bzv143 Posted September 12, 2010 #1 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Help! If we are doing a 14 day cruise on a ship that does two back-to-back 7 day cruises out of Ft. Lauderdale, do we have to disembark and re-go through security? Can our DD, who is only doing the first leg with us, stay in our cabin (or on the ship) with us past her time to disembark (she and her family will be on a later flight out of Ft. Lauderdale)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LADYLAYLA Posted September 12, 2010 #2 Share Posted September 12, 2010 You will need to disembark -- they need to "clear the ship". Your DD will not be allowed back onboard. Perhaps you all can take a tour around Ft Lauderdale? If you get a chance - go to one of the Gator farm/expreiences if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted September 12, 2010 #3 Share Posted September 12, 2010 No, you only need to "zero" your card. That is, walk off the ship with your DD. Scan your card. Then, when the ship is officially cleared, scan back in, probably with a new card. If you walk off at 9:30, you will probably be back on the ship a little after 10. You don't need to pack. You don't need to go thru security. You will receive direction on the exact details in the day or two prior to your "turn-around" day. They will be excursions offered, or you can DIY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 12, 2010 #4 Share Posted September 12, 2010 The Intransit people -- those taking the next segment will be the last ones off the ship. Your daughter will have to get off the ship earlier --at her assigned time. As said the ship must be down to "ZERO" count before anyone can get back onto the ship and that includes all Intransit passengers. We have done quite a few back-to-back cruises in many ports including Ft Lauderdale. The last full day of the cruise all Intransit passengers will get a letter indicating the time and place they are to meet to go ashore to go through immigration. It can be anywhere from 9:15 - 9:45. A person from the front office has always escorted us off the ship -- taken us through immigration -- and once the ship was at Zero count -- escorted us back onto the ship. You will need your passport to do through immigration. On our last few cruises our we did not get a new ID card as the original one was programmed for both cruises. There have been a couple of times when the ship did not clear right away and we had to wait in the cruise terminal for 1 1/2 hours. Another time the CDC came on for inspection and again we were not allowed back onto the ship until they were done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted September 12, 2010 #5 Share Posted September 12, 2010 The last time we had to do this in FLL was this past May. If we wanted to go out of the port into FLL then we could simply leave the ship at any time. However, for those who stayed on the ship (us) we met as a group in one of the lounges and then were escorted off the ship, had to pass through an immigration officer who looked at our passports, and then were herded into a "holding" area where we sat and waited about 45 min for the ship to be cleared by ICE. At that point they told us we could re-board. The process was well organized (they even had coffee and tea in the port holding area) but was a royal pain. Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzv143 Posted September 12, 2010 Author #6 Share Posted September 12, 2010 This is why I adore Cruise Critic... you all are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO wonderful and helpful! Many, many thanks! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevenseasnomad Posted September 12, 2010 #7 Share Posted September 12, 2010 The Intransit people -- those taking the next segment will be the last ones off the ship. Last full day of the cruise all Intransit passengers will get a letter indicating the time and place they are to meet to go ashore to go through immigration. It can be anywhere from 9:15 - 9:45. A person from the front office has always escorted us off the ship -- taken us through immigration -- and once the ship was at Zero count -- escorted us back onto the ship. You will need your passport to do through immigration. On our last few cruises our we did not get a new ID card as the original one was programmed for both cruises. There have been a couple of times when the ship did not clear right away and we had to wait in the cruise terminal for 1 1/2 hours. Another time the CDC came on for inspection and again we were not allowed back onto the ship until they were done. Oh no! I am distressed to read that this is how HAL deals with those passengers on a B2B. As my DH points out, HAL may have no say in the situation, they may have to follow some law dealing with B2B passengers. Next summer, we're booked B2B on Maasdam's New England/Canada cruise. The turn-around occurs in Montreal & we had hoped to get off the ship early to sightsee, since we must be back onboard by 3:30 according to our TA. If we can't get off before 9:30 or 10:00 (or after the rest of the passengers clear) that really cuts into our already limited time ashore. We'll revisit the other ports on that itinerary, but