What changes when doing B2B

[hellsop]

As a followup to the earlier thread about "how to arrange a B2B", there was a mention of calling RCI to link the two reservations. That seems reasonable, but can anyone elaborate on what actually happens as a result of that linked reservation? Does (for example) luggage get held back and redelivered to the (new) stateroom? Does it automatically slot you for the last departure time from the ship? Is there some s00per-secret "not really getting off the boat here" lounge where the Customs people come by, peer at your passports, then send you back back into the embarkation area to collect a new Sea Pass? Does the Set-Sail and billing stuff all transfer?

[Clarea]

As a followup to the earlier thread about "how to arrange a B2B", there was a mention of calling RCI to link the two reservations. That seems reasonable, but can anyone elaborate on what actually happens as a result of that linked reservation? Does (for example) luggage get held back and redelivered to the (new) stateroom? Does it automatically slot you for the last departure time from the ship? Is there some s00per-secret "not really getting off the boat here" lounge where the Customs people come by, peer at your passports, then send you back back into the embarkation area to collect a new Sea Pass? Does the Set-Sail and billing stuff all transfer?

Linking tells the management of the ship you will be on the next cruise. Among other things, it puts you on the B2B list so they know you will be going off and on the ship with the B2B group. They send you a letter and/or invite you to a meeting to discuss the B2B process. They may invite you to a luncheon on turnover day. They know to make a SeaPass card for you for the next cruise. They transfer your SeaPass info (photo, credit card) to the next cruise. They let the stateroom attendant know so the attendant can get your stateroom ready sooner than the others. I'm sure I'm missing some things.

[emeraldcity]

I understand it differs by ship and port. On the Grandeur, in Colon, those staying in the same cabin just had new sea pass cards delivered to their cabin the night before. For us, the room steward showed up with a cart and we threw the stuff on top of it (didn't even take stuff off hangers) and they rolled it to the next cabin. Then we headed up to the pool deck and relaxed.

 

We never left the ship. I frankly always wondered about those customs forms we filled out when we arrived in Panama the week before and were supposed to return to them when we left the country. Maybe they still think we're there.

[cruisenfever]

As a followup to the earlier thread about "how to arrange a B2B", there was a mention of calling RCI to link the two reservations. That seems reasonable, but can anyone elaborate on what actually happens as a result of that linked reservation? Does (for example) luggage get held back and redelivered to the (new) stateroom? Does it automatically slot you for the last departure time from the ship? Is there some s00per-secret "not really getting off the boat here" lounge where the Customs people come by, peer at your passports, then send you back back into the embarkation area to collect a new Sea Pass? Does the Set-Sail and billing stuff all transfer?

Since each cruise has it's own booking number, each cruise is independent of the other. When cruise #1 is over, your SeaPass account is closed and a new SeaPass account is started. There is no carry over of OBC. Your SeaPass Card for cruise #1 will be invalid and a new SeaPass Card with new folio number will be issued.

 

Our experience has been that if turnaround day is in a US port, you normally will be escorted off in a group, go through Customs and Immigration and then be led back onto the ship. In foreign ports, everything is done internally so there is no getting off the ship.

 

If you have the same cabin, then there is nothing for you to do on debarkation morning of the first cruise. Breakfast is only served until 8:30 for everyone regardless if you are a consecutive cruiser or not.

 

You are also allowed to disembark the ship if you wish to explore the port on your own. If you elect to do this, then you are requested to pick up your new SeaPass cards at Guest Relations in the morning (time will be specified to you in a letter, but it's usually 8AM) and then you may leave the ship and must be back 30 minutes prior to departure.

 

You may also be given a small card that says "in transit" on it so that if you decided to come back to the ship as check-in is taking place, you can bypass all the lines by just showing your "in transit" card.

[varoo]

As a followup to the earlier thread about "how to arrange a B2B", there was a mention of calling RCI to link the two reservations.

You can do that if you wish, but it is not necessary.

We take a lot of B2B cruises and have never done that.

They have the manifest for each cruise so they know who is B2B and who isn't.

 

Besides, you receive a departure form to fill out on the first cruise where you state your end of cruise plans.

That is what they use to plan the disembarkation order and timing.

 

Near the end of the first cruise, they will notify you of the procedure to be followed on the turnaround day, which can vary from cruise to cruise and from port to port, (as you can see from the very different responses you received from the people who posted previously).

 

If it is a port where you are required to meet with immigration/customs officials at a set time, they will let you know when and where to meet.

They may or may not want the B2B passengers to meet together as a group.

 

Otherwise, you typically receive a transit pass and are pretty much free to come and go as you wish that day.

They may or may not have a special lunch on board for the B2B passengers that day.

