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Advise for B2B change over day

Happychappie

By Happychappie,
in Royal Caribbean International

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Happychappie

Happychappie

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Hi, We are a group of 6 doing a B2B on Allure out of F Lauderdale in a couple of weeks time. Im interested to find out the process for the change over day between the 2 weeks. We have the same cabins booked for both weeks so im assuming we just leave our luggage on and dont need to pack and take luggage off and on again?

 

Also I assume the ship has to be clear of passengers to close the first cruise down to open the following cruise for boarding and that we have to get off the ship and get a new seapass for the second week? If this is so when we get off is it literally you get off and then straight back on or is there a holding area we go to for a period of time for B2B passengers?

 

There is an obvious attraction in getting straight back on in that we will be settled in and be able to use the pool etc on what is traditionally a quieter day due to all of the new passengers scurrying around the ship in excitement! The downside is of course that most things on the ship are actually closed on changeover day.

 

The alternative is to treat it as a port day and get off and go to the beach etc. I see the attraction in that apart from then coming back and having to do the whole queuing thing at what will be a very busy time.

 

Any advice from people who have done this would be greatly appreciated.

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Clarea

Clarea

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All details will be explained in a letter you will receive in your stateroom before changeover day.

 

You do not need to pack and unpack if you are in the same stateroom.

 

You are normally escorted off, through CBP, and back on. Sometimes you have to wait a bit. Distribution of new SeaPass cards can vary, sometimes it's the night before, sometimes it's changeover morning, sometimes it's during the changeover itself.

 

Anymore, you will have very little time on the ship by yourself. In the past we would have around 90 minutes of the ship to ourselves. These days you are lucky to have 15 minutes.

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sjb317

sjb317

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We just did this on Allure last Sunday, it was a very easy process. We received a letter on Friday telling us to meet in Blaze at 0945. We needed to have our sea pass card and our passports with us. About 1030, we were escorted off the ship and taken to a waiting area on the 2nd level of the terminal. An officer from Immigration came in & checked our passports. Our new cards were given to us, and we were escorted back on the ship. One of the easiest B2Bs we’ve ever done!

 

This Sunday we have to get off!:(

 

Sherri:)

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Happychappie

Happychappie

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We just did this on Allure last Sunday, it was a very easy process. We received a letter on Friday telling us to meet in Blaze at 0945. We needed to have our sea pass card and our passports with us. About 1030, we were escorted off the ship and taken to a waiting area on the 2nd level of the terminal. An officer from Immigration came in & checked our passports. Our new cards were given to us, and we were escorted back on the ship. One of the easiest B2Bs we’ve ever done!

 

This Sunday we have to get off!:(

 

Sherri:)

 

Hi, Thats great to hear. Did you then have to wait until 1pm to be allowed back to your room once they took you back on board or could you use your cabin straight away as you were a B2B passenger? Thanks

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Clarea

Clarea

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Hi, Thats great to hear. Did you then have to wait until 1pm to be allowed back to your room once they took you back on board or could you use your cabin straight away as you were a B2B passenger? Thanks

You can normally go to your stateroom as soon as you re-board. Fire doors may be closed until 1pm, but you can open them and go to your stateroom. If questioned, just tell the crewmember you are a consecutive cruiser.

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sjb317

sjb317

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Hi, Thats great to hear. Did you then have to wait until 1pm to be allowed back to your room once they took you back on board or could you use your cabin straight away as you were a B2B passenger? Thanks

 

We were able to go back to our cabin. There was also lunch for us in the MDR @ 1145.

 

Sherri:)

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davekathy

davekathy

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Hi, We are a group of 6 doing a B2B on Allure out of F Lauderdale in a couple of weeks time. Im interested to find out the process for the change over day between the 2 weeks. We have the same cabins booked for both weeks so im assuming we just leave our luggage on and dont need to pack and take luggage off and on again?

 

Also I assume the ship has to be clear of passengers to close the first cruise down to open the following cruise for boarding and that we have to get off the ship and get a new seapass for the second week? If this is so when we get off is it literally you get off and then straight back on or is there a holding area we go to for a period of time for B2B passengers?

 

There is an obvious attraction in getting straight back on in that we will be settled in and be able to use the pool etc on what is traditionally a quieter day due to all of the new passengers scurrying around the ship in excitement! The downside is of course that most things on the ship are actually closed on changeover day.

 

The alternative is to treat it as a port day and get off and go to the beach etc. I see the attraction in that apart from then coming back and having to do the whole queuing thing at what will be a very busy time.

Any advice from people who have done this would be greatly appreciated.

Go to the TAD meeting for B2B Cruisers. Usually it's held a day or two prior to the end of the first leg. You will receive an invite. Good info. If you are planning on getting off the ship on TAD let them now and they will give you a in transit pass. When you return you'll still have to go thru the security screening but will be able to go directly to the ship. You get to by pass all the check in processing.

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audome78

audome78

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One tip : check with guest relations on about day 4 of the first week to make sure they show you as consecutive cruiser. Otherwise, you will not receive the letter regarding the changeover process. We have done multiple b2b and you would be surprised how often, despite checking on online correctly, and verifying everything with RCI before we sailed, the ship did not show us as b2b.

