How much time off ship for back-to-back cruises?

[BillderBo]

How much time must we stay off the ship between cruises? Our first cruise ends in Fort Lauderdale, and the second departs the same day on the same ship (Rotterdam). Most people want to know how long they have for an excursion. We just want to know how soon we can get back on the ship. Trying to be the last off and first back on is an obvious strategy, although I don't have the optimal logistics and timing of that figured out yet. Still, I have no idea how long the time gap might be. 

 

Does anyone have insight on this?

Edited October 20, 2022 by BillderBo

[albingirl]

11 minutes ago, BillderBo said:

How much time must we stay off the ship between cruises? Our first cruise ends in Fort Lauderdale, and the second departs the same day on the same ship (Rotterdam). Most people want to know how long they have for an excursion. We just want to know how soon we can get back on the ship. Trying to be the last off and first back on is an obvious strategy, although I don't have the optimal logistics and timing of that figured out yet. Still, I have no idea how long the time gap might be. 

 

Does anyone have insight on this?

You don't even have to get off. Just go through customs. Immigration. Back on board for a tasty lunch. How good is that!

[iflyrc5]

We have done the B2B in FLL many times.  The typical process is this - you will get a letter a couple days before arriving in FLL.  It will give you a time and location to meet on the ship.  Usually 0930 in either the main stage or the BB King lounge with your passport and room key.  When everyone arrives (sometimes people don't show up until being called several time) and all the guests that are leaving are off the ships personnel will escort your group off the ship.  They will guide you into the terminal and you will either go to a facial recognition station or see a government official with your passport.  When everyone is checked through you will then be guided back onto the ship.  If all goes well and everyone does what they are supposed to do the process will take less than 30 minutes.   If you want to get off the ship and do some site seeing or shopping around FLL you can get off the ship any time.  You will be given an "in transit" card so when you return you can bypass the lines and get on the ship.

[RAS4331]

They called all the back-to-back group to the theater, and we were all escorted off the ship and into the port, where we went through immigration, and went immediately back on board again.  The whole process took probably 45 minutes or less.  Very painless.

[marshhawk]

I hope this is as easy on my CC B2B in Italy.

[BillderBo]

That sounds great! We had visions of roaming the streets of Fort Lauderdale for hours, me pushing wife in wheelchair. 
 

There is one twist in our situation. We will be changing cabins, so we will have to wait until the new cabin is cleaned. Hope that doesn’t bump us out onto the streets, so to speak.

Edited October 20, 2022 by BillderBo

[iflyrc5]

12 minutes ago, BillderBo said:

That sounds great! We had visions of roaming the streets of Fort Lauderdale for hours, me pushing wife in wheelchair. 
 

There is one twist in our situation. We will be changing cabins, so we will have to wait until the new cabin is cleaned. Hope that doesn’t bump us out onto the streets, so to speak.

You should be fine.  We had to change cabins one time.  You pack you loose stuff - the crew moves your luggage and hang-up clothes.  You can wait in a common area until the cabin is ready.

[iflyrc5]

16 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

I hope this is as easy on my CC B2B in Italy.

You probably won't even be required to get off the ship - we got off and walked into town for a while but it was not a requirement.

[CruiserBruce]

29 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

I hope this is as easy on my CC B2B in Italy.

Outside the US, typically a B2B turnaround day is usually just another day in port.

[Arizona Wildcat]

It is actually wonderful having the pools and other areas almost to yourself.   Usually a special lunch In the MDR or other venue.too

[12cruise2]

We do this all the time in Fort Lauderdale.  Be SURE to take your passports to the meeting of all passengers who will be on B2Bs.  Everyone is held up in the meeting room until EVERYONE has his/her passport, so 1) show up on time and 2) WITH your passport.

The other trick we do is to bring 8-10 of the fabric tote bags with us--the basically no-weight grocery-type reusable grocery bags, not the heavier canvas ones; I put my loose stuff in the bags; to me, it's sooooo much easier than actually repacking everything in the suitcase.  I put my bathroom things in one bag, my shoes in another bag, my "drawer" stuff in another, my safe stuff in another, my desk stuff in another; the stewards put the hanging clothes on a trolley and these bags on them, too; easy peasy I think, and the bags really don't take up room in the suitcase.  Plus I use the bags as totes around the ship anyway.  The stewards are usually quick about having the new cabin ready; I usually find them and mention it to them in advance--go to wherever they are, mention your situation as a heads up; should go smoothly.  Also mention it to your current room stewards.  Then either the new stewards hand you your new card keys or you go to the front desk to get them.  Touch base with the front desk a couple of days in advance as well.

Edited October 20, 2022 by 12cruise2

[BillderBo]

You’ve all turned our big stress into something to look forward to. Thanks!

