Back to back cruise question

[My1stc]

We are taking a back to back cruise and have the same cabin my question is when the day of the 1st cruise ends and the 2nd starts do we need to disembark with our luggage ? Must we get a new pass and boarding pass? If we are to spend the day away from the ship can we embark closer to the end of the day ?:confused:

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We are taking a back to back cruise and have the same cabin my question is when the day of the 1st cruise ends and the 2nd starts do we need to disembark with our luggage ? Must we get a new pass and boarding pass? If we are to spend the day away from the ship can we embark closer to the end of the day ?:confused:

I can answer this :) No your luggage will stay in your cabin and you will stay totally unpacked. The day before you will recieve a packet with you new Ship Board Card, Immigration form and they will most likely ask you to meet at the Front Desk at about 10 AM and those that are doing a B2B will be escorted off the ship to hand in immigration and that the ship can have a Zero passenger count. Then then will allow you to re board or you can do something in port if you like.

[mamadot]

I have seen different answers to this question! We have been on B2B when we only took our documents to a lounge and never left the ship! It may depend on the location! It does not usually require much of your time. Just be happy you are still on board!

[Jemima]

It depends on the cruise(s). On an Alaskan B2B, two 7 days also bookable as a 14 day, we didn't have to do anything. We chose to do a shore excursion in the morning followed by something on our own and then returned to the ship. We bepassed the line on new passengers and reboarded in the afternoon. We had the same card for the whole 14 days, did not have to do a second life boat drill, our shipboard account and our soda cards carried over and we were able to reserve our AYWD dinner time that morning. It varies from one cruise and one turnover day port to another.

[sail7seas]

It is up to Homeland Security whether you need to clear Immigration between your 2 cruises and that can vary by port/by cruise. You will receive a letter the last night of your first cruise giving you instructions for the next day. You may have to go to a lounge to clear Immigration, may have to go into the terminal or may have to do nothing.

 

The letter will include your ID card for your next cruise. If you clear Immigration in the terminal or leave the ship, you scan off with your old card and scan back on with the new one.

 

B-to-b's are the BEST!

 

We do lots of them and love 'turnaround day'.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have done quite a few back-to-back cruises.

The last evening of the first cruise you will receive a letter giving you instructions for the next day -- you will also receive new ID cards.

Sometimes we have met in a lounge -- sometimes at the front office -- it depends on how many will be intransit. We have met any time from 9:15 through 10:15.

If you are doing your back-to-back cruises in Ft Lauderdale you will be required to leave the ship to go through immigration. You will be escorted off the ship. You will need your old ID card to exit the ship. Make certain that you bring your passport with you to show the immigration officials and your "Intransit" card. Once all passengers are off the ship and the number count is down to Zero, then you will be escorted back onto the ship. You will need to show your "Intransit" card and scan your NEW ID card to get back onto the ship.

We have not had good luck with our pictures transfering from the old ID card to the new ID card and have had to have them taken over once back on the ship.

Sometimes you will only wait a few minutes to get back on the ship -- sometimes longer. Recently we got caught in a Coast Guard check and could not get back on the ship until after 11:30 -- just a couple of minutes before the new passengers got on the ship.

Now -- if you wish to go somewhere for a few hours -- you can leave the ship anytime you want to once disembarkation begins. But you must notify the front office so that they won't be looking for AND you will also need to fill out a Custom's form to hand the officials as you leave the terminal. Just remember to use your new ID card when you get back to the ship -- and you will have to go through security again.

[luvtwotrvl]

We are taking a back to back cruise and have the same cabin my question is when the day of the 1st cruise ends and the 2nd starts do we need to disembark with our luggage ? Must we get a new pass and boarding pass? If we are to spend the day away from the ship can we embark closer to the end of the day ?:confused:

 

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic!!!!!!!!

Thanks for asking this question. We will be on our first B2B cruise this summer.

 

David

[EatonDoolittle]

If one chooses to go out for a few hours (I'm thinking a load of wash, to cut down on packing...) , is it required to wait in line again with the new pax, or is there a special "in transit" line to reboard?

 

Thx to the OP for asking - I too have seen "it depends" ...on ship, port, nationality, captain, etc. This does not help a planner like myself.

