B2B.....did I make a mistake?

[Trera]

I'm intrigued... we love the 7 night cruises, part of it is the itinerary.. but B2B sounds cool too with 2 stops at CC.
Is it really cheaper to do a 3 night and a 4 night on Disney dream than 7 nights on the fantasy?

We have found it cheaper every time taking the dream back to back vs the Fantasy. Some say it is close to the same price at certain times of the year.

 

[melissajx3]

Did you book both place holders on one cruise or two.

on two cruises, you can only book one placeholder per cruise

 

[Cackyschmackers]

I'm not sure if anyone but me will find humor in this, but I emailed the below to my husband (from @kiford above) so that he could get a feel of how our turn-around day will go on our upcoming B2B:

We didn't find the turnaround day to be that much of a waste. We were asked to leave the ship about 9 am (we left about 9:30 am) and go through customs. Because we waited to be the last-ish off and didn't have to pick up luggage, it didn't take long to get through. Then back up, waited about 2 minutes to check back in again. They put us in the concierge lounge to wait (that was about 10 am). Two more families came in just after us. At 10:30 they let us back on before they opened the terminal for new passengers. While we waited in the lounge we read. Then we went up to the Cove Cafe, got a coffee and read some more. The next time we surfaced from our reading it was nearly noon and time for lunch. Pretty much what we would have been doing had it be an at sea day.

And this is what he emailed me back (editing @kiford 's post to fit his impression on what will happen with our turn-around day.

"We didn't find the turnaround day to be that much of a waste. Well anymore so than a typical day with our precious children whining to be fed, clothed and bathed. We were asked to leave the ship and never return about 9 am (we left about 9:30 am since we don't really listen all that well) and screamed through customs. Literally. They were screaming and yelling the whole time about having to leave the ship. Because we waited to be the last-ish off and didn't have to pick up luggage, it didn't take long to get through. Although it seemed like an eternity. Then back up, waited about 2 minutes to check back in again. They put us in the concierge lounge to wait (that was about 10 am). Clearly not pleased that we were back. Two more families came in just after us but left very quickly for some reason. At 10:30 they let us back on before they opened the terminal for new passengers. While we waited in the lounge we read. Mostly about things we would never, ever get to enjoy like relaxing vacations. Then we went up to the Cove Cafe, got a coffee and read some more. Mostly about things we didn't care about but it helped us ignore our screaming children. The next time we surfaced from our reading it was nearly noon and time for lunch. Which we knew because the kids had been screaming they were hungry since we got off the boat at 9 even though they wouldn't eat breakfast. Pretty much what we would have been doing had it be an at sea day."

 

[CamColt]

Thanks everyone! I still wish we could do one 7-day, but since it's not possible it seems like we'll enjoy this one If anyone is doing B2B in April 2018 (the 9th and 13th), I'd love to "meet" you!

If you would like to start Cruise Meet threads for these cruises feel free to do so on the Cruise Meet Board. You can then post the links to those threads in the Dream 2018 post and we can add them to the main list for you.

 

[cmph]

My kids only care about being on the ship, nada about ports or excursions. So b2b makes sense for us... but I can't for the life of me get the dates to work so it saves us any money. Just so I'm clear - are the cost savings mostly evident in the off-season, and just aren't there if you're talking summer or typical school break dates? Am I missing something?

 

[Cackyschmackers]

@cmph No, we're doing it in high season, August. We've been able to afford the 7-and 8-nts (and upcoming 5-nt) in low season only. Maybe bc we have a family of 5 it's different than your scenario?

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

A back to back is 2 cruises on Castaway club status. That is a bonus.

 

[cmph]

@cmph No, we're doing it in high season, August. We've been able to afford the 7-and 8-nts (and upcoming 5-nt) in low season only. Maybe bc we have a family of 5 it's different than your scenario?

