Back to Back procedures - Australia (Canadian passengers)*

[Pylon]

We booked a Princess cruise that begins in Honolulu with the first leg ending in Sydney followed by a second leg beginning in Sidney that also ends in Sydney.  While we currently have the same room, I am wondering what the procedure wound be if we upgrade either leg, thus no longer keeping the same room.  A recent post by an American described the options if this occurs in an American port of call, but I am wondering what happens in Sydney.

 

In the case of an American port, the options were

 

• Meet in the theatre at about 9:30 at which time the "in transit" passengers will be escorted off the ship with their "in transit" form to immigration and then back onto the ship.   The room attendants move your packed luggage and hanging wear, but you keep your carryon, and medicines. Presumably when you reboard you can put that material in your new cabin, and leave the ship for a late tour etc. (This option limits one's tour options while in Sydney). 
• Disembark and go on a tour, then reboard as an "in transit" passage. The other post did not clarify the details related to luggage (and carryon) or any time limits for reboarding in transit such as whether this stream lines the boarding process and means you do not have to check in with a new boarding pass etc.  If one keeps his or her carryon, I am not sure this option would work well especially for passengers that have medicines which have to be kept refrigerated. 

 

Further, for Canadians, one presumably needs an Australian entry VISA.  But I am not sure how this is handled when "in transit" landing in Sidney initially. 

 

Can someone clarify Princess' procedure in Sydney including which approach you would recommend as being the more efficient option.

 

Thank you.

Edited December 24, 2023 by Pylon

[arxcards]

It can be complicated. For many turnarounds here, it works pretty much the same as the US, however ...

Since covid, for the first arrival of the ship for the season, it is all passengers and luggage to be disembarked from the ship. You will take your entry card and luggage to the customs checkpoint. Once cleared, you take your luggage (tagged with new voyage embark tags) to luggage drop. You will have transit cards and will be front of queue should you choose to reboard. You can also go about a normal day in port, but you will have your carry-on stuff with you.

 

The transit term is purely for the cruise - when you are processed in Sydney with your arrival card, you have entered Australia.

 

You will need to apply for an ETA or Visa prior to travel. For most Canadians, an ETA is all that is required - the official link for info

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601

[Pylon]

Arxcards,

 

Thank you for the clarification. 

[arxcards]

4 hours ago, Pylon said:

Arxcards,

 

Thank you for the clarification. 

I have presumed you are on one of the October trans-pacific relocations. We have cruised on Majestic Princess for her first Australian cruise of the past two seasons, and they have been hectic days at Sydney's passenger terminal, with lots of unhappy passengers doing B2B cruises and having to bring all of their luggage through Australian borderforce.

 

There are international & domestic variations between whether passengers and or luggage can stay aboard and how transit applies (int to int, int to dom, dom to dom, dom to int). For international cruises arriving for the season, when followed by a cruise with only Australian domestic ports, they are applying the rules to the letter.

 

If you have the same cabin B2B, you just may be able to keep some stuff in-room. That will be up to the cruise line. If switching cabins, they have been instructed not to relocate your belongings.

 

As an in-transit passenger, you can reboard at the front of the queue - BUT - once you have embarked you cannot leave the ship again for a tour. If you wish to do a tour, you will have to do it before embarking, so will have your carry-on with you. When returning to the terminal, your transit card gives you access to the priority lane.

[Pylon]

Arxcards,

 

Yes, it is an October cruise from Honolulu with a twist. 

 

The ship lands at Sydney in mid October from Vancouver or Los Angeles (this is the first transpacific cruise which we are not booked on) and once the ship reaches Sydney it goes back to Honolulu over 16 days before looping back over 21 days to Sydney. (Unfortunately, on the first transpacific one cannot embark in Honolulu, but one can do so on the second one.)

 

Thus, we plan to board the second transpacific in Honolulu for the 21 day leg going back to Sydney. This 37 or 35 day cruise (with a 21 day leg) appears targeted to Australians while also allowing access to North Americans for the 21 day leg.

 

If I apply your description above, it would appear that

 

• for the first transatlantic that begins in Vancouver or Los Angeles, the ship is a new arrival for which most if not all passengers will disembark at Sydney and perhaps Princess has that in mind, to cut the chaos down. Most North Americans will presumably disembark because the ship is going back to Honolulu.  

 

• for the second transpacific that begins in Sydney or Brisbane, it should have mostly domestic passengers on a return trip to Sydney with some non Australians boarding at the the half way point in Honolulu (unlike the first transpacific this one does not go to New Zealand and instead stops over a number of days in Hawaii, Tahiti and one day each at Tonga, and an Australian Island). Most passengers should be disembarking leaving relatively few passengers in transit.
   

