Back 2 Back Cruise ???'s

[jenhelgren]

We have never cruised the Magic and really prefer longer cruises so we are considering combing two 5 night cruises on the Magic for a 10 night B2B. I didn't want to start several new threads for all my questions so I am hoping for some advice/opinions on cruising back to back.

If we wait it out and are lucky enough to find GT rates to book-what are the chances of us keeping the same cabin for both cruises? If we do need to change cabins-do we just leave our luggage in the cabin in the morning when we disembark or would we need to have our luggage out the night before like everyone else?

Are character breakfast and the stage show the kids perform when they get t-shirts to keep only for 7 night or longer cruises? I'm thinking by doing B2B we will miss out on some of the reasons why we loved our 7 night on the Wonder

What is there to do on the day you reboard? We always loved getting acquainted with the ship etc and the first night flies by way too fast, but if I remember correctly-Kids Club is just open house until later in the evening. I remember the pool being open by 1-are there movies showing or anything else I'm not thinking of?

I am really on the fence about this one and would LOVE any and all advice from those who have cruised B2B. I also wanted to mention that it would be Itinerary A and B, so the only port we would double up on would be Castaway-essentially creating our own double dip which would be great!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We have never cruised the Magic and really prefer longer cruises so we are considering combing two 5 night cruises on the Magic for a 10 night B2B. I didn't want to start several new threads for all my questions so I am hoping for some advice/opinions on cruising back to back.

If we wait it out and are lucky enough to find GT rates to book-what are the chances of us keeping the same cabin for both cruises? If we do need to change cabins-do we just leave our luggage in the cabin in the morning when we disembark or would we need to have our luggage out the night before like everyone else?

Are character breakfast and the stage show the kids perform when they get t-shirts to keep only for 7 night or longer cruises? I'm thinking by doing B2B we will miss out on some of the reasons why we loved our 7 night on the Wonder

What is there to do on the day you reboard? We always loved getting acquainted with the ship etc and the first night flies by way too fast, but if I remember correctly-Kids Club is just open house until later in the evening. I remember the pool being open by 1-are there movies showing or anything else I'm not thinking of?

I am really on the fence about this one and would LOVE any and all advice from those who have cruised B2B. I also wanted to mention that it would be Itinerary A and B, so the only port we would double up on would be Castaway-essentially creating our own double dip which would be great!!

You may or may not get the same room. We did a Med cruise B2B with a WBTA and did have the same room. Our recent Fantasy B2B (GTY) we were assigned different rooms for each leg. Whether you leave your bags inside the room our outside the room varies. On the B2B that we switched rooms, we had to have our packed bags outside our door by 8:00 am on the turnaround day. Others have reported that they were directed to leave their bags inside their (old) room. The room hosts see to moving your luggage to you next room. Don't forget to bring all IDs and check in paperwork with you off the ship.

AFAIK, currently the Character breakfast is only on the Magic & Wonder cruises of 7 nights and longer. So neither leg of your B2B (5 nights each) would have one. Don't know about the kid's club show thing.

It varies how long you may be off the ship, before reboarding. Sometimes you have some "just B2B people" time before the new cruisers start boarding. Sometimes the B2B people board just before everyone else, so no real "just us" time. Food/pools don't open until noonish (for the new cruisers). Generally, prior to that, there's a lot of cleaning going on. On our B2Bs Cove Café was open for food (for all B2Bers)before the new cruisers would board. Yes, the kid's club is Open House until around dinnertime, from what I recall. If you mean movies in the Buena Vista theatre, I don't think there were any at that time.

 

[jenhelgren]

Thanks for sharing! Does anyone know if the spa is open for treatments before dinner the first day? Any other entertainment options on the Magic before dinner on boarding day?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thanks for sharing! Does anyone know if the spa is open for treatments before dinner the first day? Any other entertainment options on the Magic before dinner on boarding day?

Boarding day there is dos but not at the mandatory drill time entertainment us the deck party and a welcome onboard show. B2B depends on where your cruising. We did the Fantasy back to back same room off 9 am back 10.15 am no serves bar Cove Cafe till noon. In Europe its different as less border control requirements. Note not all Magic cruises have a character breakfast my 12 night Ned cruises had no CB, even with four sea days.

 

[clten]

We've done several b2b cruises. We think of turnaround day as "entertain yourself" day. There is not a lot of scheduled activity that day. But there are things that you might only see if you are on board in between two cruises. Outside of breakfast that morning, DCL is looking to get everyone off the ship and come noon they are back to getting new cruisers settled in - tours of the ship, open houses (Spa has an open house, don't know for sure but have heard of individuals getting discounted treatments to be the "tour model"), dining changes/Palo reservations, etc.

