Back-to-back questions...

[xiphoid76]

Hi there,
We are going on the 3/24 Dream 3 night and then followed by the 3/27 4 night Very excited, but have never done a back-to-back cruise before.

It looks like we can get off whenever, then go thru customs, but how to we get back into the cruise terminal after leaving customs? It says we can wait in the concierge lounge - but how do we get there? Doesn't the terminal open at 10 AM (and we are off the ship around 9?).

Also, our family is joining us for the 2nd cruise - do you think they will keep us with the same dining room staff from the first cruise even though we are now a bigger party. We requested all our cabins dine together on the 2nd cruise, but made no requests about dining for the 1st cruise as it is just the two of us.

Any tips for a back-to-back newbie is greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi there,
We are going on the 3/24 Dream 3 night and then followed by the 3/27 4 night Very excited, but have never done a back-to-back cruise before.

It looks like we can get off whenever, then go thru customs, but how to we get back into the cruise terminal after leaving customs? It says we can wait in the concierge lounge - but how do we get there? Doesn't the terminal open at 10 AM (and we are off the ship around 9?).

Also, our family is joining us for the 2nd cruise - do you think they will keep us with the same dining room staff from the first cruise even though we are now a bigger party. We requested all our cabins dine together on the 2nd cruise, but made no requests about dining for the 1st cruise as it is just the two of us.

Any tips for a back-to-back newbie is greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

You will receive a letter in your room at the end of your first cruise detailing your specific instructions. But, basically, you will be required to be off the ship by 9:00. After clearing customs, instead of turning left (out of terminal to buses/parking), you go to the right and back up the escalator to the check in lobby. Be prepared, you will be waiting for a while.

After you check in you can wait in the Concierge Lounge. They will board B2B people just before Concierge through the doors there.

At the end of the first cruise your head server will ask you if you want to keep the same dining staff (if they're available) and rotation. You can clear up with him that you will be a larger party, and if that means you'll need to change dining teams.

 

[crafty91]

Do you have to redo the life boat drill?

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Do you have to redo the life boat drill?

Yes. The law requires that every passenger on a cruise participate in the drill.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Do you have to redo the life boat drill?

Absolutely! They will not clear the ship to leave port until everyone is accounted for at the muster stations. These are treated as two completely separate cruises, so you have to settle your on board account for the first, as well.

 

[cantontrebor]

We did a back to back and instead of heading out of the terminal you just go right back up the stairs to the check in area.

From the time that we left the ship to getting back on was approximately 90 minutes. You are the first ones on the ship. It's a great opportunity to take pictures.

Enjoy your cruises!

 

[clten]

We have done back-to-back where we have had people join us for the second cruise. If your reservations are linked, the head server will be notified. However, when they come to ask you about keeping the same dining team or changing anything (seating time, rotation, servers, etc.), remind them that additional people will be joining you so you will need a table that seats # (whatever # your full group will be on sailing # 2).

Tip for new back-to-backers: Hopefully you have the same cabin booked on both sailings. If you do, take advantage of the last night of the 1st cruise to do some of the farewell events. Even though you won't be saying farewell, you will have more free time on the first sailing on that last night because you won't have to pack up and get your luggage out. No telling what kind of time you'll have for the farewell events on the second cruise. My second tip I give b2b'ers -- don't rush off the ship. If your letter says that you will get off on your own (doesn't give you a meeting place to get off as a group), stay on the ship until you see most of the people have left and the crew is steering people to the door. Getting off earlier won't get you back on any earlier and it is more comfortable to wait on the ship than in the terminal. You will have to wait to check-in until EVERYONE is off the ship so why not be near the end.

 

[xiphoid76]

We have done back-to-back where we have had people join us for the second cruise. If your reservations are linked, the head server will be notified. However, when they come to ask you about keeping the same dining team or changing anything (seating time, rotation, servers, etc.), remind them that additional people will be joining you so you will need a table that seats # (whatever # your full group will be on sailing # 2).

Tip for new back-to-backers: Hopefully you have the same cabin booked on both sailings. If you do, take advantage of the last night of the 1st cruise to do some of the farewell events. Even though you won't be saying farewell, you will have more free time on the first sailing on that last night because you won't have to pack up and get your luggage out. No telling what kind of time you'll have for the farewell events on the second cruise. My second tip I give b2b'ers -- don't rush off the ship. If your letter says that you will get off on your own (doesn't give you a meeting place to get off as a group), stay on the ship until you see most of the people have left and the crew is steering people to the door. Getting off earlier won't get you back on any earlier and it is more comfortable to wait on the ship than in the terminal. You will have to wait to check-in until EVERYONE is off the ship so why not be near the end.

Thank you for the comments, our biggest concern was getting the dining right - we want to sit with our family on the 2nd cruise, much more important than where we are the first cruise. We were thinking of doing room service and Cabanas so we did not repeat menus but making some time to stop by and talk to the head waiter to confirm our table size for the next cruise. Appreciate the tips!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you for the comments, our biggest concern was getting the dining right - we want to sit with our family on the 2nd cruise, much more important than where we are the first cruise. We were thinking of doing room service and Cabanas so we did not repeat menus but making some time to stop by and talk to the head waiter to confirm our table size for the next cruise. Appreciate the tips!

