First time back2back

[***]

Hi. Its the first time we have booked a back2back Its On Celebrity Millennium  in Feb 24. What do we expect on the day of transfer between cruises? do we have to disembark? are facilities still open to us? 

Thank you 

[Ipeeinthepools]

I like B2B's.  But as nice as it is to watch most everyone leave the ship knowing that you are staying on for another trip, turn-around day is a wasted day for me.  Almost all facilities are closed during the morning and some start to reopen as the new passengers board the ship. Procedure will vary depending on the country, but in the US you will be forced to gather at a central location around 9:00 am and you will actually exit the ship as a group to be processed trough customs at  location inside the terminal.  You will then re-board just before normal boarding starts.  At least before Covid, you were allowed to exit the ship and re-board anytime after normal boarding has started.  My recommendation is to treat turn-around day as another port day.   Plan an excursion off the ship and enjoy your day.   Otherwise the day is almost a waste.    

[Alakegirl]

Where will you be, OP?  Procedures are different if you are in the US or out of the US

Edited March 31, 2022 by Alakegirl

[the penguins]

2 hours ago, Alakegirl said:

Where will you be, OP?  Procedures are different if you are in the US or out of the US

We have always had to disembark as the ship needs a zero count before it can take new pasengers - sometimes it's been just walk off as a group turn round and walk back on. Whatever the ship is well practised and it's really not a problem. If we are not changing cabins we just head for the Al Bacio settle in and watch the new arrivals.

[davekathy]

7 hours ago, *** said:

Hi. Its the first time we have booked a back2back Its On Celebrity Millennium  in Feb 24. What do we expect on the day of transfer between cruises? do we have to disembark? are facilities still open to us? 

Thank you 

A day or two prior to your TAD you will receive a detailed letter in your stateroom outlining the TAD process, along with what you need to bring, where and what time to meet. 

[JamieLogical]

If your B2B is embarking/disembarking in the US, then you will be required to exit the ship and go through customs. You will receive instructions in your stateroom about where to meet up and when on turnaround day. You will be escorted off the ship as a group with all of the other B2B passengers, taken through the terminal to customs, guided back on the ship and given your new SeaPass card. Even if you are in the same room, you will get a new SeaPass. If you are staying in the same room, you can leave everything there. If you are moving to a new room, you need to pack up loose items. You can leave hanging items on the hangars. Your room steward will move all of your things to your new room for you.

 

Cafe Al Baccio is usually open fairly late before you have to disembark. OceanView Cafe usually opens at 11:00.

[emmas gran]

As the cruise is Asia and India the B2B rules will be very different, no one knows for sure at the moment what the rules will be.

[Alakegirl]

1 hour ago, the penguins said:

We have always had to disembark as the ship needs a zero count before it can take new pasengers - sometimes it's been just walk off as a group turn round and walk back on. Whatever the ship is well practised and it's really not a problem. If we are not changing cabins we just head for the Al Bacio settle in and watch the new arrivals.

Zero count is needed on US cruises but not on those cruises sailing elsewhere.  But future requirements are yet to be decided, around the world

[Jim_Iain]

I've done a number of B2B's and they are very simple and stress free.   You will receive an invite to a B2B meeting where they will cover everything.   The process will vary by port.    I have done a B2B in a number of ports including San Diego as recent as October 2021  and all processing was done in the Sky Lounge and we never left the ship.   As a matter of fact all passengers were processed through Immigration in the Sky Lounge.  

 

If you are in the same stateroom you will not need to do anything.   If changing room your room attendant will coordinate with you and once your new room is vacant you will be invited to move valuables and items in your safe.  You only need to pack up things in drawers.  Items hanging in your closet will be moved by your room steward as well as your suite cases.

 

After they Zero Out the ship they will scan your new seapass and you will be either released from the processing room on the ship or the port and you will have free roam of the ship for a couple hours before they begin general boarding.    All Shops will be close and many of the bars will be closed.   Al Bassio is open as well as a section of the Ocean View.  I try not to use the words always or never so will only say that this may vary by port, ship and country.

Edited March 31, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[peanut head]

If you are staying in an upper level suite for both legs of the cruise, can you get room service lunch?

[NantahalaCruiser]

14 hours ago, *** said:

Hi. Its the first time we have booked a back2back Its On Celebrity Millennium  in Feb 24. What do we expect on the day of transfer between cruises? do we have to disembark? are facilities still open to us? 

Thank you 

It appears that your turnaround will be on 2/8/24 in Singapore. You may or may not need to get off the ship depending on Singapore's rules. However, you will certainly wish to get off since Singapore is a wonderful city to visit.

 

Last time we did a B2B our turnaround was in Hong Kong and we would not have had to get off the ship; but of course we wished to tour Hong Kong during the turnaround day. We were given a piece of paper that we could show when we returned to the ship after our touring and bypass the crowd waiting to embark on their first but our second cruise. However, your turnaround could be different depending on Singapore requirements.

[mitz18]

1 minute ago, NantahalaCruiser said:

It appears that your turnaround will be on 2/8/24 in Singapore. You may or may not need to get off the ship depending on Singapore's rules. However, you will certainly wish to get off since Singapore is a wonderful city to visit.

 

 

Agree - use the time to see Singapore if you've never been there as indeed a nice place

[***]

Thank you all for your help 

[Suzanne123]

We are doing back to back Alaska cruises Vancouver to Seward.  On turnaround day, can I book a Kenai Fjords cruise leaving in the morning or will we will be delayed by processing?

[canderson]

2 hours ago, Suzanne123 said:

We are doing back to back Alaska cruises Vancouver to Seward.  On turnaround day, can I book a Kenai Fjords cruise leaving in the morning or will we will be delayed by processing?

You will be able to depart early with the early departures.  Your 'reboarding processing' can be handled when you return.  Just be sure to identify yourself as a B2B guest upon return, and be SURE to take all of your documents with you (they'll tell you what you need) when you disembark.  You will receive a "Transfer Pass" to use for reboarding, so be sure you have that with you as well.

[Northern Aurora]

3 hours ago, Suzanne123 said:

We are doing back to back Alaska cruises Vancouver to Seward.  On turnaround day, can I book a Kenai Fjords cruise leaving in the morning or will we will be delayed by processing?

 

Yes -- you can definitely do a Kenai fjords day trip on turnaround day.  

 

Seward is an interesting port for a B2B as the vast majority of passengers ending their cruise depart very early since they take the popular cruise contracted special Alaska Railroad train from Seward directly to the Anchorage airport. It departs about 7:30 in the morning (or is it 7:00?).   During the turnaround day the ship feels very empty as so many folks boarding the ship take the cruise contracted ARR train from the Anchorage airport to Seward in the afternoon.  The Seward cruise terminal (AKA warehouse) has a number of employees just standing around waiting for passengers to board until the great rush when the train arrives. about 5 PM.  When you return from your excursion just show them your Transit Pass (not "transfer") and you will be waived onboard.

 

Our favorite vendor is Major Marine.  We've done a number of trips with them through the years and  have been very pleased.  The owners of Major Marine also own the Harbor 360 hotel.  Check in for their day trips is at the Harbor 360 which is visible from the ship.   The cruise ship docks on one side of the Seward small boat harbor and the hotel is located on the other side.