B2b

[Reina del Mar]

Just added a second cruise to our Liberty sailing.

 

Please can anyone explain what happens on 'turn around ' day ?

 

Unfortunately we have to change cabins and move from deck 8 to deck 10.

 

Interested to know how move is handled, what is open, how immigration works

( For Brits) etc.

 

Thanks in advance for any helpful information.

[sddsddean]

Varies from ship to ship, but basically...

 

If you are 'turning round' in a US port, you will meet somewhere (you will get a letter) and be escorted off and on to the ship to go through US immigration. You will be last off, so this will happen about 1030. Any other port (in my experience) you will get your new seapass card on your bed on the last night. You are free to stay on the ship, go sightseeing or whatever...no immigration requirement like the US.

If you are changing cabins you can either let the stewards do it for you...no need to pack properly as they will move stuff on hangers. Personally, we always move ourselves. They will lend you a hotel luggage trolley so you can hang clothes on it. We find its quicker, you are less likely to forget stuff and the stewards will appreciate the extra time...they have enough to do on turnaround day!

Go and find your 'new' steward a few days before and ask them to do your 'new' room first, so you can move in. Similarly ask your 'old' steward to do yours last.

Don't forget each cruise is totally seperate, so check your first cruise bill in the normal way.

Lastly, look really smug at breakfast, 'cos you're not getting off!!

 

Simon

[Reina del Mar]

Varies from ship to ship, but basically...

 

If you are 'turning round' in a US port, you will meet somewhere (you will get a letter) and be escorted off and on to the ship to go through US immigration. You will be last off, so this will happen about 1030. Any other port (in my experience) you will get your new seapass card on your bed on the last night. You are free to stay on the ship, go sightseeing or whatever...no immigration requirement like the US.

If you are changing cabins you can either let the stewards do it for you...no need to pack properly as they will move stuff on hangers. Personally, we always move ourselves. They will lend you a hotel luggage trolley so you can hang clothes on it. We find its quicker, you are less likely to forget stuff and the stewards will appreciate the extra time...they have enough to do on turnaround day!

Go and find your 'new' steward a few days before and ask them to do your 'new' room first, so you can move in. Similarly ask your 'old' steward to do yours last.

Don't forget each cruise is totally seperate, so check your first cruise bill in the normal way.

Lastly, look really smug at breakfast, 'cos you're not getting off!!

 

Simon

 

Thanks Simon. The port will be Galveston. ....so US immigration. Royal Caribbean's Liberty of Seas.

 

Like your idea of speaking to 'new' steward whilst still on first cruise. Think we will do our own packing and moving.

 

Am I right in thinking we don't have to take bags off??? Can you help to explain whether we will have access to cabin before 1 pm on 'turnaround' day or do we just take bags there and leave ?

 

Thank you

[sddsddean]

You don't have to take your bags off...just you and passport. The big doors on the stairwells will be shut before 1pm, but they are not locked, so just open them and walk through...no problem if you are on a b2b.

Simon

[MommaBear55]

You SHOULD receive your information about gathering place, etc a few days ahead, which is the line we got when we checked with guest services. We had to push to get the info, as the official letter was put on the door after we went to bed the night before.

 

You will all meet in one place and some people report getting champagne. You will be brought off the ship as a group, walked through immigration and walked back on. I am hoping a non US citizen will help let you know if there are additional requirements.

 

Once you get back on, you have access to any venues that are open, including your stateroom. We had an early, uncrowded Windjammer lunch and enjoyed a nearly empty pool deck. There are some groups that get a special lunch in the MDR. I do not know if that is headed on group size, length of cruise or ship specific.

 

We loved doing a B2B. It was so nice to know we were continuing on. We did a 5 day, then 9 day. We have a B2B2B planned for next Spring for a total of 29 days, not sure if that will be too long or will convince us that that is the way to go. I am a little nervous that we will love the longer stretch and it will ruin us for our usual 7 day experience!

Edited April 8, 2016 by MommaBear55

[Clarea]

We've found it's a good idea to visit Guest Services during the first cruise and confirm we are on the B2B list. Every so often, they don't have us on the list, and that can make turnaround day more hectic.

[Reina del Mar]

You don't have to take your bags off...just you and passport. The big doors on the stairwells will be shut before 1pm, but they are not locked, so just open them and walk through...no problem if you are on a b2b.

Simon

 

 

Thank you again. All sounds very simple.

Can't wait to get some sunshine.

[Reina del Mar]

You SHOULD receive your information about gathering place, etc a few days ahead, which is the line we got when we checked with guest services. We had to push to get the info, as the official letter was put on the door after we went to bed the night before.

 

You will all meet in one place and some people report getting champagne. You will be brought off the ship as a group, walked through immigration and walked back on. I am hoping a non US citizen will help let you know if there are additional requirements.

 

Once you get back on, you have access to any venues that are open, including your stateroom. We had an early, uncrowded Windjammer lunch and enjoyed a nearly empty pool deck. There are some groups that get a special lunch in the MDR. I do not know if that is headed on group size, length of cruise or ship specific.

 

We loved doing a B2B. It was so nice to know we were continuing on. We did a 5 day, then 9 day. We have a B2B2B planned for next Spring for a total of 29 days, not sure if that will be too long or will convince us that that is the way to go. I am a little nervous that we will love the longer stretch and it will ruin us for our usual 7 day experience!

