BTB on turnaround day YC

[gunner22a]

Does anyone know how long we will have to be off the ship on a BTB in Miami.  Any info/advice would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance

[morpheusofthesea]

9 minutes ago, gunner22a said:

Does anyone know how long we will have to be off the ship on a BTB in Miami.  Any info/advice would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance

 On board the 'last call' for everyone to leave the ship was announced at 10:45 am. Boarding not till the ship rounds up all the "zeros" (those that have late flights and hide out on the ship). B2Bers will not be 'processed' (facial recognition) and allowed back on the ship until the "zeros" have been found and processed. Once the B2Bers are led back on they are followed by Yacht Clubbers and then everyone else in the terminal. This began around 11:30. We were B2B (about 100 of us) waiting in line to be processed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when a butler pointed out the "zeros" that were taking their 'sweet time' collecting the last of the remaining luggage and strolling over to the facial recognition machines. Always get this bunch of 'losers' every cruise.

There is always a small group of inconsiderate passengers that have late flights or just no place to go after the cruise has ended. They dilly-dally and hold up the ship from "clearing" for the next cruise group to embark. These "losers" are called "Zeros". They are the stragglers that sometimes hide out and often the sheriff''s office is called in to escort them off the ship.

P.S. At 11 am we were escorted by butlers down to the gangway (14 of us in YC) and place in front of the other 85 B2Bers) and led off the ship to CBP and waited for 30 minutes for the loser "zeros".

Edited January 10 by morpheusofthesea
P.S.

[gunner22a]

Thanks for the great info morpheusofthese!

[Fogfog]

On 1/10/2024 at 2:52 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

 On board the 'last call' for everyone to leave the ship was announced at 10:45 am. Boarding not till the ship rounds up all the "zeros" (those that have late flights and hide out on the ship). B2Bers will not be 'processed' (facial recognition) and allowed back on the ship until the "zeros" have been found and processed. Once the B2Bers are led back on they are followed by Yacht Clubbers and then everyone else in the terminal. This began around 11:30. We were B2B (about 100 of us) waiting in line to be processed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when a butler pointed out the "zeros" that were taking their 'sweet time' collecting the last of the remaining luggage and strolling over to the facial recognition machines. Always get this bunch of 'losers' every cruise.

There is always a small group of inconsiderate passengers that have late flights or just no place to go after the cruise has ended. They dilly-dally and hold up the ship from "clearing" for the next cruise group to embark. These "losers" are called "Zeros". They are the stragglers that sometimes hide out and often the sheriff''s office is called in to escort them off the ship.

P.S. At 11 am we were escorted by butlers down to the gangway (14 of us in YC) and place in front of the other 85 B2Bers) and led off the ship to CBP and waited for 30 minutes for the loser "zeros".

You had a better experienced than we did for our first B2B in YC.

We got put into the aft dining room (Merav) with all--and then no preference with the rest of the B2Bs--there were several hundred.. and we got stuck waiting in the terminal in a large group waiting. (early 2020)

When in 2022 we did b2b2b2b things were much improved and we walked off, down the line past customs/border and back on. 

 

Those selfish stragglers really muck up the works for the ship/officers/pax and embarkation for all. 

[no1talks]

On 1/10/2024 at 1:52 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

"There is always a small group of inconsiderate passengers that have late flights or just no place to go after the cruise has ended. They dilly-dally and hold up the ship from "clearing" for the next cruise group to embark. These 'losers' are called 'Zeros'."

How zeroes would be "processed", if Morpheus had his way 🏴‍☠️...

[Gemina]

Just slightly off topic - does anyone know what the B2B procedure is on a Med cruise? We’re two week on the World Europa next October and I’m curious as to how it will work vs North American cruises. 

[Nikita4]

In the med there is no zero count, so you can stay on the ship. You have to change your cruise card, but no stress with count zero.

There will be new guests in most of the ports.

[shmabbies]

On the B2B Med cruises we did in October, we were in YC and we went to the concierge desk and were given new bracelets and cruise cards.  Did not have to disembark.  Your first shipboard account is closed and a new one is begun.  The thing I found MOST aggravating is that if you have SBC from the first cruise left over, you cannot carry it over to the subsequent cruise.  I was glad I asked because it was "use it or lose it."  Otherwise it was very simple and civilized.

[Mark_T]

4 hours ago, shmabbies said:

The thing I found MOST aggravating is that if you have SBC from the first cruise left over, you cannot carry it over to the subsequent cruise.  I was glad I asked because it was "use it or lose it." 

That is irritating, but far from unique to MSC, so it is advisable to ask that question whichever line you are sailing with...

[morpheusofthesea]

8 hours ago, no1talks said:

How zeroes would be "processed", if Morpheus had his way 🏴‍☠️...

Too harsh even for me. More "40 lashes with a wet noodle". "Another well known Ann Landers saying was “forty lashes with a wet noodle.” She would say this if she believed someone had done something mean, dishonest or just stupid." Color of their choice.

Edited January 12 by morpheusofthesea

[Gemina]

Thanks so much for the replies! 

[shmabbies]

4 hours ago, Mark_T said:

That is irritating, but far from unique to MSC, so it is advisable to ask that question whichever line you are sailing with...

 

I believe it has to do with whether the two cruises were booked with the same booking number (some do it this way) and whether there are two booking numbers.  Ours on MSC was two booking numbers and that IS why I did ask.  I do think there should be some way for them to carry it over, even it is something manual they do on board and not in advance.  But, we had quite a bit and we blew some of the excess on some nice Yacht Club bath towels from the gift shop, and every time we use them at home it brings back good memories.  No big deal, I was just providing the info in the hopes it might help someone not be surprised.

[Mark_T]

1 hour ago, shmabbies said:

I believe it has to do with whether the two cruises were booked with the same booking number (some do it this way) and whether there are two booking numbers.

MSC is a little unusual in the way it sells cruises in multiple different segments and in those cases then yes, how it was booked makes a difference between being a single cruise or a B2B.

 

... but with most cruise lines each leg of a B2B is treated separately and the OBC isn't transferred.