Back to Back b2b questions???

[cakesnjammom]

we are considering a B2B in 2011.
I have questions:
How long are you off the ship when at the 1st debarkation? Do you have to take your luggage off?

I think I read you are back on before everyone else boards, if so can you swim and stuff while the ship is "preparing" to board everyone else?

Any advice you can provide regarding b2b will be helpful. Thanks

 

[mishoe01]

I know that if you have the same room for both portions you do not need to pack your luggage & take it off with you.

From my understanding - you get taken off the ship (all b2bers as a group), taken to check back in (get new KTTW cards, pics taken) then escouted back on to the ship. Most services are suspended

 

[cakesnjammom]

we hate the "mustard" drill as my son calls it....do we have to do it twice? I know this is a petty question so please no flames

 

[kcashner]

You do not take your luggage off whether you change rooms or not. If you keep the same room, you can leave the luggage there. You can also use the room between the time you reboard and the time general boarding starts. If you change rooms, your luggage is stored behind Guest Services (there's a storage room) and will magically be in your cabin at 1:30.

You (or at least WE) had to be off the ship by about 9:15--you're essentially the last passengers off. You literally walk thru Customs and back up the stairs to the second floor of the terminal where you sit till about 9:50. As soon as the CMs are ready, you check in again, new security photos, and you're back on the ship before the terminal opens to new people. You may wander around the public areas. Snacks are available to the whole family (including kids) in the Cove Cafe. The pools were open for us as soon as cleaning had finished, but other people have reported not being able to swim. Lunch starts about 11:50, so you really have very little time.

Yes, you have to do two "mustard" drills.....I love that term!

 

[disney 2010]

We too are considering B2B to enjoy the dream.
Is it easy to book the same room for b2b?
What about port upgrades? How does that work. Do you have to try for an upgrade for each cruise separately? I think packing midway through our trip would be a big hassle!

 

[kcashner]

If you book a standard room (not a gty), you can book the same room. Have them note on your reservation that you are doing a B2B and want the same room for both cruises. This will virtually eliminate pixie dust, but.....

I had booked a 12 gty on both legs. I was VERY disappointed that they didn't keep me in the same room for both legs, especially since I didn't get an upgrade. I mean, there are 13 cat 12s. How hard would it be to keep the same one? I did call the TA I had used for this booking (not the one I use now), but they claimed that they called DCL and nothing could be done because the ship was full for both sailings supposedly. I WAS able to purchase an upgrade for the 4 night cruise at the port, so it didn't bother me to have to change rooms. There were NO upgrades at port for the 3 night.

Yes, if you are doing an upgrade at the port, you'd have to do each one separately. A hint--if they call you the night before you disembark from the first cruise and offer an upgrade for the second leg, turn it down. You'll be the first person at the port the next morning, and it will be cheaper then!

 

[poohmomof5]

If you book a standard room (not a gty), you can book the same room. Have them note on your reservation that you are doing a B2B and want the same room for both cruises. This will virtually eliminate pixie dust, but.....

I had booked a 12 gty on both legs. I was VERY disappointed that they didn't keep me in the same room for both legs, especially since I didn't get an upgrade. I mean, there are 13 cat 12s. How hard would it be to keep the same one? I did call the TA I had used for this booking (not the one I use now), but they claimed that they called DCL and nothing could be done because the ship was full for both sailings supposedly. I WAS able to purchase an upgrade for the 4 night cruise at the port, so it didn't bother me to have to change rooms. There were NO upgrades at port for the 3 night.

Yes, if you are doing an upgrade at the port, you'd have to do each one separately. A hint--if they call you the night before you disembark from the first cruise and offer an upgrade for the second leg, turn it down. You'll be the first person at the port the next morning, and it will be cheaper then!

Good advice~ we have B2B booked this summer. We are doing the Baltic cruise and then the repo back down to Barcelona. We have connecting balcony rooms for the first cruise and GTY 12 for the next. I am really really hoping to upgrade at port for the 2nd cruise, so I was wondering if we could do that when we get on the first cruise. But, if not, at least we know we will be first in line the second cruise, that should make it easier. I am getting so excited!!!