Hmm... 4 of us (2A2K), so that does change things somewhat. (As an aside, part of the reason I was trying to find an additional option was for extended family who want to go with us, and will have a toddler making them a family of 5 - and yowza, pricing for a family of 5 w/no inside or oceanview options!) My kids go back to school irritatingly early in August. I don't have the 2018-19 start date yet, but the 2017-18 start date is Aug 7, so we really can't consider anything but June/July. So, for example, July b2b on the Dream is $9037-9314 inside. Late July 7 day for Alaska is around $8k, June or July 7-day eastern or western Carib on the Fantasy is $8300-8500ish (all insides in this, for comparison's sake). B2B options in Jun would be $10k+ b/c they're all 4 and 5 days, which then ends up being more than the 9-day Alaskan.

I guess it comes down to what you're comparing, specifically. But literally no dates for my 4 come up with a b2b being anything other than slightly more expensive for us. Even when the prices drop in Aug (in comparison with July), a 7 day on the Fantasy would still be cheaper. Maybe I'll run the numbers again when the kids are a bit older and we book 2 staterooms at a time.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

@cmph We normally always book the verandah rooms for 5. The deluxe family verandah we wanted on the 7-nt was over $8K. Then we decided we actually wanted 2 rooms (verandah and inside). That put us to $10K. So we looked at the B2B with 2 rooms each leg, and it brought it back down to $8k. So I think it depends on the timing and also the accomodations. ALSO how you divvy up your pax/room (youngest with oldest in most expensive room, other 3 in inside room ). I found the website makes it really easy to sort out all the different scenarios. I hope it eventually works out for you!

 

[cmph]

@cmph We normally always book the verandah rooms for 5. The deluxe family verandah we wanted on the 7-nt was over $8K. Then we decided we actually wanted 2 rooms (verandah and inside). That put us to $10K. So we looked at the B2B with 2 rooms each leg, and it brought it back down to $8k. So I think it depends on the timing and also the accomodations. ALSO how you divvy up your pax/room (youngest with oldest in most expensive room, other 3 in inside room ). I found the website makes it really easy to sort out all the different scenarios. I hope it eventually works out for you!

I'm thinking the passenger divvying up probably is a key factor. I'm looking at the exact same 4 people in a single stateroom, so no matter the category (inside was just for an example), it doesn't work in our favor. However, this is probably the only time we'd be sticking to one room on these extended family trips. The other family may decide to wait until the youngest is 3 to avoid dealing with the nursery, in which case I'll get placeholders for 2 rooms for the next trip and we'll put all the oldest kids in one (but assign people to rooms in a way that saves the most money). Plus my kids are eventually going to be too tall for the sofa and pull-down beds... my 8yo is 5ft+ so we're figuring we have little time left to cram him into the pull-down bed!! Thanks for clarifying how it worked out for you; I'm making a mental note about the passenger distribution.

 

[mom4mad]

Just did this 2 weeks ago. The 7 day itineraries just wouldn't work for us this time and our OBB discount was going to expire, sooooo....

I did feel we lost 1/2 day. You do get back on board before everyone else. Not a lot of services open at that time. I took the opportunity to do laundry as we only packed for 4 days to save baggage fees.

Castaway Cay twice in one week was great. Since we had already done pirate night, we went to Palo that night. Didn't feel like needed to do the same activities twice, which frees up time to do the stuff i always say i want to do, but don't get time for like art of the theme show tour, making of the dream, family crafts, etc.

Given the choice, I would do a longer itinerary over b2b, but it was fun and we are glad we did it once.

 

[kiford]

I'm not sure if anyone but me will find humor in this, but I emailed the below to my husband (from @kiford above) so that he could get a feel of how our turn-around day will go on our upcoming B2B:



And this is what he emailed me back (editing @kiford 's post to fit his impression on what will happen with our turn-around day. @Neptune's Fork I'm just tagging you here, I think you'll know why...)