[sail7seas]

Where is your turnaround day? In Montreal, there is an 'in-transit' line but you must have your passport with you.

 

In FLL, there should be in-transit. Be sure to have your photo ID as usual.

 

[innlady1]

I can answer this :) No your luggage will stay in your cabin and you will stay totally unpacked. The day before you will recieve a packet with you new Ship Board Card, Immigration form and they will most likely ask you to meet at the Front Desk at about 10 AM and those that are doing a B2B will be escorted off the ship to hand in immigration and that the ship can have a Zero passenger count. Then then will allow you to re board or you can do something in port if you like.

 

Thank you, Lisa! Fred has been asking me the logistics and I really didn't know. We're doing a b2b on 1/23 and 2/2. :D

[sail7seas]

Sheila, It is so easy. If you are in the same cabin, you do not have to do anything about your cabin/luggage. Everything stays in place.

 

In FLL, you will have to go into the terminal merely to clear Immigration and if you wish, you will be able to reboard the ship. No one can reboard until all debarking guests have left. We always waited until the last numbers were called and then would do our Immigration inspection in under five minutes. Now they are taking all 'in transits' in a group together.

 

If you wish to stay ashore, clear Immigration and go on your way.

Just recently, new rule, you do not have to go to life boat drill for your second cruise. Used to have to attend again.

 

You will receive a letter the last night of your first cruise including your new ID. Scan off the ship with your old ID and on with the new one. We have never in a great many back-to-backs had to have a new photo taken The old one transferred over.

 

The letter will tell you dining times for breakfast and lunch.

 

You're going to love b-to-b. They're wonderful.

[My1stc]

Great answers, our port in question is Rotterdam after a transatlantic crossing....................I also see that there are no excursions in this port now yet when we booked there were a few and one we wanted to take.

[pynnkar]

We have only had one B2B cruise, Carnival in Miami. We were instructed to meet with a staff member at the front desk at a specific time...then had to hang around with them until all other passengers disembarked. At that time, we were escorted through immigration and back onto the ship... all of that took over an hour, and it was rather disorganized. When we booked the B2B, we were thinking about "having the ship to ourselves" for a couple of hours... enjoying a hot tub, etc. Of course, that was a foolish thought because everything was closed for cleaning! The best part of B2B (for us) was no packing and unpacking!

[trvlcrzy]

It depends on the cruise(s). On an Alaskan B2B, two 7 days also bookable as a 14 day, we didn't have to do anything. We chose to do a shore excursion in the morning followed by something on our own and then returned to the ship. We bepassed the line on new passengers and reboarded in the afternoon. We had the same card for the whole 14 days, did not have to do a second life boat drill, our shipboard account and our soda cards carried over and we were able to reserve our AYWD dinner time that morning. It varies from one cruise and one turnover day port to another.

 

So, if we booked a 14-day, we might be able to treat "turnaround day" as a regular port? The excursions offered are limited to those who end at the airport, so we would have to plan on our own. What time might we expect to be able to get off the ship for the day if we are not disembarking? (We are in Seward, AK.)

 

Is it possible that other excursions might be offered for those who are returning to the ship?

[Krazy Kruizers]

 

 

 

If you wish to stay ashore, clear Immigration and go on your way.

Just recently, new rule, you do not have to go to life boat drill for your second cruise. Used to have to attend again.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry -- but we had to go to Lifeboat drill -- no exceptions for our second cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

So, if we booked a 14-day, we might be able to treat "turnaround day" as a regular port? The excursions offered are limited to those who end at the airport, so we would have to plan on our own. What time might we expect to be able to get off the ship for the day if we are not disembarking? (We are in Seward, AK.)

 

Is it possible that other excursions might be offered for those who are returning to the ship?

 

Have done several back-to-back Alaskan cruises where Seward was our Intransit day.

There will be no extra excursions offered -- you have to arrange them on your own.

You can get off the ship any time you want to and return any time you want to. Since this is an American port you do not have to worry about immigration.

Breakfast will be very early that day as the train for Anchorage leaves around 7 and the buses follow shortly after that.

The dining room and Lido on all our cruises closed by 8 AM!!

