Back-To-Back Turnaround Question

We are doing a back-to-back on Westerdam this holiday season. I was wondering if we have to get off the ship when all pax disembark after the first leg? 7 years ago we did a back-to-back on Noordam, and we had to get off and go wait in a "holding room" for an hour. I was wondering if this policy has changed and we can stay on the ship, or is it required that we disembark. :confused: Advice?

The last 2 times we did B2B was on the Nieuw Amsterdam, and all the "In Transit" passengers had to meet in the theater. Our cruise cards were scanned in and we had to wait until all had arrived. If you are lucky, people will be prompt and the whole thing won't take very long. Or, you could have people that we had. Even though the ship gives you explicit instructions on what to do on turn around day, and makes many announcements on the day telling people what to do, there are still the people that are too stupid or inconsiderate, that hold everything up.

If your turn around day is at a USA port, the procedure has not changed...and is dictated by CBP (Customs and Border Protection) Policy. The ship must be "zeroed out" before passengers are allowed to reboard. This means all passengers (including infants) must leave the ship, clear Passport control, and then either wait...or perhaps go off and enjoy the turn-around port. All it takes is one passenger who does not disembark....to cause everyone lots of grief.

When we did a turn around on the Westerdam they had all the continuing passengers (who did not choose to go ashore for the day) meet in a lounge around 9:30. We were then escorted off the ship, quickly cleared Passport control, and then waited in a roped-off area that had some metal chairs. After about 45 min we were allowed to reboard.

Hank

We have done many B2B and B2B2B2B in FLL and most often we needed to get off the ship however there were a couple of times that the government officials came on the ship and they checked us in the show lounge. I think it depends on the number of people doing the B2B and the Government officials on duty that day.

From my experience whether having to disembark or just meet in the theater depends on the number of B2B passengers.at least in FLL. Processing 500 passengers in the ship's theater is easier for CBP than to have them all come ashore.

You may not know until you are on board the ship.

From my experience whether having to disembark or just meet in the theater depends on the number of B2B passengers.at least in FLL. Processing 500 passengers in the ship's theater is easier for CBP than to have them all come ashore.

 

You may not know until you are on board the ship.

This is what happened to us in Jan on a B2B2B. You'll have lots of notice what the procedure will be before you dock.

Allan

We have done many, many back-to-back and collector cruises out of Ft Lauderdale.

On cruises when there were a lot of passengers staying over for a second cruise, most times the officials came onto the ship and we had to sit in the show room.

When there were only a couple hundred of us -- we had to get off the ship.

Last year on the Koningsdam in FFL, we just went to the theater. Keep in mind, you have the option to walk off with the first group in the morning, and do/see things ashore, and they have an easy priority process when you come back to the ship.

We would reiterate that folks do not have to go through this zero-out waiting procedure if they are content to simply go ashore and enjoy the port. For example, if turning around in Ft Lauderdale, you would be free to get off the ship in the morning (by around 9) and enjoy the local area. You would usually be given a "Transit" card to get back aboard (later) without having to go through all the lines.

Hank

My last cruise I just got a card saying "In Transit" for Amsterdam, to make sure I could skip the check-in lines to reboard again. We could get off the ship and on again just like any other port, and there were no special times to do so. My cruise partner just stayed on board.

We would reiterate that folks do not have to go through this zero-out waiting procedure if they are content to simply go ashore and enjoy the port. For example, if turning around in Ft Lauderdale, you would be free to get off the ship in the morning (by around 9) and enjoy the local area. You would usually be given a "Transit" card to get back aboard (later) without having to go through all the lines.

That has always worked for us. I never miss an opportunity for a quick trek to Total Wine for the second part of the cruise ;p

That has always worked for us. I never miss an opportunity for a quick trek to Total Wine for the second part of the cruise ;p

Wise man taking advantage of a trip to the "candy" store:')

Wise man taking advantage of a trip to the "candy" store:')

While the wise lady takes advantage of the "Ross" store ;p

While the wise lady takes advantage of the "Ross" store ;p

Two of several reasons I always come early pre cruise to FLL ;p

Thanks, everyone. Can anyone answer a question that is related? On the second part of our B2B we are having 3 of our adult children join us. Can they go through embarkation earlier and come onwith us, or do they have to go through the lines like everyone else? Again, thanks for any info!

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Thanks, everyone. Can anyone answer a question that is related? On the second part of our B2B we are having 3 of our adult children join us. Can they go through embarkation earlier and come onwith us, or do they have to go through the lines like everyone else? Again, thanks for any info!

 

 

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Interesting issue. When you get off the ship and leave the secure area (during your turn around day) you are in transit status (you will likely be given a "transit" card along with your cruise card/room key to use when you return to the ship. But your children will still have to go through the normal check-in process in order to set up their account and get their cruise card. You can certainly stop at Guest Relations (during your first cruise) and ask if there is anyway to get them aboard earlier then the norm...but we strongly suspect the answer will be no.

Hank