Back to Back Procedure???

[grak]

I’d like to know the process involved for a B2B cruise.. if you’re in the same cabin. When is testing done? Can you get off the ship and spend a few hours in port? If you’re in a different cabin do you have to take luggage off ship and reboard? Thanks.

[Steelers36]

12 minutes ago, grak said:

I’d like to know the process involved for a B2B cruise.. if you’re in the same cabin. When is testing done? Can you get off the ship and spend a few hours in port? If you’re in a different cabin do you have to take luggage off ship and reboard? Thanks.

Where is your turnaround port?

 

For the cabin, it is easier if you don't have to move.  If you do need to move, it helps to look up the steward for the new location and let them know you are a B2B and moving.  They will tackle your new cabin among the first typically.  You pack up all but hanging items and stewards move the stuff - or you can DIY.

 

If your turnaround is not USA, it is like another port day (from all I have read - not sure if there is an exception). 

 

If your turnaround is USA, you will meet with other B2B's in the morning and will leave ship into the terminal together and be checked by US CBP and then you can re-board.  You can also leave the ship like another passenger, go thru US CBP and do whatever, and return to the ship later.

 

If Covid-19 testing is still a thing when you cruise, they notify you and you go to a location on the ship the day before and have the rapid test.  If positive, they administer a PCR to confirm.  If you are negative, you are good to go.

 

[PacnGoNow]

19 minutes ago, grak said:

I’d like to know the process involved for a B2B cruise.. if you’re in the same cabin. When is testing done? Can you get off the ship and spend a few hours in port? If you’re in a different cabin do you have to take luggage off ship and reboard? Thanks.

On all ships I have seen on these forums currently report, b2b's are tested the day before.  You will receive instructions ahead of time in your cabin.

Assuming, you come back negative,

your instructions will tell you, if you want to go out you will get a transit card to reboard.  You must take your passport and medallion with you and you will reboard before new guests coming onboard, if you come back that early.  Or, just return at your leisure.

If you want to just stay onboard at the turnaround, you will meet the other b2b’s in a specified area and be walked through customs (with your passport and medallion) and back on the ship. Very organized and easy.

If you’re positive, you will be notified what the procedure will be, and of course you would back your bags to get ready to disembark the next day.

 

There are a lot of forums here about b2b’s you may want to read through them.

 

I’m assuming this is a US port.  You didn’t specify. 

Stay safe

Edited January 24, 2022 by PacnGoNow

[Cruise Raider]

We have only done a B2B once since the restart and we’re tested on the ship during the second leg of the cruise.  I don’t think this is how they do it now, though. I believe you are tested either on the ship on the morning of the first disembarkation or in the terminal.  
 

We didn’t know what the procedure was going to entail so, we took a regular home test kit along with us so we knew if we’d have to pack everything up or not before leaving the ship.  We were both negative so we left our belongings in the room.  
if I was going to have to move rooms, I would have packed up the suitcases and left them in the cabin while I went for my test.  If negative you can ask your room steward a to move them to your next cabin.  If positive you can instruct them to pull all the luggage out for you as you will not be allowed back onboard.  Just take your valuables with you.  

[geoherb]

Both times we did b2b cruises from Fort Lauderdale, we met with the group in a location on the ship, were escorted off the ship to have our passports checked, and then allowed back on the ship. We had to move cabins one time, and it was not that big a deal.

 

One time when we were doing a tour of a Royal class ship, they had the CBP officials screen the b2b passengers in the theater.

 

I chose to go off the ship after lunch. It's a short walk to Walgreens, Total Wine, and Publix if you're at the piers beside the convention center. 

[LACruiser88]

Below from Princess web site:

 

Yes, back-to-back bookings will be available for vaccinated guests, subject to availability.

 

Guests on back-to-back voyages will need to disembark the ship at the end of each voyage, receive a complimentary viral COVID-19 test, and will be permitted to board the ship again once they receive a negative test result.

 

Guests who test positive for COVID-19 will be denied boarding on the next voyage, together with their family members and close contacts who are not fully vaccinated. If you, your family members, travelling companions or other close contacts are suspected of having COVID-19, you are entitled to a 100% Future Cruise Credit.

 

We will closely monitor all guidance and will adapt and evolve this policy accordingly.

[VibeGuy]

One other thing to consider:  if you have to move cabins, see if the new cabin is available the night before;  this is almost never the case in normal circumstances but is rather common these days.  The steward can let you in with his card and you can transfer things without packing them up if that’s more convenient for you. 

[PacnGoNow]

25 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

Below from Princess web site:

 

Yes, back-to-back bookings will be available for vaccinated guests, subject to availability.

