B2B2B or 9 night cruise?

[thebwit]

The family is currently Gold status with 5 cruises under our belt and a 6th will be happening in June. We are currently looking at doing a 3night/4night/3night B2B2B (or just the last two legs) or doing a 9 night southern Caribbean in June 2020. The problem with the 3/4 night is it is just Nassau and CC, both are nice, but we don't do much at either island. But it would put us significantly closer to platinum status. Assuming the price difference between the two options isn't a factor would you forgo the ports you like to get closer to platinum or just take your time earning your way towards platinum status?

 

[dcassetta]

The family is currently Gold status with 5 cruises under our belt and a 6th will be happening in June. We are currently looking at doing a 3night/4night/3night B2B2B (or just the last two legs) or doing a 9 night southern Caribbean in June 2020. The problem with the 3/4 night is it is just Nassau and CC, both are nice, but we don't do much at either island. But it would put us significantly closer to platinum status. Assuming the price difference between the two options isn't a factor would you forgo the ports you like to get closer to platinum or just take your time earning your way towards platinum status?

A triple trip to CC sounds great, but you will also have 3 Nassau days and only 1 sea day. That does not sound appealing to me unless you really just like being on the ship and plan to just enjoy ship amenities on the Nassau days. The southern Caribbean is beautiful!

 

[clten]

Take your time getting to Platinum status. It's a big let down when you get here! Certainly not something I would take an "okay" vacation over a "good" vacation to get to.

 

[starvenger]

Questions:
- Does doing the B2B2B take you over the threshold or just closer to it? I think doing the 3 cruises would put you at 9?
- Are you getting the same cabin(s) for the B2B2B?

 

[thebwit]

Questions:
- Does doing the B2B2B take you over the threshold or just closer to it? I think doing the 3 cruises would put you at 9?
- Are you getting the same cabin(s) for the B2B2B?

It would put us at 9. We would likely get the same cabin for the entire trip.

 

[thebwit]

A triple trip to CC sounds great, but you will also have 3 Nassau days and only 1 sea day. That does not sound appealing to me unless you really just like being on the ship and plan to just enjoy ship amenities on the Nassau days. The southern Caribbean is beautiful!

That is a plus for us. We enjoy the ships in general and tend to not leave unless it's a port that we really like. Which happens to be the benefit of Southern Caribbean as we've done that one before and loved every stop.

 

[lilsonicfan]

For me, if the price wasn't drop dead amazing, I'd skip the B2B2B. It sounds nice, but you do waste time getting off twice, plus I wouldn't be too keen on the whole "sailaway 3x, see ya real soon 3x" thing.

 

[dcassetta]

For me, if the price wasn't drop dead amazing, I'd skip the B2B2B. It sounds nice, but you do waste time getting off twice, plus I wouldn't be too keen on the whole "sailaway 3x, see ya real soon 3x" thing.

True, plus the same menus and stage shows for all three cruises.

 

[starvenger]

It would put us at 9. We would likely get the same cabin for the entire trip.

Interesting. I asked mainly because I'm a fan of the longer cruises. So if it were me, it now it comes down to this:
- If status were the most important thing then yes, the B2B2B would be a no-brainer. Because I'm accruing sailings, I'd be willing to overlook the repetitiveness of the cruises.
- Otherwise, 9 nights in the southern Caribbean sounds amazing.

 

[FSU Girl]

That is a lot of turn over days where you have to wake up super early and get off the ship. You also are looking at same shows, same menus, people rushing about and I hate Nassau so I wouldn't want to go there so many times in one trip. It also isn't putting you over into Platinum. I say go with the longer cruise.

 

[Lawdawg]

The family is currently Gold status with 5 cruises under our belt and a 6th will be happening in June. We are currently looking at doing a 3night/4night/3night B2B2B (or just the last two legs) or doing a 9 night southern Caribbean in June 2020. The problem with the 3/4 night is it is just Nassau and CC, both are nice, but we don't do much at either island. But it would put us significantly closer to platinum status. Assuming the price difference between the two options isn't a factor would you forgo the ports you like to get closer to platinum or just take your time earning your way towards platinum status?

We were at 9 last year and could not get a 7 night on the Fantasy that we wanted, so we did a Dream B2B and it put us into platinum status. However, that just ended up being a perk of the trip. I would not do a b2b again most likely, as the repeat of shows, menus, etc. made it less enjoyable.

 

[DCLDVC1]

No brainer for me. B2B2B for the 3 days at CC.

 

[DisneyNoob13]

Having done a b2b, that was fine...can't imagine a three-peat of the shows, etc., even with 3 days at CC. Plus like others have pointed out, you are losing a good chunk of a couple days for the on/off process, plus repeating muster.

 

[MasonDuo]

9 nighter for sure - b2b2b sounds like a Groundhogs day or an episode of the Twilight Zone....same thing over and over again just new cycles of people. Much more relaxing taking 9 nights.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

I would be so bored going to Nassau back and forth. I would choose the southern Caribbean with it’s many port stops any day of the week instead.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We have #8 in May and looking at a B2B for 2020 to get to platinum. Go for the southern Caribbean, we did it an enjoyed the islands. Save the B2B for #9 and #10.

 

[ScooterScott44]

We would love to b2b but the Dream is probably not the one we would like to do that on. If you have not done a southern yet it would be even less appealing. If it was between another itinerary that you have done and the b2b for status I would say sure.

I would vote for the 9 day. Also I hope that one day DCL restructures the Castaway Club to account for number of cruise days or other items such as concierge. As more people reach the higher status little changes to the program may de-value the perks. Simply changing the Gold and Platinum reception from 7 to 8 days really impacts the amount of cruises that you will see that perk.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

We were consider the same b2b2b as the OP. You guys have made some great points, I think we will scratch that one off the list.

 

[Stratus22]

We too had considered doing another B2B but it just feels all the same. The 9 night is what we are going to go after. I’d rather do something different. No one has an eternity and I always try to grab different itinerary’s.

 

[Rob1872]

9 night is a rarer itinerary, and agree with all of the previous posters about not wanting to go back again and again to Nassau and have the return to port/underway x3. I'd only worry about making Platinum if there is something like a Panama Canal transit or a future Hawaii sailing where the difference between Gold and Platinum booking might matter.