1st ever B2B2B for us, questions.

[cronkbrast]

Hi all, new here so if I'm wrong is posting like this let me know. Just need to know where you wait between the end of cruise 1 and the beginning of cruise 2? We will be on the Allure. How does the boarding process go? Thanks! Joe.

[neverbeenhere]

After the b2b meeting, you can do what you want on ship. But, probably not back to your room.(i know, I know) 

 

ask firefly333 she is on allure b2b for current details. 

[firefly333]

40 minutes ago, cronkbrast said:

Hi all, new here so if I'm wrong is posting like this let me know. Just need to know where you wait between the end of cruise 1 and the beginning of cruise 2? We will be on the Allure. How does the boarding process go? Thanks! Joe.

Last sunday we meet in silk dining room. They gave us our new cards and customs agent came onboard and checked passports so technically could have just gone back to our cabin except we had 2 stowaways. So we paraded off the ship and stood in a line outside the door while the ship was searched.

 

I've never been told or know of anyone who didnt or wasnt allowed to return to their cabins. The closed door isnt locked, just open it. Everyone I know went to their cabin and waited for the b2b lunch which last sunday was 1145 deck 3 dining room. Nice lunch and food. Lol much better food than my D+ cheers with a officer imo. Scallops cooked in garlic butter, shorts ribs were very good and good cheesecake for b2b lunch. I think the other 2 apps were Caesars salad or risotto. I didnt look at the other entrees. I love the short ribs. No steak offered. One vegan option.

 

Might be a good question about returning to your cabin. I've never asked and just returned to my cabin upon reboarding. Rare the customs agent comes onboard and you dont need to exit and come back on. 

 

Last time on allure I changed cabins. One was booked later on. My new steward cleaned my cabin early and I took my stuff down to the new cabin before I went down to meet in the silk dining room. 

Edited September 30, 2023 by firefly333

[cronkbrast]

Fantastic, thanks for the fast responses!!!

[molly361]

1 hour ago, cronkbrast said:

Hi all, new here so if I'm wrong is posting like this let me know. Just need to know where you wait between the end of cruise 1 and the beginning of cruise 2? We will be on the Allure. How does the boarding process go? Thanks! Joe.

Also doing my first B2B, also on the Allure in November.  I don't get to stay in the same cabin.  I'm moving 5 cabins down the hall

[cronkbrast]

Yes. we have to move between cruise 1 and 2 but 2 and 3 are in the same cabin. How do they move your luggage between cruises, do they do it or do you have to do it yourself?

[jwlane]

1 hour ago, cronkbrast said:

do they do it or do you have to do it yourself?

Leave your hanging stuff, pack everything else---they'll move it.

[firefly333]

4 minutes ago, jwlane said:

Leave your hanging stuff, pack everything else---they'll move it.

As above I had one last dec on allure where I couldnt book my same cabin. I went from a central park balcony to the end of boardwalk. I didnt mention WHY I moved my own stuff and the next steward said well he would just clean my cabin early for me to move down early.

 

I've had a few like this .. but this one my current steward was getting off the ship, end of his contract. Expecting him to stick around to move my stuff ... he said he wouldnt be there, so I just packed up and walked it down the hall deck 10. Since the other new steward said he would have cabin ready I just said fine. I am able bodied. Sometimes things tell you ALWAYS happen dont.

[c-leg5]

31 minutes ago, jwlane said:

Leave your hanging stuff, pack everything else---they'll move it.

I lost three items of clothing when left on hangers. I wound make sure it was together in a hanging carrier next time. 

[cronkbrast]

Thanks again everybody!!!

[orville99]

3 hours ago, cronkbrast said:

Hi all, new here so if I'm wrong is posting like this let me know. Just need to know where you wait between the end of cruise 1 and the beginning of cruise 2? We will be on the Allure. How does the boarding process go? Thanks! Joe.

Depending on the number of B2B cruisers, you may not have to leave the ship. If the number is small enough, they may just clear you through customs while on board. After you are cleared and released, you are free to go anywhere on board that you want, including back to your cabin (we always just go back and veg out until lunch)

[firefly333]

16 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Depending on the number of B2B cruisers, you may not have to leave the ship. If the number is small enough, they may just clear you through customs while on board. After you are cleared and released, you are free to go anywhere on board that you want, including back to your cabin (we always just go back and veg out until lunch)

We werent supposed to have had to leave the ship last sunday. Customs came in and checked our passports, cards were handed out in the dining room .... but

 

We had 2 stowaways the crew had to search for and they made us get off after all so they could search the ship. I'll bet we stood there waiting a hour while they looked for them. .. only once so far I got to stay on. Last sunday almost. 