• the ship then does a 5 day return cruise to Tasmania overnighting in Hobart. That is the second of the B2B in our booking with the same room (but to get the same room I had to take a lower category balcony when I could have had a two category higher one for the same price, and I would like to upgrade the 21 day cruise at some point but not if that causes in transit difficulties the first day in Sydney). 

Accordingly,  the second transpacific cruise does not appear to be a new arrival in Sydney and it may not come within the immigration and customs approach you discuss above.  How do think that may change the situation in Sydney on the second transpacific? 

 

Also, as an aside, how did you find the Majestic?  I was speaking to someone I know a few days ago who took the Majestic from Auckland to Los Angeles, and he was not overly keen about the ship.  The ship we have booked is the Grand Princess which is a much older ship which we took many years ago when it was new on our first cruise.  Presumably it is not in pristine condition but  it has a nice layout and Princess certainly has created an innovative approach to sending it down under in the fall of 2025. 

 

Again, thank you for your input.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

Grand is a very nice ship. We cruised on her last March. The public spaces - bars, lounges and theatre - suit the number of passengers.

 

We don't like the Royal class ships in general as the public spaces aren't as generous ... unless you like shopping. Majestic is even more different to the standard Royal class ships and we would not cruise on her again.

[arxcards]

2 hours ago, Pylon said:

Arxcards,

 

Yes, it is an October cruise from Honolulu with a twist. 

 

The ship lands at Sydney in mid October from Vancouver or Los Angeles (this is the first transpacific cruise which we are not booked on) and once the ship reaches Sydney it goes back to Honolulu over 16 days before looping back over 21 days to Sydney. (Unfortunately, on the first transpacific one cannot embark in Honolulu, but one can do so on the second one.)

 

Thus, we plan to board the second transpacific in Honolulu for the 21 day leg going back to Sydney. This 37 or 35 day cruise (with a 21 day leg) appears targeted to Australians while also allowing access to North Americans for the 21 day leg.

 

If I apply your description above, it would appear that

 

• for the first transatlantic that begins in Vancouver or Los Angeles, the ship is a new arrival for which most if not all passengers will disembark at Sydney and perhaps Princess has that in mind, to cut the chaos down. Most North Americans will presumably disembark because the ship is going back to Honolulu.  

 

• for the second transpacific that begins in Sydney or Brisbane, it should have mostly domestic passengers on a return trip to Sydney with some non Australians boarding at the the half way point in Honolulu (unlike the first transpacific this one does not go to New Zealand and instead stops over a number of days in Hawaii, Tahiti and one day each at Tonga, and an Australian Island). Most passengers should be disembarking leaving relatively few passengers in transit.
   

• the ship then does a 5 day return cruise to Tasmania overnighting in Hobart. That is the second of the B2B in our booking with the same room (but to get the same room I had to take a lower category balcony when I could have had a two category higher one for the same price, and I would like to upgrade the 21 day cruise at some point but not if that causes in transit difficulties the first day in Sydney). 

Accordingly,  the second transpacific cruise does not appear to be a new arrival in Sydney and it may not come within the immigration and customs approach you discuss above.  How do think that may change the situation in Sydney on the second transpacific? 

 

Also, as an aside, how did you find the Majestic?  I was speaking to someone I know a few days ago who took the Majestic from Auckland to Los Angeles, and he was not overly keen about the ship.  The ship we have booked is the Grand Princess which is a much older ship which we took many years ago when it was new on our first cruise.  Presumably it is not in pristine condition but  it has a nice layout and Princess certainly has created an innovative approach to sending it down under in the fall of 2025. 

 

Again, thank you for your input.

 

As with my initial response, it is complicated.

It is likely with Australian passengers boarding in Sydney and Melbourne that they will consider the cruise as an international departure from Australia. It is still an international cruise though, and will require everyone to arrive through Australian borderforce with any declarable items upon their return to Sydney. This will also apply to B2B passengers, as the following cruise is domestic (it doesn't leave Australia, so there will be no borderforce to handle an "arrival" at the end of your B2B). As above, transit is only a cruise line term. You will be arriving into Australia at the end of your first leg and still considered to be in Australia until you depart for your flight, presumably through Sydney airport.

 

It is quite possible there will be more flexibility and a more "normal" transit will apply for your general luggage, allowing it to be moved to the cabin for your 2nd leg. If you are required to take any declarable items off the ship for entry into Australia, if  impractical to hand over at luggage drop, you will be carrying them around on your tours. As an example, duty free alcohol would be a major pain through this scenario, only to hand it back to be bonded on the ship for the 2nd leg. It will likely work out OK, but it is just something to be aware of. Lots of US passengers expect transit to be just like home, and our Borderforce officials are just like border officials around the world - definitely not fans of entitled travellers.

