B2B Perks

[Ombud]

I'm doing my very 1st B2B in May .... a 5 day then a 16 day. Heres where I'm a little confused, hoping other CC Members can shed some light:

1. Can I bring 2 bottles on? (Like Reisling but not sweet one)

2. If I trade my minibar for coffee, does that coffee card work on the 2nd cruise?

3. If so, can I trade the minibar for a bottle of wine?

Thanks. I know I might be able to search history for answers but want to know how it is IRL post restart & hard to search on the droid

[Steelers36]

3 minutes ago, Ombud said:

I'm doing my very 1st B2B in May .... a 5 day then a 16 day. Heres where I'm a little confused, hoping other CC Members can shed some light:

1. Can I bring 2 bottles on? (Like Reisling but not sweet one)

2. If I trade my minibar for coffee, does that coffee card work on the 2nd cruise?

3. If so, can I trade the minibar for a bottle of wine?

Thanks. I know I might be able to search history for answers but want to know how it is IRL post restart & hard to search on the droid

1.  Yes - but perhaps be prepared to show them second booking if indeed the wine table is staffed when you check-in.

2.  I have read yes more than once, but you actually have two coffee packages for the first mini-bar trade and that may be sufficient anyway.

3. Yes, you could trade the second minibar for a bottle of wine, but IDK if what you get is very good.

 

[skynight]

You will have two coffee packages with 15 specialty coffees each. If you are a solo passenger both will be on your account. If there are two of you the each will receive a coffee package. The way it has worked in the past is that unused specialty coffees carry over, but the free brewed coffee & tea did not.

Regarding wine. Probably yes. Give it a try. You are only out $20 if you are denied.  

[davekathy]

We haven't cruised with Princess since 2010. What does Princess do for consecutive cruisers (B2B) on TAD? Consecutive cruisers lunch, access to the cabins  after the TAD process? 

[PacnGoNow]

2 hours ago, Ombud said:

I'm doing my very 1st B2B in May .... a 5 day then a 16 day. Heres where I'm a little confused, hoping other CC Members can shed some light:

1. Can I bring 2 bottles on? (Like Reisling but not sweet one)

2. If I trade my minibar for coffee, does that coffee card work on the 2nd cruise?

3. If so, can I trade the minibar for a bottle of wine?

Thanks. I know I might be able to search history for answers but want to know how it is IRL post restart & hard to search on the droid

We do a lot of b2b’s and always bring our allotted wine. I also print a copy of all the b2b’s we have on that ship.  Yes, they do want to see proof and they mark down your cabin no. Mostly, new people working the alcohol table behind security.  I assume this is from a US port?

 

[Ombud]

5 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

...  I assume this is from a US port?

 

Thanks .... yes it's from San Pedro

[skynight]

2 hours ago, davekathy said:

We haven't cruised with Princess since 2010. What does Princess do for consecutive cruisers (B2B) on TAD? Consecutive cruisers lunch, access to the cabins  after the TAD process? 

There is nothing special. One DR is open to all passengers, usually noon to 1:30. Food venues such as the International Cafe, Poolside Grill & Pizza, Alfredo's will be open usually starting at 11am. If you are speaking about a turn around at a U.S. port then if you wish to stay on board you will meet at the designated location around 9:30/10am, follow the instructions. You will then be escorted off the ship, through immigration and once all passengers disembark back on the ship. If you are in the same cabin your cabin is normally accessible like any other day. There may be some exceptions. If you are changing cabins your cabin might not be ready until noon or so.

You will also have the option to exit the ship, go through immigration, tour around and then re-board once general boarding has begun.

 

Edited January 25, 2023 by skynight

[PacnGoNow]

1 hour ago, Ombud said:

Thanks .... yes it's from San Pedro

 

3 hours ago, davekathy said:

We haven't cruised with Princess since 2010. What does Princess do for consecutive cruisers (B2B) on TAD? Consecutive cruisers lunch, access to the cabins  after the TAD process? 

To add…it really depends on how many b2b’s there are on your TAD.  We’ve had 4 b2b guests up to 500 b2b guests.

 

Once we had choc covered strawberries in our cabin, and once a photo of the 4 b2b guests, of us with the CD.  But, on these larger B2B’s, mostly since the restart, we’ve had mimosas when we walked back OB, after the quick 

walk through customs.  It really depends on the ship, crew and the size of the group.  
 

