Need help with B2B.

[sherrif]

Hello to all fellow cruisers. I need some help from the experienced cruisers here on CC . I have just booked our first B2B in 2014 Northbound and Southbound from and back to Vancouver going to Alaska, I would like to know how this works. Will we have to pack up and reboard or do we stay on board? We have the same cabin [ aft facing mini suite 8279 on the Sun].

Thank You in advance.

Derek.:)

[Demonyte]

You dont have to pack as you are staying in the same cabin but you probably will have to exit the ship to the terminal for a while (maybe about an hour or less) or to spend the day on shore when the ship is being cleared by the border and custom officials.

 

At least that is how it went in Miami for a caribbean cruise, we have twice spent couple of hours in Miami Beach and then came back to the ship.

[www3traveler]

Hello to all fellow cruisers. I need some help from the experienced cruisers here on CC . I have just booked our first B2B in 2014 Northbound and Southbound from and back to Vancouver going to Alaska, I would like to know how this works. Will we have to pack up and reboard or do we stay on board? We have the same cabin [ aft facing mini suite 8279 on the Sun].

Thank You in advance.

Derek.:)

You will receive instructions from Guest Services as to how this will work sometime during the first week. You will probably have to leave the ship at least for an hour before you can re-board and go back to your room. If you dock at Canada Place (downtown) there are lots of things to do and see within walking distance of he ship. The Ballentine pier is in an industrial port area and nothing within walking distance.

The Sun is a wonderful ship with a great staff.

[Kamloops50]

Hello to all fellow cruisers. I need some help from the experienced cruisers here on CC . I have just booked our first B2B in 2014 Northbound and Southbound from and back to Vancouver going to Alaska, I would like to know how this works. Will we have to pack up and reboard or do we stay on board? We have the same cabin [ aft facing mini suite 8279 on the Sun].

Thank You in advance.

Derek.:)

 

You'll probably be given a new sail pass card the day before and told where to go in the morning to have your picture taken. Because the turn around day is Alaska there is no customs or immigration checks required . On Alaska cruises immigration checks are done when boarding in Vancouver .

You don't have to disembark unless you want to take a walk. You don't say which port is the turn around done in. If Whittier there it's a lot to do except restock the wine supply . If Seward take the shuttle to downtown to visit the Wildlife center and just wander to visit some free attractions.

[jdvmd]

It is great that you have the same cabin so no packing up and moving. During the week, you should check with Guest Services as to what the procedure will be for a back-to-back.

 

We have done this once before on Royal Caribbean and we never received a letter telling us what was to be done. We didn't receive our new cards etc.

 

You will be asked to meet a staff member who will walk everyone off who is doing a B2B. You will be the last people to walk off. Because we didn't have our new cards, the port supervisor met with us and made new cards. The other B2Bers had to wait for us. The crew member stayed with us the entire time and with the group. We had to go through customs/immigration and handed them our form, turned around and was escorted back on.

[Kamloops50]

 

You will be asked to meet a staff member who will walk everyone off who is doing a B2B. You will be the last people to walk off. Because we didn't have our new cards, the port supervisor met with us and made new cards. The other B2Bers had to wait for us. The crew member stayed with us the entire time and with the group. We had to go through customs/immigration and handed them our form, turned around and was escorted back on.

 

On a NB & SB B2B Alaskan cruise there is no customs/immigration clearance required in Alaska . Cruises from Alaska to Vancouver back to Alaska aren't allowed according to Jone's Act .

[nyc12345]

On a NB & SB B2B Alaskan cruise there is no customs/immigration clearance required in Alaska . Cruises from Alaska to Vancouver back to Alaska aren't allowed according to Jone's Act .

 

Why is it not allowed? You are sailing from one U.S. port and return to the same U.S. port if you combine the two voyages...

[jdvmd]

On a NB & SB B2B Alaskan cruise there is no customs/immigration clearance required in Alaska . Cruises from Alaska to Vancouver back to Alaska aren't allowed according to Jone's Act .

 

Should have clarified my experience in my previous post was on a Caribbean sailing.

[Kamloops50]

Why is it not allowed? You are sailing from one U.S. port and return to the same U.S. port if you combine the two voyages...

 

According to US law it isn't a closed loop cruise . Even though it starts in Alaska and ends in Vancouver , you still can't go from Alaska to Vancouver and back unless you stay a night in Vancouver or change ships. This why they don't show B2B cruises from Alaska. This was also confirmed an Alaskan on one cruise . So what they do is book Alaska to Vancouver . Spend a few days in Vancouver and go back on a different ship.

[time2cruise1]

On a NB & SB B2B Alaskan cruise there is no customs/immigration clearance required in Alaska . Cruises from Alaska to Vancouver back to Alaska aren't allowed according to Jone's Act .

 

No issue with back to back from Alaska. US port to the same US port with a foreign port.

[sherrif]

Thanks to you all,

We will be turning around in Whittier, pleased we don't have to pack up half way, that would be a pain.

Has anyone stayed in one of the aft facing mini suites? Can give me some info on them and what to expect? What are the sea conditions like on these Alaskan cruises, generally speaking ?

Cheers,

Derek.

[ihopfar]

During your turn around day in Whittier, I would suggest taking a Prince William Sound glacier tour. The Alaska board should have information on the companies and routes being offered in 2013. This was one of the highlights of our Alaska trip last year.

 

---Brad

[bonvoyagie]

During your turn around day in Whittier, I would suggest taking a Prince William Sound glacier tour.

 

---Brad

 

I agree with this - I think there are at least three companies to choose from - and three different areas to choose from.

 

Find out how long you have and book the trip accordingly so you are back on time - usually 3:00 PM.

 

Princess operates a Grand Voyage of the Glaciers - which amounts to a NB and SB cruise B2B - it is operated only out of Vancouver.

 

BTW you will have to pass through Canada customs when you enter the country - usually at the airport. Before you board the ship you will go through US Customs. When you come back you will do the reverse - that is go through Canada Customs when you exit the ship and then US Customs when you re-enter the US.

[dexddd]

Thanks to you all,

We will be turning around in Whittier, pleased we don't have to pack up half way, that would be a pain.

Has anyone stayed in one of the aft facing mini suites? Can give me some info on them and what to expect? What are the sea conditions like on these Alaskan cruises, generally speaking ?

Cheers,

Derek.

 

We stayed in an aft mini on 10. If they are available, you might try to get one on 9. The only issue with 8 is you are above theater and might get some noise.

 

The rooms overall are very nice. You come in and there is a hallway, off to one side is a small sitting room/closet with safe then beyond that is the bathroom. The tv was a new flat panel (19") and there is a refer and some glasses. There is a sofa. Our balcony only had two chairs and one table.