 

Majestic. In some ways, it is a bit big for us. It was also built for the Chinese market, so I expect the other Royal class ships would suit a bit better. The bigger the ship, the less of it we focus on. We tend to find a cabin near the aft lifts, and spend much of the cruise in the back half of the ship. We find it a breeze to get around that way. I have enjoyed a cruise on Grand through Alaska, soon after she lost her shopping trolley look. Also sister ships Golden, Star & Diamond - they all fit like a glove. 

 

It is interesting to throw up a Hawaii cruise from Australia in October. On previous years, the ship would be destined to spend a couple of months in Melbourne, but Princess is not going to homeport there in 25/26. It should be a great cruise, but we are already fully subscribed for our 2025 cruises.

[arxcards]

To follow all the ins and outs on the Grand currently, check out -

 

[luckybecky]

I'm terribly confused after reading this thread -- but glad I did. 

 

We are B2B New Zealand to Sydney, and then Sydney to Tahiti. With only a few hours in Sydney, we hoped we would have time to do a half day tour or something. But reading this, it sounds like getting off the ship could be very complicated and time consuming. 

 

We have the same cabin for both legs, so we didn't expect to have to carry anything off the ship with us. We don't expect to have anything to declare as we generally don't do any duty free shopping and buy very few souvenirs when we travel. 

 

Can someone help clear this up for me? Will we be able to get off the ship early enough to perhaps take the ferry to Circular Quay and do a bit of sightseeing? Sorry if I'm being dense in not following all the info that has been posted above.

[luckybecky]

By the way, I was speaking to an NCL rep yesterday and asked about turnaround day in Sydney, specifically if we would be able to get off the ship early, soon after docking. She assured me that there would be no problem whatsoever. No mention at all of any of the concerns raised here. 🙄

 

We've only had one other back to back. That was in Italy and it was super easy, no problem at all. So I just want to be sure I know what to expect and can plan accordingly.

 

Thanks for any info 🙂

 

[possum52]

3 hours ago, luckybecky said:

I'm terribly confused after reading this thread -- but glad I did. 

 

We are B2B New Zealand to Sydney, and then Sydney to Tahiti. With only a few hours in Sydney, we hoped we would have time to do a half day tour or something. But reading this, it sounds like getting off the ship could be very complicated and time consuming. 

 

We have the same cabin for both legs, so we didn't expect to have to carry anything off the ship with us. We don't expect to have anything to declare as we generally don't do any duty free shopping and buy very few souvenirs when we travel. 

 

Can someone help clear this up for me? Will we be able to get off the ship early enough to perhaps take the ferry to Circular Quay and do a bit of sightseeing? Sorry if I'm being dense in not following all the info that has been posted above.

I see you are on Norwegian Spirit and docking at White Bay. You will need to take a taxi/Uber to Circular Quay as ferries don't operate from there. As you are arriving from New Zealand, all passengers will go through border control but usually there is a line for those declaring goods and another line for those who don't have anything to declare. 

[luckybecky]

3 minutes ago, possum52 said:

I see you are on Norwegian Spirit and docking at White Bay. You will need to take a taxi/Uber to Circular Quay as ferries don't operate from there. As you are arriving from New Zealand, all passengers will go through border control but usually there is a line for those declaring goods and another line for those who don't have anything to declare. 

 

Thank you for that. Now I'm even more confused! LOL Looking at the ferry schedule, it appeared that there is a ferry from the Balmain East ferry dock very near the cruise ship. What am I missing?

[possum52]

The ferries only stop at Balmain East in the evening and at Balmain early in the morning according to the ferry timetable.

 

The Balmain East Ferry Wharf does not have a direct access to White Bay Cruise Ship Terminal complex. It is a roundabout way to get to the wharf from the terminal which means getting a taxi. If you look at google maps on street view where the cruise terminal car park is, you will see that the street that runs beside the terminal is up high and fenced off. The cruise terminal is in Robert Street and the first street access into Balmain is from Buchanan Street which is about a five hundred metre walk from the terminal and then it is approximately a two kilometre walk to the ferry wharf, a reasonable amount of which will be uphill.

 

 

[Hogbay]

Brilliance b2b , Fiji ,South Pacific first .  Turn around was Saturday 30th ,OPT Circular Quay . Two options 1. pick up new card and in transit and can leave ship after 7am with IPC filld out, luggage staying in cabin be back before 4pm closing for passport scan . 

2. Meet 930 and escorted of ship and passport scans around 1030 am and back on board ship . Luggage staying on ship . You cannot leave the ship again. Second cruiseus south Pacific. Hope that helps .

[arxcards]

7 hours ago, luckybecky said:

I'm terribly confused after reading this thread -- but glad I did. 

