Back to back cruise?

[pearljammer]

Just booked our first back to back. 4 night and 3 night. Looking for experience with this process as we weren't able to get the same room. Thanks

 

[Trera]

We have done it a few times and always enjoyed it as you will get to stop at castaway cat two times.

We have had the same room every time except our trip in the Wonder in March. You will just pack up the last night of your first cruise and let the stateroom host know what your new room is and they will get your luggage to your new room prior to you reboarding. It really is pretty easy other than the repacking part.

Good luck.

 

[dcassetta]

You may or may not get a letter in your state room on the last night of the first cruise indicating a gathering place the next morning. Sometimes they gather all the back to backers and take them off together, sometimes they do not. Make sure that you take off all necessary cruise documents and identification, including your passports. Upon disembarking you will need to go through customs. As you exit the customs hall, let the cast members know you are back to back, and they will send you right back upstairs. As soon as the ship is cleared from the first cruise, they'll be able to start checking in people for the second cruise. This may take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. You'll be able to relax in the cruise terminal, and get some great pictures, as it will be mostly empty. Your time off the ship can vary from a half hour to a couple of hours. So, you want to bring things to entertain yourself. You may re-board the ship before other guests are even into the cruise terminal, you will re-board before the concierge guests for the next cruise.

As you were changing rooms, it is likely that your new state room won't be ready. But, you could enjoy a relatively empty ship, get some great pictures, and stroll around all the public areas. On our last back to back, they invited us to Cove Café for free coffees and snacks.

 

[Disneypeach]

I don't know if I just had an outstanding cabin host or if this is standard process but on my B2B with different cabins I only had to pack up the stuff in the drawers, my host moved the clothes on the hangers over to my new cabin so that those clothes wouldn't get wrinkled sitting in my suitcase.
Have fun!

 

[#NotMyName]

I did b2b 4 night/3 night with cabin change in December. I received a letter in my stateroom explaining the process. (I think there was also a card that allowed me to wait in a special area and re-board early.) I got cold waiting in the terminal -- recommend taking a sweater or jacket. My room was ready when I reboarded, but I used the quiet in-between time to enjoy my book and free lattes in Cove Cafe and then did some laundry. (NOTE: I exited the terminal to go to my car and had a bit of an issue with security when trying to re-enter the terminal. Had to ask to speak with someone else...)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I did b2b 4 night/3 night with cabin change in December. I received a letter in my stateroom explaining the process. (I think there was also a card that allowed me to wait in a special area and re-board early.) I got cold waiting in the terminal -- recommend taking a sweater or jacket. My room was ready when I reboarded, but I used the quiet in-between time to enjoy my book and free lattes in Cove Cafe and then did some laundry. (NOTE: I exited the terminal to go to my car and had a bit of an issue with security when trying to re-enter the terminal. Had to ask to speak with someone else...)

Yes, if you exit the terminal, you will usually be required to wait until they are accepting new cruisers.

 

[HakunaMatataNoWorries]

We got letters, we got a meeting place.

We went to check in, " before" they were accepting new cruisers in the terminal.

 

[pearljammer]

Yes, if you exit the terminal, you will usually be required to wait until they are accepting new cruisers.

So this may decide for us on going back to obtain wine and beer that we thought to have waiting in the car to bring on board. Perhaps not!

So to clarify, you get to reboard the ship well before they load the regular guests and hang out? I think the only downfall is the fire drill again but am looking forward to 2 days at CC.

 

[swooshbear]

On our B2B, we also didn't have the same room but it was on the same deck, just a few doors down. We packed up our luggage and our stateroom host moved our bags to the new room.

 

[HakunaMatataNoWorries]

So this may decide for us on going back to obtain wine and beer that we thought to have waiting in the car to bring on board. Perhaps not!

So to clarify, you get to reboard the ship well before they load the regular guests and hang out? I think the only downfall is the fire drill again but am looking forward to 2 days at CC.

