B2B (Back to Back) cruises - how do they work?

[shillee]

Hi all,

I have tried to do a search but the function isn't working for me the past couple of days. We have a cruise booked but are rethinking it and wondering about maybe doing a back to back instead. I know some people have done this before.

I am worried that it will feel like we have a 'wasted' day in port (looking at the Wonder 4 night/5 night combo).

I would ensure that we kept the same room so wouldn't have to pack up/move, I am assuming? We could have a bit of a sleep in and then do breakfast in the restaurant in the morning. What time do we have to be at the restaurant and then off the ship? Then we just have to wait in the terminal to get back on the ship? Will they kick us out of the terminal?

I want to know all the facts before I present this to DH as an option as he figures we would have nothing to do that day and it would be a waste of $$ to be sitting in port. Are the kids clubs open on that first day? The pool is so if the weather is okay, that would be an option for us.

Any and all info would be appreciated!

 

[mmouse37]

Hi all,

I have tried to do a search but the function isn't working for me the past couple of days. We have a cruise booked but are rethinking it and wondering about maybe doing a back to back instead. I know some people have done this before.

I am worried that it will feel like we have a 'wasted' day in port (looking at the Wonder 4 night/5 night combo).

I would ensure that we kept the same room so wouldn't have to pack up/move, I am assuming? We could have a bit of a sleep in and then do breakfast in the restaurant in the morning. What time do we have to be at the restaurant and then off the ship? Then we just have to wait in the terminal to get back on the ship? Will they kick us out of the terminal?

I want to know all the facts before I present this to DH as an option as he figures we would have nothing to do that day and it would be a waste of $$ to be sitting in port. Are the kids clubs open on that first day? The pool is so if the weather is okay, that would be an option for us.

Any and all info would be appreciated!

When doing a B2B you MUST leave the ship by 9:00 am and then you can usually reboard within an hour or so. You must do a new checkin for the cruise since it is a different cruise. They usually send a letter to all the B2B's on the sailing with specific instructions.

If you are able to get the same room on both cruises then you can leave your stuff. We did a B2B with different cabins and the housekeeping staff moved our stuff to the new cabin.

We loved spending a bit of time onboard once back on before all the rest of the guests board!

MJ

 

[kcashner]

We've done a couple of B2Bs, and have talked to people who have done them. Each of our sets has been different, and those are different still from the experiences others have told us. It seems to depend on which port you are at and how many families are doing B2Bs.

At Port Canaveral, you get off the ship. You are sometimes told to be off the ship by 9. In other cases you are told to meet a CM at 9 or 9:15 to be escorted off the ship. In either event, you go thru Customs and reboard the ship about 10. You have to wait in the terminal while they close out the current cruise and open the new cruise. We were back on the ship before it was opened to new guests. At that point, there was food available--one time it was in the Cove Cafe for all (there were few B2Bs); another time it was in the Cove Cafe for adults and the Promenade Lounge for families. The beverage station is open. The pools are open as soon as they are cleaned.

If you are keeping the same cabin, you can use it but they ask you not to go in and out after boarding starts. If you are changing cabin, the CMs take care of your luggage for you and it is in the new room at 1:30.

In Barcelona we did not have to get off the ship at all--just got new KTTW at GS. In Dover they did have to get off and were mingled with new guests...but were allowed to reboard first.

 

[shillee]

We are looking to do the one out of Miami if that makes any difference. It would be on the Wonder.

 

[scootch]

We did B2B last April.(actually this time last year ) and enjoyed it. We had to switch rooms, couldn't get the same, but that was actually ok too, gave us a different perspective of things and my kids were overjoyed when we got a bunk on our second half! We ate at Cabana's for breakfast on changeover day. Not well known, but they stop serving breakfast at 830am. So we went up about 810am... and sat up there until about 915, then went down thru customs. They let us back on the ship about 1030, led us thru a side door of the ears. Our new room was ready at 1130 with all our luggage on it. It was nice choosing which night we wanted to see the plays. Actually getting ready to go on the Fantasy and realizing the plays are only one night of the cruise, so we have to go that night if we want to see it. There was plenty to do so we never got bored. They asked us if we wanted the same server and we said yes and I even asked if we coudl have our own table and they did that for us too. I would not hesitate to B2B again. Two stops at CC is also a great deal!

 

[kcashner]

Since the ships have not gone out or Miami yet, no one knows for sure how life will work there.

 

[shillee]

Thanks so much for the feedback on this. Will see what DH thinks about it. We had booked the Magic out of Texas for 2013. DH was bummed that we were not going to get to go to CC. I was trying to come up with alternatives for him.

When I looked at pricing for another 7 night cruise out of PC, it would be 50% more than what we paid for the one we got off of - joy of a new ship! So, I scrapped that idea when opening day pricing came out and I couldn't get a deal.

I didn't realize that Miami hadn't been used before. We are not cruise experts by any means but after going with the kids in February we really liked getting away!

 

[kcashner]

There have been a lot of VGT rates on Fantasy cruises in June....keep your eyes open as these might continue into the fall!

 

[sandgrace]

This is a little off topic, but I wonder if it's possible to take the cruise you are booked on, and then see if the next cruise after yours has cabins available at a discounted rate and go on that cruise too. Has anyone ever done that?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is a little off topic, but I wonder if it's possible to take the cruise you are booked on, and then see if the next cruise after yours has cabins available at a discounted rate and go on that cruise too. Has anyone ever done that?

Do you mean booking the cruise while your're on the first one? I'm not sure. I do know that in 2010, DCL was offering some of the Med cruisers deals for staying onboard for the repo to the Baltic. Something to ask at either the booking onboard desk or Guest Services, maybe?

 

[betsy918]

This is a little off topic, but I wonder if it's possible to take the cruise you are booked on, and then see if the next cruise after yours has cabins available at a discounted rate and go on that cruise too. Has anyone ever done that?

I would LOVE to know the answer to this as well! if no one can answer here, perhaps we can start a new thread.

 

[kcashner]

This is a little off topic, but I wonder if it's possible to take the cruise you are booked on, and then see if the next cruise after yours has cabins available at a discounted rate and go on that cruise too. Has anyone ever done that?

Yes, it is possible, and yes, it has been done. In fact, on one of the TAs, DCL offered an amazing deal for people who wanted to stay on board for the first Med. Unfortunately I had done my air privately (if done thru DCL, they re-arranged it at no extra charge) and I had obligations back at home....It was an amazing deal for those who could grab it.