Back to back cruisers on Allure

Hi,

It's been many years since I did a back to back that I cannot remember the process and what's open and available for us to use on the switchover day i.e the end of our first week, start of our second.

Can anyone talk me through what the schedule is for back to back cruisers or maybe post some literature you have been given recently from RC on this?

We're on the Allure on 30th Sept and staying on (in the same cabin) on 7th Oct.

Thanks!

Hi,

 

It's been many years since I did a back to back that I cannot remember the process and what's open and available for us to use on the switchover day i.e the end of our first week, start of our second.

 

Can anyone talk me through what the schedule is for back to back cruisers or maybe post some literature you have been given recently from RC on this?

 

We're on the Allure on 30th Sept and staying on (in the same cabin) on 7th Oct.

 

Thanks!

In terminal you will be issued new seapass cards and customs will verify your passport. Then you might have to wait a little bit (sometimes it a long little bit)and go back on ship.

The pools are open and your cabin will be available to you. Just have to tell crew back to back as they will say cabins not open to 1pm. Food venues opens up at specified times.

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The pools are open and your cabin will be available to you. Just have to tell crew back to back as they will say cabins not open to 1pm. Food venues opens up at specified times.

 

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Are there not locked doors preventing access to corridors?

... what's open and available for us to use on the switchover day ...

Probably no food or bar options until right before new cruisers are embarking.

Are there not locked doors preventing access to corridors?

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B2B on Jewel twice. Meeting onboard at 9:45. That was over around 10:30. New pax showed up by 11:15 so there really wasn't a lot of "alone time" on board. A bar or two opened with arrival of new pax. Doors to room passageways are closed but unlocked. You certainly have access to your room. On Jewel we didn't have to leave the ship. Immigration came on the ship to our meeting.

B2B on Jewel twice. Meeting onboard at 9:45. That was over around 10:30. New pax showed up by 11:15 so there really wasn't a lot of "alone time" on board. A bar or two opened with arrival of new pax. Doors to room passageways are closed but unlocked. You certainly have access to your room. On Jewel we didn't have to leave the ship. Immigration came on the ship to our meeting.

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Thanks for all the responses..,, I'm wondering where we will have breakfast that morning.. will they make special arrangements for us?

When on Oasis at Christmas just for a week practically everything was closed, certainly what we saw anyway.

We're hoping once we have gone through all formalities we can get off the ship and maybe do a bus tour around Fort Lauderdale.

Thanks for all the responses..,, I'm wondering where we will have breakfast that morning.. will they make special arrangements for us?

 

When on Oasis at Christmas just for a week practically everything was closed, certainly what we saw anyway.

 

We're hoping once we have gone through all formalities we can get off the ship and maybe do a bus tour around Fort Lauderdale.

I don't think they'll make special breakfast arrangements. There are a variety of breakfast options open for all travelers. Not sure why a special breakfast would be a think for B2B. Just do as you wish and meet at the designated time and place.

All the food/drink venues close at 9 or 9:30 to get ready for the next batch of people. You might get a special lunch in a dining room for the turnaround (depends on numbers). On Vision we met in the atrium until all passengers were off, walked off and through immigration, got new cards and got back on.

You can get off any time before or with the B2B group to do things on your own but cannot reboard on your own until new passengers start boarding. In Galveston they would not let you off again to walk around once you reboarded. Other ports we have reboarded and then gone into town. If you are doing a tour pick up your new cruise card and leave early.

Turnaround was a problem on the extended Allure sailing in September. Originally had about 50 scheduled but since Florida area didn't have power and had flight problems we had 400 decide to stay on for the next 4 days. Good deal for them, like $400 for a cabin. But when we got in the terminal they were missing cruise cards for around 250 people. Took over an hour of slow distribution before they decided to let us all onboard without cruise cards. Hotel manager had to tell terminal people how to check us in without the cards. Then BIG lines for a few hours at Guest Services. The people that left the ship had it alot easier - got off, did tour or whatever, got back on and didn't see the hassle.

That said, they did a decent job of perks. Second cruise was refunded as a future credit for those who didn't make it (we were 3 days late getting in). Or you could sail for half back as refundable onboard credit, half back as future credit. And we sailed with about 1600 passengers onboard. More waiters in Mytime dining than passengers.

Thanks for all the responses..,, I'm wondering where we will have breakfast that morning.. will they make special arrangements for us?