We never expect anything, but another fun cruise.  And it’s so nice when they surprise us.

 

We just go to lunch, before the big crowd and then to our cabin.  

 

 

Edited January 25, 2023 by PacnGoNow

[Ombud]

3 hours ago, davekathy said:

TAD

What's TAD definition on CC?

[kapsgp]

In December, on the Sky, they gave all B2B passengers a glass of sparkling wine as we re-boarded the ship.

[PacnGoNow]

24 minutes ago, Ombud said:

What's TAD definition on CC?

Turn around day

[chubbypiggy]

4 hours ago, skynight said:

You will have two coffee packages with 15 specialty coffees each. If you are a solo passenger both will be on your account. If there are two of you the each will receive a coffee package. The way it has worked in the past is that unused specialty coffees carry over, but the free brewed coffee & tea did not.

Regarding wine. Probably yes. Give it a try. You are only out $20 if you are denied.  

Two months ago I booked solo on Discovery Princess on b2b.  There were the usual 20 items in my cabin.  I called to trade in for coffee package.  Only one 15 specialty coffees was loaded to my account.  I asked Room Service why I only got 1 coffee package and not 2? I told them in the past when I booked the cabin with 2 passengers, the same 20 items in the cabin when we arrived, and when called to trade-in, each of us were given a 15-coffee package.  Room Service told me the rule is one package per passenger.  I asked at International Cafe and were told the same  thing.  Only 1 package per customer.  So, for the 2nd cruise of my b2b cruise, I traded in my 20 items for that cruise and also was only given one 15 specialty coffee package.  

[PacnGoNow]

12 minutes ago, chubbypiggy said:

Two months ago I booked solo on Discovery Princess on b2b.  There were the usual 20 items in my cabin.  I called to trade in for coffee package.  Only one 15 specialty coffees was loaded to my account.  I asked Room Service why I only got 1 coffee package and not 2? I told them in the past when I booked the cabin with 2 passengers, the same 20 items in the cabin when we arrived, and when called to trade-in, each of us were given a 15-coffee package.  Room Service told me the rule is one package per passenger.  I asked at International Cafe and were told the same  thing.  Only 1 package per customer.  So, for the 2nd cruise of my b2b cruise, I traded in my 20 items for that cruise and also was only given one 15 specialty coffee package.  

So, was it a solo discounted rate or was it a double fare. I know they have had real solo cabin rates recently. Maybe that makes a difference?

[chubbypiggy]

14 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

So, was it a solo discounted rate or was it a double fare. I know they have had real solo cabin rates recently. Maybe that makes a difference?

It was a "150%" rate and not "200%".  I did bring that up and was told cabin rate does not make a difference.  The policy is maximum of 1 package per person per sailing.   I remember reading on CC, so I told the IC manager, that I read on a past post on CC, the poster said she "booked a solo cabin, trade-in for coffee package, got one package to begin with, after she finished her 15 specialty coffee, her account was immediately credited with another 15 specialty coffee".  The IC manager told me that is not the Princess policy, and didn't know why that person got a 2nd card loaded.    

[PacnGoNow]

5 minutes ago, chubbypiggy said:

It was a "150%" rate and not "200%".  I did bring that up and was told cabin rate does not make a difference.  The policy is maximum of 1 package per person per sailing.   I remember reading on CC, so I told the IC manager, that I read on a past post on CC, the poster said she "booked a solo cabin, trade-in for coffee package, got one package to begin with, after she finished her 15 specialty coffee, her account was immediately credited with another 15 specialty coffee".  The IC manager told me that is not the Princess policy, and didn't know why that person got a 2nd card loaded.    

That’s good info for solos out there.  Don’t think it’s fair, especially if you pay 200%. 

That’s how it works if you buy 2 coffee cards, like for a 30 day cruise. When you’ve used 15, the next 15 are loaded.

 

Had no idea about solo cruisers. 

 

[Thrak]

We are booked for a B2B2B this fall but it's in Australia. Wondering how turn around works there. We sail out of Melbourne and return there after each segment. We'll have 2 turn around days. Anybody know if they do anything "special" like folks mention above? (I never realized they ever did anything special for folks who are continuing on the next cruise.) Maybe I'll check on the @PescadoAmarillo blog and see if she mentions anything but they've done soooooooooo many B2B type cruises she may not mention it or may not participate.