"We didn't find the turnaround day to be that much of a waste. Well anymore so than a typical day with our precious children whining to be fed, clothed and bathed. We were asked to leave the ship and never return about 9 am (we left about 9:30 am since we don't really listen all that well) and screamed through customs. Literally. They were screaming and yelling the whole time about having to leave the ship. Because we waited to be the last-ish off and didn't have to pick up luggage, it didn't take long to get through. Although it seemed like an eternity. Then back up, waited about 2 minutes to check back in again. They put us in the concierge lounge to wait (that was about 10 am). Clearly not pleased that we were back. Two more families came in just after us but left very quickly for some reason. At 10:30 they let us back on before they opened the terminal for new passengers. While we waited in the lounge we read. Mostly about things we would never, ever get to enjoy like relaxing vacations. Then we went up to the Cove Cafe, got a coffee and read some more. Mostly about things we didn't care about but it helped us ignore our screaming children. The next time we surfaced from our reading it was nearly noon and time for lunch. Which we knew because the kids had been screaming they were hungry since we got off the boat at 9 even though they wouldn't eat breakfast. Pretty much what we would have been doing had it be an at sea day."

 

[Cackyschmackers]

It's a case of "It's funny cuz it's true"!

 

[girliesj]

UPDATE: (because I know you were all hanging on the edge of your seats... )

I switched my vacation dates. I ditched the B2B and ended up on a 7 night Western. Since I only got OBB credit for the 4-night, the total price for the 4+3 nights was about $280 less than a 7-night, AND I only got $100 on board credit with the B2B versus $200 with the Western. I wasn't happy with the B2B option, and for $$$$$ I'd rather spend $280 more and be happy, know what I mean?

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

It's a case of "It's funny cuz it's true"!

That, and a case of, "You have to either laugh or cry, so we choose to laugh."

Every once in a while, my now teen-aged sons, see some younger kid in a public place, pitching a fit and a look of realization comes over my sons as they think, "Wow, I used to be crazy like that and give my parents grief over nothing too." And even more rarely, their face deepens further as they realize, "yeah, that time when I got upset for some trivial reason was five minutes ago."

And even more rarely, their father has the same realization about himself.

 

[n2mm]

We just got back from our b2b on the wonder a few weeks ago. Did a b2b on the magic last feb. we booked ours with placeholders for each. We really enjoy this version of cruising. We ALWAYS book the same cabin so no packing or unpacking....the best suggestion to all doing a b2b. Love keeping my dining team. And love going to castaway cay twice.

We booked our b2b for next feb and it's a little different. We are on the wonder in the same cabin. Booked with placeholders, but it's a 3 night Bahamas cruise followed by a 7 night western Caribbean cruise all in and out of port canaveral. Seems the wonder is doing a lot of different itineraries then. So a 10 nights with different stops, plus castaway cay twice. Since I used placeholders, I also got the $100 obc for the 3 night and a $200 obc for the 7 night, along with another $75 from my TA dreams unlimited.

Here's my tip, if you park in the Gargage, you only pay parking on your first cruise, so for my last two B2B cruises I only paid for a 3 night cruise.

 

[hanscarlet]

for those of you who have done laundry on the port debark embark day - can you elaborate on how you did it? I can throw my laundry in around 8:45am ish and then throw it in the dryer when I get back on board? I have never done laundry on the ship before but we're doing WDW before so thinking I might as well take advantage of some empty machines on this day - just wasn't sure if the laundry room would also be closed too?

 

[nycdisneygal]

We did a 4N - 3N Dream B2B (same room). At first I regretted booking (my first choice was the 7N Fantasy) but honestly it was the BEST vacation I have had to date and thinking about it, I WOULD do it again. WHY?
1. the 2nd leg we could skip shows and other things we had already done and do something different (more relaxing!!!).
2. TWO stops at CC!!!
3. We stuck with our fantastic serving team. My daughter really connected with them!
4. We pay so much to be on a DISNEY CRUISE (as opposed to another line) : It was nice to be able to really enjoy the ship!
5. You can do Remy or Palo one night and not miss one of the MDR meals since you will have 1 go around!
6. Caught up on reading on the turn-around day--- I read a book while waiting to re-embark.

Even though I have now done 3 cruises on the DREAM, I actually think maybe I would do another DREAM cruise... Its nice to have already done some things and not be too worried about the destination of the ship and more focused on the ship itself (on the Caribbean cruises I would be more focused on the destinations...)