In our more recent b2b's we have had very little time between when we were allowed back on the ship and when the new cruisers were let back on. But the pools will be re-opened as soon as they are cleaned so we have had some nice peaceful time at the pool. We've explored a near empty ship (which I guess you could do in the middle of the night too) but in doing that have stumbled on activity that only takes place between sailings -- rehearsals of deck party shows, decorating for holidays, tours given to new crew members, etc. While you aren't behind the scenes, you still get some glimpses of what happens behind the scenes.

Like I've said we've done several b2b and have more scheduled for the future so I would recommend it as a way to piece together a longer cruise vacation. But there is a lot of waiting on turnaround day. I always say that I've traded not having to pack the night before so I have time to do activities I usually skip for the time on turnaround day where we are just sitting around waiting. Hopefully you don't have to change rooms because they you have to spend the time packing and the time waiting.

 

[MRBorn]

I've never done a B2B but both cruises we've been on were 5 nights on the Wonder and they did the kids' show at the end of the cruise on both of them. My daughter was really excited to do it again so we were glad to see it was offered on the second one.

 

[jenhelgren]

My DD loved the kids show and being on stage with Mickey and Minnie-she is a dancer so her signed character shirt got her lots of attention after we returned home We also only experienced the show on the Wonder but I though it was only for 7 night or longer cruises?? Can anyone confirm if the Magic 5 night cruises have the stage show the final sea day?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

My DD loved the kids show and being on stage with Mickey and Minnie-she is a dancer so her signed character shirt got her lots of attention after we returned home We also only experienced the show on the Wonder but I though it was only for 7 night or longer cruises?? Can anyone confirm if the Magic 5 night cruises have the stage show the final sea day?

They are normally on the seven night and longer cruises only.

 

[Mickey4me!]

We'll be sailing our first B2B this Nov and while I know we have to disembark and then reboard, I was wondering if we will be able to get back in our cabin? We will have the same stateroom on both. I know the rooms for "new" passengers won't be ready until 1:30 but since ours doesn't need the complete turn around, I was hoping we could get back in. Any experienced B2Bers know the answer? TIA

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We'll be sailing our first B2B this Nov and while I know we have to disembark and then reboard, I was wondering if we will be able to get back in our cabin? We will have the same stateroom on both. I know the rooms for "new" passengers won't be ready until 1:30 but since ours doesn't need the complete turn around, I was hoping we could get back in. Any experienced B2Bers know the answer? TIA

If you have the same stateroom then yes you can. We did we had 12012 on the Fantasy east and West Caribbean and we went off at 9am and was back on at 10.15.

Our stateroom host knew but its worth checking and he did the deep clean on Castaway Cay day.

So tell the host, and they ask you do not nip under the barriers post 11.15 to stateroom opening times.

 

[evilipoo]

We'll be sailing our first B2B this Nov and while I know we have to disembark and then reboard, I was wondering if we will be able to get back in our cabin? We will have the same stateroom on both. I know the rooms for "new" passengers won't be ready until 1:30 but since ours doesn't need the complete turn around, I was hoping we could get back in. Any experienced B2Bers know the answer? TIA

We just did a B2B Baltic-Norway and this was the case for us as well. We also spoke to our host in advance, and deep clean was done a day early. You will receive a note from DCL a day before your second cruise advising you of the process and any differences in stateroom availability.

For our cruise, DCL provided a shuttle to/from the city of Copenhagen and we were allowed back in our staterooms an hour earlier than newcomers. YMMV.

 

[Mickey4me!]

So tell the host, and they ask you do not nip under the barriers post 11.15 to stateroom opening times

That makes sense. With everyone queing up to get into their room, someone coming and going freely might cause a mild riot. Thanks!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

In fact they were asking that if you were going to be onboard, you either stay in your stateroom or in the ship's public areas, no going back and forth. So if you want to get something from your stateroom, get it before they put the barriers up, or just be prepared to stay in the room.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

In fact they were asking that if you were going to be onboard, you either stay in your stateroom or in the ship's public areas, no going back and forth. So if you want to get something from your stateroom, get it before they put the barriers up, or just be prepared to stay in the room.

We didn't have that option on our last B2B (Fantasy last September). We were reboarded just prior to Concierge (about 11:10). So we couldn't access our room until they were open for all.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

That makes sense. With everyone queing up to get into their room, someone coming and going freely might cause a mild riot. Thanks!

yes.

