bonus on 3/4day back to backs

[matsterrocks]

What are the advantages to doing back to back crusies 3/4 dayers? over a 7nighter.

Double Castaway Cay
Double Sailaway Party
Double Fireworks
Double Pirate Party


Any others?

 

[DMMarla07860]

the cast members you meet on the cruise could be the same

 

[MelissaE1]

Also you would hit Nassau twice... Nassau once is plenty IMHO so the second time you would be able to stay onboard and enjoy the ship and pools, etc. in a less crowded environment while everyone else who was on their first/only stop there got off the ship.

Bummer about it for me though would be only one sea day the whole time. I love sea days!

 

[JJsmama]

It is a neat idea --especially to get the two days at CC. However, it might be a negative to me. The first night's waves made me REALLY sick and the crew members and other cruisers said that first night there is a certain channel to cross (??) that is usually the roughest seas of the trip. I wouldn't want that night twice (or actually 4 times, since you cross it coming back in too.) If you are not prone to sea sickness, don't worry.

 

[BethC1952]

Another bonus is that you're already on board the first day of the second cruise, and all settled, so you don't lose time getting organized!

And, of course, if you have the opportunity to do back-to-back four nights, you get an extra night! I don't care that we'll be in Nassau twice. Last time, we stayed on board, but for our November trip, we'll go into Nassau once and stay on board once--the best of both worlds! Two stops at CC is nice, but we don't cruise for that. We live at the beach all the time, so it's not something new and different for us, although we do enjoy CC.

And, you have the opportunity to go to the shows one cruise and skip them on the other (or see a favorite twice).

I can't wait until November to see if it all works out this way!

Beth

 

[matsterrocks]

BeathC1952- can't wait to see how it all works out for you

 

[Tammy1]

I didn't think you could stay on board if you went back to back, I thought everyone had to disembark, then reboard....Hey, if not what a GREAT idea!!! Can someone confirm they've done this?

 

[yensidfan99]

My DW and I have done this twice. Once on a 3/4 day cruise and once did 7 day back to back. On the 3/4 day which we did in 2000 we had to disembark and reboard. We did the 7 day in 2002 and were allowed to stay onboard.

We were told that it is entirely up to the immigration/port officials to determine whether or not you can stay on board.

The great thing about both times was we were in the same cabin and didnt have to unpack have everything taken off and then unpack again. While staying on the ship was definitely nice the 2nd time I must admit there were absolutely no services (which we expected) but we also felt kind of intrusive walking around while all the cm's were working so hard to ready for the next cruise. We ended up spending most of the morning in our cabin trying to stay out of the way.

Either way it goes I highly reccommend it if you can do it. Seeing CC twice was great and you really do get to know your servers.

Also, let your waitstaff know (if you like them) that you are staying onboard and request to be seated in their section again.

Be aware though that if your spending exceeds the customs allowance on the 2nd cruise it is all still considered one trip out of the US if you do not disembark and declare after your 1st cruise.

Hope you have a great time whatever you decide to do

 

[krdisneybound]

Yes, in PC you can stay onboard and not disembark.

I have booked the 11 day southern caribbean cruise in 9/06 and also booked the 3 days immediately afterwards.

I already have confirmation that I will be able to stay onboard.

At about 10:30 am or so, I can go to guest services and get my room key changed for the new dates.

The only other requirement is that I will not be able to stay in my Stateroom (even tho I will not have to change Staterooms). I can stay onboard and just mingle around the decks and wait for boarding of the new passengers.

 

[yensidfan99]

Krdisneybound-Look forward to seeing you on the 11 day cruise. My DW and DS/DD? (won't know until October 3rd if he/she cooperates with ultrasound) will also be on board this cruise and are extremely excited.

One word of caution as to being able to stay on board. We were also told before our 3/4 day that we could stay on board but when we docked in PC the immigration official that day decided that the entire ship had to disembark. Disney has no control over this as it is up to the immigration official in charge at the port that day. Things still went extremely smooth and we were the first to board after the concierge guests so it wasn't that and we are also the last to disembark.