Have a great time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[clten]

for those of you who have done laundry on the port debark embark day - can you elaborate on how you did it? I can throw my laundry in around 8:45am ish and then throw it in the dryer when I get back on board? I have never done laundry on the ship before but we're doing WDW before so thinking I might as well take advantage of some empty machines on this day - just wasn't sure if the laundry room would also be closed too?

It's been a few years since we've done laundry on turnaround day. But here's how we always did it -- First we bring post-it notes so we can leave a note on the washer/dryer that we are back to back guests (not guests who forgot their laundry). We would put our wash in on our way to breakfast (we have late seating); we would just make sure it would be done before our meet time, if we were being escorted off the ship. After breakfast, one of us would pop into the laundry room quickly to move the clothes from the washers to the dryers and move the post-it notes as well. With then getting off the ship and checking back on. By time we got back on the ship we would go to the laundry room to retrieve our clothes and bring them back to our stateroom. We would then be finished with laundry and able to go up on deck to take advantage of any time we had before new guests showed up.

If you have early seating for breakfast and plan on going to the dining room, you could move up the steps and have the clothes in the dryer after breakfast and move them to your stateroom before getting off the ship. But you don't need to be up that early -- check with your dining team to see if they would have space in the dining room for you at the later seating or go to Cabanas. It's hard to sleep in on turnover day but don't start out earlier than necessary!

 

[Justacruiser]

We are getting ready to do out 5th B2B. we totally enjoy them. It is really nice if you get to keep the same rooms. You don't need to pack up on the last night of the first cruise. If you have to move rooms, you just pack your suitcases and leave them in the room, the CM's do the rest. I was able to leave my hang up clothes in the closet and they magically appeared in the same closet space in the new rooms.

On the last morning of the first cruise, we get up and around and head to breakfast upstairs. Be sure and eat breakfast on that day because you might starve before you get back on around 10:30, lol. You SHOULD get a letter in your stateroom the night before the first cruise ends. If not, just go to guest services. The letter will tell you where to meet up and what time the next morning. When we get off the ship they place us in a holding area until the ships computers have been updated with the new passengers. You will need to settle your account for the 1st cruise before you leave the ship. Normally we are back on around 1030, be sure to take your passports and key to the world tickets with you to get off the ship.

If you are in the same port (like Port Canaveral) you can take your dirty clothes to the vehicle if you want. We have done that. We actually had clean stuff in the car and just switched out. Just be sure that you don't have the smelling stuff where air can get to it. You COULD come back to an terrible smell that will last for days.

Anyway, when you get back on you have access to your rooms. Be mindful that there are CM's going through the halls cleaning. We do our best to stay out of the way. We usually just stay in the room till noon and go to the upper deck buffet for lunch. As soon as we are done we just go back to the room. We aren't big on swimming onboard. They ask us not to cross the lines to often to get access tom our rooms. especially since folks will actually start sitting on the stairs on the floor where their room is as early as noon. It's not a great thing when we go to cross the line to gain access to our room about 12:30. You can hear people talking about what those people (us) did when we crossed to go to our rooms.

A PRO is that you CAN have the same dining team for the back end of the B2B. Or you can switch, we have done both. One team was not very good so we requested a change. The second team we had was actually my favorite team of the 30 DCL cruises we have taken. Other times, we like the servers so we keep them. It is odd when we show up for dinner the first night and everyone around you changes, except the servers.

The drill on the 2nd cruise is not a big deal unless you make it a big deal. Everything else is pretty much normal. There is usually a movie playing in the theater the afternoon of the first days, so you can go to that movie in the afternoon if you want.

I love the B2B cruises because like others have posted, you get everything twice, shows, dinners, PALO, and CC is some cases. And if you didn't like the experience on the first cruise, you can do something else. And usually by the end of the B2B, especially those 7-night cruises, B2B (14-Nights) you are ready to go home. Not, really but more ready than after just one cruise.