Just Booked a Back to Back!

[JohnathanS]

I'm probably crazy for doing it, but I just booked a back-to-back cruise on the Fantasy! We will be doing the May 17th Eastern and the May 24th Western. If anyone has tips on how to do a B2B, they would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tinkerone]

i'm doing this shortly. very excited!!
i'm interested to see what responses you get and will post my thoughts when i get back.

 

[tweis]

I'm probably crazy for doing it, but I just booked a back-to-back cruise on the Fantasy! We will be doing the May 17th Eastern and the May 24th Western. If anyone has tips on how to do a B2B, they would be greatly appreciated!

No tips because I have never did a b2b but I am on the May 24th Western. Welcome! You should join our meet thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3062655&page=23

We also have a FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/117500518453381/
The Disney Fantasy, (Bob) Marley and Me on The FANTASTICAL VOYAGE!

 

[mom4fun]

We are doing a 5 day and then a 4 day. I like your plan even better. I have read that if you book the same room on both you don't have to move out.

 

[TanteDidi]

We did a back to back 2 years ago and that's true, if you booked the same room for both cruises you can leave all your things in your stateroom... you just have to get off the ship by 9:00 AM and pass the customs and the security to get back in the Terminal to register for your next cruise... then you can go back on the ship around 10:00 AM.... and enjoy the ship!

 

[slzer0]

Interesting, I would think youd have to change ships to do east then west. How do you figure out which are b2bs? Do you call?

 

[dizney-cruiser]

Interesting, I would think youd have to change ships to do east then west. How do you figure out which are b2bs? Do you call?

The Fantasy usually alternates between the two.

 

[dizney-cruiser]

I'm probably crazy for doing it, but I just booked a back-to-back cruise on the Fantasy! We will be doing the May 17th Eastern and the May 24th Western. If anyone has tips on how to do a B2B, they would be greatly appreciated!

We did this last year and loved it!! The best part was that we didn't tell our servers but we made sure we had them again the second week!! Our server came over to us, wagging his finger, and said he was arguing with the head server when he was being told about my allergy saying, "no! they sailed last week!!'

 

[aprilchem]

We've booked a 4 day/3 day BTB in January on the Dream. We wanted to do a week but had already done the Fantasy itinerary that week.

 

[kristie03]

We just did this on the Dream last week and LOVED it!

We had the same stateroom so as a previous poster said, we didn't have to pack and were off and on the ship in a flash on turnover day. We did understand that this process is slightly different sometimes, but you will get a letter in your stateroom the last night telling you want to do.

We did request our serving team for the 2nd part of the B2B, and of course our stateroom host knew we were staying, but I was absolutely floored by the number of castmembers that recognized that we were "still here" on the 2nd leg! How do they do that??!!

A B2B 7 day sounds like a completely amazing thing and you now are my hero!

On our B2B it was the first time I sought out the laundry rooms on the ship. I thought this was a great way to fight my overpacking tenancies...so that would be a suggestion I would have for you to refresh your wardrobe during your trip.

Have a great time!

 

[JohnathanS]

I booked the same stateroom for both cruises. I basically just booked the cruise on the 17th, then looked at my schedule and realized we could do the 24th cruise too. We are in the same room that we had on our first Fantasy cruise- so it will be like coming home.

Tweis, thanks for the links...I will join them!

 

[aprilchem]

We just did this on the Dream last week and LOVED it!

We had the same stateroom so as a previous poster said, we didn't have to pack and were off and on the ship in a flash on turnover day. We did understand that this process is slightly different sometimes, but you will get a letter in your stateroom the last night telling you want to do.

We did request our serving team for the 2nd part of the B2B, and of course our stateroom host knew we were staying, but I was absolutely floored by the number of castmembers that recognized that we were "still here" on the 2nd leg! How do they do that??!!

A B2B 7 day sounds like a completely amazing thing and you now are my hero!