 

Guests on back-to-back voyages will need to disembark the ship at the end of each voyage, receive a complimentary viral COVID-19 test, and will be permitted to board the ship again once they receive a negative test result.

 

Guests who test positive for COVID-19 will be denied boarding on the next voyage, together with their family members and close contacts who are not fully vaccinated. If you, your family members, travelling companions or other close contacts are suspected of having COVID-19, you are entitled to a 100% Future Cruise Credit.

 

We will closely monitor all guidance and will adapt and evolve this policy accordingly.

However, currently US ports have been testing b2b’s the day before.  Which makes it a lot easier for guests. 

[philv]

Don’t quite get these comments about changing cabins. My understanding is you don’t change cabins on b2b. One of the cool features of b2b cruising.

Edited January 24, 2022 by philv

[PacnGoNow]

10 minutes ago, philv said:

Don’t quite get these comments about changing cabins. My understanding is you don’t change cabins on b2b. One of the cool features of b2b cruising.

B2b is on the same ship. You may have to change cabins if your cabin is not available on all of your b2b’s.  
I’ve booked b2b’s on the guarantee fare, only because I didn’t have a choice.  They assign the cabins, not always the same cabin.  
Because covid testing is now required, on the turnaround it throws more questions in about that and changing cabins, if you have to.

 

[VibeGuy]

We never book more than 30 days before departure, but we can stay on for as long as we’d like (schedule issues).  So while we *often* keep the same cabin, it’s not always possible on short notice. 

[philv]

OK I stand corrected. I was just thinking of your standard b2b 14 day cruise where they stitch together two seven day itineraries like my Feb 6 eastern/western Caribbean cruise. 

Edited January 25, 2022 by philv

[Bwana Tom]

I believe the others have answered most of your concerns/questions here already. I will only mention a couple of things that might be helpful. You will likely be advised to meet in an assigned lounge on teh last day of the first leg and once all B2B folks get there you will be ushered off the ship in order to go through customs. It is a very easy process, but the entire process will likely take 45 to 60 minutes to complete. The B2B folks are not allowed back on the ship until all of the normal passengers have left the ship. After that you can return to the ship if you choose to do so, which is very nice because there will be few others on board. You should not be concerned about the process because it very well organized and easy to complete.

Even if you have to change cabins that too is very easy. We always talk to our steward on the first leg of the trip to make sure he/she understands we will be moving cabins, but staying on for the next cruise. We leave the cloths hanging in the closet, but put everything else in our  luggage and leave the bags on the bed. Just be sure to take all of your valuables out of the safe and take them with you.

Easy Peasy! And best all you only have to travel to the port once. 

[grak]

Thank you all for the information. Most helpful!

[trbarton]

12 hours ago, grak said:

I’d like to know the process involved for a B2B cruise.. if you’re in the same cabin. When is testing done? Can you get off the ship and spend a few hours in port? If you’re in a different cabin do you have to take luggage off ship and reboard? Thanks.

Here’s what my experiences were, moving from one stateroom to another. 
 

I did go & introduce myself to the other steward. They moved all of my hanging clothes & I moved all of the small stuff & my suite cases were moved  to the new stateroom. I just kept anything that I thought I might need. 
 

I was in San Pedro & since their wasn’t much to do there you could leave once processed & come back later to the ship. 
 

I understand that you will have a Covid test before your 1st cruise finishes. 
 

Easy Peasy to do. 
 

Tom😀

Edited January 25, 2022 by trbarton

[geoherb]

3 hours ago, philv said:

OK I stand corrected. I was just thinking of your standard b2b 14 day cruise where they stitch together two seven day itineraries like my Feb 6 eastern/western Caribbean cruise. 

 

Some people book those 14-day cruises without realizing they're b2b cruises. Or at least one passenger I met last month on the Caribbean had done that. She did not realize that most of the passengers were on for a 7-day cruise until she heard the CD talk about the cruise being just one-week long. 

[seapals2]

Our cruise was booked as a 20 nights sailing so technically not a b2b.  Others onboard may have booked a 10 night sailing.  The ship returns to Fort Lauderdale mid cruise.  
Does anyone know if we will still have to test after 10days and go through the changeover procedures or are we just in port like any other day.  
Should one of us test positive do we have to leave the ship to go to a quarantine hotel or are we free to make our own plans?   
We have a villa booked at the end of the cruise and could possibly get an early arrival and isolate there.  

[caribill]

8 hours ago, philv said:

OK I stand corrected. I was just thinking of your standard b2b 14 day cruise where they stitch together two seven day itineraries like my Feb 6 eastern/western Caribbean cruise. 