 

When on Oasis at Christmas just for a week practically everything was closed, certainly what we saw anyway.

 

We're hoping once we have gone through all formalities we can get off the ship and maybe do a bus tour around Fort Lauderdale.

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Hi,

 

It's been many years since I did a back to back that I cannot remember the process and what's open and available for us to use on the switchover day i.e the end of our first week, start of our second.

 

Can anyone talk me through what the schedule is for back to back cruisers or maybe post some literature you have been given recently from RC on this?

 

We're on the Allure on 30th Sept and staying on (in the same cabin) on 7th Oct.

 

Thanks!

We have done several B2B's on Allure and will be doing one 9/16 & 9/23. I promise to leave the ship in good shape for you.

Here is what you can expect in some variation.

You will receive a final bill statement for your first cruise the last morning of your cruise. (Caution if you have pool towels turn them in Saturday. If not you will be charged for the towels.)

All guests will have normal breakfast options until about 9:30 AM (Not Johnny Rockets) check compass.

As a B2B cruiser you will receive in your room one or two nights before the end of your cruise a preliminary instruction list of where and when to assemble. Also what to take with you. If you were changing rooms you have additional instructions.

In the morning as other guest are disembarking you will assemble in a public area around 10 or 10:30 AM with documents you have been instructed to bring.

Things from this point can vary but ultimately will be the same.

.

They may or may not give you your new seapass card before you disembark.

They at some point will announce that the group is disembarking and guide you as a group off the ship using your old sea card to ping off. (This is done after all other guests have successfully disembarked)

You will be guided to a separate terminal waiting area. .

They may or may not take your sea pass card. If they take it it will be returned sometime early your next cruise. If you do not have a new seapass card for this cruise they will give it to you here.

When customs has cleared for boarding the group is guided to the boarding stations to have pictures taken for the new seapass cards and you ding in.

With that process completed you are a regular guest and unguided. (except you have access to your room)

Most likely your original instructions mentioned a special luncheon for the B2B cruisers. This may be in a specialty restaurant or the MDR.

None of our B2B experiences have been exactly the same. Variations have to do with number of B2B;ers and current ship personnel.

We have done several B2B's on Allure and will be doing one 9/16 & 9/23. I promise to leave the ship in good shape for you.

 

Here is what you can expect in some variation.

 

You will receive a final bill statement for your first cruise the last morning of your cruise. (Caution if you have pool towels turn them in Saturday. If not you will be charged for the towels.)

 

All guests will have normal breakfast options until about 9:30 AM (Not Johnny Rockets) check compass.

 

As a B2B cruiser you will receive in your room one or two nights before the end of your cruise a preliminary instruction list of where and when to assemble. Also what to take with you. If you were changing rooms you have additional instructions.

 

In the morning as other guest are disembarking you will assemble in a public area around 10 or 10:30 AM with documents you have been instructed to bring.

 

Things from this point can vary but ultimately will be the same.

.

They may or may not give you your new seapass card before you disembark.

They at some point will announce that the group is disembarking and guide you as a group off the ship using your old sea card to ping off. (This is done after all other guests have successfully disembarked)

You will be guided to a separate terminal waiting area. .

They may or may not take your sea pass card. If they take it it will be returned sometime early your next cruise. If you do not have a new seapass card for this cruise they will give it to you here.

When customs has cleared for boarding the group is guided to the boarding stations to have pictures taken for the new seapass cards and you ding in.

With that process completed you are a regular guest and unguided. (except you have access to your room)

 

Most likely your original instructions mentioned a special luncheon for the B2B cruisers. This may be in a specialty restaurant or the MDR.

 

None of our B2B experiences have been exactly the same. Variations have to do with number of B2B;ers and current ship personnel.

Thanks so much for your detailed response.... very useful, thanks so much.... so you're sailing the fortnight before us... can't wait..!

We just did b2b on Oasis in Oct into Nov. We got a letter stating that we were to report to the Schooner Lounge nlt a specific time (like 930 or something, don't remember exactly). They handed out new cards and then as soon as everyone was off the ship, they walked us off and didn't take us through customs perse, but turned us around once we got close and had a CBP officer look at our passports as we walked back to the waiting area. We ended up waiting about 10 min int he suite waiting area and then we were first back onboard. DH and I were #2 and #3. A woman on a scooter was determined to be first and was lol. As soon as we walked onboard, they started boarding suites, etc so we (about 60 of us) were only onboard alone for a couple of minutes. We went straight to Starbucks and got coffee. We then had lunch at Giovanni's (all b2bers were offered it). We were able to go to our cabin anytime we wanted since they just did a regular cleaning. Our door was shut when we went back before the hallways were open, while the others being cleaned were open. It was an easy process even if it did involve some waiting.

