Back to back cruises?

[Morgid]

I have heard people talking about doing back to back cruises, but I don't really understand how this is done. We've been talking about doing 3 and 4 days on the Wonder in summer of '05 if the Magic is relocated but I'm not quite sure how all this is done. Do you have to actually pack up your room and leave, then totally start over, or do you just leave the ship like you would at any port and come back later? Also, what, if anything else is involved in back to back trips? In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of doing back to back cruises? Thanks, as always, for your input!

 

[webray]

The people we know that have done back to backs..have done back to back 7 days...western/eastern.

I don't see much advantage of doing a back to back 3/4 day, except to have more time on the ship..since the ports are the same.

 

[decolady]

You get two days at Castaway Cay!!!

 

[DisneyKids]

We did back to back 3 and 4 day cruises. It was great. You won't have to pack up and move stuff out and back in if you have the same stateroom for both. That should be pretty easy to arrange as long as you are booking in advance. We didn't have to leave the ship. I have heard that they changed that to make you leave the ship and then heard that it's back to where you can stay on so I guess I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure from other posts that you can stay on, at this time. Advantages...Castaway Cay twice, ship to yourself while everyone gets off and before others get back on (although everything shuts down and you have to leave your room), pool to yourself before they board everyone (we had to wait for it to be refilled but once it was, my kids had the Mickey pool to themselves for a while), chance to enjoy the ship and not worry about excursions since you repeat Nassau, OTHERS! Disadvantages...repeat shows, repeat activities, Nassau twice (if you like ports - maybe a second excursion, though), repeat menus. Overall, we thought it was great and would do it again. If given the choice, a 7 day would be preferred but this would definitely be a close second. ENJOY!

 

[JJsmama]

I'm also curious as to back-to-back. My question is: WHY? I know the cruise is supposedly fabulous, but why do back to back as opposed to 2 cruises a year 6 months apart or something?

 

[DisneyKids]

WHY?

In our case it was simple. We cruised shortly after 9/11 and travel was WAY down. As a result, all that cruised received a $99 per person coupon to return on a 3 day later that fall. That's a deal we COULDN'T pass up. So, we made the reservation and decided to add a 4 day on because 3 days is just simply not enough for us. Also, we live in NY and the travel costs/time make it more difficult to go too often. We had to make that trip worth our while...and it WAS!

 

[two-foxes]

JJ'smama-

I second the travel costs and hassle....flying from Colorado is not that cheap, so when you have already chosen to spend an arm and a leg on 2 cruises, I'd rather do them back to back and save what $$ I can. Plus, doing back to backs in Sept/Oct is less expensive than booking 2 cruises at seperate times of the year.

There are plenty of reasons why to do back to backs....but ours mainly is that we are trying to have kids, and we know we won't be able to do this after kids, so do it now while we can! Plus, we may come home with a little souviner!

 

[JJsmama]

Thanks for the insight as to "why?" That's a good point about traveling to FL twice.

 

[Morgid]

Thanks I'm glad to know we wouldn't have to change staterooms, that would definately kept me from doing the back to backs, however you brought up some things I had not considered, like repeat shows, repeat activities, repeat menus, I was more focused on the relaxing 7 days worth, but I guess it might get repetitive. Of course our original wish is June of 2005 on the Magic, I'm just trying to have a "what if" plan. Keep posting, I want to consider ALL the options. As far as taking two different cruises at different times I agree with the other posters in that with our schedules that's just not what we're looking for.

 

[CheapMom]

The repeat shows might be a good thing- the ones you like you can see twice and the ones you don't need to see again would allow you some free time on the ship when all the other cruisers are at dinner or the show. It would be pretty peaceful.
As far as the menus- the menu may be the same- just don't order the same thing twice

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

We are doing back to back cruise in May 2005 because the cost to get to FL. Plus we will be 7-day western and 7-day Eastern. Best of both worlds.
The cruise we take in Sept 2004 Western we have alot of excursions planned and will miss the shows and meals for those days.
This is just the best way for us to enjoy the things we will miss the First time.