Back2back cruising

[sorceressk]

Any tips/tricks?? I will be doing this for the 1st time in a month. One 5d with a friend, followed by 4d w the partner. Just curious how it works and if anyone has any special tricks up their sleeves. =]

 

[clten]

Each b2b can be a little different and it varies by port. What will happen is that you will get a letter in your cabin near the end of the first cruise telling you about the disembarkation/re-embarkation process. We have done it all sorts of ways -- staying on-board (in US ports, this seems to be a thing of the past), meeting somewhere to be escorted off, self-disembarkation with time given to get off the ship.

My only advise to you is if you are not getting off as a group (given a meeting place), don't rush to get off the ship at whatever time they tell you in the letter. Get off based on how many other people are still onboard. You really want to be among the last off. (The chairs onboard are much more comfortable than the chairs in the port terminal.) You have to wait until the first cruise is completed and closed out. So anyone still at Guest Services settling their bill or in Shutters buying photos will keep them from closing out the cruise. Rushing into the terminal doesn't get you back on any sooner -- just gives you more time to wait in the terminal.

Be sure to tell your dining team (if you enjoy them and want them for the next cruise) and your stateroom host that you are doing b2b. It should be in your record but sometimes only the supervisors know and the crew actually working with you don't know.

 

[justhat]

Have you done it in Barcelona before? We are doing that this June and would love to hear what goes on there.

 

[sorceressk]

Each b2b can be a little different and it varies by port. What will happen is that you will get a letter in your cabin near the end of the first cruise telling you about the disembarkation/re-embarkation process. We have done it all sorts of ways -- staying on-board (in US ports, this seems to be a thing of the past), meeting somewhere to be escorted off, self-disembarkation with time given to get off the ship.

My only advise to you is if you are not getting off as a group (given a meeting place), don't rush to get off the ship at whatever time they tell you in the letter. Get off based on how many other people are still onboard. You really want to be among the last off. (The chairs onboard are much more comfortable than the chairs in the port terminal.) You have to wait until the first cruise is completed and closed out. So anyone still at Guest Services settling their bill or in Shutters buying photos will keep them from closing out the cruise. Rushing into the terminal doesn't get you back on any sooner -- just gives you more time to wait in the terminal.

Be sure to tell your dining team (if you enjoy them and want them for the next cruise) and your stateroom host that you are doing b2b. It should be in your record but sometimes only the supervisors know and the crew actually working with you don't know.

Thanks!! It will be on the wonder in Miami. On carrib and the next Bahamas. Have u done that one before?

 

[nzdisneymom]

Have you done it in Barcelona before? We are doing that this June and would love to hear what goes on there.

Us, too. Justhat, you'll have to be sure to tell me on the June 15th how it was handled, ok?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Have you done it in Barcelona before? We are doing that this June and would love to hear what goes on there.

We did B2B in Barcelona in 2010. Typically, in non-US ports, you will not disembark on the turn around day. However, on ours, we were directed to meet at Rockin' Bar D (along with the other 300 B2B guests). After everyone else had disembarked, we were escorted off the ship as a group, checked in for the second leg and reboarded the ship. This was the last Med/WBTA. I understand on the EBTA/1st Med B2B they did not get off the ship to re-checkin. That was handled at Guest Services onboard.

The only constant on B2Bs is the letter you will receive directing you as to your particular procedure.

 

[alexandmaddie]

Thanks!! It will be on the wonder in Miami. On carrib and the next Bahamas. Have u done that one before?

We just did this on the Wonder in Miami two weeks ago. It went very smoothly. We waited in Studio Sea unitl everyone was off the ship. We were then escorted off the ship and through customs by a DCL representative. After that we checked back in and waited about 10 minutes to reboard the ship which took about a half hour. After getting back on the ship we hung out at the Cove Cafe.

 

[sorceressk]

We just did this on the Wonder in Miami two weeks ago. It went very smoothly. We waited in Studio Sea unitl everyone was off the ship. We were then escorted off the ship and through customs by a DCL representative. After that we checked back in and waited about 10 minutes to reboard the ship which took about a half hour. After getting back on the ship we hung out at the Cove Cafe.