[12cruise2]

8 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

It is actually wonderful having the pools and other areas almost to yourself.   Usually a special lunch In the MDR or other venue.too

In Fort Lauderdale, you don't have as much free time to yourself as in other ports.  You all have to meet in a pre-arrange lounge area, all get escorted a fair distance to immigration, all wait for all to go through, then be escorted back to the ship.  Plus, OP has to change cabins and unpack.  Always nice to eat lunch when they open almost by yourself, at least for a little while.

[Crew News]

2 hours ago, BillderBo said:

You’ve all turned our big stress into something to look forward to. Thanks!

It is my experience on B2B stateroom changes that you need to pack your belongings early on Turnaround Day.  Both your current and future Room Stewards will help you move your belongings into your future stateroom as soon as it is vacated by the previous occupants.  With good luck, they may have early departures meaning you can move earlier. 

 

The stateroom, with your belongings, will be locked by your new Room Stewards (you will not be given access to the room until you reboard the ship) and prepared for your return while you are away.  Remember to keep documents you will need (passport, Vaccine Card, Room card to sign off the ship) to clear Immigration ashore.  You can go back to your emptied stateroom or hangout somewhere else on the ship before your scheduled time to meet for your ship departure (around 9:30 AM).  

 

When you return to the ship, your new keys will be in the mailbox of your new stateroom. Since you will be reboarding the ship about an hour before other passengers, there may be a few things left to do in your new stateroom.  You can start putting your belongings away or hangout somewhere on the ship.  This hour is a perfect time to take photos of the ship while only a few passengers are in your shots.  Many staterooms will be open during this hour if you want photos of other stateroom categories. 

 

Tip: Take a photo of the stateroom number before taking photos inside so you can check the categories when you return home.

 

Since you will be aboard for a second week, make your dining reservations for your second week Specialty Restaurants sometime during your first week.

[rodndonna]

11 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

We have done the B2B in FLL many times.  The typical process is this - you will get a letter a couple days before arriving in FLL.  It will give you a time and location to meet on the ship.  Usually 0930 in either the main stage or the BB King lounge with your passport and room key.  When everyone arrives (sometimes people don't show up until being called several time) and all the guests that are leaving are off the ships personnel will escort your group off the ship.  They will guide you into the terminal and you will either go to a facial recognition station or see a government official with your passport.  When everyone is checked through you will then be guided back onto the ship.  If all goes well and everyone does what they are supposed to do the process will take less than 30 minutes.   If you want to get off the ship and do some site seeing or shopping around FLL you can get off the ship any time.  You will be given an "in transit" card so when you return you can bypass the lines and get on the ship.

 

I can see obvious benefits on doing B2B including cost savings (for those of us who fly), but also curious, can I ask what (if any) discount is applied when you book a B2B? Do you pay the full fare against both cruises (as if booked separate) or is there generally a discount applied to the second leg (like around 10%,20% ?)

[iflyrc5]

7 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

I can see obvious benefits on doing B2B including cost savings (for those of us who fly), but also curious, can I ask what (if any) discount is applied when you book a B2B? Do you pay the full fare against both cruises (as if booked separate) or is there generally a discount applied to the second leg (like around 10%,20% ?)

There is not a "discount" as such but booking a "collectors" cruise (which is 2 cruises put together as one booking) is cheaper than booking the 2 cruises individually.  

[StLouisCruisers]

1 hour ago, iflyrc5 said:

There is not a "discount" as such but booking a "collectors" cruise (which is 2 cruises put together as one booking) is cheaper than booking the 2 cruises individually.  

 

Usually.  Always do mock bookings both ways, as a B2B or one long cruise.  Don't forget to take into account extra OBC from holding shares of stock.  Once in a while they will fool you and the two bookings will come out ahead of a "collectors" cruise.  At least that's been my experience.

[canadarocks]

And if you're getting the Have It All package, booking legs separately can benefit you as well. 21 day cruise gets you $300 in Shore Excursion credits & 3 Specialty Meals. That same cruise, when booked as 10 & 11 day cruises, gets you $400 in Shore Excursion Credits & 4 Specialty Meals. 

Edited October 20, 2022 by canadarocks

[StLouisCruisers]

Not to mention the fact that sometimes you can find a lower price for one of the cruise segments and have it refared to match before final payment.  Can't do that if it is one longer booking instead of two shorter ones.  Transatlantics come to mind as being a segment that sometimes gets lowered.

[BillderBo]

The HAL cruise rep did the math and determined that booking separately was our best price in this case. We came out ahead on HIA perks because we got excursion and dining credits twice. 

[StLouisCruisers]

10 minutes ago, BillderBo said:

The HAL cruise rep did the math and determined that booking separately was our best price in this case. We came out ahead on HIA perks because we got excursion and dining credits twice. 

 

Excellent!  I'm glad everyone here could give you some hints on what to look for, and that the HAL representative was of help to you.  Sounds like you got the best deal.