Your opinion Please

[rabin1]

Hopefully I am doing a B2B in December unless cancelled. I live in Ft. Lauderdale. It is the same ship for both cruises Island Princess. It arrives at Port Everglades at 7am and leaves again at 4pm. Do you think I will have time to go to my own salon get my hair done, and mani/pedi? Also what is the latest time you think I should be back on the ship?. I did this once before the Covid issue and when I got back to port it was one hour before sailing. No one checked me at all and I walked right back on the ship. I just am wondering this time about checks etc.

 

Thank you in advance

Kathy

[nini]

IMHO- the one hour would be WAY too close for me.... Covid or not. In my world, my hair cut and style is simple and my I pedi lasts a few weeks. I would not need a new one of either after being gone just a week.

[cr8tiv1]

You could walk off the ship at 7:30 AM, but don't think your stylist would be open until 9 or 10 AM.  Is your hair, mani, and pedi at the same location?  How long would it take you normally to get there?  How long would it take you to get all the services done?  How would you get back to the ship?

 

Your medallion will be programmed for both voyages.  If you have the same room, you won't have to make a move.  If you don't have the same cabin, then you would have to do the move with the help of your steward/staff.  You do not have to stick around for intransit passengers to check out.  By walking off the ship, you will automatically be zeroed out.

 

Keep in mind that you will be competing for transportation for passengers leaving the cruise unless you have someone that will pick you up/drop you off.  If....and that's a lot of ifs....you can get back to the ship by 2:30, I think you will be safe.  You just walk back on as your would do after leaving the ship for a port call.

[skynight]

Pre- cruise you would have to be back at the pier about one hour before sailing. Make your appointment early as possible. Select your disembarkation time and yes from what I have read you will have to do this during the covid era. Then adjust according to the return time received on the voyage. Assume you are driving and your car will be in the parking deck, easy get away. 

[Reina del Mar]

During a B2B from Fort Lauderdale, we did a Princess trip to Flamingo Gardens on middle day- don’t usually do Princess excursions but had excess OBC to use. We left about 9am and were returned to port by about 3pm..just walked straight back on as if it were any other port.

 

Having mani/pedi and hairdo is not likely to take more than 2-3 hours, is it?

 

To avoid taxi/Uber problems, maybe book something FROM the area your hairdresser is to avoid waiting at dockside ?? Or get a friend to pick you up if you are local.

 

However..our experience was prior to Covid, so not sure how it would work now.

[skynight]

I meant to say pre- covid, not pre- cruise.

[cjpj]

I don't think you can leave the ship doing a back to back until all departing passengers clear customs unless doing a tour... at least that is what I remember on my B2B in FLD.

[AVCruzers]

I agree with CJPJ.  We have been on two b2b and each time, we were the last group to leave ship.  

[Steelers36]

I don't see why a B2B pax couldn't just walk off the ship and "ping" out anytime.  You do not have to stay and go through the group clearance and re-board.  But you do still need to clear US CBP like the departing pax. 

 

When you return to the ship, you should have an In-Transit card in order to quickly get back on board.  I am aware of multiple couples heading off the ship early in PE to do personal business and later return to the ship.  Often, you are going to return after new pax have been boarding and then you just proceed on with your Medallions which will already be programmed for the full length of your voyage.

[rabin1]

Thank you for all of your thoughts. I am going to try to get off real early because my appt is at 10. As I said in my original post when I got off & did this last time before the pandemic when I got back an hour before sailing no one asked or said anything to me. I walked right on. I just hope I can get off quick. I will find out who I can ask on the ship. Also I am Elite so that may work in my favor. 

thanks again 

Kathy 

[RRFan]

5 hours ago, cjpj said:

I don't think you can leave the ship doing a back to back until all departing passengers clear customs unless doing a tour... at least that is what I remember on my B2B in FLD.

No, you can get off any time you want to. You just can’t go back on until they have started embarking new passengers. 

[Reina del Mar]

10 hours ago, RRFan said:

No, you can get off any time you want to. You just can’t go back on until they have started embarking new passengers. 

