Back to Back 101 ?

[regnig]

I am doing a B2B2B on the Rotterdam in March. I understand that in FLL I can get an "in transit" card and leave the ship early to run a couple of errands. I have two questions for those of you who have done a B2B in FLL:

1. When I am ready to reboard do I need to wait until the ship is 0'd out before I can reboard?

2. Assuming I wait until the ship has 0'd out but the new boarding passengers are not yet being allowed to board just what is my procedure when I get back to the terminal?

TIA

[trtog7]

I exited the Rotterdam in Rotterdam on embarkation/deparkation day last year.

THey give a card and when you return to the ship you show them the card and then get on the ship. No fuss no muss

[iflyrc5]

1 hour ago, regnig said:

I am doing a B2B2B on the Rotterdam in March. I understand that in FLL I can get an "in transit" card and leave the ship early to run a couple of errands. I have two questions for those of you who have done a B2B in FLL:

1. When I am ready to reboard do I need to wait until the ship is 0'd out before I can reboard?

2. Assuming I wait until the ship has 0'd out but the new boarding passengers are not yet being allowed to board just what is my procedure when I get back to the terminal?

TIA

From what I recall if you leave the ship to run some errands they normally say you can't return to the ship until 1100 but with your in transit card you can just bypass the lines and get on the ship.

[1025cruise]

You'll still need to wait for the ship to be zero'd out.

[POA1]

We've done this. We live close to the port. My wife went for a manicure. I went home to do some work. We could board any time after boarding of new guests started. That was after the ship was zeroed out and closer to 11:30 AM.

[Cruising Is Bliss]

12 hours ago, regnig said:

I am doing a B2B2B on the Rotterdam in March. I understand that in FLL I can get an "in transit" card and leave the ship early to run a couple of errands. I have two questions for those of you who have done a B2B in FLL:

1. When I am ready to reboard do I need to wait until the ship is 0'd out before I can reboard?

2. Assuming I wait until the ship has 0'd out but the new boarding passengers are not yet being allowed to board just what is my procedure when I get back to the terminal?

TIA

 

ICE requirement in a US port. You have to wait for the zero count.

[regnig]

Thank you all for answering my questions. Happy Holidays to all.

[Gunther1]

I will be fortunate enough to take my first back to back cruises in a couple of months ( and enter the world of unlimited laundry after…yay !!)

 

I’m fairly good about doing my research, but as this is my virginal BTB, would any of you that are seasoned veterans be willing to point out anything I should know ?

 

I assume that on  turnaround day that I essentially debark, check-in, and embark ?  How is my luggage dealt with ?

 

thanks in advance….Matt, a soon-to-no-longer be a BtB novice.

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

29 minutes ago, Gunther1 said:

I will be fortunate enough to take my first back to back cruises in a couple of months ( and enter the world of unlimited laundry after…yay !!)

 

I’m fairly good about doing my research, but as this is my virginal BTB, would any of you that are seasoned veterans be willing to point out anything I should know ?

 

I assume that on  turnaround day that I essentially debark, check-in, and embark ?  How is my luggage dealt with ?

 

thanks in advance….Matt, a soon-to-no-longer be a BtB novice.

 

 

You will get a letter from Guest Services a few days in advance detailing your requirements. Sometimes you have to clear customs ashore; other times, you don't. It depends on what port and other circumstances.     You will not pack, and everything will stay in your room.   (Unless you are switching rooms on the next sailing.  

 

I did a BtB in San Diego and never had to leave the ship or do anything special.  I think in FLL you have to get off - others will know.

 

You may have to do another muster drill or check in..

 

When you go ashore - there is usually a special line for Intransit passengers so you can bypass the huge check in queues.  

 

You may even be able to sleep in and listen to the numerous Group Color calls all morning - then a period of calm - until the new throngs arrive.

Edited December 9, 2023 by The-Inside-Cabin

[CruiserBruce]

You will receive detailed instructions. 

 

As you don't tell us what port you are asking about, hard to answer. Port Everglades it can vary, it can require disembarking for a short time, or doing the procedure somewhere on board...its all up to the Immigration folks. A foreign port is usually treated as a normal port stop, no procedures. San Diego has been doing their procedures on board.

 

All of this has been discussed here numerous times.

[kazu]

B2B’s are so nice - especially when you see other luggage out and not you don’t need yours out 😉 

 

Turnaraound day is easy.  It depends on your port.  Let us know.

 

In Europe in most ports (unless there is immigration) it’s another port day, in the U.S. the ship has to go to zero - so you can go off the ship and explore and if you choose to stay on, you either need to meet some place or get off with a group to bring the ship to zero.

 

You don’t need to go through the same procedures you did on embarkation.  You will get a special card that tells the port people you are on turn around and go straight to security.

 

No worries about luggage unless you are changing cabins.  Even that is pretty smooth.  The stewards will take all the stuff hanging up.  All you do is pack what is packed in the drawers, your toiletries, etc.  They will move it all.  I recommend you take your safety deposit box contents yourself.

