Back to back disembarkation days

Can any B2Bers advise procedure on change over days.

I assume you can breakfast at normal times but on previous embarcations cabins were not available until approx.2.00 pm.because of closed access doors.

Does this mean we are locked? out of cabins till then.

If wet do not fancy not being able to go back to cabin.

Also will we have to go to three lifeboat drills.

Thanks

We did a back to back a couple of years ago. We went out after breakfast and got back at about noon. We had no problem being allowed back on board but saw that the security doors to the cabins were closed. I asked if that meant that we were not allowed into our cabin. The answer was that we could get into our cabin and the doors were opened for us.

So, unless things have changed since then, you should have no problem,

You will have a b2b meeting toward the end of the first cruise where the HD/Guest Relations Manager will explain procedures, answer questions etc. Breakfast room service is available for b2bers On the last day if you want it. Not sure if you are in the same cabin or moving, but if you change cabins then it will be noted for the cabin attendants to have it ready as soon as possible. No problem having access if you need it. Yes, you need to attend all the lifeboat drills.

Phil

The security doors are closed, but you have permission to open it and go to your cabin. If you are in the same cabin for both cruises it is extremely easy, Enjoy breakfast in your room and watch everyone else leave the ship knowing you have another cruise. The pool area is yours and you are free to either roam the ship or go to the port and visit. If you need to change cabins, they will make sure your new stateroom is cleaned and readied as soon as possible and then help you move. As stated by Phil above, you will be invited to a meeting about 2 days before the end of your first cruise and all questions will be addressed. Enjoy !!!

The security doors are closed, but you have permission to open it and go to your cabin. If you are in the same cabin for both cruises it is extremely easy, Enjoy breakfast in your room and watch everyone else leave the ship knowing you have another cruise. The pool area is yours and you are free to either roam the ship or go to the port and visit. If you need to change cabins, they will make sure your new stateroom is cleaned and readied as soon as possible and then help you move. As stated by Phil above, you will be invited to a meeting about 2 days before the end of your first cruise and all questions will be addressed. Enjoy !!!

Yes you have access to your cabin. If changing they virtually do it for you hang cloths on trolley you empty drawers and bathroom and off you go.

Also laundry room is avalible about 11.00 so can catch up on laundry!! If locked ask at customer services and they will open it for you.

One tip is if you use the pool on change over day, don't open your eyes under water. I did, in Lisbon last year and the stinging , burning impact was so bad I literally could not open my eyes for 10 minutes. When I finally could, I then spent some minutes flushing my eyes under non-chemical water. That wiped the smug B2B expression off my face.

Tony

You will really enjoy the B2B experience on Azamara. We had done B2B's on larger cruiselines and were just kind of stuck wandering the virtual empty ship until things were ready for visitors mainly due to where the larger ships have to dock which is further away from town/activities...not a bad thing mind you, but on Azamara we were able to relax and eat, then leave the ship to explore the town since we were docked so close to everything, Hamburg in this instance.

Sure, on the larger ships we could have taken a cab into town, but it was just more inconvenient to us.

Azamara does B2B's very well. We have 2 booked for 2016 and are looking forward to the same experience, this time in Nice, France.

You will really enjoy the B2B experience on Azamara. We had done B2B's on larger cruiselines and were just kind of stuck wandering the virtual empty ship until things were ready for visitors mainly due to where the larger ships have to dock which is further away from town/activities...not a bad thing mind you, but on Azamara we were able to relax and eat, then leave the ship to explore the town since we were docked so close to everything, Hamburg in this instance.

Sure, on the larger ships we could have taken a cab into town, but it was just more inconvenient to us.

Azamara does B2B's very well. We have 2 booked for 2016 and are looking forward to the same experience, this time in Nice, France.

I can't think of a nicer port than Nice to enjoy on turnaround day. There is so much to see and do there. It is one of my favourite spots in the Mediterranean. :)

I can't think of a nicer port than Nice to enjoy on turnaround day. There is so much to see and do there. It is one of my favourite spots in the Mediterranean. :)

Thanks! That is "nice" to learn about Nice...;)

As b2backers, do we have to participate in the safety drill (I would imagine we would)? We are planning an excursion and are trying to figure out how much time we have for it. I wrote to Azamara to find out how this is handled but did not really get a straight answer - they said we needed to be back at 10pm (our ship leaves at midnight) - would the safety drill be this late? I would appreciate any former b2backer's advice....

As b2backers, do we have to participate in the safety drill (I would imagine we would)? We are planning an excursion and are trying to figure out how much time we have for it. I wrote to Azamara to find out how this is handled but did not really get a straight answer - they said we needed to be back at 10pm (our ship leaves at midnight) - would the safety drill be this late? I would appreciate any former b2backer's advice....

