B2B cruising out of Fort Lauderdale

[aussiecruiser275]

Will be looking at doing a B2B on the new Sun Princess in NOV 2024 when they go on sale next week, however due to cabin requirements and who we are going with etc it will necessitate us changing from a deluxe balcony cabin 7 day cruise to a Cabana minisuite for 14 day cruise afterwards. 

 

I do know the 14 day goes back to Fort Lauderdale as it is made up of 2 x 7 day cruises so are not worried that one as keeping the same cabin and will do a shore excursion through the cruise line for that day.

 

i would appreciate all the help as to how this will work as i have heard so many different stories in regards to how we get bags moved to the new cabin / do we need to check in again / when / how to get off and re join - can we do a shore excursion on that day etc. i know things have changed over the years.

 

Appreciate all you help everybody. We are from Australia and as you can see all I have done before from Fort Lauderdale was a Panama sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles about 6 years ago.

 

 

[reedprincess]

9 minutes ago, aussiecruiser275 said:

Will be looking at doing a B2B on the new Sun Princess in NOV 2024 when they go on sale next week, however due to cabin requirements and who we are going with etc it will necessitate us changing from a deluxe balcony cabin 7 day cruise to a Cabana minisuite for 14 day cruise afterwards. 

 

I do know the 14 day goes back to Fort Lauderdale as it is made up of 2 x 7 day cruises so are not worried that one as keeping the same cabin and will do a shore excursion through the cruise line for that day.

 

i would appreciate all the help as to how this will work as i have heard so many different stories in regards to how we get bags moved to the new cabin / do we need to check in again / when / how to get off and re join - can we do a shore excursion on that day etc. i know things have changed over the years.

 

Appreciate all you help everybody. We are from Australia and as you can see all I have done before from Fort Lauderdale was a Panama sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles about 6 years ago.

 

 

It's very seamless and you'll get detailed instructions about 2 days before your first turnaround day.

 

For the turnaround day where you're switching cabins:

You'll be asked to pack up any drawer items, personal items, leave anything hanging on the hangers hanging up, pack up your safe and bathroom, etc and leave bags on the bed and items hanging in the closet 

A room steward team will come and move your stuff from old to new cabin. 

You'll have two choices of what to do with your time at port:

1) meet with the back to back group and clear immigration as a group,. You meet in a designated area at designated time, once the ship's personnel gets go ahead you're escorted off the ship, through immigration check and then either right back aboard, or more likely held for a short time in a waiting area for zero count and then escorted back aboard (on occasion, if there's a very large back to back group, and enough CBP officers, clearance will take place aboard, don't expect it, but it's a possibility). 

Or

2) disembark the ship within normal disembarkation times, carrying your ID, medallion and In Transit cards. You'll go through normal disembarkation and are free to head out and do whatever you like out in town - get more wine, get a pedicure, hit the beach, lunch, shop, whatever. Return anytime once normal boarding has begun (generally after 11) and show In Transit card and head straight to boarding (same security, wine check, etc but you skip the check-in processes, etc). Board and head to cabin or whatever you like .

 

We personally pack our valuables and meds with us and leave the other stuff for the room team to move over. It's all on the bed or hanging in the closet when you get to your new room.  And, we always do option 2 as we hate waiting around with the back to back group for the one or two people who always think the process doesn't apply to them. In uncountable back to backs where we've done the group thing, we've never once not had to wait for someone who always thought they didn't actually have to show up, and thus holds up the entire process. Just too annoying after a few times - so we go get a pedicure and grab some more wine.  Much more relaxing.. 

 

You may have to go by Guest Services to get your medallion recoded to the new cabin. Takes just a few seconds.. you can always touch base with them before the end of the first cruise if curious.

 

Honestly, it's easy, seamless and detailed onboard. No need to worry or stress out about it.

 

It will be the same options on turnaround day during your 14 night portion also - same two options. The only difference is, you won't have to pack up and move. Your medallion will be coded for both weeks.  After 3 weeks though, you may or may not experience a low battery in it, you'll notice if it takes longer to unlock your cabin or you have to tap to do it instead of being a foot or two away.

 

It's very easy. And very clear aboard. Enjoy. 