[orville99]

23 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

We had 2 stowaways the crew had to search for and they made us get off after all so they could search the ship.

Bummer🙁

We have done B3B where we got off the ship on one leg but not the other. A lot more common pre shutdown than lately however.

[brillohead]

11 hours ago, cronkbrast said:

Yes. we have to move between cruise 1 and 2 but 2 and 3 are in the same cabin. How do they move your luggage between cruises, do they do it or do you have to do it yourself?

 

I prefer to go and meet my new room attendant the night before, and explain that I'll be bringing my belongings down after 8:30 (to give the previous occupants time to vacate) on turn-around-day.  I leave all my items in the closet, so the attendant can clean the rest of the room without them being in the way. (I also ask what time the room will be ready for me to return -- if they can finish mine first, then I can go back and unpack before the announcement.)  

I like doing it this way because I know for sure that my items will get to the right room and in a timely manner.  I've heard of people (like a poster above) who have had loose items go missing during the transfer (maybe fell off the hangers and weren't noticed? who knows?), and I've spoken to another cruiser whose bags were placed in the wrong room (three doors down) and he had to go searching for them, and I've heard from others that their items didn't arrive until later in the afternoon, like 3pm or so.  I like to get all "moved in" as soon as possible.

Another thing I do is use a clear plastic shoe organizer for all my "little stuff".  I used to hook it on the outside of the bathroom door, but since I'm vertically challenged, I've found it's easier to use heavy magnet hooks to hang it from the ceiling along an empty wall.  (It's easier to get the magnet hooks in the right place than it is to get the door-top hooks to stay in the right place IME.)  Note that magnets are rated stronger for up/down forces than for side-to-side forces, so if you want to use magnets on the wall instead of the ceiling to hold something with significant weight to it, you need a heavier magnet than you need for the same weight hanging from the ceiling.  I prefer not to use my airline luggage limit for heavier magnets, so hanging from the ceiling is fine for me.

The "little stuff" gets packed directly into the organizer at home, then I roll the whole thing up and put it in my suitcase as-is.  It makes unpacking and repacking super simple that way!  (I put anything liquid in a Ziploc-style baggie, and put the empty baggie under the item when on the ship so it's easy to find when it's time to repack.)  

The stuff that goes in the organizer varies.  Hairbrush and hair accessories, hair styling potions, antiperspirant, sunscreen, hand lotion, notepad and pen, sunglasses, glasses and contact lenses, nail file and nail clippers, cotton swabs, toothbrush/paste/flossers, bandaids / antibiotic ointment / anti-itch cream, charging cables for various electronics, small bottle of rubbing alcohol (place a few drops in your ear and it will displace retained water from swimming), sunhat, hand sanitizer, aloe... basically ANYthing that would normally be sitting out on the bathroom counter or vanity/desk.  

Because the pockets are clear, I can easily see what items are where (and I group them according to function -- toiletries in one area, office-type stuff in another, etc.), and I don't have to rummage through a bunch of drawers or cabinets/shelves trying to find what I'm looking for.  And the ease of packing/repacking can't be beat!!!

[Morecruisesplz]

On 9/30/2023 at 1:29 PM, jwlane said:

Leave your hanging stuff, pack everything else---they'll move it.

Not since once/day cabin service. Pack it all. 

[cruiselvr04]

If we don’t have the same cabin I go to the new steward the day before and nicely let them know we are moving.  We pack everything except hanging things in the closet and then wait until they come with the cart.  We like to walk with them to the new stateroom to ensure nothings lost or forgotten.  We put things in the safe if needed, and leave the rest in the closet so the new steward can clean with our things out of the way.  Once the room is clean we come and go as we want.  The stewards are usually really good about getting the consecutive cruisers done first.  
 

We have a B3B coming up and unfortunately we have to move each time.  Royal really messed us up when they changed ships from Enchantment to Brilliance and they were no help in getting us back in the same cabins for all 3 legs even though we initially were. I was finally at least able to move us to the same deck, not too far apart but it’s annoying.

[SbbquilterUT]

Love staying on for a B2B - we will tell our cabin steward that they do not need to do a morning clean since they are so busy - leave clean towels and we are good.  

[steveru621]

On 10/2/2023 at 9:03 PM, fredmdcruisers said:

Not since once/day cabin service. Pack it all. 