Yes, you'll need to participate in the muster, likely one to three hours before departure.

As b2backers, do we have to participate in the safety drill (I would imagine we would)? We are planning an excursion and are trying to figure out how much time we have for it. I wrote to Azamara to find out how this is handled but did not really get a straight answer - they said we needed to be back at 10pm (our ship leaves at midnight) - would the safety drill be this late? I would appreciate any former b2backer's advice....

Yes, it is required of all passengers, every voyage.

As b2backers, do we have to participate in the safety drill (I would imagine we would)? We are planning an excursion and are trying to figure out how much time we have for it. I wrote to Azamara to find out how this is handled but did not really get a straight answer - they said we needed to be back at 10pm (our ship leaves at midnight) - would the safety drill be this late? I would appreciate any former b2backer's advice....

there should be a drill around 4 pm and here is one about 9 pm also. i have done the 9 at night as it is a make up drill. i had two so far on deck 10 in the library and one which was an overnight in the show room in the late morning. i had notices under my door and handed to me at gangway.. one i missed due to flying in as we over nighted and the other I was off ship. so if you are running late breathe and go to the make up one.

My understanding of maritime law is that there is a requirement ON EMBARKATION for all passengers to attend a safety briefing. Perhaps the Azamara chief blogger would please explain why your cruise line requires back to back passengers to attend repeat safety briefings at the start of every subsequent voyage? On this basis why not hold a safety briefing every seven or fourteen days? What is special about turn round day?

Why does Azamara not host a dinner on the first night of 2nd and subsequent cruises for b2b passengers with at least one senior officer present in one of its speciality restaurants? This is a nice touch by other cruise lines in recognition of loyalty.

A meeting for b2b passengers? Why? Are b2bers an unwelcome presence on turn round day who could potentially interfere with the ship's operation?

We will be doing our first b2b on Azamara next month, after many such instances on other cruise lines, and envisage a major row looming on turn round day.

I look forward to hearing from Azamara's chief blogger on these points.

BTW I have been cruising since 1964.

Kindest regards

Master Echo

Turn round day for b2bers really is very straightforward. The meeting talked about here happens a day or two before cruise end, depending upon itinerary. In it, details of the procedure are given, questions answered if there are any and paperwork and new room keycards handed out. On the morning of turn round day all the b2bers meet (in the Discovery Lounge) and usually escorted down to the Guest Relations area to punch out using their old card and have their picture taken and punch in against the new one. You are free to use the ship as you please, having regard for what might be going on around the ship on this busy day.

My experience of b2bs on Azamara is they are very popular (partly because of the b2b savings on each cruise sector) and I've regularly seen more than 30 stay on. On one occasion thaere was more than 70. For that reason a Specialty meal is not practical, nor in my view necessary.

I've done a mop up session for the lifeboat drill in the Library because I've been out for the day. It's no big deal. I've let Guest Relations know beforehand as a matter of courtesy.

Phil

My understanding of maritime law is that there is a requirement ON EMBARKATION for all passengers to attend a safety briefing. Perhaps the Azamara chief blogger would please explain why your cruise line requires back to back passengers to attend repeat safety briefings at the start of every subsequent voyage? On this basis why not hold a safety briefing every seven or fourteen days? What is special about turn round day?

 

Why does Azamara not host a dinner on the first night of 2nd and subsequent cruises for b2b passengers with at least one senior officer present in one of its speciality restaurants? This is a nice touch by other cruise lines in recognition of loyalty.

 

A meeting for b2b passengers? Why? Are b2bers an unwelcome presence on turn round day who could potentially interfere with the ship's operation?

We will be doing our first b2b on Azamara next month, after many such instances on other cruise lines, and envisage a major row looming on turn round day.

 

I look forward to hearing from Azamara's chief blogger on these points.

 

BTW I have been cruising since 1964.

Kindest regards

Master Echo

Not at all...b2b's are most welcome. If I remember correctly, there was a nice little reception with appetizers and drinks, with the Captain and some other officers present, but it was not on disembarkation day...it was held another time...someone refresh my memory as to when it's held.

As someone mentioned, it is a good time to catch up on laundry if you need to. We were in the port of Civitavecchia, so we did not leave the ship. It was such a relaxing day. We were fortunate enough to have the same cabin on both legs of our cruise.

My understanding of maritime law is that there is a requirement ON EMBARKATION for all passengers to attend a safety briefing. Perhaps the Azamara chief blogger would please explain why your cruise line requires back to back passengers to attend repeat safety briefings at the start of every subsequent voyage? On this basis why not hold a safety briefing every seven or fourteen days? What is special about turn round day?

