Back to Back Cruise

[DesertGal]

We have a B2B booked on the Wonder in 2013. Now, ours is a bit different as it is a 5 night, then a 4 night (Caribbean then Bahamas) so we will have different ports for both and also 2 stops at CC. We moved from an 8 night out of Galveston (before it had gotten switched to those 4 night ones they now have) as DH wanted the stop at CC.

We think we will tour around Miami a bit when we get into port and have to wait around perhaps? Haven't looked into that part yet to decide what we can do while we wait to leave again...

We are booked for that same itinerary but at Thanksgiving. We were initially booked out of Galveston but they changed the itinerary so we booked a BTB for about $400 more

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

We have a B2B booked on the Wonder in 2013. Now, ours is a bit different as it is a 5 night, then a 4 night (Caribbean then Bahamas) so we will have different ports for both and also 2 stops at CC. We moved from an 8 night out of Galveston (before it had gotten switched to those 4 night ones they now have) as DH wanted the stop at CC.

We think we will tour around Miami a bit when we get into port and have to wait around perhaps? Haven't looked into that part yet to decide what we can do while we wait to leave again...

I am planning to do a similar thing in fall 2013 for our 20th anniversary. But we will not get two CC stops. GC and Coz for the 5 night and Key West and CC on the 4 day. I am not crazy about the adult pool on the Fantasy and the larger size is intimidating for us, so I was trilled to see I could do back to back out of Miami with what are the same ports as a 7 night on the Magic would have been before the Fantasy came to town.

Can't wait to start hearing the experiences of B2b from Miami! I wonder if it will stay the same as PC or be different.

 

[bigAWL]

After six cruises, we've booked our first B2B on the Dream this spring. We really only did it because it's the only ship we haven't been on. Our first DCL cruise was a 4-night on the Wonder, and it was waaaay to short, so we vowed a minimum of 7-nights after that. We loved the Fantasy, and it has several advantages over the Dream for those considering this B2B vs. 7-night cruise dilemma.

What's on the Fantasy (but not on the Dream)?

• General decor is more "elegant," rather than the Dream's more "whimsical" and design (this is very subtle, though)
• More stage shows, including welcome and farewell shows, Aladdin, and Wishes (Disney Believe is shown on both ships)
• More of the other "cabaret" entertainers
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
• Adult areas on upper deck are more spacious
• Satellite Falls water feature for adults
• Aqua Lab family splash area
• No repeated dinner menus
• Extra Animator's Palate show
• Royal Court mosaics of the princesses (Dream has painted portraits)
• ???Character breakfast??? (oops! not on the Fantasy- only for longer cruises on the Magic and Wonder)
• Extra interactive artwork game featuring the Muppets
• Formal/Semi-formal nights, as opposed to "Dress-up" nights
• I think you'll also find more activity options on the itinerary

All that said, I think we're going to really enjoy the B2B on the Dream. On our longer cruises, we've always done a different itinerary (Bahamas, East Caribb., West Caribb., South Caribb., Alaska, Baltic), and we've always felt sort of rushed to do and see everything at all the ports and on board. This will be the first time we're repeating an itinerary, so it will allow us to slow down and relax, and really explore the ship for all it has to offer.

EDIT: I forgot to mention one advantage of doing two shorter B2B cruises over a single 7-night cruise: for about the same cost, you get to count two cruises toward your Castaway Club membership and hit that Gold or Platinum level more quickly.

EDITED AGAIN: I must have mixed up my cruises, because I thought we did a character breakfast on the Fantasy. But I can't find any evidence that they are done on that ship. Apparently, the dining rooms are too big with too many guests, and so character breakfasts are reserved for longer cruises on the Magic and Wonder only.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

We are back2backing for the first time next year in the Med.

We are really happy to be doing the same itinerary twice (infact it will be our third time as we did the same one last year too!) - There are so many different places I want to see in each port, and with two youngish boys I want to have some downtime as well.

As for the repeat meals/shows, again I am really excited about this, as we plan to try every dinner menu once (so will eat in the main dining room for 7 out of the 14 nights) and then we are going to have evenings where we eat at Topsiders, grab room service and eat by the pool - whilst the poolside food is more of the 'fast food' type, I think by only having that in the evening, we will have more room to try the lunch buffets which normally we forego. I'm really looking forward to it!!

 

[bigAWL]

We are back2backing for the first time next year in the Med.

We are really happy to be doing the same itinerary twice (infact it will be our third time as we did the same one last year too!) - There are so many different places I want to see in each port, and with two youngish boys I want to have some downtime as well.

As for the repeat meals/shows, again I am really excited about this, as we plan to try every dinner menu once (so will eat in the main dining room for 7 out of the 14 nights) and then we are going to have evenings where we eat at Topsiders, grab room service and eat by the pool - whilst the poolside food is more of the 'fast food' type, I think by only having that in the evening, we will have more room to try the lunch buffets which normally we forego. I'm really looking forward to it!!

B2B Med cruises... nice

I think B2B 7-night cruises (14 total) must be a different beast than B2B 3&4-night cruises. There's just so much to do on a longer cruise, that the second time around can be a very different experience. By design, the shorter cruises don't offer as much variety.

 

[kcashner]

Our 7 night cruise on the Fantasy did not have a character breakfast (listed above as an advantage). We have experienced them on the classic ships when our cruise was 7 nights or longer.

