Ever done a Princess B2B but in different cabins?

[Oh2B@C]

I am looking at the Caribbean Princess' 10-day trips in April and May 2018 and notice that the 20-day trip combining Eastern Carib and Panama Canal show as "sold out" while the 10-day stand-alone trips appear to have tons of availability. I am considering booking each 10-day separately but just in case I don't pick my cabin at booking, I might end up in separate cabins on each leg. So questions:

 

1) Has anyone ever done a B2B in different cabins? What happens on turnaround day? Do you have to leave the ship with all your luggage; or can you leave your luggage with Passenger Services until your cabin for the next leg is serviced? I guess I could stay on the ship with all my luggage, but I think Port Everglades makes everyone get off and come back on.

 

2) What if I called Princess and asked them to price a 20-day for me, would they do it? Who/where should I call? I cannot imagine a lowly service agent would be able to do that for me? Perhaps those cruise consultants they email me about sometimes?

 

3) Would a TA be useful in this situation? I am definitely a DIY'er, but am willing to let an expert do the legwork if it would help

 

Thanks to all who are willing to offer advice:D

[chrysalis]

we have had to change cabins in the past.....ship's crew will help you move your stuff from one to the other. A couple of days before turn around day you will get info on what to do that day. It is very easy....we have done it many times.

[moki'smommy]

1) I booked a B2B in different cabins because I couldn't get the same cabin at the time of booking. Turnover day is easy. You do have to get off the ship but your luggage does not. Pack up all the stuff in drawers and bathroom, leave hanging clothes in the closet. Your stateroom hosts will coordinate things and move all your stuff to your new room (on other cruise lines, we've had to put it all in the suitcases, so Princess is even easier). Take your passport or other documents with you.

Depending on the number of people doing B2B, you will either be given a meeting place and time on the ship and be walked off or just instructed to leave by a certain time. In either event, you'll get an "in transit" pass that will allow you to bypass the lines and reboard when you wish. You'll get a sheet of specific instructions in your room the night before--for instance, we were told to get off and on via the crew gangway.

 

2) Just guessing that if they show the 20 day as sold out, they won't be able to book it as a 20....but it can't hurt to call them. They "block" rooms for the 20. It likely means that those reserved rooms are gone. You may still be able to get the same room for both legs, but it will take checking each cruise separately for the available cabins.

 

 

3) The TA can save you some time on the phone...and we get OBC by using a TA. It is really your choice. The real reason I use my TA is that she is a real professional with 20+ years in the business, and when the proverbial hits, she's an amazing help. I wouldn't expect issues out of FLL in the spring, but one never knows.

[mytime53]

We too have done that. In our case it was an inside cabin the first week, with a balcony the second week. We had an unhappy, inept steward for the inside cabin, plus I get claustrophobic, so on turnaround day, we didn't trust/couldn't wait for help moving our stuff, plus I figure everyone on board has plenty to do on a turnaround day and we never pack so much that we can't handle it in one trip. We picked it up and hauled it up to the balcony cabin, expecting to beg to just set it somewhere out of the way until the new cabin was prepared. Imagine our surprise when we stepped off the elevator and were met by a smiling steward who had our new cabin already prepared for us!

[JF - retired RRT]

As others posted...we've done it many times.

No hassle at all.

[skynight]

I am looking at the Caribbean Princess' 10-day trips in April and May 2018 and notice that the 20-day trip combining Eastern Carib and Panama Canal show as "sold out" while the 10-day stand-alone trips appear to have tons of availability. I am considering booking each 10-day separately but just in case I don't pick my cabin at booking, I might end up in separate cabins on each leg. So questions:

 

1) Has anyone ever done a B2B in different cabins? What happens on turnaround day? Do you have to leave the ship with all your luggage; or can you leave your luggage with Passenger Services until your cabin for the next leg is serviced? I guess I could stay on the ship with all my luggage, but I think Port Everglades makes everyone get off and come back on.