 

Why does Azamara not host a dinner on the first night of 2nd and subsequent cruises for b2b passengers with at least one senior officer present in one of its speciality restaurants? This is a nice touch by other cruise lines in recognition of loyalty.

 

A meeting for b2b passengers? Why? Are b2bers an unwelcome presence on turn round day who could potentially interfere with the ship's operation?

 

We will be doing our first b2b on Azamara next month, after many such instances on other cruise lines, and envisage a major row looming on turn round day.

 

I look forward to hearing from Azamara's chief blogger on these points.

 

BTW I have been cruising since 1964.

Kindest regards

Master Echo

The back-to-back meeting is intended to provide information to back-to-back passengers to make that day as easy as possible for them, and typically is hosted by the hotel director, concierge, and guest relations manager. It has been held, on most cruises where we have done back-to-backs, the night before changeover.

Here's how Seabourn handles passengers who miss muster on their second cruise of a back-to-back:

http://www.cruisemates.com/forum/seabourn/389399-kicked-off-missing-drill-back2back-cruise.html

I find comment #14 toward the bottom especially appropriate.;)

Thinking a bit further about this, I'm wondering if the requirement to attend muster on the second cruise of a back-to-back is a result of having to disembark the ship after the first cruise and then re-embark to begin the second cruise. This differs from the case we experienced on a 35-day Tahiti to Singapore this past winter. One could also have booked on that same sailing just the segment from Tahiti to Sydney, or just the segment from Sydney to Singapore.

So, technically, by booking the 35-day cruise, we did not "disembark and re-embark" in Sydney, and so might not have been required to attend the muster in Sydney. Frankly, I've sat through so many musters that I can't remember if we did or not, but that difference might explain why a muster is required for passengers on the second cruise of a back-to-back.

In any case, I can't see why it should be anything to be upset about, as one can attend the later make-up as explained by excitedofharpenden in his posting above.

The best part of the meeting is the food and drinks- you do get your new key too.. I sometimes go and sometimes do not.. as far a drill goes it seems to be a law.. they take your cabin number and if you miss the afternoon drill they will take it at night. as far as a special dinner -who needs all that food?/

Thinking a bit further about this, I'm wondering if the requirement to attend muster on the second cruise of a back-to-back is a result of having to disembark the ship after the first cruise and then re-embark to begin the second cruise. This differs from the case we experienced on a 35-day Tahiti to Singapore this past winter. One could also have booked on that same sailing just the segment from Tahiti to Sydney, or just the segment from Sydney to Singapore.

 

So, technically, by booking the 35-day cruise, we did not "disembark and re-embark" in Sydney, and so might not have been required to attend the muster in Sydney. Frankly, I've sat through so many musters that I can't remember if we did or not, but that difference might explain why a muster is required for passengers on the second cruise of a back-to-back.

 

In any case, I can't see why it should be anything to be upset about, as one can attend the later make-up as explained by excitedofharpenden in his posting above.

We did not disembark and still had to attend the muster drill on our second leg of the b2b.:D. It's no big delay, really. What does it take...10-15 minutes? The worst part is pax who delay the start of the drill because they do not show up in time. That makes me angrier than a short muster drill.

A big thank you to my fellow CC posters who've jumped in to answer Master Echo. Honestly I was surprised anyone would think we don't LOVE B2bs!

More when I'm done flying...

(partly because of the b2b savings on each cruise sector)

Phil

We've never sailed ACC, but have booked the British Open trip 2017 (a "special BD for my husband). I am planning on booking the Norwegian fjords cruise tomorrow so it will be a b2b (never done that before). What "b2b savings" are you talking about? I am a neophyte and know nothing so any advice appreciated.

chris

We've never sailed ACC, but have booked the British Open trip 2017 (a "special BD for my husband). I am planning on booking the Norwegian fjords cruise tomorrow so it will be a b2b (never done that before). What "b2b savings" are you talking about? I am a neophyte and know nothing so any advice appreciated.

 

chris

Each cruise you book has a b2b discount, which is a nice perk. If you have questions and have not booked yet, call ACC and they can tell you specifics related to what b2b you are planning.

Each cruise you book has a b2b discount, which is a nice perk. If you have questions and have not booked yet, call ACC and they can tell you specifics related to what b2b you are planning.

Thanks. I will call ACC in the morning. I was booking through a third party and planned on booking in the morning. I have a hold on the cabin through tomorrow.

It pays to read CC!

Thanks again.

chris