Info on back to back cruises

[Bobbareeno]

I'm trying to find out some information on back to back cruises. For our twenty fifth wedding anniversary next year I'd like to do a 7 day Eastern followed by a 7 day Western Caribbean cruise. My question is basically what do you do on the return day from the first cruise. Do you have to disembark and go through customs/immigration and then board again with the rest of the incoming pax? Also, do you have to pack up your entire cabin and send your luggage off and then back on? Or do they allow you to leave your luggage aboard and cabin the way it is until you return (if you have to disembark)?? Any information by someone who's done this would really be appreciated. Thanks,

 

Bob

[cb at sea]

You don't have to take any luggage off (especially if you have the same cabin, which is the best option!), but you will need to get off and back on, so you'll have a valid room key/charge card!* If you need to change cabins, they will do that for you!

[firefly333]

We meet in a group near the purser's desk and then they escorted the group thru customs to the desk where you get your new key card and we got our cards, (before they let any of the new passengers onto the ship) and then they escorted us back onto the ship. We had a couple of hours where we sat up by the pool and no one else but us up there, very nice and relaxing.

[Bobbareeno]

First off, thank you. If we do it we'll have the same cabin number so we don't have to move cabins. At least that would be the best thing to do in my mind. So do you have to completely leave the cruise terminal and then wait for it to re-open and get back in the boarding line to get back on board or is this expedited in some manner?? Thanks,

 

Bob

[Bobbareeno]

Ok that answers it! I was hoping they didn't make you go all the way back out of the terminal and then back in line with everyone arriving for the next cruise. That'll be very nice. Now all I have to do is find the cruises!!! LOL. Thanks again,

 

Bob

[okgirl]

You don't have to take any luggage off (especially if you have the same cabin, which is the best option!), but you will need to get off and back on, so you'll have a valid room key/charge card!* If you need to change cabins, they will do that for you!

 

I'm doing my 1st B2B in September on the Glory, we do have the same room so I know that won't be a problem. I have been told by other's who have done this that it's important to make sure your room steward (or even the Hotel manager) know that you are on a B2B. One poster told of coming back to his room only to find that everything had been thrown away!!!!!! his steward didn't understand enough english to know what was going on and he just assumed the person had left everything.

 

The morning of debarkation from the 1st leg, I've been told that the purser will make arrangements to meet with you and escort you off the ship, you do have to declair customs for your 1st voyage, then right back on the ship with your new S&S and Folio number and such.

 

We can't decided if we want to do somekind of day trip and leave the port area or if we'll just spend the morning doing laundry and stuff. If I understand correctly the new S&S card can't be used even in a bar until the ship is cleared and all of the new folio numbers are released.

[Bobbareeno]

Great info, thank you! I know we've had some room stewards that were less than perfect with their English skills! Like I said, now all I need to do is find the cruise(s)!!

 

Bob

[PurpleCow]

Don't dawdle, Bob, or you might not be able to secure the same cabin on both cruises.

[okgirl]

Great info, thank you! I know we've had some room stewards that were less than perfect with their English skills! Like I said, now all I need to do is find the cruise(s)!!

 

Bob

 

Bob - As I said this year will be my 1st B2B but I chose the Glory out of Port Canaveral because of it's alternating itineraries. 1st week we're Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maartin and the 2nd week we're Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan, Cozumel.

 

My beloved Conquest out of Galveston would be another option now that it's sailing alternates of Key West, Freeport, Nassau one week and Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel the next week. That 1st week itinerary is only available 1 week a month though I think

[Essiesmom]

okgirl, do your laundry the evening before, when everyone else is packing...Because the laundromat will not be open while you are in port. I discovered that last year when I did a b2b on Elation from Port Canaveral. It was in the Capers so I knew ahead...EM

[Bobbareeno]

I've sailed the Glory on an Eastern back in 2006 and liked it. I didn't especially care for the cruise director at the time but that didn't ruin the cruise by any means. I know we need to move on booking soon in order to get the same cabins. Thanks everyone for the great advice. I especially like the advice about doing laundry that last evening.....what a great idea. I'll let ya'll know what we book.

 

 

Bob

[okgirl]

okgirl, do your laundry the evening before, when everyone else is packing...Because the laundromat will not be open while you are in port. I discovered that last year when I did a b2b on Elation from Port Canaveral. It was in the Capers so I knew ahead...EM

 

Thanks EM, that's good to know, I've heard various sides of that argument. I wonder if it's just a US port thing that makes it close? Cause I've don't laundry on port days in Europe and the Carib.

 

I've sailed the Glory on an Eastern back in 2006 and liked it. I didn't especially care for the cruise director at the time but that didn't ruin the cruise by any means. I know we need to move on booking soon in order to get the same cabins. Thanks everyone for the great advice. I especially like the advice about doing laundry that last evening.....what a great idea. I'll let ya'll know what we book.

 

 

Bob

 

I agree about the CD and hope it's changed from last Sept. when it was wee jimmy, couldn't stand him. Did ruin my cruise either but ewe the thought of 2 weeks with him :(

I'm already a little bummed because there is going to be a big roudy group on the 1st leg (Monster Radio out of Orlando):mad:

[Bobbareeno]

Phew, I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds Wee Jimmy a little over the top! LOL

[pmfan]

B2B's are great. The turn around day is painless. A quick escorted off, through customs, reissue seapass and back on. Be sure to take your ID, credit card, and cruise papers for 2nd cruise with you as you will need them for the recheck in.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done quite a few back-to-back cruises in various ports. Rules differ with the various ports.

 

BUT - on HAL -- the night before we get a letter telling us the time for breakfast and when and where to report the next day to get off the ship and go through immigration. We have also gotten our new cards.

 

You will use your old ID cards to get off the ship and the new IF cards to get back on the ship.

 

You will not be allowed back on the ship until all passengers are off the ship - in other words the ship has to be cleared.

 

Sometimes we have gotten back on the ship within 15 minutes. But a couple of times we had to sit in the teminal for 1 and 1/2 hours.

 

The only terminal where we had to go through both immigration and customs was on our recent cruises in Tampa.