Our 14 day cruise is really a B2B, now what?

[SuzWillCruise]

So, we booked a 14 day cruise to Norway in May of 24, and realized later that it’s also 2 seven day cruises. We’ll have the same cabin obviously, but what should we expect on the turn around day?
 

So far, we’re tripping over the fact that we can’t seem to book the spa for the full 14 days. I’d rather book it for the entire cruise now, and not waste part of my vacation trying to figure out the exact right window to book days 8-14. 
 

I’m guessing we’ll need to leave the ship at some point, which is fine, and we’ll find something to do in Rotterdam, but we shouldn’t need new keys, right?  

[CruiserBruce]

Many threads here on the topic.

 

First, the turnaround day will likely be treated as a day in any port...you will be able to come and go as you please. It is unlikely you will have to leave the ship to clear procedures. If you are booked for 14 days on one booking number, you will not get new room keys.

 

Secondly, you will receive a thorough set of directions as to what, if anything you need to do on that day.

 

Can't help you with the spa question. That seems to be a recent hangup...some things can be booked for your full cruise, some things can't. Didn't used to be that way...not sure what has changed.

[Crew News]

Typical Turnaround Procedures

• Instructions and in-transit cards/paper will be received the a day or two before the current cruise ends.  A designated area and time will be assigned for you to meet.  You may be required to leave the ship or just wait in the designated area aboard ship.
• If required to leave the ship and sometime after all other passengers have departed the ship, the in-transit passengers will be escorted off the ship.  After a brief (15-60 minutes) terminal processing, in-transit passengers will be allowed back aboard. 
• If not required to leave the ship, you will be released from the designated waiting area as soon as all other passengers have left the ship.  As a many-time in-transit passenger, this is always delayed as some passengers, for a myriad of reasons, fail to leave the ship when their luggage tags are called.

 

Back onboard you can witness the Room Stewards preparing staterooms for future passengers. 

[dfish]

We had that situation in Rotterdam last year on our Norway cruise.  We did not have to leave the ship.  We could if we wanted to do so.  They provided us with instructions on how to go about that if we were inclined and we received an in transit pass so that we didn't have to go through all the lines to reboard.  

 

We chose to stay on board and took advantage of being able to use the pool without crowds.  It was a nice, peaceful morning.  

[Banditswife]

Just make sure you follow the instructions given.  We were on a B2B where several people didn't show up at the designated area & we all had to wait until they found them so the ship could be zeroed out.  There were a few people who had their cruise booked as a 14 day & still needed to show up for the 0 count on turn around day.  The letter we received did not state clearly that we had to show up, it sounded more like an option rather than a requirement.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Maybe contact your TA and see if you can book it as a 14 day it might be cheaper?

[SusieKIslandGirl]

Have you tried to do a "live chat" or calling either HAL or your TA to see if they can book the spa for the entire cruise?

[RuthC]

Cruiser Bruce and dfish are absolutely right. Your Turn-around day in Rotterdam will look like any other port day to you. You can stay on board relaxing all day, if you wish, or go ashore, if that's your pleasure. 
There is no 'zeroing out' of the ship, nor is there an assembly area where you have to gather with anyone else who is continuing on. 

The procedure in various European ports is vastly different, and much, much simpler, than in U.S. ports. 

[Guest ldtr]

1 hour ago, Banditswife said:

Just make sure you follow the instructions given.  We were on a B2B where several people didn't show up at the designated area & we all had to wait until they found them so the ship could be zeroed out.  There were a few people who had their cruise booked as a 14 day & still needed to show up for the 0 count on turn around day.  The letter we received did not state clearly that we had to show up, it sounded more like an option rather than a requirement.

Usually they do not have to do that in Europe.  You do in the US but not with most other countries.

[dfish]

37 minutes ago, RuthC said:

Cruiser Bruce and dfish are absolutely right. Your Turn-around day in Rotterdam will look like any other port day to you. You can stay on board relaxing all day, if you wish, or go ashore, if that's your pleasure. 
There is no 'zeroing out' of the ship, nor is there an assembly area where you have to gather with anyone else who is continuing on. 

The procedure in various European ports is vastly different, and much, much simpler, than in U.S. ports. 

Thank you for pointing out that there is no need to assemble anywhere.  I forgot that.  It was the same thing when we had a turn around day in Montreal.  No assembly and no need to leave the ship, although we did there.  The In Transit passes worked beautifully to get us back on the ship.  