[RNGALNG]

We did just this on the Emerald this February. To change rooms, you will have to pack up all your things in the drawers and bathroom, but not hangables. Then when your new cabin is ready, staff will come to the first room and put your things on rolling carts. Things on hangers will be hung on the carts too. They will then be taken to your new room. Things on hangers will be hung in the closet and then once you’re back in your room, you unpack again. We didn’t plan on leaving the ship (in LA, not FL) and we took our passports and medallions and walked off the ship, around the facility where the new passengers were waiting, went through security again very quickly, then back onto the ship. We could go directly to our rooms again since we were returning. 
 

We’ve  done a few b2b from Fort Lauderdale. Never have gone on an excursion. We usually will walk, if docked at pier 2, to the grocery or drug store nearby to reload on things we may need. If we don’t need anything, we get an Uber and go to a favorite place for breakfast. You could also walk to the water taxi and take it around the canals to see several of the fancy homes along the waterways. We’ve not changed rooms at this port and have just walked off the ship, quickly gone through security and out the door to enjoy the day. There’s a separate door when you return back to port if you show them the card you’re handed the night before saying you’re an intransit passenger. You will go through security and then go onboard. 

[chicgotgame]

2 hours ago, aussiecruiser275 said:

Will be looking at doing a B2B on the new Sun Princess in NOV 2024 when they go on sale next week, however due to cabin requirements and who we are going with etc it will necessitate us changing from a deluxe balcony cabin 7 day cruise to a Cabana minisuite for 14 day cruise afterwards. 

 

I do know the 14 day goes back to Fort Lauderdale as it is made up of 2 x 7 day cruises so are not worried that one as keeping the same cabin and will do a shore excursion through the cruise line for that day.

 

i would appreciate all the help as to how this will work as i have heard so many different stories in regards to how we get bags moved to the new cabin / do we need to check in again / when / how to get off and re join - can we do a shore excursion on that day etc. i know things have changed over the years.

 

Appreciate all you help everybody. We are from Australia and as you can see all I have done before from Fort Lauderdale was a Panama sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles about 6 years ago.

 

 

Do you know the day the Caribbean sale will start? 

[aussiecruiser275]

1 hour ago, chicgotgame said:

Do you know the day the Caribbean sale will start? 

we got told 9am pacific time 18 April for elites and the following day for general sale. Of course that means 2am from where i am !!

have fun chicgotgame in booking and thank you to reedprincess and rngalng for your help

[skynight]

If I understand your posting correctly you are booking three voyages, a 7 day voyage and then two 7 day voyages booked as a single booking number. Each time you return to Ft. Lauderdale you will have to be processed through immigration.

Read and follow all the instructions exactly.

Luggage. Your cabin steward will arrange to move your luggage to your new cabin. It's a fairly easy process. You do not have check in again. Other postings have addressed this.

Each time you return to Ft. Lauderdale you will have a choice. a) disembark any time after the disembarkation process has begun up to the final call. Bring your passport, intransit card provided on the ship, and medallion with you. Proceed through immigration. Return to the ship any time after general boarding has begun, somewhere around 11:30. b) Remain on the ship. If you choose this option you will be required to report to the designated meeting area, usually the theater, at a specific time. There will be lots of passengers reporting, maybe more than 500. Bring your passports and medallions. When immigration is ready staff members will walk all passengers off the ship, through immigration and back on the ship. If even one passenger is missing no one can re-baord until that passenger is located. Everyone must pass through immigration. It's called zero count, all passengers off the vessel. Sometimes immigration will actually come on the ship. If that is the case the process is basically the same. You wait until all passengers are accounted for. Immigration will set up a table in one of the ship's areas. You then pass through immigration there.

If you arrange a ship's tour follow instructions provided. You will have to pass through immigration as you leave the ship. If your tour's meeting location is on board the tour staff will lead you off the ship, through immigration and onto the tour bus. If your meeting location is off the ship you will have to allow time to disembark and go through immigration. In the past there have been only a few immigration lines for those with non US passports. I remember them being longer.