[trvlcrzy]

Have done several back-to-back Alaskan cruises where Seward was our Intransit day.

 

There will be no extra excursions offered -- you have to arrange them on your own.

 

You can get off the ship any time you want to and return any time you want to. Since this is an American port you do not have to worry about immigration.

 

Breakfast will be very early that day as the train for Anchorage leaves around 7 and the buses follow shortly after that.

 

The dining room and Lido on all our cruises closed by 8 AM!!

 

Thanks for that info... especially about breakfast. DH is a member here, too... so hopefully he'll read your words (and I won't have to be the one to tell him he'll have to get up early even when we aren't disembarking. :))

[Krazy Kruizers]

If one chooses to go out for a few hours (I'm thinking a load of wash, to cut down on packing...) , is it required to wait in line again with the new pax, or is there a special "in transit" line to reboard?

 

Thx to the OP for asking - I too have seen "it depends" ...on ship, port, nationality, captain, etc. This does not help a planner like myself.

 

 

 

 

Now -- if you wish to go somewhere for a few hours -- you can leave the ship anytime you want to once disembarkation begins. But you must notify the front office so that they won't be looking for AND you will also need to fill out a Custom's form to hand the officials as you leave the terminal. Just remember to use your new ID card when you get back to the ship -- and you will have to go through security again.

 

You will get in the same line as all new passengers -- no separate line.

[m steve]

The night before the turn around, they deliver all your liquor purchases from ship and islands to your cabin (Caribbean) and you get to drink what you want on the second leg. In Nov. we had to get off, go to immigration and then waited about a half hour and reThis was in FLL. boarded with same card we used first leg. No hassel, did boat drill and went to different ports.

[sail7seas]

You should be able to leave with the first group off if you speak with Front Office ahead of time. They are good to in-transits and if you tell them you booked and excursion, I can't think of a reason they wouldn't let you leave at will.

 

Remember to bring you photo ID like always and your new and old ID cards.

[sail7seas]

Sorry -- but we had to go to Lifeboat drill -- no exceptions for our second cruise.

 

We didn't on Maasdam. :) Probably depends who is Chief?? Though we were told it is new HAL reg.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for that info... especially about breakfast. DH is a member here, too... so hopefully he'll read your words (and I won't have to be the one to tell him he'll have to get up early even when we aren't disembarking. :))

 

You are welcome.

Are you okay with small boats? If so there are some Kenai Fjord tours.

Also there is the Sealife Center in town.

Previous years HAL did provide a free bus to go back and forth from town -- it is too far too walk from the pier. Don;t know what the situation will be this year.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We didn't on Maasdam. :) Probably depends who is Chief?? Though we were told it is new HAL reg.

 

Ft Lauderdale has all new rules!!

This is what I wrote about our Eurodam Intransit day:

Ft Lauderdasle -- those carrying off their own luggage get to leave first -- one week it was around 7:47 and this past week they started at 7:30. Everything is done by assigned times. We got our new ID cards and information Friday evening. We had to meet at the front desk at 10:15 -- there were only 3 passengers who were intransit on our cruise. We were escorted off the ship. Things have changed again here in Ft Lauderdale. We were escorted into the terminal, and taken down stairs to the luggage area -- never did that before. Then we were escorted to the immigration people where we showed our passports and Intransit tickets. After that we were escorted back upstairs to wait for the all clear that we could get back on board. Just our luck -- The Coast Guard pulled an unannounced inspection and we could not get back on the ship until 11:35 -- same time as they were allowing the new passengers to embark. Our pictures did not transfer over so we had to go to the Neptune Lounge and have them taken over.

[RuthC]

Great answers, our port in question is Rotterdam after a transatlantic crossing....................I also see that there are no excursions in this port now yet when we booked there were a few and one we wanted to take.

I've done several turn-arounds in Europe, including Rotterdam. In every case it was treated as a port day on a cruise. There were no special procedures to go through.

 

I suspect that the turn-around days in which in-transit passengers have to "report", or go through special procedures, are all in US ports.

[sail7seas]

Yes, Ruth. We don't have to do anything of the sort in Montreal though they require a customs declaration. We don't have any luggage or bring anything ashore when in-transit but that is their rule so, of course, we follow it.