[mcrcruiser]

We have one of those as well October 2024 booked . This one in Mexican Riviera followed by Coastal Ca from SD port /

 

 We know the process as we have done B2B before 😄

Edited July 4, 2023 by mcrcruiser

[ExpatBride]

I hope they don't make you wear a sticker like I saw on NCL years ago that said "I'm still on my vacation." 

Fortunately, I wasn't on a B2B and inflicted with the kindergartener sticker, but seeing older people wearing them made me question my choice of cruiseline.

[CruiserBruce]

2 hours ago, ExpatBride said:

I hope they don't make you wear a sticker like I saw on NCL years ago that said "I'm still on my vacation." 

Fortunately, I wasn't on a B2B and inflicted with the kindergartener sticker, but seeing older people wearing them made me question my choice of cruiseline.

HAL has not had a sticker on any of the Collectors Cruises/B2Bs we have been on.

[3rdGenCunarder]

5 hours ago, ExpatBride said:

I hope they don't make you wear a sticker like I saw on NCL years ago that said "I'm still on my vacation." 

Fortunately, I wasn't on a B2B and inflicted with the kindergartener sticker, but seeing older people wearing them made me question my choice of cruiseline.

 

Euwww! If the sticker is their system, they could at least do something more ordinary, like a color or number, the way tours often do. Even "NCL" if they want to advertise themselves. 

 

@SuzWillCruise, the spa thing has been an issue for a while. Even though you booked the crusie as a B2B with one booking number, the computer doesn't let you do some advance bookings for the second half of your cruise. Book the first week and talk to the people in the spa when you get on board. They may not be able to do the second booking then, but they might be able to make sure you're on the list for the second week so you don't get shut out. 

 

You probably won't be able to book tours for the second week once you're on board (until the second week starts), another B2B glitch. 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Ask the room Stewart of your next room to have it ready so you can move in early.

[3rdGenCunarder]

55 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

Ask the room Stewart of your next room to have it ready so you can move in early.

 

OP says they will have the same cabin, so a move isn't necessary. 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

5 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

OP says they will have the same cabin, so a move isn't necessary. 

My mistake... 

[queen_kathy1]

On 7/3/2023 at 5:58 PM, SusieKIslandGirl said:

Have you tried to do a "live chat" or calling either HAL or your TA to see if they can book the spa for the entire cruise?

I have tried to live chat with HAL as I wanted to book the spa for the second leg of my upcoming 14-day cruise to Norway and the chat agent was of no help. She told me I could only do this once on board, I can only book the first 7 days in advance.

[Haljo1935]

On 7/7/2023 at 11:53 PM, queen_kathy1 said:

... told me I could only do this once on board, I can only book the first 7 days in advance.

That has been my experience on all the B2B I've done. What has worked for me, as others on here mentioned, is go to spa at the very end of the 1st leg advising them you'll still be on next leg and ask to be put on the list. K'dam last Dec '22 was able to do that late in the day (after dinner) and the charge for the 2nd week showed up on my account that night. All I had to do Sat AM (turnaround day) was go get new sticker from spa once they "opened" the next leg.

NA (Oct '22), NS (Feb '23) and Eurodam (May '23) all told me I had to wait until AM of turnaround day to get on the list & get new sticker. All 3 of those the charge showed up on the 2nd leg and sticker was secured before lunch.

Safe travels  - enjoy your cruise!

Edited July 9, 2023 by Haljo1935
Typo

[Yllek]

On 7/7/2023 at 9:53 PM, queen_kathy1 said:

I have tried to live chat with HAL as I wanted to book the spa for the second leg of my upcoming 14-day cruise to Norway and the chat agent was of no help. She told me I could only do this once on board, I can only book the first 7 days in advance.

I am on the 29 day Rotterdam Baltic/Transatlantic cruise and we have the same issue that we can only book the thermal suite for the 14 night Baltic segment.  I called and was told the same thing that it is a known "glitch" in their system and that I need to go to the spa when we board and the spa staff will be able to fix the booking for the whole cruise.  We were a little concerned that we could not book for the entire trip but it makes us feel a little better that this is normal for HAL.

[SuzWillCruise]

Thanks everyone for responding. We’ve book laundry for the duration, and the spa for the 1st 7 days. We’ll mention to the spa when we get our 1st sticker that we would like the spa for the entire trip, and then find out from them if we must visit on turnaround day.

 

We’re looking at a kayaking shore excursion in Fläm (Thursday of week 2), so we’re really wanting the hydrotherapy pool for the whole cruise!