Yes this is correct..and I had forgotten that you are given an ‘in transit’ card.

[windsurferfirst]

Why don't you get your hair, mani and pedi done on the ship? I couldn't be bothered with all the stress of running round FL mid vacation

 

[rabin1]

2 minutes ago, windsurferfirst said:

Why don't you get your hair, mani and pedi done on the ship? I couldn't be bothered with all the stress of running round FL mid vacation

 

Because I am OCD, and want my people and not some mystery people I don't know messing with my acrylic nails and pedicure & my color. Also one person said it was only a week between cruises it is not. The first one is 10 days and the second one is 14. I go every week for blow out and every 3 weeks for color and every other week for nails and toes. I could not be that long without my people putting me back together. I would feel like Humpty Dumpty. Lastly my hair is down to my butt and I sure as heck don;t want someone I don;t know doing my color.....................

Although I like your idea it is a no go for Ms OCD here..................lol Thanks

[patrickmoran]

Speaking pre-COVID, no problem

Who knows what protocols will be in November. Plan to do it but be prepared to cancel once COVID-reality sets in.

[Grego]

On 7/28/2021 at 5:25 PM, cjpj said:

I don't think you can leave the ship doing a back to back until all departing passengers clear customs unless doing a tour... at least that is what I remember on my B2B in FLD.

You are on the same page as I am with this.  On a back to back you still have to go through customs and that might not occur until around 10:00 or so because you are "In Transit" and then you can leave the ship.

I can see that the OP is on the ship for 24 days if I have the bookings right so they may want to have their hair and nails done, but my guess is that they might be pushing it to try and doing that after the ship docks after the 10-day booking.

Then there's the issue of what will be the protocol upon returning to the ship considering we are still in a "Covid" state?  Are there more delays and testing?

My opinion is why not try the ship's salon and not worry about it.........but then, I'm a guy and what do I know? 

Edited July 30, 2021 by Grego
Additional information

[skynight]

On 7/28/2021 at 11:27 PM, RRFan said:

No, you can get off any time you want to. You just can’t go back on until they have started embarking new passengers. 

Pre- covid this was exactly our experience. It worked this way. Those who wished to leave the ship and go into town on their own were permitted to leave the ship anytime after disembarkation began. Bring your passport, medallion and intransit card with you. You may return to the ship anytime after general boarding has begun. On return to the ship you must pass through security. Those that do not wish to leave the ship met in the theater. After all passengers disembarked these passengers were escorted through immigration and back on the ship. This was usually around 10am. This process may change post covid.

[caribill]

On 7/30/2021 at 11:04 AM, skynight said:

Pre- covid this was exactly our experience. It worked this way. Those who wished to leave the ship and go into town on their own were permitted to leave the ship anytime after disembarkation began. Bring your passport, medallion and intransit card with you. You may return to the ship anytime after general boarding has begun. On return to the ship you must pass through security. Those that do not wish to leave the ship met in the theater. After all passengers disembarked these passengers were escorted through immigration and back on the ship. This was usually around 10am. This process may change post covid.

 

This is the way it has worked for several years and there is noi reason to believe it would change when B2Bs are allowed again.

 

The only thing different from this way in the more distant past is that if you left the ship on your own before the group meeting of those still on board, you could reboard anytime after the count had been zeroed and not have to wait the extra time until boarding for new passengers started.

 

And again, this procedure is for USA ports (other than Alaska where the count does not have to be zeroed) and not for non-USA ports as the count does not have to be zeroed there. Just disembark when (and if) you want and reboard when you want at the non-USA turnaround ports.

[skynight]

51 minutes ago, caribill said:

And again, this procedure is for USA ports (other than Alaska where the count does not have to be zeroed) and not for non-USA ports as the count does not have to be zeroed there. Just disembark when (and if) you want and reboard when you want at the non-USA turnaround ports.

Reason. When sailing Vancouver to Whitter passengers go through U.S. immigration in Vancouver when they board. Immigration procedures not required again at the 1st U.S. port, usually Ketchikan, nor in Whitter.

Edited July 31, 2021 by skynight