How does HAL handle B2Bs?

[poinsettiaplate]

Next March, I will be on a b2b on the Koningsdam; this will be my first ever b2b on HAL. I can't seem to find any info on the HAL website about what to expect; and the email I sent to the company four days ago has not been answered yet. (But that's another discussion!) I have been assured that I will have the same cabin for the whole 22 days, and the same dining table with early fixed seating. But what about carrying over wine packages, shipboard credit, shipboard accounts, casino winnings and chips--and no doubt lots of other things I can't think of since I have never done it before. What has been your experience?

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

We have done several b2b and it is easy. Everything carries over as far as I know. I cannot speak to the casino chips carrying over as we do not use the casino. Double check with the front deak to make sure your account will carry over. Enjpy you ctuise.

[ExpatBride]

Hopefully a bit classier than NCL.

 

I had the misfortune of sailing on the Epic this past January and on embarkation day we saw people wearing stickers that said, "I'm still on vacation." Surely, there's got to be a more elegant way to handle it than by making people look like kindergarteners.

[tjcox9]

On where in the world you are.............

 

In US ports, normally everyone has to be off the ship by a given time, so no one can just stay on board. It's an immigration thing. Once everyone is off, you can generally go back on in a short period of time. However, if you have plans for that day, you can get off and return at anytime.

 

Until our last B2B cruise, everyone had to attend the second life boat drill, but on our most recent one on the Oosterdam, we did not have to attend the second drill, so perhaps that has changed on all ships.

 

In Europe, it's generally different with you being able to get off or stay on board all day.

 

In any case, you will be given an "in transit" card that will allow you to bypass the security line for those boarding. You still go through security, but you get to bypass the long line with the luggage, etc. You will generally be asked to carry your passport and it may or may not be checked upon reboarding.

 

We've done B2Bs in Japan also (not with HAL) but don't recall the process there, but then you'll not be in Japan on the Konigsdam.

 

Bill will be carried over unless you want to settle it. Internet time will carry over. I do believe that casino is different and does not carry over. There is generally something in the program regarding that.

 

I think I've covered about everything and hopefully, my recollections are correct! ;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

There are back-to-back cruises and Collector Cruises.

Which type do you really have?

Do you have 1 confirmation number or 2 confirmation numbers?

In any event our most recent back-to-back cruises on HAL we had 2 different confirmation numbers. Our ID card was set up to cover both cruises. We got shipboard credit for both cruises. Everything was carried over from cruise to the next cruise -- shipboard credits, Beverage Cards, etc. But we had to stay on top of it to make certain that there weren't any foul ups.

[seagarsmoker]

On HAL, we didn't get off ship. All B2B passengers went to showroom at set time. Refreshments were served, think we were there for less than hour. Then back to normal cruise day. I thought they did wonderful job with there B2B procedures.

[Karennella]

We did not even know when we booked that ours was b2b as it was marketed here as a single cruise. We just came and went normally on the day in Amsterdam. But perhaps it was a Collector Cruise? I don't even know. I do know we were disappointed when the entertainment, port talks and menus started repeating.

[RuthC]

Since you said your cruise is in March, then you must be turning around in the US.

In that case, you will get a letter a day or two before letting you know what the procedure is. If it's the USA, then you will have to gather to clear Immigration---whether that is on or off the ship can vary, depending on how many others are staying on.

You will have the In Transit card in that envelope, which you will use to reboard when you choose (after the ship has zeroed down).

 

During the first cruise the Dining Room Manager will come around to discuss if you want to change tables, size of table, things like that. If you want to stay at the same table, that will be arranged.

If you are especially fond of your table stewards, and want to keep them for the second cruise, tell the DRM that. Stewards rotate between fixed and open seating, so it's better to alert the DRM if you don't want yours moved.

 

Do double check (in advance) that your beverage cards, Internet, and such things will carry over. If the person in charge has to do something to make that happen, better it be done in advance than need to fix it up later.

[sapper1]

We will be doing a B2B in April with a turnaround day in Fort Lauderdale.

Having done turnaround days there before, I know that the ship has to be zeroed out and the continuing passengers have to disembark and go through immigration.

 

This time however, the ship will be visiting Key West the day before turnaround day and presumably passengers will clear immigration there. Can someone with past experience with this scenario tell me if there is a requirement to repeat the process the next day in Fort Lauderdale or is the ship considered to have been cleared the day before. In other words, is is necessary for continuing passengers to go ashore and reboard?

[SLOTheta]

Next March, I will be on a b2b. shipboard accounts, casino winnings and chips--and no doubt lots of other things I can't think of since I have never done it before. What has been your experience?

 

 

On the Eurodam, all money stored on your room card bank - slots and poker had to be cashed out 2 nights before our cruise ended. The casino wasn't open when we docked for our overnight in Venice. You could keep your chips since they don't change the chips. But, anything electronic needed to be physically cashed out.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[NRFBQN]

We've done two Back to Back Collectors Cruises in the past year. Most recently, we were on the Koningsdam and the cruise turned around in Amsterdam. We did not have to get off the ship or clear customs - we just spent the day as we wished. We stayed on the ship and pretended it was a sea day. We did not have to go through a second muster drill, although people who had boarded one cruise prior to us did have to repeat the drill. Our laundry package continued throughout, but I did cash out my casino balance and start up again after we sailed. My husband had the Freestyle Coke plan and that expired when the first part of the cruise was done. The Coke machine actually counted down and told him how many hours he had left.