[PescadoAmarillo]

2 hours ago, Ombud said:

What's TAD definition on CC?

Thank you. I didn’t know either, despite having done a few of them. 😆

[PescadoAmarillo]

3 minutes ago, Thrak said:

We are booked for a B2B2B this fall but it's in Australia. Wondering how turn around works there. We sail out of Melbourne and return there after each segment. We'll have 2 turn around days. Anybody know if they do anything "special" like folks mention above? (I never realized they ever did anything special for folks who are continuing on the next cruise.) Maybe I'll check on the @PescadoAmarillo blog and see if she mentions anything but they've done soooooooooo many B2B type cruises she may not mention it or may not participate.

We have boarded a cruise in Melbourne, but not done a TAD (😊) there that I recall. However, if it’s like Sydney, it’s a bit different than US turnarounds and very different than turnarounds in other foreign ports. Unless the ship is not leaving Australia waters on the next cruise (ie Tasmania), you may leave the ship at any time up to when they call for in transits to disembark but you can only reboard it one time. You can’t go shopping, bring the items back to the ship and leave again to go sightseeing. 
 

Nothing else special stands out. But I understand what the OP is asking. Some cruise lines (HAL used to do this) offer in transits a special lunch sometime during the cruise on a sea day. 

[Ombud]

@chubbypiggy I have always gotten 2 coffee pkgs and I'm a solo. Once I complete the 1st one, I get the 2nd one EXCEPT on the Enchanted & Discovery Princesses they loaded both at the same time. 

[PacnGoNow]

5 minutes ago, Ombud said:

@chubbypiggy I have always gotten 2 coffee pkgs and I'm a solo. Once I complete the 1st one, I get the 2nd one EXCEPT on the Enchanted & Discovery Princesses they loaded both at the same time. 

I wonder if this is a new policy or just the ship you were on?

[chubbypiggy]

1 minute ago, Ombud said:

@chubbypiggy I have always gotten 2 coffee pkgs and I'm a solo. Once I complete the 1st one, I get the 2nd one EXCEPT on the Enchanted & Discovery Princesses they loaded both at the same time. 

Yes, I remember reading your post regarding you gotten 2 coffee pkgs as a solo, and the 2nd one loaded once the 1st one completed.  When I was told on my November's Discovery Princess cruise that I will only get one pkg, I told them I read on CC (your post) what you said.  But both RS and IC told me it has always been Princess' policy for mini bar trade-in, it is one coffee pkg of 15-specialty coffee per passenger.  

[chubbypiggy]

1 minute ago, PacnGoNow said:

I wonder if this is a new policy or just the ship you were on?

I was on Discovery only 2 months ago when I was told only one package per customer per mini-bar trade.  

[chubbypiggy]

9 minutes ago, Ombud said:

@chubbypiggy I have always gotten 2 coffee pkgs and I'm a solo. Once I complete the 1st one, I get the 2nd one EXCEPT on the Enchanted & Discovery Princesses they loaded both at the same time. 

How long ago were you on Discovery?  I was on Discovery just 2 months ago and they only gave me one package.

[chubbypiggy]

In April I will be doing a b2b on Majestic, also booked solo.  1st segment, 5 days and 2nd segment, 22 days. On the 1st segment, I will request my mini-bar trade for coffee package, lets see if I will get one or two package.  Hopefully I will get 2 packages, then I will have 30 coffee for my total 27 days.  If so, then for my 2nd segment, I can trade in for 20 Perrier water.  

[Thrak]

17 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

We have boarded a cruise in Melbourne, but not done a TAD (😊) there that I recall. However, if it’s like Sydney, it’s a bit different than US turnarounds and very different than turnarounds in other foreign ports. Unless the ship is not leaving Australia waters on the next cruise (ie Tasmania), you may leave the ship at any time up to when they call for in transits to disembark but you can only reboard it one time. You can’t go shopping, bring the items back to the ship and leave again to go sightseeing. 
 

Nothing else special stands out. But I understand what the OP is asking. Some cruise lines (HAL used to do this) offer in transits a special lunch sometime during the cruise on a sea day. 

 

Thanks. The 3 cruises are all Australia and New Zealand. The first turnaround is just for a 4 day "seacation" that goes to Sydney and then back to Melbourne. (It is to connect with folks who are on the 27 day sailing from San Pedro to Sydney.) The second turnaround is for a cruise that goes to New Zealand.