 

Thank you very much. Being able to access stateroom and buffet very helpful. Family with small child joining us for second cruise so can take their bags to our cabin.

 

Quite envious of your 29 days next Spring...enjoy !

[Reina del Mar]

We've found it's a good idea to visit Guest Services during the first cruise and confirm we are on the B2B list. Every so often, they don't have us on the list, and that can make turnaround day more hectic.

 

Thank you for that tip...very important to know we are on the B2B list, rather than fuss between cruises.

[bouhunter]

Our first B2B is next winter, appreciate all the info:)

[rafinmd]

I've done 2 RCI B2B, Grandeur (Baltimore) and Allure (Barcelona). You don't need to wait for your group to go ashore unless you want to. You can leave at your convenience and make it like any other port day. Just be sure you have your new card with you when you leave. On Grandeur I was on the All Access tour and missed the B2B meeting and didn't get my new card, and had a bit of a wait at Guest services to get my new card before going ashore. On Anthem the new card was delivered my last night of the first leg.

 

In both cases I went to a laundromat and got laundry done and left the finished laundry with the porters before reboarding.

 

I had the same cabin on Grandeur but switched on Allure. I packed up the stuff in my drawers and my first steward took care of everything else moving the stuff from my closet and my bags to the new room. I don't think I talked to the new steward first but it's a good idea in most cases.

 

I'm pretty sure if you leave independently you will need to wait for general boarding to reboard.

 

Roy

[danp]

When we did a B2B my wife put as much stuff on hangers and other in the suit case.In the morning we went to breakfast and when we came back after about an hour we were all moved and our steward joked saying we were kicked out,then we when to our new room and everything that was hanging was in the closet hanging.

On turn around day to go off you need your passport ,your OLD and NEW seapass.with the old you have to be checked off of the ship and then use your new card to come back on,very easy.

[LeeW]

Clean out everything except hangers and put in suitcases. Leave it all in your closet area and stewards will move it. The only question is contents of safe. You can either pack this in suitcase or sometimes can take it down to the guest services desk if they have boxes available. Some folks will arrange with stewards to let them in the new room to put stuff in new safe.

 

You can either get off with the in-transit group or anytime earlier, just let them know what you are doing. If you get off on your own, you cannot get back on until boarding starts for the next cruise.

 

You will get an in-transit card. You can use the suite line to get back in the terminal (although other lines may be shorter) and can board with them. Lots of things to see in Galveston, though. Check out La King's Confectionery on Avenue B in old town Strand area. Old style fountain sodas, shakes, ... Check the Galveston board.

 

Once you are back on, you will be allowed to go to your cabin (show in transit card if someone asks) but halls will have a ton of movement (extension cords, carpet cleaners, steward carts) in them and fire doors will be closed. These open and close with lever near an upper corner. Very heavy and hard to move by hand. The people working in the area don't really want you in there, but it is permissible. We just dumped our purchases in there and went back up on deck.

[Reina del Mar]

Thank you for suggestions.

 

Transit card sounds very useful. Would not have thought to carry both Setsail cruise cards.

 

Access to cabins helpful to avoid family joining for second week , whom we wish to surprise !!!!!!

[audome78]

We've found it's a good idea to visit Guest Services during the first cruise and confirm we are on the B2B list. Every so often, they don't have us on the list, and that can make turnaround day more hectic.

 

Absolutely do this.

[Jeannie333333]

Varies from ship to ship, but basically...

 

If you are 'turning round' in a US port, you will meet somewhere (you will get a letter) and be escorted off and on to the ship to go through US immigration. You will be last off, so this will happen about 1030. Any other port (in my experience) you will get your new seapass card on your bed on the last night. You are free to stay on the ship, go sightseeing or whatever...no immigration requirement like the US.

If you are changing cabins you can either let the stewards do it for you...no need to pack properly as they will move stuff on hangers. Personally, we always move ourselves. They will lend you a hotel luggage trolley so you can hang clothes on it. We find its quicker, you are less likely to forget stuff and the stewards will appreciate the extra time...they have enough to do on turnaround day!

Go and find your 'new' steward a few days before and ask them to do your 'new' room first, so you can move in. Similarly ask your 'old' steward to do yours last.

Don't forget each cruise is totally seperate, so check your first cruise bill in the normal way.

Lastly, look really smug at breakfast, 'cos you're not getting off!!

 

Simon

 

Love this explanation and the tips about going to see the steward of the new cabin, very helpful.

We are doing a B2B in May and these tips will be very useful, thank you

 

Jean :)

[A&L_Ont]

We've found it's a good idea to visit Guest Services during the first cruise and confirm we are on the B2B list. Every so often, they don't have us on the list, and that can make turnaround day more hectic.

 

Thank you for that tip...very important to know we are on the B2B list, rather than fuss between cruises.

 

It is good to check that you are on the list, but when you are at GS checking also ask where and when is the meeting. On our last B2B we stopped at GS the morning of the second to last day as the letter had not yet shown up. The gent asked us our cabin number and off he went to find out the info. He returned saying the letter will show up that night. He also said the meeting was at 11:45 at Jazz. Our letter never arrived and we were the only cabin this happened too. For the minute longer wait at GS, ask where and the time it will it happen.