Back to Back Cruise Procedure

Our Sky cruise was one of them that changed to Cuba. As of now, we are keeping the Cuban itinerary and adding a 3-night as well. We have a group and some really do not want to spend the extra on travel documents for Cuba. So, some of us opted to turn the trip in to back to back cruises.

I do not have any experience with a back to back on NCL or Port of Miami. We have the same cabin for both sailings.

I have read different experiences depending on ports and cruise lines, however, I can't find anything for NCL or POM.

Does anyone know if we will meet with other back to back cruisers and be escorted off and then back on the ship? The NCL agent didn't know the procedure.

THANKS!

Our Sky cruise was one of them that changed to Cuba. As of now, we are keeping the Cuban itinerary and adding a 3-night as well. We have a group and some really do not want to spend the extra on travel documents for Cuba. So, some of us opted to turn the trip in to back to back cruises.

 

I do not have any experience with a back to back on NCL or Port of Miami. We have the same cabin for both sailings.

I have read different experiences depending on ports and cruise lines, however, I can't find anything for NCL or POM.

Does anyone know if we will meet with other back to back cruisers and be escorted off and then back on the ship? The NCL agent didn't know the procedure.

THANKS!

In US you must leave ship and you can either disembark for the day like any other port or you can wait with other b2b folks who are not taking a port day and be escorted off/on ship.

In any case you will get a paper with instructions a day or two before.

We would normally attempt to do a Shorex during the day of a B2B to get round any hassle. As has been said, the ship has to be clean (empty) between cruises in an American port (and in Vancouver when the next port is in the USA). In that case you would personally have to leave the boat as you would at the end of a cruise, your luggage will stay on board, and wait for the boat to be cleared by the authorities. You could be waiting for quite a period, My wife had an hour plus in San Pedro (LA) to wait to get back on. If you are lucky arrangements will be made to allow you back on first, that is, before they embark new passengers, but that is not always the case. We were new passengers in Vancouver and the B2B passengers were in with the rest of us; and NOT happy. Good luck; hope all goes smoothly.

You will be told where to meet other b2bers. Then, if you want to go to Bayside or do something else, you will be given a sticker saying "I'm still on Vacation!" Customs will clear you, and you will be on your way, and you will be told when to be back on board. You can immediately embark , but I think you have to stay out of the cabin for a bit. Anyway, it is easy peasy.

On a B2B you will not have to go thru the check-in procedure again and get a new room key card.

Your existing key card and documentation is sufficient - Security getting on and off the ship will

not change - you will have to leave the ship briefly as noted above. For embarking check with

NCL at the gangway for when you can board - usually right a way after suites and handicap guests !

It is not complicated - when doing this at a new port it may be a trial and error until NCL fine tunes it.