On the 7/7 when we were allowed to stay on board we were able to get our keys changed first thing in the morning while people were still disembarking and they did allow us back into our cabin which honestly we felt better about as we did try to sit up on deck to get some sun but felt that we were in the way. This was by no means because of anything that the cm's did or said but rather our feeling as they were running around cleaning and readying the ship and we were just there. We did get a couple of funny looks after all other passengers were off and we were just kind of sitting there. I am sure that a couple of them wanted to ask us if we knew that the ship was docked and everyone else had gotten off

We did enjoy having the ship to ourselves and walking thru the ship and seeing the many different things. Gave us a great oppurtunity to see the Walt Disney Suite which was amazing!

 

[crisi]

Another advantage or disadvantage, depending...you don't have formal/semiformal nights, so you can leave the dressy clothes at home. I think formal night sounds like fun, but enough people have posted that dressing up isn't their thing that I think this would be a definate advantage for those folks!

 

[BethC1952]

We've been told by DCL, although not officially, that we won't have to leave the ship, and that we will be able to go to our room if we want to, although it was suggested that if we go over our customs allowance we should disembark, declare, and then reboard. We've never spent more than $300 on any cruise, so I don't think that's going to be a problem.

DH wants to stand in the atrium and watch all the sad guests leave right after breakfast, and then watch all the new guests board later in the day. If we do have to leave the ship, he wants to be the last person off and the first one back on!

There is also the possibility that we will disembark that day--my brother lives in the area and may pick us up to have breakfast (or lunch) and then send us back to the ship.

Either way, I will have more time on board than ever before!

 

[krdisneybound]

Krdisneybound-Look forward to seeing you on the 11 day cruise. My DW and DS/DD? (won't know until October 3rd if he/she cooperates with ultrasound) will also be on board this cruise and are extremely excited.

On the 7/7 when we were allowed to stay on board we were able to get our keys changed first thing in the morning while people were still disembarking and they did allow us back into our cabin which honestly we felt better about as we did try to sit up on deck to get some sun but felt that we were in the way. This was by no means because of anything that the cm's did or said but rather our feeling as they were running around cleaning and readying the ship and we were just there. We did get a couple of funny looks after all other passengers were off and we were just kind of sitting there. I am sure that a couple of them wanted to ask us if we knew that the ship was docked and everyone else had gotten off

We did enjoy having the ship to ourselves and walking thru the ship and seeing the many different things. Gave us a great oppurtunity to see the Walt Disney Suite which was amazing!

We were on the 7/7 cruise this year also. Is that the one you were on??

 

[krdisneybound]

Actually, I don't take anything to "heart" that a -- disney rep. -- tells me until it actually happens. Their individual rules change daily.

 

[yensidfan99]

KRDisneybound-Actually what I meant was we are on a 7 day back to back. In 2002 we did the Eastern/Western back to back. It was an incredible vacation. 14 days on the Disney Magic. The first week we were on board by ourselves and the 2nd week my family met us on board. Sorry about the confusion.

It was awesome to be standing at the top of the atrium watching my parents, brother and his partner, and my little niece board. Although I think if we were to do this again we would have family on board the first week and have the second to relax by ourselves but it was still an awesome vacation that we will remember for the rest of our lives.

We are now starting a family of our own and although we realize it will be challenging traveling with a 7 month old we couldn't be more excited that our baby's first vacation is going to be on the Disney Wonder. Our fear is actually not the cruise but the flight from Seattle to Orlando. We don't want to upset any of the other passengers.

DW thinks I am nuts as she wanted to do some excursions and thought for at least 1 we could leave the baby in Flounders. I about lost it. There is no way I am going to leave my baby on board while I am on an island. That just freaks me out. I trust Disney totally but oh my goodness, what if something happened and we missed the ship. I would totally lose it

 

[jeannief]

FWIW, I'm fairly certain that only American citizens can stay on board. So if you are not American and doing a back to back, then you will need to disembark. And get up at 6 am for the immigration check!

 

[BuzzyB]

Anyone can stay onboard between back to back cruises. My european friend did it.