We did not have to have new pictures taken. The cards they handed out to us already had our pics linked to them from our original boarding. We also got to keep our first seapass.

Thanks for the info.My wife and I are going on our first B2B on May 13th and May 20th on the Allure.Can,t wait!! :p

We just did b2b on Oasis in Oct into Nov. We got a letter stating that we were to report to the Schooner Lounge nlt a specific time (like 930 or something, don't remember exactly). They handed out new cards and then as soon as everyone was off the ship, they walked us off and didn't take us through customs perse, but turned us around once we got close and had a CBP officer look at our passports as we walked back to the waiting area. We ended up waiting about 10 min int he suite waiting area and then we were first back onboard. DH and I were #2 and #3. A woman on a scooter was determined to be first and was lol. As soon as we walked onboard, they started boarding suites, etc so we (about 60 of us) were only onboard alone for a couple of minutes. We went straight to Starbucks and got coffee. We then had lunch at Giovanni's (all b2bers were offered it). We were able to go to our cabin anytime we wanted since they just did a regular cleaning. Our door was shut when we went back before the hallways were open, while the others being cleaned were open. It was an easy process even if it did involve some waiting.

 

We did not have to have new pictures taken. The cards they handed out to us already had our pics linked to them from our original boarding. We also got to keep our first seapass.

This is really useful, thanks.

Was lunch in Giovanni’s the standard menu at standard price?

Thanks for responding.

This is really useful, thanks.

 

Was lunch in Giovanni’s the standard menu at standard price?

 

Thanks for responding.

Can't believe we did not meet up in 2 weeks BND. Next time we will have to meet up for sure.

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When we did an Allure B2B a year and half ago, much of this matches up with our experience.

Total BTB were about 20-30 people. Met at Schooner's bar, provided soda's, light breakfast snacks. Led us off the ship. Sat in the terminal for a few minutes for a Custom's agent to walk through. Led back on the ship. We could go to Giovanni for a complimentary lunch. Once I got back home I looked at the Giovanni's lunch menu that they charge extra and it seemed similar to what we were offered for our complimentary meal.

We were instructed we could back to our cabins whenever we wanted. We just pushed open the fire doors, letting the people camped out in front that we are B2B cruisers so are allowed to do this. As we walked down the corridor to our cabin, whenever a crew member challenged us, we just calmly mentioned that we are B2B'ers. No hassles.

Thanks for all the responses!

Thanks for the info.My wife and I are going on our first B2B on May 13th and May 20th on the Allure.Can,t wait!! :p

You will enjoy it. We always sail on B2B's .

A tip for anyone doing a B2B with RCI for the first time.

I have always filled out the cruise evaluation card at an end of a cruise. I feel I owe it to the crew members who have served me and the cruise line.

Several years ago RCI did away with the evaluation card. They now send you and e-mail after your cruise asking you to fill out a survey. IMHO a cost savings change due to using new technology.

Here is the tip. That survey needs to be responded to in 1 week. After that it is no longer available. My first B2B after this change I thought I would wait until I got home to fill out the surveys. I was unable to access the survey for my first week. Now I make sure I fill out the survey for the first sailing while on the ship doing the 2nd leg.

A tip for anyone doing a B2B with RCI for the first time.

 

I have always filled out the cruise evaluation card at an end of a cruise. I feel I owe it to the crew members who have served me and the cruise line.

 

Several years ago RCI did away with the evaluation card. They now send you and e-mail after your cruise asking you to fill out a survey. IMHO a cost savings change due to using new technology.

 

Here is the tip. That survey needs to be responded to in 1 week. After that it is no longer available. My first B2B after this change I thought I would wait until I got home to fill out the surveys. I was unable to access the survey for my first week. Now I make sure I fill out the survey for the first sailing while on the ship doing the 2nd leg.

Don't know if they still do this, but on Adventure, they gave B2B guests an access code for 30 minutes of free internet to enable them to fill out the survey.