 

Just confirming while onboard during week 1 saves a lot of hassle.

 

Enjoy!

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cruisegirl1

cruisegirl1

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Turn around ay is very easy. OP - you should receive an instruction letter a few days before the end of the first cruise.

 

Recently, we received some sort of small pass (business card size) that says we are in transit (B2B) . I understand it is because lots of regular passengers have learned the B2B guests can get to their cabins and are telling staff/security that they are B2B. Last B2B ( last month on Oasis) we actually had to show the card to the staff who was just inside the fire door. I am surprised I have not seen an in transit pass on Ebay.

 

As noted, years ago the B2B's had some time on the ship prior to everyone else boarding. Last month we had none as while they were escorting us on, they are calling the first group to board. The B2B prior (December 2017) , they held us in the front of the priority boarding area and attempted to board us back first. Several others ( Not part of our B2B group) simply rushed the group and boarded with the B2B. I guess that is why last month, they held us in a separate area of the terminal for re-boarding, then called the first group.

 

enjoy the B2B!

M

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davekathy

davekathy

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One tip : check with guest relations on about day 4 of the first week to make sure they show you as consecutive cruiser. Otherwise, you will notreceive the letter regarding the changeover process. We have done multiple b2b and you would be surprised how often, despite checking on online correctly, and verifying everything with RCI before we sailed, the ship did not show us as b2b.

 

Just confirming while onboard during week 1 saves a lot of hassle.

 

Enjoy!

Going down to GS to ensure for your own peace of mind you are showing as a consecutive cruisers is one thing and excellent advise but to say if you don't go down to GS you will not receive the TAD letter. Not true. Now if you're saying if you don't show as consecutive cruisers you will not receive the TAD letter until your are listed as consecutive cruisers, agree. We've also done many B2B cruises and have never gone down to GS to ensure we are listed as consecutive cruisers. We have always received the letter for TAD procedures plus the invite to attend the optional meeting for consecutive cruisers a couple of days prior to the end of the first leg.

Edited by davekathy
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internetwhiz

internetwhiz

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29f33bda584a1b6cde55632994cf1120.png

 

Our letter from Liberty last month. Process is always pretty much the same. Two things to be sure and do. Mark Consecutive Cruiser as your departure method on Cruise 1, and mark Consecutive Cruiser as the method of arrival on Cruise 2, when you do your check-in. The second thing is to stop by Guest Services early in Cruise 1 to insure Consecutive Cruising is on the list. IF you are changing cabins, take your jewelry and valuables with you as you go off the ship and back onboard.

 

Our cruises didn’t have a meeting last month. Just the sheet in the room. Haven’t had a meeting about it other than the gathering to leave the ship together since last year.

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bouhunter

bouhunter

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Anymore, you will have very little time on the ship by yourself. In the past we would have around 90 minutes of the ship to ourselves. These days you are lucky to have 15 minutes.

 

Yeah last January on Jewel by the time we got out of our meeting it wasn't long at all before the new guests were coming on board. At least we didn't have to get off the ship though:p

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later

later

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29f33bda584a1b6cde55632994cf1120.png

 

Our letter from Liberty last month. Process is always pretty much the same. Two things to be sure and do. Mark Consecutive Cruiser as your departure method on Cruise 1, and mark Consecutive Cruiser as the method of arrival on Cruise 2, when you do your check-in. The second thing is to stop by Guest Services early in Cruise 1 to insure Consecutive Cruising is on the list. IF you are changing cabins, take your jewelry and valuables with you as you go off the ship and back onboard.

 

Our cruises didn’t have a meeting last month. Just the sheet in the room. Haven’t had a meeting about it other than the gathering to leave the ship together since last year.

 

 

 

The online check In doesn’t have a place to check off for consecutive cruiser as far as I can see. It use to before the change.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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internetwhiz

internetwhiz

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The online check In doesn’t have a place to check off for consecutive cruiser.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

 

Ok, my Symphony and Mariner bookings DON’T have a way to designate Consecutive Cruiser. Those are two of the ships on the new app, updated web interface.

 

Last month I had Liberty and I just did my Vision PC one, and both of those had the Consecutive Cruiser dropdown to select it. They aren’t on the new app/updated web interface.

 

So right now, some have it, some don’t. I would SURE want to stop by Guest Services or maybe even call RC before leaving for a cruise to make sure you are on the Consecutive list.

Edited by internetwhiz
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RFerrington

RFerrington

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We will be doing B2B on Anthem in 2 different Star Class suites. Not sure whether we will have the same Genie on both segments. I would hope that they try and keep you with the same Genie just for continuity sake. I assume that one of the Genies (if they are different) would arrange for our things to be moved from one suite to the next. Unfortunately we were not able to get the same suite for both segments.

 

Has anyone done B2B Star Class cruises ?

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internetwhiz

internetwhiz

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I did ours, for the Allure, a little over three weeks ago and it showed up on the second cruise. I did this on a pc using their web site.

 

 

I recently did the online checkin for my upcoming Oasis B2B and there was no longer an arrival / departure section, thus no place to say you are a consecutive cruiser..

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

 

See my post above and it’s easy to make a list of which ships will and won’t have the ability to check this off. It’s about 10 of the ships on the new interface/app where you can’t

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