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Vlad

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Guys, can anyone explain how B2B process works? 

Thinking about booking 2, same ship, out of Port Canaveral. On Adventure 

Instead of 1 week on much more expensive vessel, like Wonder or Icon. 

Trying to see if it would be worth it, 2 weeks on Adventure, instead of 1 on Icon or maybe Wonder 

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14 minutes ago, Vlad said:

Guys, can anyone explain how B2B process works? 

Thinking about booking 2, same ship, out of Port Canaveral. On Adventure 

Instead of 1 week on much more expensive vessel, like Wonder or Icon. 

Trying to see if it would be worth it, 2 weeks on Adventure, instead of 1 on Icon or maybe Wonder 

Well, I have only done one, prefer S2S, but it is a great way to maximize your vacation. If you are lucky, you can book the same room and do have to worry about packing. 

The process is that of course it is treated as two different sailings because you have different reservation numbers. They will have you wait at a destinated meeting place as the others disembark. They will give you your new seapass card. You will get escorted off to do the customs stuff and then be some of the first people back onboard. If you change rooms, they will have a steward help you move your items. 

There is usually a B2B lunch in a designated dining room, usually the MTD room and....... they have some items. 

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The preferred method of accomplishing a B2B involves getting the same cabin for both cruises.  Sometimes that isn't possible and you have to change cabins.

If you can get the same cabin on both then all you need to do on turn around day is take your passport with you and go to the designated meeting point at the time they state.  They generally try to gather the consecutive cruisers once most guests have departed so that you are nearly the last people to leave the ship on the way to meet with US CBP for immigration purposes.  

CBP in the US requires all guests get off and the ship reaches "zero count" before they will authorize guests for the next cruise to board.  That includes consecutive cruisers.  How long you have to wait to reboard depends on CBP.  Once CBP gives the ship permission consecutive cruisers always board first and then the new guests for the next cruise will board.  Crew will escort consecutive cruisers as a group to visit CBP and reboard the ship as a group once CBP grants permission to do so.

You don't need to pack up anything unless you are changing cabins for the next cruise.  If changing cabins you pack up your stuff but leave it in the first stateroom.  While you are off doing the CBP thing cabin attendants will move your belongings to the cabin for the next cruise.  

Rarely CBP will come on the ship to perform their immigration check.  It happens but not too frequently so don't count on that especially from Florida. 

The two cruises are treated like two cruises.  Two accounts and you must close the first account after cruise one like everyone else.  You'll get new Seapass cards even if staying in the same cabin.  You should check in for both cruises in advance as if they were separate cruises weeks apart.  Make sure Royal notes you are doing B2B and check with guest services on board during cruise one to make sure you are noted as being B2B.  

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2 hours ago, twangster said:

The preferred method of accomplishing a B2B involves getting the same cabin for both cruises.  Sometimes that isn't possible and you have to change cabins.

If you can get the same cabin on both then all you need to do on turn around day is take your passport with you and go to the designated meeting point at the time they state.  They generally try to gather the consecutive cruisers once most guests have departed so that you are nearly the last people to leave the ship on the way to meet with US CBP for immigration purposes.  

CBP in the US requires all guests get off and the ship reaches "zero count" before they will authorize guests for the next cruise to board.  That includes consecutive cruisers.  How long you have to wait to reboard depends on CBP.  Once CBP gives the ship permission consecutive cruisers always board first and then the new guests for the next cruise will board.  Crew will escort consecutive cruisers as a group to visit CBP and reboard the ship as a group once CBP grants permission to do so.

You don't need to pack up anything unless you are changing cabins for the next cruise.  If changing cabins you pack up your stuff but leave it in the first stateroom.  While you are off doing the CBP thing cabin attendants will move your belongings to the cabin for the next cruise.  

Rarely CBP will come on the ship to perform their immigration check.  It happens but not too frequently so don't count on that especially from Florida. 

The two cruises are treated like two cruises.  Two accounts and you must close the first account after cruise one like everyone else.  You'll get new Seapass cards even if staying in the same cabin.  You should check in for both cruises in advance as if they were separate cruises weeks apart.  Make sure Royal notes you are doing B2B and check with guest services on board during cruise one to make sure you are noted as being B2B.  

Thanks a lot for detailed information. 

Of course I see the advantage of staying in the same cabin, but also thinking about guaranteed balcony, since it's basically almost the same price as pick your own interior. 

But guess if I choose guaranteed balcony for 2 back to back, it won't be the same cabin. 

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16 minutes ago, Vlad said:

Thanks a lot for detailed information. 

Of course I see the advantage of staying in the same cabin, but also thinking about guaranteed balcony, since it's basically almost the same price as pick your own interior. 