Too cool! I wonder if this will be the same for me since I am the only one in my party doing b2b.

 

[sorceressk]

Do they hold ur bags? Or must u take the bags with u when u get off? Is customs basically the same, just with a DCL escort ?

 

[alexandmaddie]

Do they hold ur bags? Or must u take the bags with u when u get off? Is customs basically the same, just with a DCL escort ?

No, you don't bring your bags. Customs was the same, just no line! It really was a smooth process. We decided to do another B2B next Spring Break as well.

 

[justhat]

Us, too. Justhat, you'll have to be sure to tell me on the June 15th how it was handled, ok?

I definitely will!

We did B2B in Barcelona in 2010. Typically, in non-US ports, you will not disembark on the turn around day. However, on ours, we were directed to meet at Rockin' Bar D (along with the other 300 B2B guests). After everyone else had disembarked, we were escorted off the ship as a group, checked in for the second leg and reboarded the ship. This was the last Med/WBTA. I understand on the EBTA/1st Med B2B they did not get off the ship to re-checkin. That was handled at Guest Services onboard.

The only constant on B2Bs is the letter you will receive directing you as to your particular procedure.

I would love if we don't have to get off and back on!

 

[csidisney]

I am looking at doing that same b2b on the wonder next march! I already have the carribbean one booked. Just have to convince DH to add the second half.

 

[moomy-san]

We did this same b2b out of Miami in February. It was smooth and quick as can be. The really nice part was when we arrived in Cove Cafe after re-boarding, they informed us all coffee beverages were complimentary. So my kids quickly ordered smoothies and we had frappacinos while we relaxed by the pool! My kids swam by themselves for at least 30 minutes before anyone else boarded.

The only downside of the b2b was that all of the entertainment was repeated. Even funnelvision movies.

 

[Silverfox97]

We did this same b2b out of Miami in February. It was smooth and quick as can be. The really nice part was when we arrived in Cove Cafe after re-boarding, they informed us all coffee beverages were complimentary. So my kids quickly ordered smoothies and we had frappacinos while we relaxed by the pool! My kids swam by themselves for at least 30 minutes before anyone else boarded.

The only downside of the b2b was that all of the entertainment was repeated. Even funnelvision movies.

I am so excited for our B2B in Oct!!!! Yay thanks!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[csidisney]

Just finished booking the march B2B next spring out of Miami. We should start a thread for it . 9 nights on the ship...can't wait!

 

[alexandmaddie]

Just finished booking the march B2B next spring out of Miami. We should start a thread for it . 9 nights on the ship...can't wait!

Which sailings are you on? We're doing the 3/16/2014 and the 3/21/2014 - our Spring Break got moved back a week and they added an extra day, so we're doing two 5 night back to backs!

 

[sorceressk]

Which sailings are you on? We're doing the 3/16/2014 and the 3/21/2014 - our Spring Break got moved back a week and they added an extra day, so we're doing two 5 night back to backs!

Isn't that a dandy surprise!

 

[alexandmaddie]

Isn't that a dandy surprise!

Definitely!!

 

[csidisney]

Nice!! Our spring break is after yours so we are doing march 21 and march 26. Excited for 5 port stops!!

 

[Mechman]

One little surprise that I found handy was that on the last day of your first cruise, if you didn't plan your quantities properly or were a little more thirstier than you thought ....you can pick up a cheap bottle of alcohol at the duty free store, and take it back to your room and just leave it in there, without having to bring it off the ship.

Also you can save your pictures that you had taken on the 1st cruise, and combine them with the second cruise. We just talked one of the cast members at Shutters, and they took them and put them behind the desk.

We were off for only about 1-1/2 hours and sequestered with one or 2 other groups in the concierge area of the terminal, after we re-registered at the terminal counters. There were 2 agents that were behind the desk taking care of the B2B passengers. And if this is your first and second DCL cruise - don't forget to get your silver castaway club lanyard for the 2nd half of your cruise.