There are lots of things to do nearby on your own in Ft. Lauderdale. If your ship is at pier 2 you can easily walk out onto SE 17th St. There are lots of stores and restaurants there. There is a super market if you need to purchase some supplies. There are Sun Trolley stops along SE 17th St. with a few routes that can take you down to the beach area with all its sidewalk cafes.  Right next to the ship is a water taxi stop adjacent to the Hilton Marina Hotel. While it is really directly next to pier two it is outside the gates You have to walk around to get there. You can investigate all of these and many other options on line.

If you are docked at one of the mid port piers you would have to grab a taxi to get to these areas. It is difficult to walk out of Port Everglades from the mid port piers. Remember that in the US it is normal to tip taxi drivers as well as waiters.

Hope this helps.

 

[Oceansaway17]

On 4/12/2023 at 10:31 PM, aussiecruiser275 said:

Will be looking at doing a B2B on the new Sun Princess in NOV 2024 when they go on sale next week, however due to cabin requirements and who we are going with etc it will necessitate us changing from a deluxe balcony cabin 7 day cruise to a Cabana minisuite for 14 day cruise afterwards. 

 

Iam glad I caught this thread as I am interested in Sun Princess and did not realize it was going on sale next week for Fla.   

 

Also B2B are becoming popular and the cruise lines have it done pat.

I would suggest if you know your 2nd room and it is close by, I would walk over my stuff and tell the steward to just leave it in the corner as you are getting off the ship.  That is better than worrying if they move it which they will but if you do it without a lot of effort, then it is done and you can rest assure the luggage is there for you.

[skynight]

It is a good idea if possible to bring your suitcases and valuables to your next cabin. However, it isn't necessary to pack all your clothing. Recommend placing as much on hangers in the closet as possible, shirt, slacks, T's and such. Items on hangers will be transported to your new cabin on a hanging rack and will be hung in your new cabin's closet. Easy.

[voljeep]

the main point in all of this is simple ... Be where Princess tells you to be and at the time they tell you to be there on the B2B turnaround day(s).  If not, that person may be responsible for holding up 3000 cruisers from boarding the ship

[Rick&Jeannie]

1 hour ago, voljeep said:

the main point in all of this is simple ... Be where Princess tells you to be and at the time they tell you to be there on the B2B turnaround day(s).  If not, that person may be responsible for holding up 3000 cruisers from boarding the ship

Surely you're not suggesting that there are cruisers who don't follow instructions....?  On Princess?? 🙄

[beg3yrs]

A cabin change packing "hack" we use that's made things easier for us.

 

You're not going home so don't pack your bags that way. We pack our bags by cabin area. Grab a bag and take it to the desk. Put all the desk stuff in. Put all the stuff on the shelves around the refrigerator in your bags. Go to the night stands and pack them. Stay in the same area of the cabin until the bag is full or you've emptied that area.

 

Grab another bag and empty the all the bathroom items into it. If there's room left, grab the items on the shelves just outside the bathroom door. DW won't put items from the safe into a bag for the crew to move but puts all that into a carry-on and moves it personally to the new cabin.

 

Keep on doing this and unpacking is a breeze as all your items in each bag stay in the same kind of area in the new cabin. You aren't going back and forth placing stuff where it belongs.

[mbglib]

4 hours ago, beg3yrs said:

A cabin change packing "hack" we use that's made things easier for us.

 

You're not going home so don't pack your bags that way. We pack our bags by cabin area. Grab a bag and take it to the desk. Put all the desk stuff in. Put all the stuff on the shelves around the refrigerator in your bags. Go to the night stands and pack them. Stay in the same area of the cabin until the bag is full or you've emptied that area.

 

Grab another bag and empty the all the bathroom items into it. If there's room left, grab the items on the shelves just outside the bathroom door. DW won't put items from the safe into a bag for the crew to move but puts all that into a carry-on and moves it personally to the new cabin.

 

Keep on doing this and unpacking is a breeze as all your items in each bag stay in the same kind of area in the new cabin. You aren't going back and forth placing stuff where it belongs.

That is a great idea.  Thank you!

[MissP22]

On 4/14/2023 at 2:23 PM, voljeep said:

the main point in all of this is simple ... Be where Princess tells you to be and at the time they tell you to be there on the B2B turnaround day(s).  If not, that person may be responsible for holding up 3000 cruisers from boarding the ship

You would think that with the introduction of the medallion that would no longer be a problem since that could round up the violators fairly quickly.