Back to Back question

[pclvnmcky88]

We’ve never done a back to back but we’re considering it in September 2020. How does this process work if you’re on the same ship?

Apparently there are cruises in September 2020 that have the Dream and Fantasy in port at the same time! Obviously they would go out of different terminals, but how would it work if we did a back to back on two different ships? Would Disney take care of it or would we essentially be checking in and sitting all over again?

 

[ajo]

When you do a B2B, you get a letter in your room on the last night of the first cruise with instructions, including when to disembark and if there is a designated waiting area on the ship before disembarking (when we did the B2B, there was no waiting place as it turned out there were only 3 families doing a B2B).

You leave the ship and go through customs as usual, so be sure to take all your documents and your check-in docs for the second cruise. Once you leave customs, you are allowed to go back upstairs to the terminal. You have to wait until the ship is cleared and they open up to check-in. I don’t recall the exact time, but we didn’t wait long before we could check in.

Once checked in, we were allowed to wait in the concierge area with couches. Again, I don’t recall the exact time, but it was close to an hour IIRC. So bring your electronics, something to do, read, etc. The B2B are allowed on the ship rat with the Concierge guests.

I don’t know how it would work with different ships, but regardless you have to check in and sit and wait.

 

[GPaLarry]

We did a B2B Med./WBTA a couple of years ago, but with the same room on the same ship (Magic) out of Barcelona. I would imagine that each of your cruises is treated independent of the other, so that you get off one, luggage and all, walk across the pier and check in with the other ship, perhaps in the same terminal. Not knowing how many DCL cruises you have done, I would think you would leave the first cruise ship about 8:30 to 9am, walk/ride to the terminal and check in all over again, just like you did for the first trip. Now, you may have to wait until at least 10:30 or later to board ship #2, depending on your DCL status (Silver, gold or platinum). Perhaps others have done what you are proposing...good luck!

 

[Quellman]

If you are back to backing in Port canaveral bewtween the the Dream and Fantasy, they are treated like 2 independent cruises. The ships will not use the same terminal. The Dream will probably be at terminal 8 and the Fantasy at 9/10. So you would essentially leave the terminal and have to go over to the other one. This means you will not get priority boarding or other perks of being a back to back cruiser.

B2B in the pure sense is consecutive cruises on the same ship. Which other people have already commented on.

 

[BCV23]

It will be interesting to see how DCL manages this. Perhaps they will transfer your luggage for you and allow you to check in early in a manner similar to the traditional B2B cruises that others have referenced. We probably won't know until the second terminal opens and you or others come here to report back. On the other hand, there is a chance that shoreside DCL will know this ahead of time and be able to advise you of the procedure.

 

[kiford]

Would Disney take care of it or would we essentially be checking in and sitting all over again?

Whether you're doing a B2B on the same ship or a different one, you are going to be disembarking, checking in and waiting to board. They are considered independent bookings and they have to clear the accounts each time the cruise ends before they can allow someone back on. So they have to re-check everyone in and establish new accounts.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

B2B in the pure sense is consecutive cruises on the same ship.

This. Typically 2 cruises, one after the other, but on different ships is called a side by side.

 

[scgustafson]

We’ve never done a back to back but we’re considering it in September 2020. How does this process work if you’re on the same ship?

Apparently there are cruises in September 2020 that have the Dream and Fantasy in port at the same time! Obviously they would go out of different terminals, but how would it work if we did a back to back on two different ships? Would Disney take care of it or would we essentially be checking in and sitting all over again?

Back-to-back on different ships treated as two different cruises on two different ships, which it is. You would have to disembark from the first cruise, claim your luggage, clear Customs, kill time until your second cruise port arrival time, then head to the other ship's cruise terminal at or after your port arrival time, check your bags with those porters, go through security, check-in at the cruise terminal, wait for your boarding group to be called, and then board the second ship.

 

[pclvnmcky88]

When you do a B2B, you get a letter in your room on the last night of the first cruise with instructions, including when to disembark and if there is a designated waiting area on the ship before disembarking (when we did the B2B, there was no waiting place as it turned out there were only 3 families doing a B2B).

You leave the ship and go through customs as usual, so be sure to take all your documents and your check-in docs for the second cruise. Once you leave customs, you are allowed to go back upstairs to the terminal. You have to wait until the ship is cleared and they open up to check-in. I don’t recall the exact time, but we didn’t wait long before we could check in.

Once checked in, we were allowed to wait in the concierge area with couches. Again, I don’t recall the exact time, but it was close to an hour IIRC. So bring your electronics, something to do, read, etc. The B2B are allowed on the ship rat with the Concierge guests.

I don’t know how it would work with different ships, but regardless you have to check in and sit and wait.

This is exactly what I thought! Obviously it would be easier if we did B2B on the same ship, but now I'm wondering if I need to get off anyway and go through customs why not just go over to the other terminal? Other than having to wait for my board time. We're going to be two cruises away from Platinum after our January cruise and I'm set on hitting it before the new ship in 2021!

Would you do B2B on the Dream or do a 'side by side' Dream to Fantasy?

 

[pclvnmcky88]

It will be interesting to see how DCL manages this. Perhaps they will transfer your luggage for you and allow you to check in early in a manner similar to the traditional B2B cruises that others have referenced. We probably won't know until the second terminal opens and you or others come here to report back. On the other hand, there is a chance that shoreside DCL will know this ahead of time and be able to advise you of the procedure.

I think they'll need to figure something out! 2020 is the first time I've seen where the Dream and Fantasy will be in port at the same time. Also, there's only one 7-night cruise in September! How'd that happen?! I'm guessing they're gearing up for their new contract with the port but also the arrival of the new boat! I'm guess they'll give details in August at D23.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Would you do B2B on the Dream or do a 'side by side' Dream to Fantasy?

We're doing a B2B on the Fantasy in September 2020. When will the Dream and Fantasy be at the port the same time?

 

[Quellman]

This is exactly what I thought! Obviously it would be easier if we did B2B on the same ship, but now I'm wondering if I need to get off anyway and go through customs why not just go over to the other terminal? Other than having to wait for my board time. We're going to be two cruises away from Platinum after our January cruise and I'm set on hitting it before the new ship in 2021!

Would you do B2B on the Dream or do a 'side by side' Dream to Fantasy?

Depends on time and money. I don't think I could answer that for myself without giving it some thought and pricing it out. A side by side on both ships would allow you 2 different experiences since there are differences in the ships. Matters less since you've probably been on them already anyway.

 

[pclvnmcky88]

We're doing a B2B on the Fantasy in September 2020. When will the Dream and Fantasy be at the port the same time?

I had this all figured out yesterday and now I can't find it! Hahaha

 

[pclvnmcky88]

We're doing a B2B on the Fantasy in September 2020. When will the Dream and Fantasy be at the port the same time?

Maybe I was dreaming, apparently they are not

 

[PrincessShmoo]

but now I'm wondering if I need to get off anyway and go through customs why not just go over to the other terminal?

Because, doing a B2B on the same ship, while you do need to go through immigration, you're not having to lug your bags around. Once through immigration, you just head back up the escalator to the check in lobby and wait there. Don't even have to go outside.

 

[mocodis]

Many years ago we did a B2B different ships - Wonder to the Dream. At port Canaveral, we left the Wonder with our luggage. Disney provided a shuttle to take us to the Dream. Then we did the normal check in for the Dream..