 

[cruisenfever]

You can do that if you wish, but it is not necessary.

We take a lot of B2B cruises and have never done that.

They have the manifest for each cruise so they know who is B2B and who isn't.

 

Besides, you receive a departure form to fill out on the first cruise where you state your end of cruise plans.

That is what they use to plan the disembarkation order and timing.

 

Near the end of the first cruise, they will notify you of the procedure to be followed on the turnaround day, which can vary from cruise to cruise and from port to port, (as you can see from the very different responses you received from the people who posted previously).

 

If it is a port where you are required to meet with immigration/customs officials at a set time, they will let you know when and where to meet.

They may or may not want the B2B passengers to meet together as a group.

 

Otherwise, you typically receive a transit pass and are pretty much free to come and go as you wish that day.

They may or may not have a special lunch on board for the B2B passengers that day.

 

Just to clarify, but our recent experience has been that not all ships will distribute "departure forms" to consecutive cruisers during the first cruise of a b2b. We just returned from a b2b on Vision and received no departure form during the first cruise to fill out. Did a b2b on Enchantment in March-April and again, no departure form. And last December-January did a b2b on Freedom and no departure form.

 

You will only receive an "in transit" pass if you are planning on disembarking the ship and exploring the port. If you are planning to stay on board, an "in transit" pass is not needed.

[ssb]

The only thing I can add is if there is special luncheon

I have really enjoyed the the food.

[hellsop]

Thanks to those that answered so far. A "It varies, but they're pretty good at making it simple" goes a long way. I was hoping for not "collect all your luggage, wait through the Customs line, drop your luggage with the porters, and go join the end of the queue in Embarkation again", and it sounds like that, at least, is not the case.

[Clarea]

Thanks to those that answered so far. A "It varies, but they're pretty good at making it simple" goes a long way. I was hoping for not "collect all your luggage, wait through the Customs line, drop your luggage with the porters, and go join the end of the queue in Embarkation again", and it sounds like that, at least, is not the case.

Even if you must change staterooms, and have to pack your bags, you only have to pack what's not hanging in your closet. You leave your bags in your stateroom and they will move the bags and hanging items to the new staterooms.

[In Toronto]

I am glad to read this thread. We are doing a B2B in November and because of good price deals each week, have to change cabins. The RCCI fellow said that we have to pack up everything and so I am glad to read that the clothes on hangers can just be moved over.

 

Can you hang around and move the stuff yourselves?

 

Good information here.

 

Ellen

[Clarea]

I am glad to read this thread. We are doing a B2B in November and because of good price deals each week, have to change cabins. The RCCI fellow said that we have to pack up everything and so I am glad to read that the clothes on hangers can just be moved over.

 

Can you hang around and move the stuff yourselves?

 

Good information here.

 

Ellen

We did that once, when the staterooms were right next to each other and serviced by the same attendant. I'd talk with both stateroom attendants a few days before changeover and see what they think.

[ShipRiders]

Even if you must change staterooms, and have to pack your bags, you only have to pack what's not hanging in your closet. You leave your bags in your stateroom and they will move the bags and hanging items to the new staterooms.

 

The Enchantment requests your clothes in the closet be packed also unless you have them on wire hangers. They have the hangers that slit into the notch.

 

Just to add we have never before had to pack our closet clothes on any other ship we've been on.

 

Our room attendant found some wire hangers and put our clothes on them. In our next cabin they were pretty much thrown on the bed and not hung up.

 

Our friends had to pack all their clothes as the attendant said he had no wire hangers.

[Clarea]

The Enchantment requests your clothes in the closet be packed also unless you have them on wire hangers. They have the hangers that slit into the notch.

 

Just to add we have never before had to pack our closet clothes on any other ship we've been on.

 

Our room attendant found some wire hangers and put our clothes on them. In our next cabin they were pretty much thrown on the bed and not hung up.

 

Our friends had to pack all their clothes as the attendant said he had no wire hangers.

I saw those new hangers on Rhapsody last year. I thought they were less convenient than the regular kind, and it's disappointing to see that this might be a fleetwide trend. Makes sense though that the attendants could not move the items on those types of hangers.

[cruisenfever]

I saw those new hangers on Rhapsody last year. I thought they were less convenient than the regular kind, and it's disappointing to see that this might be a fleetwide trend. Makes sense though that the attendants could not move the items on those types of hangers.

Bob, our experience has been that these are the types of hangers you will find on all Vision class ships. Have not experienced them on Radiance, Voyager or Freedom class ships.

[lakelorain]

When you complete your Set Sail Pass there is a place to note that you are a consecutive cruiser. You note it as you transportation from the first cruise and to the second cruise. This alerts the RC system to your status.

Also, on turnaround day, you have access to your cabin all day.