 

This probably depends on the ship.  Our last three clothes were left on hangers.  Including 1 week ago on Jewel.

[firefly333]

On 10/1/2023 at 12:38 AM, brillohead said:

 

I prefer to go and meet my new room attendant the night before, and explain that I'll be bringing my belongings down after 8:30 (to give the previous occupants time to vacate) on turn-around-day.  I leave all my items in the closet, so the attendant can clean the rest of the room without them being in the way. (I also ask what time the room will be ready for me to return -- if they can finish mine first, then I can go back and unpack before the announcement.)  

I like doing it this way because I know for sure that my items will get to the right room and in a timely manner.  I've heard of people (like a poster above) who have had loose items go missing during the transfer (maybe fell off the hangers and weren't noticed? who knows?), and I've spoken to another cruiser whose bags were placed in the wrong room (three doors down) and he had to go searching for them, and I've heard from others that their items didn't arrive until later in the afternoon, like 3pm or so.  I like to get all "moved in" as soon as possible.

Another thing I do is use a clear plastic shoe organizer for all my "little stuff".  I used to hook it on the outside of the bathroom door, but since I'm vertically challenged, I've found it's easier to use heavy magnet hooks to hang it from the ceiling along an empty wall.  (It's easier to get the magnet hooks in the right place than it is to get the door-top hooks to stay in the right place IME.)  Note that magnets are rated stronger for up/down forces than for side-to-side forces, so if you want to use magnets on the wall instead of the ceiling to hold something with significant weight to it, you need a heavier magnet than you need for the same weight hanging from the ceiling.  I prefer not to use my airline luggage limit for heavier magnets, so hanging from the ceiling is fine for me.

The "little stuff" gets packed directly into the organizer at home, then I roll the whole thing up and put it in my suitcase as-is.  It makes unpacking and repacking super simple that way!  (I put anything liquid in a Ziploc-style baggie, and put the empty baggie under the item when on the ship so it's easy to find when it's time to repack.)  

The stuff that goes in the organizer varies.  Hairbrush and hair accessories, hair styling potions, antiperspirant, sunscreen, hand lotion, notepad and pen, sunglasses, glasses and contact lenses, nail file and nail clippers, cotton swabs, toothbrush/paste/flossers, bandaids / antibiotic ointment / anti-itch cream, charging cables for various electronics, small bottle of rubbing alcohol (place a few drops in your ear and it will displace retained water from swimming), sunhat, hand sanitizer, aloe... basically ANYthing that would normally be sitting out on the bathroom counter or vanity/desk.  

Because the pockets are clear, I can easily see what items are where (and I group them according to function -- toiletries in one area, office-type stuff in another, etc.), and I don't have to rummage through a bunch of drawers or cabinets/shelves trying to find what I'm looking for.  And the ease of packing/repacking can't be beat!!!

Wasnt me but on grandeur another gal all her shower stuff disappeared. She bought a lot of fancy stuff I guess .. didnt even change cabins but her shower gels and what not were gone when she came back. Now I put things together so it's clear it stays. 

[ScubaCat3]

I tried going back to my (same) room after returning to the ship for the second week and I was screamed at by a crew member to get out  before I even stepped into the hall. I tried to explain that I was a back to back guest but he just repeated that the rooms were not open and I had to get out. I will not try it again. 
 

 

Edited October 5, 2023 by ScubaCat3

[Morecruisesplz]

59 minutes ago, ScubaCat3 said:

I tried going back to my (same) room after returning to the ship for the second week and I was screamed at by a crew member to get out  before I even stepped into the hall. I tried to explain that I was a back to back guest but he just repeated that the rooms were not open and I had to get out. I will not try it again. 
 

 

Oh, don't be a baby! March to your cabin and ignore the screaming. If cabin isn't ready, wait in your favorite bar or offer to sit on your balcony.

[cruisegirl1]

We've done dozens of B2B's.  We've always ( in the group)  had to be escorted off to customs and then escorted right back on.  Except for a few months when we had the return to sailing, we've always been allowed to go back to our cabin, or to the new cabin.  (During the return to sailing, they were reportedly doing extensive cleaning to the hallways. )  A few times the new cabin is not ready, so we vacate and enjoy other areas of the ship for a while.  Generally, cabin attendant will clean the cabins of B2B first, but occasionally there is an attendant who likes to clean the cabins in a particular order. 

 

They will give you an "in Transit" card in case you are questioned by staff.  

 

M