In fact they were asking that if you were going to be onboard, you either stay in your stateroom or in the ship's public areas, no going back and forth. So if you want to get something from your stateroom, get it before they put the barriers up, or just be prepared to stay in the room.

Yes exactly, we were told we could access our room, we were in it at 10.15 am, we did the laundry went back and forth toured the ship took photos and cover cafe was open, but at 11.15 we respected that other cruisers may not know we were B2B and stayed in our room until the general suite opening time when we went for Aquaduck and then lunch.

 

[tinkerone]

i'm with shmoo, we have done several b2b's and have never been back on the boat before 11:15, just before concierge. imo that is the average time, the earlier times are hit and miss. as to staying in your room till the ropes drop, I suppose if your in a walt suite that may be great however if your in an average size cabin it would seem to me that being locked in for two and a half hours would not be great. even if you have a balcony all your going to see is either the dcl terminal or another ship, all surrounded by tons of noise and road movement. its okay to look at for a few minutes but not for a long stretch.
take what you need with you off the ship and then spend some time on the open deck people watching.
jmo

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Well we were in at 10.15 maybe as we had our same room or concierge but back by 10.15 maybe others were not lucky or didn't have same rooms or didn't follow the process.

 

[tinkerone]

maybe its the port, not sure, however we have done b2b's on the fantasy 3 times with another one coming up. same room and we do follow the process which has differed. never sailed concierge but there have been other b2b's who were and they were not treated any different so i doubt its that.
i have heard others say they were on early as well, i'm just saying what our experience has been and again its jmo that earlier should not be an expectation. a bonus maybe but not an expectation. i would be pissed if i was told by someone with 'information' 10:15 and then didn't get on till 11:15. big difference.
JMO

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

maybe its the port, not sure, however we have done b2b's on the fantasy 3 times with another one coming up. same room and we do follow the process which has differed. never sailed concierge but there have been other b2b's who were and they were not treated any different so i doubt its that.
i have heard others say they were on early as well, i'm just saying what our experience has been and again its jmo that earlier should not be an expectation. a bonus maybe but not an expectation. i would be pissed if i was told by someone with 'information' 10:15 and then didn't get on till 11:15. big difference.
JMO

Well I understand but the thread is a collective of experience by cruisers and like everything you read through them and make your own call on it. Ours was 10.15 am " full stop" not later I can't post anything different as that wouldn't be honest, it was 10.15 now some posters will not tell you when they did theirs, mine is all in my signature line.

It's like people posting anything here PAT I got on -at 11-15 it may not be that on the readers cruise.

What's " annoying" is posters side with one post, and then " imply" someone else who differs is wrong. I know my post is 100% correct.

It's funny and ironic I get messages from people who say, you were right, should have listened to you, you say it how it is, there is a responsibility posting here we are not DCL .

I would say candidly that if someone books last minute VGT and doesn't fill their papwork out correctly they will find themselves on at 11.15 not 10.15 but it may be a one off computer glitch.

My friends tell me B2B is normally 10.15 but if someone wants to ignore that, they can.

 

[tinkerone]

Well I understand but the thread is a collective of experience by cruisers and like everything you read through them and make your own call on it. Ours was 10.15 am " full stop" not later I can't post anything different as that wouldn't be honest, it was 10.15 now some posters will not tell you when they did theirs, mine is all in my signature line.

It's like people posting anything here PAT I got on -at 11-15 it may not be that on the readers cruise.

What's " annoying" is posters side with one post, and then " imply" someone else who differs is wrong. I know my post is 100% correct.

It's funny and ironic I get messages from people who say, you were right, should have listened to you, you say it how it is, there is a responsibility posting here we are not DCL .

I would say candidly that if someone books last minute VGT and doesn't fill their papwork out correctly they will find themselves on at 11.15 not 10.15 but it may be a one off computer glitch.

My friends tell me B2B is normally 10.15 but if someone wants to ignore that, they can.

i'm sorry, are you saying you are never wrong? interesting. are you saying that because i don't post when my cruises were i'm lying? very interesting. are you saying i 'sided' with shmoo and implied you were wrong because i'm not seeing where your reading that. i said i 'agreed' with her, big difference and no where did i imply you were wrong. i did say imo 11:15 was the average time, nothing about 10:15 never happens. your right in the thread is a collective of experience, thought mine may be of some help, guess not.
so very glad you get messages all the time from people who say you are right, its great to know theres someone who can always be counted on with the right information. me, i'm going to go figure out what my responsibilities are for posting here. have a great day.