[Clarea]

Bob, our experience has been that these are the types of hangers you will find on all Vision class ships. Have not experienced them on Radiance, Voyager or Freedom class ships.

That's good to know, somehow I erroneously associated those hangers with the revitalization. As you can probably tell, those hangers are a pita to us.

[Clarea]

When you complete your Set Sail Pass there is a place to note that you are a consecutive cruiser. You note it as you transportation from the first cruise and to the second cruise. This alerts the RC system to your status.

Also, on turnaround day, you have access to your cabin all day.

I'm not sure that selecting "consecutive cruiser" on that webpage has the same effect as linking the cruises via the B2B desk. Maybe Patti can confirm, but I've set that before and our cruises were not "linked". It wasn't until our travel agent called the B2B desk that we were linked. I know this because if you are linked, you can't use the Choice Air website to book flights.

[cruisenfever]

That's good to know, somehow I erroneously associated those hangers with the revitalization. As you can probably tell, those hangers are a pita to us.

I absolutely agree. I always ask our cabin attendant for plastic hangers and try to use those more than the wooden ones.

[FLACRUISER99]

I am glad to read this thread. We are doing a B2B in November and because of good price deals each week, have to change cabins. The RCCI fellow said that we have to pack up everything and so I am glad to read that the clothes on hangers can just be moved over.

 

Can you hang around and move the stuff yourselves?

 

Good information here.

 

Ellen

For me moving the contents of the safe was the biggest PITA.

[lakelorain]

I'm not sure that selecting "consecutive cruiser" on that webpage has the same effect as linking the cruises via the B2B desk. Maybe Patti can confirm, but I've set that before and our cruises were not "linked". It wasn't until our travel agent called the B2B desk that we were linked. I know this because if you are linked, you can't use the Choice Air website to book flights.

 

You have to unlink them to use Choice Air. The b2b desk told our travel agent that just filling out the Set Sail Pass properly will link the cruises. This is something that is fairly new. Worked on our last b2b and just received a bill for the next b2b showing them linked and the only thing I did was link them on the Set Sail Pass.

[Clarea]

You have to unlink them to use Choice Air. The b2b desk told our travel agent that just filling out the Set Sail Pass properly will link the cruises. This is something that is fairly new. Worked on our last b2b and just received a bill for the next b2b showing them linked and the only thing I did was link them on the Set Sail Pass.

Thanks, appreciate the info. When I consecutive cruises and Choice Air before, it was about 18 months ago, and that page on the check-in area did not link or unlink the cruises.

[lakelorain]

Thanks, appreciate the info. When I consecutive cruises and Choice Air before, it was about 18 months ago, and that page on the check-in area did not link or unlink the cruises.

 

I always check with my cabin steward when we board just to be sure everything is linked. RC's computer issues always worry me.

[Debitoo]

That's good to know, somehow I erroneously associated those hangers with the revitalization. As you can probably tell, those hangers are a pita to us.

Agreed.......:( Hated them!

[cruisenfever]

I'm not sure that selecting "consecutive cruiser" on that webpage has the same effect as linking the cruises via the B2B desk. Maybe Patti can confirm, but I've set that before and our cruises were not "linked". It wasn't until our travel agent called the B2B desk that we were linked. I know this because if you are linked, you can't use the Choice Air website to book flights.

We always have our cruises linked by the b2b desk. I also always indicate consecutive cruises on our SetSail Passes.

 

But, you know as well as I do, that doing that does not necessarily mean that the ship will get the correct information from shoreside. :eek::D It's always a good idea to pay the friendly folks at Guest Relations a visit midway through the first cruise and make sure that their records indicate that you are a consecutive cruiser.

 

When using Choice Air for air arrangements, then a b2b must be linked after air travel has been made. If R/T air is going to be made through Choice Air, you must let the agent know at the time of booking so that they can properly identify each itinerary with the correct cruise.

 

On our recent b2b on Vision I did on-line check-in for both cruises but only printed off the SetSail Pass for the first cruise. On turnaround day everything started out smoothly, but we did have to disembark the ship, go through the terminal and reboard. They gave us "in transit" cards to show the shore side security so we could by pass check-in. That was a first for us on turnaround day in a foreign port.

 

Then in the evening we received a letter in our cabin wanting to know if we planned to set up a Cash Account as they had no payment details in our file!!:rolleyes: A quick visit to GR got that corrected that a sincere apology.

[Clarea]

...Then in the evening we received a letter in our cabin wanting to know if we planned to set up a Cash Account as they had no payment details in our file!!:rolleyes: A quick visit to GR got that corrected that a sincere apology.

This part happens to us too every once in a while, except it's normally a bar server telling us that our Seapass card has been declined.:o