Back to Back Cruises

sgtmomret · #1 (**permalink**) June 10th, 2010, 11:53 PM

We are doing our very first Back to Back cruise on the Glory. What is the procedure with regards to getting off and on the ship. Do we have to go through the whole rig-a-ma-role ie. stand in line. Just want to know what to expect. We ship out on the 5 Dec on a Eastern then on the 12 a Western Caribbean.

rjalexie · #2 (**permalink**) June 11th, 2010, 11:31 AM

Hi there sgtmomret, wife and I did a B2B on the Triumph in March. We had the same cabin for both cruises. We were informed not to pack anything just leave cabin as is on the morning of the last day of 1st cruise. We were told to meet at the pursers desk for about 9:00 AM that morning with the fun pass for the second cruise and your travel docs (ID's, credit card for S&S account etc). We were escorted from the ship after all other guest debarking and brought straight to customs (bypassing all guest in line), once clearing customs we were escourted to the VIP checkin, once check-in we were escourted to the front of the line and was the first passengers allowed back on the ship. It may be different in other ports but that's how it worked for us. By having the same cabin, we were allowed back into our cabin as soon as we were allowed back on the ship. (Confirmed this with our room steward) We sat on our balcony and watched the passengers boarding while waitin for our freinds to board.

Paul Motter · #3 (**permalink**) June 11th, 2010, 12:42 PM

I love it when our readers give us the perfect answers and we can just sit back and watch.

Thank you rjalexie!

katlady · #4 (**permalink**) June 11th, 2010, 03:01 PM

Paul I agree with you. I also really like the question. I have thought about doing a back to back cruise, but never have and was wondering abut how it worked.

MJM · #5 (**permalink**) June 11th, 2010, 04:26 PM

We did a back to back on the Destiny out of Miami last February. We also had the same cabin for the second leg. We met with the other B2Bers at the purser's desk at 9:30, were escorted off the ship, through immigration and then escorted right back on the ship - no waiting. The staff at the purser's desk gave us our new sail and sign card, we had our security picture retaken for the new card and our account reactivated for on board purchases. We were allowed back in our cabins where we promptly put our bathing suits on and hit the Lido deck where we enjoyed the hot tubs and pool for about an hour and a half before the next lot of passengers were allowed on. It was great - we would love to do it again !

Fern · #6 (**permalink**) June 11th, 2010, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjalexie

Hi there sgtmomret, wife and I did a B2B on the Triumph in March. We had the same cabin for both cruises. We were informed not to pack anything just leave cabin as is on the morning of the last day of 1st cruise. We were told to meet at the pursers desk for about 9:00 AM that morning with the fun pass for the second cruise and your travel docs (ID's, credit card for S&S account etc). We were escorted from the ship after all other guest debarking and brought straight to customs (bypassing all guest in line), once clearing customs we were escourted to the VIP checkin, once check-in we were escourted to the front of the line and was the first passengers allowed back on the ship. It may be different in other ports but that's how it worked for us. By having the same cabin, we were allowed back into our cabin as soon as we were allowed back on the ship. (Confirmed this with our room steward) We sat on our balcony and watched the passengers boarding while waitin for our freinds to board.

How wonderful this sounds! We did a B2B on Carnival Conquest in May. It was really a mess! We were told to come to the Lobby area at 10 AM, which we and another 7 people did. We weren't allowed off until all of the "regular" passengers were off, which was about 10:45 AM. Our "escort" took us to the elevator and the crew custom's line. After about 30 minutes she finally found two Custom's agents to clear us. Unfortunately, they had no idea of what a B2B cruise was :eek: ! They wanted to know where our luggage was (umm, in the cabin!) and when we were out of the US last (that would be about 6 hours ago?) After about 45 minutes, their Captain came over and cleared us to get back on the ship.

Unfortunately, the ship crew didn't re-scan our credit cards, but they dld tell us everything was okay for the next week, everything would be charged to our original card.