[Gunther1]

It will be in Fort Lauderdale

[oakridger]

6 minutes ago, Gunther1 said:

It will be in Fort Lauderdale

 

Are you staying in the same cabin for both segments?  

[Bill B]

I've done many B-T-Bs (but never from Ft. Lauderdale) and have not needed to disembark. 

 

If you've ordered duty-free liquor on the first segment, sometimes it's delivered to your stateroom on the last night of that cruise... therefore, you can enjoy it on the second cruise. 😉

[oakridger]

All my several Ft. Lauderdale B2Bs I had to disembark with the rest of the in-transit people to zero the ship then I got right back on as soon as we were allowed.  Sometimes people haven't had to do that.  So as others have said, just need to wait for your instructions a few days before the turnaround day.

 

~Nancy

[Maria63]

We´ve done several B2Bs, in Ft Lauderdale and elsewhere, though not on HAL, but the procedure appears to be very similar on all major lines.

 

As others have said, you will get written instructions to your cabin beforehand. If you keep the same cabin, you don´t need to pack at all. If you change your cabin, you need to pack everything you have in the drawers but can leave what you have on hangers. You don´t need to put your suitcases out the night before but keep them in your cabin, and during the morning on turnaround day, your cabin steward will move your stuff for you. We usually notify our steward beforehand if we are to change cabins, just to make sure he is aware of it and of the new cabin we are to move into.

 

In US ports, the B2Bers are usually instructed to collect as a group at a certain time, around 9.30-10 a.m., in one of the lounges, and then escorted together to the terminal building. You are given a new cruise card and "ping out" with the old card when you leave the ship. The B2B group is usually seated in the terminal building to wait to have their passports checked, and are then escorted as a group back to the ship. You are then free to enjoy the ship, which is virtually empty until the new guests start arriving onboard.😀

 

Even though the cabins are not officially yet ready, we have always been able to get either to our old cabin if we stayed in the same one, or to our new cabin if we changed - though the stewards will, of course, need to be given time to clean your cabin so better let them do their job undisturbed.

[Gunther1]

I’ll be solo on cruise #1 and my sister will be joining in on #2.

 

I assume  I can leave the terminal if I wish…..was hoping to meet her at her hotel that am. 

[Maria63]

24 minutes ago, Gunther1 said:

I’ll be solo on cruise #1 and my sister will be joining in on #2.

 

I assume  I can leave the terminal if I wish…..was hoping to meet her at her hotel that am. 

Sorry, I don´t have personal experience of how it works if you want to go outside. There are always separate instructions for those who want to leave, so you will be able to go out for sure, but I can´t say about the timing or the specific procedure.

[Bill B]

I always tell the steward he/she doesn't need to do my room on 'turnaround' day.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

57 minutes ago, Gunther1 said:

I’ll be solo on cruise #1 and my sister will be joining in on #2.

 

I assume  I can leave the terminal if I wish…..was hoping to meet her at her hotel that am. 

You will be able to leave fairly early - but you won't be able to get back on until everyone has gotten off.   But you may have to exit as a group each cruise may be different.   

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

9 hours ago, Gunther1 said:

It will be in Fort Lauderdale

In FTL the ship must have a Zero count 

[wandrr]

8 hours ago, Bill B said:

I always tell the steward he/she doesn't need to do my room on 'turnaround' day.

Just to be sure that the steward does not get any flak from the supervisor, you should send a note to the housekeeping manager (just drop it to the front desk well in advance) to the effect that you do not want any cleaning on turnaround day. The word will roll downhill officially to the stewards and everyone will be happy. You might also take that opportunity to thank your steward in writing to the supervisor. Praise and recognition like that will go farther than tips.

 

We have been on B2B's with about a hundred passengers doing the same B2B. Works great - simply follow the ship instructions.

[shadow 123]

16 hours ago, Gunther1 said:

I will be fortunate enough to take my first back to back cruises in a couple of months ( and enter the world of unlimited laundry after…yay !!)

 

I’m fairly good about doing my research, but as this is my virginal BTB, would any of you that are seasoned veterans be willing to point out anything I should know ?

 

I assume that on  turnaround day that I essentially debark, check-in, and embark ?  How is my luggage dealt with ?

 

thanks in advance….Matt, a soon-to-no-longer be a BtB novice.

 

 

 

[shadow 123]

Just now, shadow 123 said:

 

If it's on the same ship just link the rooms and you don't have to get off the ship to get back on again. That's what they tell me when I do my b2bs and I've never had to get off to get back on again. Also, if the cruises are linked any credit you have left over  on the 1st leg of your journey will carry over to the second part of your journey.. That's always been my experience.

[SusieKIslandGirl]

When in Ft. Lauderdale, we usually walk or taxi to the shopping area with Publix, drug stores and other stores. I think noon was about the earliest we could return to the ship. Just be sure you have your in-transit card with you. So fun to walk past all the passengers waiting to board.