 

Our other Back to Back was on the Eurodam last November and the turnaround was in Ft. Lauderdale. We did not have to get off the ship, but we did have to go to the showroom and clear customs. They would not begin to clear us until every person who was staying on the ship had arrived at the showroom - that took quite a while. We did have to repeat the muster drill. I don't remember doing anything with my casino balance - it may have been I wasn't playing then.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Best regards,

Priscilla

[Gr8daze]

On where in the world you are.............

 

In US ports, normally everyone has to be off the ship by a given time, so no one can just stay on board. It's an immigration thing. Once everyone is off, you can generally go back on in a short period of time. However, if you have plans for that day, you can get off and return at anytime.

 

Until our last B2B cruise, everyone had to attend the second life boat drill, but on our most recent one on the Oosterdam, we did not have to attend the second drill, so perhaps that has changed on all ships.

 

In Europe, it's generally different with you being able to get off or stay on board all day.

 

In any case, you will be given an "in transit" card that will allow you to bypass the security line for those boarding. You still go through security, but you get to bypass the long line with the luggage, etc. You will generally be asked to carry your passport and it may or may not be checked upon reboarding.

 

We've done B2Bs in Japan also (not with HAL) but don't recall the process there, but then you'll not be in Japan on the Konigsdam.

 

Bill will be carried over unless you want to settle it. Internet time will carry over. I do believe that casino is different and does not carry over. There is generally something in the program regarding that.

 

I think I've covered about everything and hopefully, my recollections are correct! ;)

 

The above seems accurate from my recollection.

[Viesczy]

Just echoing what everyone else has said.

 

When you are "in transit", you'll just meet somewhere central (typically one of the lounges) on the turn around day, you'll be herded off and then herded back on the ship.

 

About credits and such, the casino should have no worries, and any OBC and such typically just shows up on your stateroom acct and that continues from day 1 to when you are done.

 

About the only thing that you may need to "re-up" would be say you bought the drink special that is always sold on the first day of the cruise, typically those cats signing folks up for that are doing so just for the cruise that is starting that day.

 

That's about all I can think of/remember not carrying over/through.

 

Have a great time!

[mame42]

if your key card does not work. However, be aware that if you are out and about late the evening of the turnover, you may arrive back at your cabin to find yourself locked out. In spite of the best efforts of the front desk, errors do happen.

[lazey1]

We will be doing a B2B in April with a turnaround day in Fort Lauderdale.

Having done turnaround days there before, I know that the ship has to be zeroed out and the continuing passengers have to disembark and go through immigration.

 

This time however, the ship will be visiting Key West the day before turnaround day and presumably passengers will clear immigration there. Can someone with past experience with this scenario tell me if there is a requirement to repeat the process the next day in Fort Lauderdale or is the ship considered to have been cleared the day before. In other words, is is necessary for continuing passengers to go ashore and reboard?

 

This was not a B2B however when we visited Key West there was no immigration process. Just walked off the ship like we did in the other Caribbean ports.

[Crew News]

Our B2B experience is leaving the ship depends on the number of "in-transit" passengers. When there was just 15 of us, we departed the ship, waited about 30 minutes for the ship to "zero", and then re-boarded with some "in transits" going into town.

 

When we had over 300, we gathered in the Vista Lounge after scanning our stateroom key cards, waited until the ship "zeroed", and then were released.

 

You will receive a letter describing the process a few days before the end of the first leg.

[MaxThrusters]

Something interesting I noticed on my last B2B cruises with HAL: duty-free liquor ordered during the first part of cruise arrived in my cabin the night before arriving at FL for the turnaround. We got to choose whether or not to enjoy it for the second week, or save it to bring home.

[Fouremco]

Adding to the information provided by others, on a true b2b, where you are effectively taking two separate cruises, you are entitled to bring onboard an additional two bottles of wine at the beginning of the second leg, whereas a Collector Cruise is considered to be a single cruise and you can only bring on two bottles at the beginning of the first leg.

 

Unless there have been changes made since our last b2b that I've missed.

[Wrightwoodsbest]

Next March, I will be on a b2b on the Koningsdam; this will be my first ever b2b on HAL. I can't seem to find any info on the HAL website about what to expect; and the email I sent to the company four days ago has not been answered yet. (But that's another discussion!) I have been assured that I will have the same cabin for the whole 22 days, and the same dining table with early fixed seating. But what about carrying over wine packages, shipboard credit, shipboard accounts, casino winnings and chips--and no doubt lots of other things I can't think of since I have never done it before. What has been your experience?

 

Last winter husband I did a b2b in the caribbean. Into and out of FLL on the middle day. Did not have to get off, no lifeboat drill, just went to the lounge until the ship zeroed. Of course it took awhile as there were customers who did not read their letters.......

[poinsettiaplate]

Thanks for everyone's input. It appears that I am on a Collector's Cruise; I have one booking number. Does this make a difference? All HAL will tell me is that no one will know until I am actually on the ship and that I will have to go off the ship in Ft Lauderdale to clear immigration.

[Crew News]

Thanks for everyone's input. It appears that I am on a Collector's Cruise; I have one booking number. Does this make a difference? All HAL will tell me is that no one will know until I am actually on the ship and that I will have to go off the ship in Ft Lauderdale to clear immigration.

 

It makes no difference. The ship must be "zeroed" in FLL Whether you must get off the ship, or just be accounted for in the Vista Showroom, depends on how many passengers are "in-transit."