How does B2B work?

[mljatsea]

We've never done a B2B and are considering adding a prior cruise to our TA this fall. I know we will not be able to get the same cabin. I expect we will have to pack up all our belongings but do they have to be removed from the ship and checked in again like new passengers. Or do they have a holding place on the ship for them so they can just move them to your new stateroom when it's been cleaned? Any other tips?

 

Thank you.

[omeinv]

@mljatsea

 

First, you may be able to get the same cabin.  Keep watching for the cabin you want to open up.  It happens more often than you would think.  You theoretically can be wait-listed by Celebrity, but having done this many times, I've always seen the cabin open up before they contacted me. 

 

The process of moving cabins is very easy if you do need to.  You do not have to remove anything from the ship with you other than your passport and a "Transit Pass" you will be given on board.  If your turn-around port is not in the US, it will likely be even easier.  You can leave everything that is on hangers, on the hangers, and put your remaining belongings in your suitcases.  Your stateroom attendant will take care of moving it to your new cabin. 

 

In a US port if you want to go out on the port day, you can leave the ship at any time, you will have been given your seapass for the new cruise in advance.  As you leave the terminal you'll go through US CBP, so you'll need your passport.  You would not be able to re-board until boarding the new cruise has begun (11:00 AM or so).  That Transit Pass you were given serves to get you past the queue of new passengers, and with those two extra step, it's just like any other port day for you.  If you choose to remain on board, you'll be asked to go to a particular place on board, and then at the right time (probably around 10:30 AM), you'll be escorted off the ship to present your passport to CBP, then you are escorted right back on. 

 

Harris

Denver, CO

Edited May 8, 2023 by omeinv

[mljatsea]

Thanks for the very helpful info OMEINV!

[Jim_Iain]

They usually have a B2B meeting to explain and also a detailed letter to explain both changing rooms, staying in same room, going ashore or staying on ship

 

Just  implemented one.  Here are the instructions.   
 

 

[WestLakeGirl]

1 hour ago, mljatsea said:

We've never done a B2B and are considering adding a prior cruise to our TA this fall. I know we will not be able to get the same cabin. I expect we will have to pack up all our belongings but do they have to be removed from the ship and checked in again like new passengers. Or do they have a holding place on the ship for them so they can just move them to your new stateroom when it's been cleaned? Any other tips?

 

Thank you.

They do not have a holding place. A couple of days before the first cruise ends, talk to your state room attendant and tell him or her what room you will be moving to, and it’s usually a nice thing to go to that room and introduce yourself to the new state room attendant.  The two of them will coordinate your move. The new state room attendant will probably clean that room first before his or her others.

 

Put the things in the drawers and on the bathroom shelves into your suitcase. Leave the hanging things on hangers. They will bring a cart to move your clothes and belongings to the new room.

[the penguins]

13 hours ago, WestLakeGirl said:

They do not have a holding place. A couple of days before the first cruise ends, talk to your state room attendant and tell him or her what room you will be moving to, and it’s usually a nice thing to go to that room and introduce yourself to the new state room attendant.  The two of them will coordinate your move. The new state room attendant will probably clean that room first before his or her others.

 

Put the things in the drawers and on the bathroom shelves into your suitcase. Leave the hanging things on hangers. They will bring a cart to move your clothes and belongings to the new room.

Easier still if you can get some of the old paper laundry bags (or bring a few carrier bags) put the contents of each drawer/shelf into a separate bag and put the bags in your cases. On arrival in your new cabin simple empty each bag into/on to the correct shelf/drawer.

[smtcan]

We have done a number of B2B cruises and everything has gone according to the plan described above.  However we just completed one that was seriously messed up. 
We informed our steward ahead of time, put our hanging items on the bed as requested (first time we were asked to do that), packed the rest and emptied the safe.  We took the safe contents to our new cabin, which was almost ready, then went to wait to be taken off the ship.

There was quite a wait for the ship to be emptied, but eventually we were processed and allowed back on.  Our new cabin was ready, but no sign of our luggage.  We went to the solarium, then had lunch.  Still no sign of our luggage.  We called customer service and our suitcases arrived.  Mid afternoon we called again about our hanging items.   They arrived just before dinner, carried by two unfamiliar people, just in their arms.

I have no idea what caused this.  I assume our stuff was moved from the cabin since it was booked by new passengers, but the system broke down somewhere.  Nothing was lost, so we didn’t complain.  We just decided to let it go and enjoy our second cruise.

[Alakegirl]

There are a couple more things to remember about back to packs. Any onboard credit left over from the first cruise does not transfer to the 2nd cruise. And you might have to take your credit card down to the front desk to re-register it.

[smtcan]

Also wifi minutes do not carry over. However a positive is that if you buy liquor on the first cruise it will be delivered to your cabin on the last day of that cruise which is handy if you don’t have a drink package on the second one.