When we were required to leave the ship on B2B cruises (Port Canaveral), we were off for about an hour...9:15 till a bit after 10. At some ports we did not have to get off at all and the transition was handled at Guest Services.

 

[NWDAD]

We will be doing a B2B in a couple of weeks on the Fantasy. Looking forward to it. East/West so the ports will be Different. Can't wait. also maximizes air fare from the wesr coast.

Kevin

 

[jdb in AZ]

We will be doing a B2B in a couple of weeks on the Fantasy. Looking forward to it. East/West so the ports will be Different. Can't wait. also maximizes air fare from the wesr coast.

Kevin

That sounds like fun B2B cruise!

 

[justhat]

Having never been on the Dream, I am booked on a B2B in January, so I can see and do a lot more. We have the same room for both legs and since we will eat in Palo and Remy for dinner on both legs, the whole MDR repeat won't matter. What ever show they may have that we haven't seen, we will see and that will take care of it.

Yanno, the shows and menus are repeated on all hips, does that stop people from sailing the same ship yearly? No, sp why would that stop someone from doing B2B? Not being snarky, but I think it is a silly argument.

We're doing B2B Med cruises in June 2013, but the repeating menus is something I am not thrilled about. We're platinum cruisers so definitely have had much of the food before, but not a few days apart, so huge difference.

We are back2backing for the first time next year in the Med.

We are really happy to be doing the same itinerary twice (infact it will be our third time as we did the same one last year too!) - There are so many different places I want to see in each port, and with two youngish boys I want to have some downtime as well.

As for the repeat meals/shows, again I am really excited about this, as we plan to try every dinner menu once (so will eat in the main dining room for 7 out of the 14 nights) and then we are going to have evenings where we eat at Topsiders, grab room service and eat by the pool - whilst the poolside food is more of the 'fast food' type, I think by only having that in the evening, we will have more room to try the lunch buffets which normally we forego. I'm really looking forward to it!!

We're also doing B2B Med cruises next summer and are very much looking forward to it. 7 night, then a 12 night. We booked the same room for both so hoping for minimal transition. Our plan was to do 2 cruises simply because we did the Med on a 10 night in 2007 and we were so rushed and exhausted by each port and still didn't see "everything", both on/off the ship. So this way we figure we can break up the shore excursions over the 2 cruises (most of the ports from the 7 night are repeated on the 12 night). This way we hopefully won't be out on 12 hour days at every port so we can enjoy dinner and activities on the ship, as well as see what we want to at the ports.

 

[wildel1021]

DH and I are doing a B2B...we are doing the 14 night translantic from Galveston to Barcelona, and then the 7 night Med cruise....21 days on the Magic in the same cabin (5150) can't wait

 

[DesertGal]

DH and I are doing a B2B...we are doing the 14 night translantic from Galveston to Barcelona, and then the 7 night Med cruise....21 days on the Magic in the same cabin (5150) can't wait

I'm jealous. Sounds fabulous.

 

[bigAWL]

Our 7 night cruise on the Fantasy did not have a character breakfast (listed above as an advantage). We have experienced them on the classic ships when our cruise was 7 nights or longer.

Oops! Thanks for pointing that out. I thought we had done one on the Fantasy in June. But apparently, I've mixed up my cruises. I've edited my list above.

 

[bigAWL]

What should we expect to be open (on the Dream) when we get back on the ship? I've seen that the Aqua Duck would likely be closed for a while, but would the pools be open? What about the fitness center? Sports deck? Maybe most importantly, when do the bars reopen?

 

[bigAWL]

DH and I are doing a B2B...we are doing the 14 night translantic from Galveston to Barcelona, and then the 7 night Med cruise....21 days on the Magic in the same cabin (5150) can't wait

You wouldn't happen to be Van Halen fans would you?

 

[toontoy]

We boarded the Fantasy with group 2 in September and we were ready to go on the aqua duck but it didnt open for another hour. We even wore our swim stuff as we planned on racing to the top. The pools and things opened after 1 on our cruise

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

What should we expect to be open (on the Dream) when we get back on the ship? I've seen that the Aqua Duck would likely be closed for a while, but would the pools be open? What about the fitness center? Sports deck? Maybe most importantly, when do the bars reopen?

We did a b2b on the Dream last Nov. We didn't look into fitness center, bars or sports deck so I can't answer that. The pools were open with just a small handful of guests, maybe 5. That was just heavenly on a hot, sunny day. Possibly a movie played on the big screen. I can't recall exactly.
The Aquaduck opened at noon. Since newly boarding passengers were walking on with that dazed look of wonder, pulling carry-on luggage, we were in our bathing suits and ready to slide at noon. We had some lunch and I finished some laundry. The time flew by so quickly it really wasn't difficult at all.

When we 1st reboarded, they were putting up Christmas decorations so we watched them for a little. It was amazing how much they had gotten done in the hour or so we were off the ship, especially considering it was the Dream's 1st Christmas. I wish they'd come do my house!
They were in the midst of building the gingerbread house during the 1st leg of the b2b so it was nice to see it completed by the end of the 2nd leg.

It was neat to do once but it would have to be a massive $$ saver to do that again. We all prefer the vibe of a 7 nt. It just feels different.