Montreal is a one-shot deal. We are also limited as to when we can travel and this particular cruise from Boston, back to Boston was the only one that fit into our schedule, otherwise we would have done Montreal to Montreal, where we could have had more time in that city. Has anyone else done this particular B2B from Boston? How was Montreal handled? Thanks for any advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevenseasnomad Posted September 12, 2010 #8 Share Posted September 12, 2010 hlitner answered as I was posting. Thanks. You've eased my initial panic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Ellen Posted September 12, 2010 #9 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Oh no! I am distressed to read that this is how HAL deals with those passengers on a B2B. As my DH points out, HAL may have no say in the situation, they may have to follow some law dealing with B2B passengers. Your DH is correct - it isn't how HAL "deals with those passengers on a B2B". It is due to laws/regulations. We once did a HAL cruise where we stayed onboard during 2 'turnovers' (a b2b2b). It wasn't Ft. Lauderdale, or even a U.S. port. HAL didn't have any problem with us staying onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 12, 2010 #10 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Oh no! I am distressed to read that this is how HAL deals with those passengers on a B2B. As my DH points out, HAL may have no say in the situation, they may have to follow some law dealing with B2B passengers. Next summer, we're booked B2B on Maasdam's New England/Canada cruise. The turn-around occurs in Montreal & we had hoped to get off the ship early to sightsee, since we must be back onboard by 3:30 according to our TA. If we can't get off before 9:30 or 10:00 (or after the rest of the passengers clear) that really cuts into our already limited time ashore. We'll revisit the other ports on that itinerary, but Montreal is a one-shot deal. We are also limited as to when we can travel and this particular cruise from Boston, back to Boston was the only one that fit into our schedule, otherwise we would have done Montreal to Montreal, where we could have had more time in that city. Has anyone else done this particular B2B from Boston? How was Montreal handled? Thanks for any advice. We do the Boston to Montreal to Boston Maasdam cruise every summer b-to-b and have for years. You can leave the ship in Montreal the moment it is cleared and return at your leisure. Pay attention to all aboard time like in all ports and have a great day. Montreal is a fabulous city and we always find lots to do on our 'turnaround day' there. When you return to the ship as an 'in-transit' you do not have to go through the whole check in line. Tell one of the Officials you are in transit, show your passport and you can avoid the boarding line by going behind to a different clearance spot. Be sure to carry your passports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted September 12, 2010 #11 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Your DH is correct - it isn't how HAL "deals with those passengers on a B2B". It is due to laws/regulations. We once did a HAL cruise where we stayed onboard during 2 'turnovers' (a b2b2b). It wasn't Ft. Lauderdale, or even a U.S. port. HAL didn't have any problem with us staying onboard. The whole issue may be US customs and immigration. We were just on a 20 day cruise that was also marketed as two 10 days. The port was Rome. We treated the day as any day in port, except for two things. We got our own gangway to come and go, and there was this huge mob of new passengers rushing on their gangway, with their "first day" energy and curiosity. I doubt HAL wants to just abuse the passengers who are booking B2B cruises. That seems a little silly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OVgirl Posted September 12, 2010 #12 Share Posted September 12, 2010 On a B2B you can leave the ship at anytime you want. You do not wait for the other B2B passengers. I guess it could even be as early as 7:30am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 12, 2010 #13 Share Posted September 12, 2010 B-bo-B (in-transit) guests can go ashore as soon as the ship is cleared. You clear Immigration and are on your way to enjoy the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 12, 2010 #14 Share Posted September 12, 2010 On a B2B you can leave the ship at anytime you want. You do not wait for the other B2B passengers. I guess it could even be as early as 7:30am. In the US you can leave the ship at 7:30 if it has been cleared -- BUT -- you can not get back on the ship until the count is down to ZERO. That is not a ruling by HAL -- but by the US immigration officials. So if you have no place to go at that early hour -- you will have a loooooong wait in the cruise terminal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 12, 2010 #15 Share Posted September 12, 2010 The whole issue may be US customs and immigration. We were just on a 20 day cruise that was also marketed as two 10 days. The port was Rome. We treated the day as any day in port, except for two things. We got our own gangway to come and go, and there was this huge mob