But guess if I choose guaranteed balcony for 2 back to back, it won't be the same cabin. 

99.9% chance it won't be same cabin with GTY.

Clearly same cabin is desirable but many times I didn't decide to make a single booking into a B2B until months later.  A work or family commitment changed.  A consecutive cruise became much more affordable.  I won the lottery.    Whatever the excuse many of my B2B have involved changing cabins.  It's not a big deal and it's not like I had so many things to do on turn around day I didn't have time to unpack my clothes.  

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When I do change cabins I usually go and visit my new cabin area when I know the cabin attendant will be working.  I like to introduce myself and let them know I will be moving over from another cabin.  Often they'll make a point of getting my new cabin cleaned and ready first even though I don't ask them to.  

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21 minutes ago, twangster said:

When I do change cabins I usually go and visit my new cabin area when I know the cabin attendant will be working.  I like to introduce myself and let them know I will be moving over from another cabin.  Often they'll make a point of getting my new cabin cleaned and ready first even though I don't ask them to.  

Did you ever experience with guaranteed cabins? 

I'm wondering if I'll know the cabin for the 2nd week before I start my cruise, basically 1st week. 

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14 minutes ago, Vlad said:

Did you ever experience with guaranteed cabins? 

I'm wondering if I'll know the cabin for the 2nd week before I start my cruise, basically 1st week. 

I had one B2B where I was GTY on one but not the other.  

Typically GTY are known at least a week or two before the cruise.  Often even much further out.  It's never been an issue.

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Hello,

I take this B2B thread opportunity to ask if it is possible to get of the ship early on a B2B cruise (such as 7am, in order to visit the city) and come back by noon ? It should not be a worry for customs as we are outside the ship from 9am to 11am (which is the window they want everybody out), but is it a problem for the company^, regarding the 9am meeting for B2B cruisers ?

Thanks

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48 minutes ago, World_Discover said:

Hello,

I take this B2B thread opportunity to ask if it is possible to get of the ship early on a B2B cruise (such as 7am, in order to visit the city) and come back by noon ? It should not be a worry for customs as we are outside the ship from 9am to 11am (which is the window they want everybody out), but is it a problem for the company^, regarding the 9am meeting for B2B cruisers ?

Thanks

You can leave the ship and get back on. I believe you, need to make it known so that they can get everything squared away. However, I can't attest to how early you can get off. 

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57 minutes ago, World_Discover said:

Hello,

I take this B2B thread opportunity to ask if it is possible to get of the ship early on a B2B cruise (such as 7am, in order to visit the city) and come back by noon ? It should not be a worry for customs as we are outside the ship from 9am to 11am (which is the window they want everybody out), but is it a problem for the company^, regarding the 9am meeting for B2B cruisers ?

Thanks

I've not done that, but they told us last time that if we did we would have to go through the regular check in and security screening as any other boarding guests. I would visit Guest Relations during the first cruise. Explain your intentions. And get a check-in time. 

Royal offers some excursions on the last day but that can get tricky because they terminate at the airport.

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I agree with @Ampurp85.  You definitely can get off the ship on turnaround day.  We have done it in the past, many times. You will be given an "In Transit" pass which will permit you to reboard with minimal hassle.  You will need to contact Guest Services (or the Suite Concierge, if you are in a suite) to find out what the process will be to obtain your In Transit pass.  What I am not sure of is....whether or not you will be able to reboard "at will".  IOW, I have read that if you leave the ship, you must then reboard no sooner than your original boarding time...that you will not be able to reboard immediately.  Maybe that's not a problem for you as it sounds like you will be spending some time off the ship.

Also...a recommendation - if you are on a B2B, whether you stay in your original room or have to change rooms - make sure that Guest Services knows you are a B2B'er.  That way, you will be included in all of the instructions/information that the B2B'ers need to have - where and when to meet to get off the ship, etc.  If you have differing plans for that, you can discuss that with GS.

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2 hours ago, World_Discover said:

Hello,

I take this B2B thread opportunity to ask if it is possible to get of the ship early on a B2B cruise (such as 7am, in order to visit the city) and come back by noon ? It should not be a worry for customs as we are outside the ship from 9am to 11am (which is the window they want everybody out), but is it a problem for the company^, regarding the 9am meeting for B2B cruisers ?

Thanks

If you plan to leave the ship early they usually tell consecutive cruisers to visit guest services to get your new seapass card before leaving.  You will have to go through immigration no different than all departing guests so if that is backed up with a 30 minute queue that's where you will be - no jumping the immigration queue because you are B2B.  Once through immigration you are free to go anywhere just be back in plenty of time. 

