San Juan back-2-back

[RedSox68]

Has anyone done a back-2-back out of San Juan? We are doing RT San Juan for the first cruise, and then San Juan to Miami Repo on the second. Do you know if we have to get off the ship and re-register, or can we stay onboard? When we did it in Barcelona in 2007, we did not have to get off at all into the port -- they just sent the papers to our room the night before. Not sure if San Juan will be different. Thanks.

 

[oybolshoi]

We just came back from the B2B out of San Juan last week.

DCL left us a letter in our stateroom giving us information about where to meet and at what time - we all had to exit the ship, clear customs (proof of citizenship only - no luggage), and then re-check in for the second cruise in the terminal.

It was a very smooth, easy process - they brought us out of the Theatre in small groups and we were re-boarding the ship by 10:45 that morning.

DCL also did a nice job of opening some services early for us and I think rooms were ready by 1130, if I remember correctly.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Has anyone done a back-2-back out of San Juan? We are doing RT San Juan for the first cruise, and then San Juan to Miami Repo on the second. Do you know if we have to get off the ship and re-register, or can we stay onboard? When we did it in Barcelona in 2007, we did not have to get off at all into the port -- they just sent the papers to our room the night before. Not sure if San Juan will be different. Thanks.

Since San Juan is a US port, I'm figuring the same rules apply. When a turn around day is a US port, the ship must "zero out". You will have to debark the ship, check in again in the terminal, and then reboard. Generally, you will be off the ship anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours for this process.

Most foreign ports do not require the ships to zero out, and you are not required to debark for checking in again. That said, our B2B Med/WBTA in 2010 we all met in Rockin' Bar D onboard, and were escorted off the ship to check in in the port, and then allowed directly back on. Now, there were over 300 of us and, possibly, the onboard checkin facilities wouldn't have been as efficient as using the terminal ones.

 

[RedSox68]

Since San Juan is a US port, I'm figuring the same rules apply. When a turn around day is a US port, the ship must "zero out". You will have to debark the ship, check in again in the terminal, and then reboard. Generally, you will be off the ship anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours for this process.

Most foreign ports do not require the ships to zero out, and you are not required to debark for checking in again. That said, our B2B Med/WBTA in 2010 we all met in Rockin' Bar D onboard, and were escorted off the ship to check in in the port, and then allowed directly back on. Now, there were over 300 of us and, possibly, the onboard checkin facilities wouldn't have been as efficient as using the terminal ones.

Arggh, that's what I was afraid of. It was so blessedly easy in Barcelona -- and we had the whole ship and pools to ourselves. Nowadays, more and more are doing back-2-back. Thanks for all the good info.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

you have to get off the ship, do customs and check in again, since San Juan is considered a US port. Just did it. I think we were off about a half hour at the most.

PS. There's a duty free shop in the port with decent prices for booze

 

[RedSox68]

So we don't have to pack up our room -- just disembark and embark after another check in? I guess that will also allow us to get our embarkation pic for the second leg.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So we don't have to pack up our room -- just disembark and embark after another check in? I guess that will also allow us to get our embarkation pic for the second leg.

Correct, as long as you are staying in the same room, you won't have to pack up anything, except your checkin documents, ID, and something to occupy you while you wait (if you're not allowed directly back onboard.

 

[peloha86]

We just came back from the B2B out of San Juan last week.

DCL left us a letter in our stateroom giving us information about where to meet and at what time - we all had to exit the ship, clear customs (proof of citizenship only - no luggage), and then re-check in for the second cruise in the terminal.

It was a very smooth, easy process - they brought us out of the Theatre in small groups and we were re-boarding the ship by 10:45 that morning.

DCL also did a nice job of opening some services early for us and I think rooms were ready by 1130, if I remember correctly.

For passengers reboarding the Magic for the B2B/repositioning cruise, for proof of citizenship to reboard the Magic in San Juan, did customs mandate pasangers to have passports or were birth certificates acceptable to re-check and reboard the ship in San Juan?
Sorry I wasn't clear!
tia!!!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

For proof of citizenship, did they mandate passports or were birth certificates acceptable to re-check and reboard the ship?

tia!!!

I was under the impression that St. Lucia required visitors to have passports so the Southern cruises had to have them. Not so sure where I remember that from but I had to get mine renewed because they require one that is not within 3 months of expiration. However it's still a closed loop cruise in the Caribbean. The paperwork said something about passports but I had decided to get mine renewed anyway. The Southern cruises in 2016 are not stopping in St. Lucia.

 

[erinjean1277]

We just di the southern on the Magic and did not need passports in St Lucia. We did do a Disney excursion so our trip through their port was expedited but nothing other than our KTTW cards were required to get back to the ship. I think it was Antigua where they did want photo IDs. We only travelled with birth certs as we do not have passports.

 

[erinjean1277]

If we were to do this B2B leaving from san juan and returning to Miami, would it still be considered a closed loop cruise or would we need passports this time around??

 

[holula]

If we were to do this B2B leaving from san juan and returning to Miami, would it still be considered a closed loop cruise or would we need passports this time around??

I believe that is not a closed loop cruise and you would need passports.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

We just di the southern on the Magic and did not need passports in St Lucia. We did do a Disney excursion so our trip through their port was expedited but nothing other than our KTTW cards were required to get back to the ship. I think it was Antigua where they did want photo IDs. We only travelled with birth certs as we do not have passports.

Wasn't talking about to leave the ship, but to board it in the first place.

If we were to do this B2B leaving from san juan and returning to Miami, would it still be considered a closed loop cruise or would we need passports this time around??

No, because you are not returning to the same US port.