SimGuy

There is another thread going on right now with this same issue... They weren't able to resolve it, they have a help desk ticket open.

My recurring celebrity/fan group with cast & crew members of BBC TV's "Doctor Who" recently did essentially the same tour directly through Native Choice at $58 per person, and filled up two smaller 15 -20 passenger tour busses. Excellent service & extremely knowledgeable local drivers & guide. Worth the few blocks additional walk to get to the Native Choice bus boarding area for the significant savings over the ship's official offering, would definitely recommend. 

I don't know which description you  are reading, but others have posted about smaller group size of a more expensive option under Shore Excursions forum. We had fun with the cheaper one, but we had about 40 on the bus.

We did the RC Exclusive Drive tour last month.  We really enjoyed it.  We were in a 12 person air conditioned bus.  It is essentially the same as the other tour with the exception of a much smaller group.  There were only 9 of us in the group, as opposed to a full large bus group.  Our guide did a great job of keeping the information flowing throughout the ride there and back to the ship.  We were given a guided tour around the ruins while she explained the history of the ruins.  Our guide set us up with the best picture locations at various spots and took each family's pictures, so no selfies necessary.  Being in a small group, we were able to ask many questions and get a lot of information. We were given cold water to take with us on the walk. Then on the ride back, our guide and driver had a cooler full of beer, soda and more water for us. If you are looking for a smaller group setting, this in the one to choose.  We were able to get a fantastic deal for Black Friday, so figured we would try it.  Great choice!    

They would be on the deck above the pool deck.

That might be a glitch that has been discussed before. There were no casitas on Harmony on my last cruise and other have reported the same. If they are now there, that is both a very recent change and would be news to both me and many others on here.

Solution:  Don’t use a TA.

B2B is generally easy. They have to legally disembark you for the first leg and embark you for the second leg. We have had this done a couple of ways, once where we met in a designated room and Customs came in a checked us out and in (loved that one), and all the others where we met in a location and they guided us off the ship and then right back on after giving us our new room key. Could not have been easier. You do have to have your disembarkation/embarkation paperwork (sea pass card, passport/birth certificate, boarding pass either paper or on the app) with you.

Check in with guest services and make sure they know you are B2B.
Let your state room attendent know.
A day or two before turn around, you will get a note/letter on where and when  to assemble that morning. Have your documentation with you. Follow their instructions.
There is usually a select lunch for B2Bs once the paperwork is done.
 
Enjoy

Good article.
Some things are done a little bit different at different ports…or on different ships.
Of course, most vaccination requirements and testing are no longer needed. At least for now.
In my experience…
On my b2bs…if I need to change cabins, I pack everything except what’s hanging in the closet. I leave the bags inside the room. On turnaround day, my cabin attendant uses a clothing rack and transfers the bags and the hanging clothes to the new room. He/she places the bags in the room and hangs the clothes in the new closet. As Matt said…it’s a good idea to coordinate with your cabin attendant. Usually I’ll go seek out my new cabin attendant a day or two before just to let him know also.
If I’m in the same cabin…I’ll tell my attendant that he can skip my room on turnaround day. He changes the bed linen the day before. l’ll make my own bed. He really appreciates having one less room to do on the busiest day.
Recently on my b2bs the letter instructed me to not do the muster drill on the second leg if I was in the same cabin. By sail away, it showed complete on the app.
Sometimes, rarely, we won’t have to leave the ship. CBP will come aboard and a ship’s security scanner will be set up at the entrance to the venue where we are waiting. After everyone else is off the ship, we will show our passport to the CBP officer and then scan our new card as we exit the room. No need to leave unless we wish. But, if we do decide to leave the ship for whatever reason…we will have to wait until general boarding begins to re-board.
Most times we have to leave the ship as a group. After virtually all of the other passengers are gone, they will lead us from the venue, and off the ship…scanning our old cards as we leave. In Bayonne, we go through the customs/baggage hall and to the facial recognition scanners…if they’re working. Otherwise we see an officer and show our passport. Then, they line us up in the customs/baggage hall and we wait for everyone else to complete the process. Usually there are still some stragglers onboard and we have to wait for a zero count before we can go back. Most of the time it’s pretty quick. We’re the first to board and we scan our new cards on re-boarding. 

Sometimes, if there is an inspection (Coast Guard or Public Health) then we have to wait much longer. It can get uncomfortable standing for a long time in the hall…especially in NJ in the winter. It’s cold! There are no seats. Port workers will scramble to find some chairs for the elderly, but usually we just have to stand.
Back onboard, there is usually a Consecutive Cruiser lunch for b2b’ers.
Back to backs are a nice way to extend a vacation. One of the best things about a b2b is the night before the next cruise…looking at all the luggage in the hallways outside cabins. That’s always been such a sad sight to see. But…not when you’re b2b’ing! Enjoy it!😁

When doing a back-to-back, what is the process for debarkation and subsequent     re-embarkation ?
We are booked in the same stateroom for both trips. 

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/12/17/back-back-cruises-tips-and-advice

We disembarked 3.5 weeks ago and still no point update. Sent a FB message to the C&A page and they responded that it might take 30 day. Very strange. We usually have them in less than a week. 

We disembarked Freedom on 9-22 and the points were posted this morning when I checked (9-28).

All above comments re: a week typically true.  There was another recent thread on same topic that some people have had recent 3 week delays.
 

Grease and Columbus are the Royal production shows. They will have headliner acts as well, but those aren't permanent shows.

Show reservations will be different for different ships.  When we went on the Allure 7-day cruise, we booked them about 2 weeks out and they filled up very fast.  when we went to the Navigator 4-day cruise they never offered reservations and you could walk into any show.

App

App

Wait.  You're not Diamond?  I'm sorry, I can't talk to you anymore... 

I am outraged that so many people on here keep saying "Allure hasn't been amplified, she has no slides." I have found the slide on Allure! I mean, I don't fit on it, but THERE'S A SLIDE! It's on the boardwalk beside Sabor, so feel free to drink a tequila and then take your adrenaline-filled ride down the slide. 😉

And with that, be sure to acknowledge the concierge email even if you have no requests, and say something like "look forward to meeting you on the first night"

Always good to break the ice with the concierge before you board.

It will be a no unless you ask the concierge. In some cases, the concierge will allow a single member in if it doesn't affect too much. Do not do this in the email, ask when you board and take the results in stride.

In Costa Maya, look into Maya Chan Beach.
Ex-US pat owned/operated.  Nothing resort fancy just good food, good drink, great service, and they love groups.
Quiet and relaxing.  $60 US/person and everything is included.  Even transportation.

In Costa Maya, look into Maya Chan Beach.
Ex-US pat owned/operated.  Nothing resort fancy just good food, good drink, great service, and they love groups.
Quiet and relaxing.  $60 US/person and everything is included.  Even transportation.