B2b Jewel

[DShock]

Our TA told us the number of back to back cruisers is always high on Jewel cruises out of San Juan. Anyone recently off a Jewel b2b? Where there a lot of b2b cruisers? What was turn around day like? Did they offer any special excursions for b2ber's?

 

Also, I know there is a liquor store at the Pan American terminal. Can you take a 6 pack on beer on board?

[Clarea]

We bought a case of water at the liquor store, and right before we got to the escalator, they asked is if we had any rum.

[megr1125]

Depends on the number of B2Bers..

 

I only ever had a special B2B thing once, in all my B2Bs...that was on Summit, and they had a very nice brunch with copious amounts of bloody marys, mimosas and champagne...

 

That said, Royal hasn't, in my personal experience, done anything special, though YMMV....expect nothing and be happy if you do have something.

 

Technically you're not permitted to bring alcohol other than wine. That's another thing, we actually (on Summit mind you) went through TWO sets of scanners.....one in the terminal and one as we boarded the ship....

 

One turnaround day I went to the mall, the other I went into OSJ. (it was a B2B2B:D)....you'll get instructions on what to do and what will happen....and often, reality differs from what you'll be told...

[Familygoboston]

Lets put it this way, on most cruises I rarely meet anyone doing B2B, on Jewel out of SJ a high percentage of the folks on our RC and in the Diamond lounge were doing a B2B. That's still a low percentage of the total, but much higher than most cruises. We also met several other folks on board (especially folks from overseas) doing a two week trip. I think it's because 1- getting to SJ is a little more involved, so folks take advantage of the trip to take a longer trip, and 2- because the cruise does different itineraries each week, you get almost completely different ports from week to week. So it's pretty common, and from the sounds of things therefore well organized!

 

Hopefully, some who who were lucky enough to do the B2B will have the logistics for you :D

[britty1]

We did a b2b March 29th - April 12th - had a great time and turnaround day was no problem. There was at least 20 couples doing b2b on our cruise - logistics was great, they gave you your new seapass cards the afternoon before turnaround along with a small card that said "in transit".

 

There were two senerios: If you stayed on the ship you would meet up with the other b2b cruisers in the top level of the theatre at 10:00 am. You were escorted off the ship and used your old seapass to exit. You walked down the escalator were there was an immigration officer that was supposed to be looking at your passport (should be open on the photo page). You turned around at the bottom of the escalator and reboarded the ship with your new seapass card. With no delays, the entire process took about 30 minutes.

Once back on board you could get back into your rooms if you wanted and at 11:30 am there was a special lunch menu provided in the dining room. We were the only ones in the dining room, it was nice. Wine was included and was pretty free flowing at no extra cost. Both white and red wine.

 

If you chose to get off the ship and go into OSJ - you could leave the ship whenever you wanted using the "in transit" card and your old seapass so you could bypass immigration. Upon your return you used your "in transit" card again to bypass all the new boarders although I am sure you would have to go back thru security just not the check in part. Boarding you used your new pass card and you were back on he ship.

 

We stayed on the ship and enjoyed the ship with minimal people on board, very nice. We remained in the same room however I am told that if you had to change rooms your room steward would move your bags and wardrobe items and take them to your new room. You would have to pack up everything in the bathroom and in drawers back into your suitcases. So having the same room to me is an important part of the B2B.

 

Enjoy.

[Miss Vickie]

We've done 2 b2b's out of San Juan, once on Serenade and this past January on Jewel. Although I don't remember exact numbers, there were over 100 b2b'ers on each trip. Logistics were simple, and a very nice lunch in the MDR was held on turnaround day for everyone doing a b2b. We're booked for b2b's on Jewel in January 2015 and January 2016, and many on our roll calls are also booked for b2bs, although not necessarily exactly the same 2 weeks.