of new passengers rushing on their gangway, with their "first day" energy and curiosity. I doubt HAL wants to just abuse the passengers who are booking B2B cruises. That seems a little silly. There was a time before 9/11 and for a few months after where in Ft Lauderdale we were permitted to get off the ship to go through immigration and then get back on through the crew area. Those were the days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 12, 2010 #16 Share Posted September 12, 2010 I remember when we were permitted to reboard immediately, too. We would make a quick pass through the terminal and go right through the back entrance back to the crew gangway and right aboard. This zero down business is only about 1 1/2 to 2 years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted September 12, 2010 #17 Share Posted September 12, 2010 We agree that this issue has very little (if anything) to do with HA but is simply the cruise line following mandated procedures dictated by the the US government. If you read my previous post we tried to explain that we were pleased by HA's attempt to make the procedure as painless as possible, but it is still a "royal pain" thanks to our government. Instead of chasing illegals, or putting more manpower (peoplepower to the political correct crowd) on the border with Mexico they continue to complicate things for cruise ships. Makes me cringe when I do my taxes :( Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 12, 2010 #18 Share Posted September 12, 2010 I know that we have waited for that Zero count down for at least 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PescadoAmarillo Posted September 13, 2010 #19 Share Posted September 13, 2010 We do B2B cruises on Princess quite a lot, and usually (not always) our ship is docked in Berth 2 at Port Everglades, which is a wonderful location for a quick walk over to Walgreens or Publix. Which berth does HAL us (primarily, understanding more than one HAL ship in port would mean one of them is berthed elsewhere)? Is it close enough for a walk to Walgreens/Publix? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasRCH Posted September 13, 2010 #20 Share Posted September 13, 2010 It may be different at FLL, but in Venice, Italy last April, we did not get off the ship because it was raining. They also told us we did not need to go to the lifeboat drill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2cruisecats Posted September 13, 2010 #21 Share Posted September 13, 2010 In Venice, we "escaped" early before the departures. We had breakfast at the train station ... great coffee ... and hopped a train to Verona and toured for the day. We came back had a great meal at a place we had found pre-cruise and carted back a case of wine from a shop we had found on our first tour of Venice -- all before 9 pm. (For some reason the selection on board was v poor. They kept promising a re-stock at the next port.) No line up, request to leave and return at a specific time, no extra document checks etc. It was a regular two night docking. It was very easy. I don't think it would have been as smooth if it was a North American port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted September 13, 2010 #22 Share Posted September 13, 2010 We do B2B cruises on Princess quite a lot, and usually (not always) our ship is docked in Berth 2 at Port Everglades, which is a wonderful location for a quick walk over to Walgreens or Publix. Which berth does HAL us (primarily, understanding more than one HAL ship in port would mean one of them is berthed elsewhere)? Is it close enough for a walk to Walgreens/Publix? Thanks! Nope, not close enough to walk anywhere, wherever that is. In this picture, Emerald Princess it far right; the two ships lower left are Zuiderdam and Westerdam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted September 13, 2010 #23 Share Posted September 13, 2010 I don't think it would have been as smooth if it was a North American port. I've done many turn-around days in Europe. They were always exactly the same as any other port day. Go ashore, stay aboard. No difference than the days before, or after. It's only in the US that there are special procedures for in-transit passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 13, 2010 #24 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Same is true for Montreal......... go ashore, stay on the ship. Whichever one chooses. Easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4friends Posted September 14, 2010 #25 Share Posted September 14, 2010 Does anyone know the regulations for Canadian passengers on a b2b from Fort Lauderdale? Will we have to clear customs first? We did a 3 day a couple of years ago from Seattle to Victoria to Astoria to Vancouver. In Astoria, we had to stand in a long line to clear customs which wasted a couple of hours of an already short port day. This may have been because we had been to a Canadian port and back to a US port. (even though we started in a US port) If we have to go through this process, would booking a day tour that leaves at 8:30 expedite the process? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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