 

2) What if I called Princess and asked them to price a 20-day for me, would they do it? Who/where should I call? I cannot imagine a lowly service agent would be able to do that for me? Perhaps those cruise consultants they email me about sometimes?

 

3) Would a TA be useful in this situation? I am definitely a DIY'er, but am willing to let an expert do the legwork if it would help

 

Thanks to all who are willing to offer advice:D

Look at both voyages and see if you can locate a cabin that is available for both. If you can you can book it and request "no upgrade." A no upgrade request can only be made by phone, it isn't available on line.

We always use a T.A.. They normally provide extra perks not available directly from Princess. Some also discount fares. Also we always know in advance what we want, we instruct the T.A. accordingly.

Regarding question 2, the fares you see are the fares a Princess agent will quote. That's it. As said we always feel it is better to use a T.A.

Regarding question 1.

Same cabin or not same cabin, you will have to leave the ship in Ft. Lauderdale and go through immigration. You will receive detailed instructions in your cabin regarding the process. It's easy. Read them and follow them exactly and show up on time. Don't be the one all other passengers are waiting for. You do not have to bring your luggage off the ship.

If you have to change cabins, your cabin steward will arrange it. Place as much on hangers as possible. These items will be hung on a luggage dolly and hung in your new cabin.The loose stuff can be loaded into your luggage. This will also be transported to your new cabin. It is also possible to move some of your belongings yourself especially if the cabins are nearby.

[johnmik1]

We have done this move twice and both times Princess sent someone to make the transfer with us.They told us to leave everything in the drawers and when we arrived at the new cabin,they put the empty drawers on his cart and put our full drawers in the new cabin.

[paul929207]

We did it in January on the same ship. Very easy. We were lucky to have two cabins very close together. (L250 & L259).

 

Just read thru the instructions you get.

[Tucker in Texas]

We have gone down the day before and introduced ourselves to the new room steward. We have asked him/her if it would be possible for us to put our things in the safe prior to them preparing the cabin for us and always been able to do it. That way, we don't have to carry those items we would keep in the safe with us until we can get into the cabin.

[moki'smommy]

We have gone down the day before and introduced ourselves to the new room steward. We have asked him/her if it would be possible for us to put our things in the safe prior to them preparing the cabin for us and always been able to do it. That way, we don't have to carry those items we would keep in the safe with us until we can get into the cabin.

That's a really good idea--I'll have to remember this!

[trbarton]

I did a B2B Cruise last year on the Ruby in California, a 5 day followed by a 4 day. I originally had a inside stateroom booked for both segments but excepted an upsel for the first cruise.

By checking both cruises I was able to reserve the same stateroom on both cruises. Check to see if that’s possible.

I inquired about exchanging the drawers but was told I needed to pack those things in my suitecase. They moved my hanging clothes plus my suitecase.

Like was mentioned I also went & introduced myself to the new steward.

Then all of the people on the B2B had to meet on the ship & go off through customs as a group.

If I had to do it again I would keep the same stateroom so I don’t have to be out of my stateroom before 8 am.

Good luck & keep us posted as to what happens.

Tom😎

[caribill]

Please note that meeting as a group for immigration around 10 AM is only required if you do not go off the ship on your own earlier or go on a Princess tour that day.

 

If you want to tour on your own, you can leave the ship anytime disembarking passengers can leave the ship. Only if you are still on the ship around 10 AM do you have to meet with others.

[paul929207]

I went to introduce myself to the cabin steward for my second cabin, but she was leaving the ship on turnaround day, so that did not work. So I met the new one during the afternoon like everyone else.

[LeeW]

Don't forget to clean out the safe! Either put the stuff in your luggage and leave in the closet with hanging clothes or take a small carry-on off the ship with you. And you MUST have your ID/passport.

 

In-Transit passengers are allowed into the cabins even if the cabins are not ready (Regal and Royal don't open until 1) but once the current passengers leave you should be able to pop into the new cabin and put your safe contents in there yourself.

 

B2B folks get off last and are escorted through Immigration and back on. Your other option is to leave with other passengers, spend the day in port, and get back on later in the day.