 

We are B2B New Zealand to Sydney, and then Sydney to Tahiti. With only a few hours in Sydney, we hoped we would have time to do a half day tour or something. But reading this, it sounds like getting off the ship could be very complicated and time consuming. 

 

We have the same cabin for both legs, so we didn't expect to have to carry anything off the ship with us. We don't expect to have anything to declare as we generally don't do any duty free shopping and buy very few souvenirs when we travel. 

 

Can someone help clear this up for me? Will we be able to get off the ship early enough to perhaps take the ferry to Circular Quay and do a bit of sightseeing? Sorry if I'm being dense in not following all the info that has been posted above.

It is complicated, but so much easier in your case. Unlike the US, we have domestic cruises. At this stage, we don't have a PVSA restriction that prevents us from cruising between Australian ports which is great, but also creates different scenarios for B2B cruises here.

 

To Australian authorities, your b2b cruises are international followed by international, so you should have an easy day in transit. Your luggage can remain on the ship, and you can depart in the morning to spend a day in port.

 

It is possible that NCL will provide a shuttle for B2B passengers to drop you over near Circular Quay. If not, it is really a cab or uber to get you out of White Bay. Get on the ferries at CQ and explore the harbour by all means, but not practical from Balmain.

[OzKiwiJJ]

On 12/30/2023 at 1:57 PM, arxcards said:

As with my initial response, it is complicated.

It is likely with Australian passengers boarding in Sydney and Melbourne that they will consider the cruise as an international departure from Australia. It is still an international cruise though, and will require everyone to arrive through Australian borderforce with any declarable items upon their return to Sydney. This will also apply to B2B passengers, as the following cruise is domestic (it doesn't leave Australia, so there will be no borderforce to handle an "arrival" at the end of your B2B). As above, transit is only a cruise line term. You will be arriving into Australia at the end of your first leg and still considered to be in Australia until you depart for your flight, presumably through Sydney airport.

 

It is quite possible there will be more flexibility and a more "normal" transit will apply for your general luggage, allowing it to be moved to the cabin for your 2nd leg. If you are required to take any declarable items off the ship for entry into Australia, if  impractical to hand over at luggage drop, you will be carrying them around on your tours. As an example, duty free alcohol would be a major pain through this scenario, only to hand it back to be bonded on the ship for the 2nd leg. It will likely work out OK, but it is just something to be aware of. Lots of US passengers expect transit to be just like home, and our Borderforce officials are just like border officials around the world - definitely not fans of entitled travellers.

 

Majestic. In some ways, it is a bit big for us. It was also built for the Chinese market, so I expect the other Royal class ships would suit a bit better. The bigger the ship, the less of it we focus on. We tend to find a cabin near the aft lifts, and spend much of the cruise in the back half of the ship. We find it a breeze to get around that way. I have enjoyed a cruise on Grand through Alaska, soon after she lost her shopping trolley look. Also sister ships Golden, Star & Diamond - they all fit like a glove. 

 

It is interesting to throw up a Hawaii cruise from Australia in October. On previous years, the ship would be destined to spend a couple of months in Melbourne, but Princess is not going to homeport there in 25/26. It should be a great cruise, but we are already fully subscribed for our 2025 cruises.

We've only been on Royal and Majestic but Royal had some of the same problems that Majestic does - small theatre, small lounges/bars - but at least Royal has a proper Crooners. 

[arxcards]

7 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

We've only been on Royal and Majestic but Royal had some of the same problems that Majestic does - small theatre, small lounges/bars - but at least Royal has a proper Crooners. 

Not an issue for us, as we don't spend much time in the theatre. A small bar with no entertainment is our kind of bar. Good Spirits is small on Majestic, but we pick our times to snag a seat at the bar. A proper Crooners is a bonus.

[Hogbay]

6 hours ago, possum52 said:

The ferries only stop at Balmain East in the evening and at Balmain early in the morning according to the ferry timetable.

 

The Balmain East Ferry Wharf does not have a direct access to White Bay Cruise Ship Terminal complex. It is a roundabout way to get to the wharf from the terminal which means getting a taxi. If you look at google maps on street view where the cruise terminal car park is, you will see that the street that runs beside the terminal is up high and fenced off. The cruise terminal is in Robert Street and the first street access into Balmain is from Buchanan Street which is about a five hundred metre walk from the terminal and then it is approximately a two kilometre walk to the ferry wharf, a reasonable amount of which will be uphill.

 

 

Yep on maps it looks doable but you would need a batman grapel hook , wire cuters and boy wonder .🤣 sorry bat boomerang , have included a instructional video from the dinamic dúo . 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 🤣

[luckybecky]

Thanks everyone for the tips about the ferry. I wish there was access to it because I bet the views are amazing. 

 

I just saw some footage of the fireworks in Sydney which looked spectacular. I hope you all have a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.