Once through the terminal when you want to come back you have to go through the regular terminal entrance and through security like all new cruisers do.  The in-transit card is so that they know you are on the ship manifest and you won't have the regular paperwork a new guest will have. 

If you make it back to the ship before it has commended boarding new guests you will have to wait just like the new cruisers are waiting.   You need to be back on the ship 90 minutes before sail-away else they can lock the doors to the terminal to keep out late arriving new guests.

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14 minutes ago, Shari said:

We have reserved a B2B cruise in Europe for September 2024.  Rome to Athens and Athens to Venice.  Does anyone have information about a B2B in Europe?

It tends to be much easier within the EU especially if a cruise only visits EU member countries.  In some cases it's just another day of the cruise with nothing to do from an immigration perspective. 

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We have a B2B on Adventure this next week. On previous B2B cruises we have had to change cabins but the attendants have made this very easy. We get the TA to get our cabins at least on the same deck and side to make it simple for us to remember where the cabins are.

The lunch for the B2B folks depends on the number of repeat cruisers and we were told at least 30 was the minimum to have one. Otherwise to just get off and back on in a group. On smaller ships this number is mostly not met and you may not have the luncheon (we never have). Larger ships (Oasis class) have many, many more B2B and more cruisers. Will be interesting to see if the number is larger due to the end of the year crowd.

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One thing I did not see anyone mention is you should confirm with the cruise line or have your TA confirm that the cruises are linked as B2B cruises.  I have done both Back-to-Back and Side-to-Side cruises and they have been linked or marked in my reservation.  Everyone on the ship that deals with you will know you are a B2B cruiser.   I have done a S2S with one ship on RCL and one on Celebrity and they treated it as if it was the same company and not sister companies.  In April 2024 I am doing a B2B2B2B and am really looking forward to living on a ship for 5 weeks.

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12 hours ago, Traveling Mike said:

One thing I did not see anyone mention is you should confirm with the cruise line or have your TA confirm that the cruises are linked as B2B cruises.  I have done both Back-to-Back and Side-to-Side cruises and they have been linked or marked in my reservation.  Everyone on the ship that deals with you will know you are a B2B cruiser.   I have done a S2S with one ship on RCL and one on Celebrity and they treated it as if it was the same company and not sister companies.  In April 2024 I am doing a B2B2B2B and am really looking forward to living on a ship for 5 weeks.

Thanks to you, I took care of this yesterday !  The CSR said that both of my bookings are linked but that I would still need to contact Guest Services to arrange the complimentary shuttle from OA over to EX.  I am hoping that my Genie can help me take care of this !

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On 12/15/2022 at 6:08 PM, twangster said:

The preferred method of accomplishing a B2B involves getting the same cabin for both cruises.  Sometimes that isn't possible and you have to change cabins.

If you can get the same cabin on both then all you need to do on turn around day is take your passport with you and go to the designated meeting point at the time they state.  They generally try to gather the consecutive cruisers once most guests have departed so that you are nearly the last people to leave the ship on the way to meet with US CBP for immigration purposes.  

CBP in the US requires all guests get off and the ship reaches "zero count" before they will authorize guests for the next cruise to board.  That includes consecutive cruisers.  How long you have to wait to reboard depends on CBP.  Once CBP gives the ship permission consecutive cruisers always board first and then the new guests for the next cruise will board.  Crew will escort consecutive cruisers as a group to visit CBP and reboard the ship as a group once CBP grants permission to do so.

You don't need to pack up anything unless you are changing cabins for the next cruise.  If changing cabins you pack up your stuff but leave it in the first stateroom.  While you are off doing the CBP thing cabin attendants will move your belongings to the cabin for the next cruise.  

Rarely CBP will come on the ship to perform their immigration check.  It happens but not too frequently so don't count on that especially from Florida. 

The two cruises are treated like two cruises.  Two accounts and you must close the first account after cruise one like everyone else.  You'll get new Seapass cards even if staying in the same cabin.  You should check in for both cruises in advance as if they were separate cruises weeks apart.  Make sure Royal notes you are doing B2B and check with guest services on board during cruise one to make sure you are noted as being B2B.  

Just left a B2B, and turnaround time on shore was 20 minutes.  Easy process, with nice dining room lunch at large tables with others who on B2B.

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  • 1 month later...
On 12/16/2022 at 3:12 PM, Shari said:

We have reserved a B2B cruise in Europe for September 2024.  Rome to Athens and Athens to Venice.  Does anyone have information about a B2B in Europe?

We are doing the exact same B2B but it begins August of this year 2023.  Hoping to find excursions for Athens offered by Royal on turn around day but none showing so far.

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