 

If your 14-day B2B was booked as a single voyage (one booking number), you will always be in the same cabin for both segments.

 

If your 14-day B2B was booked booked as two voyages (two booking numbers), you may have been able to get the same cabin for each booking or you may need to be in two different cabins because the same cabin was not available for both segments. Sometimes people choose to book different cabins, for example being in a balcony cabin for one segment and in a mini-suite for tyhe other segment.

[caribill]

15 minutes ago, seapals2 said:

Our cruise was booked as a 20 nights sailing so technically not a b2b.  Others onboard may have booked a 10 night sailing.  The ship returns to Fort Lauderdale mid cruise.  
Does anyone know if we will still have to test after 10days and go through the changeover procedures or are we just in port like any other day.  

 

Even though you booked it as a single cruise, you will need to go through whatever test procedures are required for those who booked it as two segments.

 

15 minutes ago, seapals2 said:

Should one of us test positive do we have to leave the ship to go to a quarantine hotel or are we free to make our own plans?   
We have a villa booked at the end of the cruise and could possibly get an early arrival and isolate there.  

 

You are free to make your own plans.

[VibeGuy]

<deleted due to outdated information>

Edited January 25, 2022 by VibeGuy
Factual error

[PacnGoNow]

5 minutes ago, VibeGuy said:

Note that if you make your own lodging plans for quarantine, Princess doesn’t pay.   If you use the contracted hotels, Princess pays anything it covered by your travel insurance. 

Where did you get that information?  That’s not what has been posted from those in quarantine in these forums.

Would you clarify that last sentence?

 

Edited January 25, 2022 by PacnGoNow

[VibeGuy]

I stand corrected:  

 

“Can I book my own hotel if I am required to quarantine post-disembarkation before returning home? 
Hotel accommodations will be arranged by Princess with one of our contracted hotel partners. Should you select a different hotel, you will be reimbursed only for the amount of the contracted hotel rate. Any incidental charges, costs related to room upgrades and additional room nights in excess of what is provided by Princess, requested or arranged by you, is your responsibility. Princess will provide hotel accommodations until a medical professional clears you to travel home.”

 

From https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/covid-19-protection-program/

today. 
 

I could swear they paid zero if you didn’t use a contracted hotel. 

 

[PacnGoNow]

2 minutes ago, VibeGuy said:

I stand corrected:  

 

“Can I book my own hotel if I am required to quarantine post-disembarkation before returning home? 
Hotel accommodations will be arranged by Princess with one of our contracted hotel partners. Should you select a different hotel, you will be reimbursed only for the amount of the contracted hotel rate. Any incidental charges, costs related to room upgrades and additional room nights in excess of what is provided by Princess, requested or arranged by you, is your responsibility. Princess will provide hotel accommodations until a medical professional clears you to travel home.”

 

From https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/covid-19-protection-program/

today. 
 

I could swear they paid zero if you didn’t use a contracted hotel. 

 

No problem.  As many have posted, you may book your own if you want to. Of course, there is a limit on the maximum daily hotel rate and meals per diem daily.

 

Let’s hope none of us have to use it.

Stay safe.

[skynight]

12 hours ago, seapals2 said:

Our cruise was booked as a 20 nights sailing so technically not a b2b.  Others onboard may have booked a 10 night sailing.  The ship returns to Fort Lauderdale mid cruise.  
Does anyone know if we will still have to test after 10days and go through the changeover procedures or are we just in port like any other day.  
Should one of us test positive do we have to leave the ship to go to a quarantine hotel or are we free to make our own plans?   
We have a villa booked at the end of the cruise and could possibly get an early arrival and isolate there.  

Does not matter how you booked.

You will be tested after  at the end of the 1st leg. 

Assuming you are at a US port on turn around day you will have to meet at a designated location and be escorted through immigration. Read the information  provided and follow exactly. If even one person does not show for the immigration process every one will wait until that person is found.

Can't answer regarding a positive test, but would assume you would have to leave the ship. Might be some info in the FAQs.

 

[PacnGoNow]

1 minute ago, skynight said:

Does not matter how you booked.

You will be tested after  at the end of the 1st leg. 

Assuming you are at a US port on turn around day you will have to meet at a designated location and be escorted through immigration. Read the information  provided and follow exactly. If even one person does not show for the immigration process every one will wait until that person is found.

Can't answer regarding a positive test, but would assume you would have to leave the ship. Might be some info in the FAQs.

 

That has been addressed already in the Princess link above.  Here it is again.

 

https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/covid-19-protection-program/