and provide you with advice.

OBC question has been answered. From experience, follow your on board accounts. Errors can happen.

Cruises that are sold as b2bs, such as 10 day eastern/western Caribbean, tend to have very high numbers of b2bers. Your three cruises should not have very high numbers, but I would expect a few hundred at least. 

 

[MissP22]

The crew gets a battery change each month. 

[DCThunder]

1 hour ago, KLM3164 said:

Thank you for this information. We are doing a B2B in November and status will be Platinum on first leg and Elite on second leg. While I don’t care about the color of my medallion I was hoping I’d get the perks of laundry and mini-bar set up. 

You might not get the perks automatically so I'd check with GS towards the end of the first leg to make sure that they know to give you the mini-bar on the turnaround day for leg 2.  And you have to hit the next level before the next leg starts, otherwise no dice.

[Thrak]

1 hour ago, DCThunder said:

You might not get the perks automatically so I'd check with GS towards the end of the first leg to make sure that they know to give you the mini-bar on the turnaround day for leg 2.  And you have to hit the next level before the next leg starts, otherwise no dice.

 

Definitely check with them before the end of the first segment. We cruised to round trip from Southampton to Norway as Platinum and then flew from Southampton to Barcelona and spent a few days there. Then we sailed from Barcelona to Florida. We turned Elite after the first voyage but, because we had booked the second voyage when we were still Platinum, they had us as Platinum for the second trip. We weren't upgraded at checking and didn't get to wait in the Elite lounge. On board I had to visit the Captain's Circle Host who then sent me to Passenger services where I had to wait around while they verified things and gave me the correct card. The steward had us a Platinum. I had to hassle to get the mini bar. Sooooooooooo..... Like I said above. Get this figured out before the end of the first segment.

[Peira]

Sorry, found my answer in the FAQs.

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by Peira