Well, dining in Cabanas for dinner will not mean you "miss" any given menu. Dinner service in Cabanas is a sit-down table service, with a menu of selected items on the menu in the other MDRs that evening. So, really the same as you'd get in the dining rooms.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Tip for new back-to-backers: Hopefully you have the same cabin booked on both sailings. If you do, take advantage of the last night of the 1st cruise to do some of the farewell events. Even though you won't be saying farewell, you will have more free time on the first sailing on that last night because you won't have to pack up and get your luggage out. No telling what kind of time you'll have for the farewell events on the second cruise. My second tip I give b2b'ers -- don't rush off the ship. If your letter says that you will get off on your own (doesn't give you a meeting place to get off as a group), stay on the ship until you see most of the people have left and the crew is steering people to the door. Getting off earlier won't get you back on any earlier and it is more comfortable to wait on the ship than in the terminal. You will have to wait to check-in until EVERYONE is off the ship so why not be near the end.

We will def be checking out the Sea Ya Real Soon lobby show. .. 3 cruises, haven't seen it yet bc of packing!

 

[onesam319]

We have done back-to-back where we have had people join us for the second cruise. If your reservations are linked, the head server will be notified. However, when they come to ask you about keeping the same dining team or changing anything (seating time, rotation, servers, etc.), remind them that additional people will be joining you so you will need a table that seats # (whatever # your full group will be on sailing # 2).

Tip for new back-to-backers: Hopefully you have the same cabin booked on both sailings. If you do, take advantage of the last night of the 1st cruise to do some of the farewell events. Even though you won't be saying farewell, you will have more free time on the first sailing on that last night because you won't have to pack up and get your luggage out. No telling what kind of time you'll have for the farewell events on the second cruise. My second tip I give b2b'ers -- don't rush off the ship. If your letter says that you will get off on your own (doesn't give you a meeting place to get off as a group), stay on the ship until you see most of the people have left and the crew is steering people to the door. Getting off earlier won't get you back on any earlier and it is more comfortable to wait on the ship than in the terminal. You will have to wait to check-in until EVERYONE is off the ship so why not be near the end.

I don't know how to select a portion of the above quote. But concerning "Hopefully you have the same cabin.." If you do have the same cabin booked, does that mean you don't have to pack up at all?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I don't know how to select a portion of the above quote. But concerning "Hopefully you have the same cabin.." If you do have the same cabin booked, does that mean you don't have to pack up at all?

Yes. You only need to take off the ship those items necessary - check in documents/ID. And something to keep yourself amused while waiting.

Re: quoting a partial post. Just highlight what you want to quote and you should see a "+Quote/Reply" button. Click on the "reply" part to quote one part. Click on "+Quote" to multi-quote.

 

[onesam319]

Just highlight what you want to quote and you should see a "+Quote/Reply" button.

Thanks!

 

[Cackyschmackers]

concerning "Hopefully you have the same cabin.." If you do have the same cabin booked, does that mean you don't have to pack up at all?

We're doing a B2B but not staying in the same rooms (can't afford it!). But I've been told that our stateroom host will move our bags to our new rooms. We will place the Disney luggage tags on them, and they will be moved that morning. We will only take our important cruise papers, personal items, things we may need to pass the time when we're waiting to reboard.

 

[Imahikergirl]

My second tip I give b2b'ers -- don't rush off the ship. If your letter says that you will get off on your own (doesn't give you a meeting place to get off as a group), stay on the ship until you see most of the people have left and the crew is steering people to the door. Getting off earlier won't get you back on any earlier and it is more comfortable to wait on the ship than in the terminal. You will have to wait to check-in until EVERYONE is off the ship so why not be near the end.

This! We just did a B2B on the Dream at the end of January. A bunch of us waited on the comfy couches at the Vista Café just off the atrium. A CM came a gathered us up when the atrium was getting empty to get us to head down and out. She knew we were all B2B, probably due to our lack of luggage and stress.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We're doing a B2B but not staying in the same rooms (can't afford it!). But I've been told that our stateroom host will move our bags to our new rooms. We will place the Disney luggage tags on them, and they will be moved that morning. We will only take our important cruise papers, personal items, things we may need to pass the time when we're waiting to reboard.

We did a B2B on the Fantasy in different rooms. We were told to have our bags packed and ready for pick up by 8:00 am on the turnaround day. Our room host was waiting for them as we opened the door at 8:00. Then we got off the ship. Either that room host, or the new one, or both, saw to getting our bags to our next room. They were already at the door when we were able to access our room at 1:30.

 

[pudinhd]

We did a B2B on the Fantasy in different rooms. We were told to have our bags packed and ready for pick up by 8:00 am on the turnaround day. Our room host was waiting for them as we opened the door at 8:00. Then we got off the ship. Either that room host, or the new one, or both, saw to getting our bags to our next room. They were already at the door when we were able to access our room at 1:30.

I think I read somewhere that you can access your room early if you don't change rooms. Do you know if that is correct? Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think I read somewhere that you can access your room early if you don't change rooms. Do you know if that is correct? Thanks!

Well, it depends. If the B2B people are allowed back onboard before the "new" cruisers, then you can access your room. UNTIL the time they start boarding the new cruisers. And at that time, you can choose to either stay in your room, or stay out of your room until all rooms are available (usually 1:30).

Our experience on the Fantasy, the B2B people were boarded just before boarding for the new cruiser began with Concierge guests. So there was no time to access our room, before new cruisers were onboard.

 

[pudinhd]

Well, it depends. If the B2B people are allowed back onboard before the "new" cruisers, then you can access your room. UNTIL the time they start boarding the new cruisers. And at that time, you can choose to either stay in your room, or stay out of your room until all rooms are available (usually 1:30).

Our experience on the Fantasy, the B2B people were boarded just before boarding for the new cruiser began with Concierge guests. So there was no time to access our room, before new cruisers were onboard.

Thanks for the detailed info! It is very helpful knowing what to expect!

 

[Trera]

When we were B2B on the Dream in Concierge, we had immediate access to our room at all times. We could come and go as soon as we were on the boat because our host cleaned our room first. I assume that is because the concierge level on that boat is isolated from the other areas.