This resulted in my DH being "cut off" as he was playing in the casino that night. To say that he was upset would be an understatement! He was very embarrased. I'd already gone to the cabin, put on PJ's and was almost asleep when I had to get dressed again and take my credit card back to the Purser's office to be scanned again. I can understand computer problems, etc., but this was SO uncalled for. When we came back onboard they should have scanned our credit card again (actually, they should have just carried it over from the first week), but they told us everything was in order.

They also need a "nicer" way to say that your S&S card doesn't work, instead of embarrassing people.

Back to Princess we go

,

rjalexie · #7 (**permalink**) June 11th, 2010, 09:31 PM

Paul, if your speaking about me Thanks You. I hope you were speaking about me. It took about an hour for the whole thing from getting off to getting back on. That was because once we were back in line to board for the second leg, there were still a few guest in line on the gangway waiting to get off the gangway to get there luggage prior to going through customs. It was a quick turnaround though, can't wait to try it again. Rick

lhp · #8 (**permalink**) June 12th, 2010, 04:29 PM

We have done Back to Backs three times.....

In Miami...

In Fort Lauderdale....

In New Orleans....

in all 3 locations....we had a letter in our cabin the night before with the time to be at the Guest Services desk.

In some cases, our family of four were it. In one case, there were 124 of us..:eek:

Every time, we were escorted off by a Purser.

In Miami and Ft Lauderdale, it was around 10:30....after everyone else had gotten off.

In New Orleans (on the Fantasy) it was literally while cruisers were getting off the ship. The Purser just moved everyone :over: as they stood in line...we were taken past them down the gangplank.

You hand the Customs Agent the Customs card for the first cruise.

In all 3 cases, the Purser waited for us and walked us right back on the ship. We then got our new Sail and Sign card around noon at Guest Services...walked over and had our picture encrypted on it. The ship can not issue the NEW Sail and Sign card until the system is "cleared" from the old cruise and "opened" for the new one.

Things to remember....

IF you want the Embarkation 8 x 10 picture....you will have to walk back off around 1pm....(after you have your new Sail and Sign card)....they will "ding" you out...you get the picture taken and they "ding" you back in.

We collect them...and the photographers are not set up when they walk us off and back on....

Eat Breakfast....once the ship is cleared....Lido etc will not open back up until around 11:30 or so.....(when the new group of cruisers start coming aboard).

Be sure to tell your Cabin Steward....but don't be surprised if he doesn't understand....

on the Fantasy, we told our Cabin Steward we were doing a back to back...he said "fine". Debark morning....he knocked on our door about 9AM and "you must leave now".

We explained that we were staying for the next cruise...he was shocked. Guess we were his first.....

Each time....we had an hour to 1 1/2 hours on the ship .... all to ourselves after they walked us off to Customs and back on....which is cool....to be the only individuals on the ship that are not working there.

sgtmomret · #9 (**permalink**) August 3rd, 2010, 09:40 PM

Gee guys thanks soooo much of all your replies and helpful information. Fingers crossed. Smooth sailings to all.

Snoozeman · #10 (**permalink**) August 3rd, 2010, 11:10 PM

They have all been a little different depending on ship & port.

Hope it goes smooth for you.

wakedreams · #11 (**permalink**) August 4th, 2010, 08:20 AM

We did B2B on Imagination, and it was not as smooth as I would have liked. We didn't know we needed our credit card so we had to go back to the cabin to get it. By that time, they had already closed off the cabins....however, my husband went in anyway...not like we had much choice. And then couldn't make any purchases while we waited for them to "change over" to the new cruise accounts. We wanted coffees or drinks or soda's or something while we waited in the lobby, but we couldn't purchase anything.

And....after B2B cruises....our cabin steward never delivered the bottle of vodka we purchased in the duty free store on the first leg of our cruise. I think he just "forgot".

We decided that we wouldn't attempt B2B again, unless it was B2B 7night cruises.

then it would be worth the hassel