You have the option to go off and come back as a normal cruiser for the next cruise. Some may go off and tour.

If you stay in the terminal you meet 9 am , go off, back up and be back on 10.15 ish.

You wait in the terminal until, everyone is off and they turn the computers over to the new cruise, you do not wait for them to be accepting new cruisers to come in.

 

[DietCokeMommy]

We plan to do a B2B in 2020 so I was doing some research. Another poster suggested to use the turnaround day as a port day and I thought that was a great idea and we plan on doing that. We're going to do ours out of Puerto Rico, so we'll use the day we return back to go walk around the city and get lunch. The ship is so crazy with everyone rushing to get off and then everyone rushing to get on, I think we'll be happier to get away from it and not feel like we're losing a day of our vacation. Plus, I have young kids and even waiting around for an hour would be like pulling teeth.

 

[tigerchic89]

YMMV, but when we went through security for our 1st leg, I explained that we were doing b2b, and they let me carry on double qty of bottles. I figured, I was taking a chance, they would take half and hold them, and hopefully I could claim them for the 2nd leg. I guess the worst case I could have "lost" a 12 pack of beer. It was worth the risk to ask to me

 

[GPaLarry]

Did a B2B Med./WBTA a couple of years ago. During our switchover day we got off and visited more of Barcelona, as planned, then reboarded at about 1pm. Easy, peasy (gotta have the right paperwork) and they let us board with the group who's number was current. Same room for us, but we still got a letter on our bed the night before giving us options. It is a fun change of pace and, for us, the second leg was a vacation from our 1st leg vacation.

 

[clten]

So to clarify, you get to reboard the ship well before they load the regular guests and hang out?

"Well before"? Maybe not. How much time you have on board before new cruisers varies from cruise to cruise. And it depends on so many things - some of which are out of DCL's control. So you won't know until you are sitting in the terminal waiting to reboard if you'll be able to be early or in some cases just minutes before they allow concierge to start boarding (with everyone else shortly after that). We've had both - we've had occasions where we have had 1 1/2 - 2 hours before new guest were allowed back on and we've had times where we had 15 minutes or less before new guest started boarding.

 

[pearljammer]

I called DCL regarding carrying on alcohol for both cruises and you would have to disembark and reenter like any other port. FYI.

Can anyone advise if you get another Castaway gift on the second cruise or no? Thanks all.

 

[ACQUADUCK]

I called DCL regarding carrying on alcohol for both cruises and you would have to disembark and reenter like any other port. FYI.

Can anyone advise if you get another Castaway gift on the second cruise or no? Thanks all.

Yes you do.
Everything is times 2. Gifts, Palo booking, character Breakfast, tips, stateroom ac, it is two cruises.

 

[Justacruiser]

Just got off the Dream B2B last week. Had to off the ship by 9:30. Got back on the ship around 10:30. I put a load of laundry in to wash the Castaway Cay day clothes. Did receive the Castaway Club gift again. Same exact stuff.

 

[ACQUADUCK]

"Well before"? Maybe not. How much time you have on board before new cruisers varies from cruise to cruise. And it depends on so many things - some of which are out of DCL's control. So you won't know until you are sitting in the terminal waiting to reboard if you'll be able to be early or in some cases just minutes before they allow concierge to start boarding (with everyone else shortly after that). We've had both - we've had occasions where we have had 1 1/2 - 2 hours before new guest were allowed back on and we've had times where we had 15 minutes or less before new guest started boarding.

Yes, depends on the cruise.
USA seems longer to get on, Fantasy was 10.15, some photos in the photo of the day thread,
Europe, has been very fast.

A lot depends on,
Immigration/ border checks.
How quick every other cruiser gets off. I.e. The lost family still on at 9.30, we had 18 missing at 9.30, some got off without without their cars being swiped.
Copenhagen where they are less organised they got on 10.20 am.