On our B2B it was the first time I sought out the laundry rooms on the ship. I thought this was a great way to fight my overpacking tenancies...so that would be a suggestion I would have for you to refresh your wardrobe during your trip.

Have a great time!

Were you able to do laundry in the interim time between the first and second cruises (after you checked back in)? That would be AWESOME; we packed really light for our 7-day Fantasy cruise and ended up having a really, really hard time getting a washer/dryer because the laundry rooms were packed. I'd hate to spend that whole time doing laundry but I would if I had to!

April

 

[DMMarla07860]

My dad and I did a b2b on the Fantasy back in march, it's the greatest. I wrote a trip report if you want to read it.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3094035

 

[Meghatron]

Were you able to do laundry in the interim time between the first and second cruises (after you checked back in)? That would be AWESOME; we packed really light for our 7-day Fantasy cruise and ended up having a really, really hard time getting a washer/dryer because the laundry rooms were packed. I'd hate to spend that whole time doing laundry but I would if I had to!

April

Sending laundry out for washing is fairly inexpensive and doesn't waste vacation time. We pad our budget a bit to accommodate this (like we also do for anticipating tips and excursions) and have only ever used the guest washers/dryers on a 14-night cruise.

Sent from my Tricorder using DISBoards

 

[PegIra]

We are doing our first back 2 back on the Fantasy in January. The Eastern, than the Western. I was thinking that if we can get on the second cruise before others get on, we could do a quick couple of loads of laundry to last us for the second week. I figure people just boarding the ship won't need laundry done that day, and hopefully we can be done before boarding time anyway. Can't wait !!!

 

[clten]

Were you able to do laundry in the interim time between the first and second cruises (after you checked back in)? That would be AWESOME; we packed really light for our 7-day Fantasy cruise and ended up having a really, really hard time getting a washer/dryer because the laundry rooms were packed. I'd hate to spend that whole time doing laundry but I would if I had to!

April

We are doing our first back 2 back on the Fantasy in January. The Eastern, than the Western. I was thinking that if we can get on the second cruise before others get on, we could do a quick couple of loads of laundry to last us for the second week. I figure people just boarding the ship won't need laundry done that day, and hopefully we can be done before boarding time anyway. Can't wait !!!

We have done several b2b cruises (I think 6 of them were b2b 7 day cruises). When we do the longer cruises b2b we always do a load of laundry or two on change over day. The lesson we learned the first time is to bring some post-it notes with us. We put the clothes in the wash before we head to breakfast. After breakfast, we throw them from the washer to the dryer. Then either meet wherever we are instructed to meet (or head off the ship at the allotted time. When we get back on, we retrieve our clothes. So no real vacation time is lost to doing the laundry and we aren't inconveniencing anyone if our laundry is not moved exactly when it is finished because no one else is doing laundry at that time. So the post-it's come in to let the cast members know that you are b2b guests and not someone who has forgotten a load of clothes when they left the ship. We just put a post-it on the washers saying "Back to Back guest, will retrieve clothes shortly, thanks" When the clothes move to the dryers, the post-it moves too.

The other tip is to let your stateroom host know you are doing b2b. Most of the time they know. But there have been times that they haven't gotten word and their concern starts the night before when we haven't packed anything. Just let them know. They are supposed to make up b2b'ers rooms first. But you might also give them a heads up if your room is located anywhere near the laundry.

P.S. Since you are putting the charges on for the washer and dryer before you leave the ship, the bill they deliver in the morning will be different than you are actually charged. So if you are settling up with cash, you'll have to make a quick stop at Guest Services to settle up the laundry money too. If not, make a note on your bill so when you see your credit card charges a few weeks later, you don't forget why the numbers don't match.

 

[IrishCowboy]

The final night of the first cruise is also a great time to do laundry (after 11PM). Laundry rooms are completely empty

And if you drink alcohol, also a good time to pick up a bottle or two from the on board shop. Final night of the cruise is the only night that you can purchase a bottle and take it back to your room.