Pondering a B2B summer 2017...

[Dug720]

I am starting to look at ideas for next summer's birthday trip. There *is* a Greek Isles cruise on Royal that looks good, but I am really missing my Disney fix and pondering a B2B on the Dream over my birthday (I'm sure there's a reason - probably price? - that I'm contemplating that over a week on the Fantasy, but I can't get into the "find a cruise" page at the moment so I'm not sure. I'll look again when I can though as I know that one cruise would be "easier" though staying in the same cabin kind of eliminates the "pack and move" thing.).

Obviously I'd have the same stateroom attendant unless their location changed between cruises or their contract ended after the first one. But I'm curious about the dining room service team on a B2B. Is it possible to request the same team? Or do they automatically assign you to the same team? I guess if your team was REALLY bad and the head waiter did nothing to help it, that could be bad, but I've never had a bad team on DCL. And being recently diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity, it would be nice to not have to do the "get to know my preferences" again in the MDR on the second cruise.

Thanks!

 

[Dug720]

Just looked at a TA-type cruise site and figured out why I was pondering the B2B over the Fantasy... It's slightly cheaper, but would give me 2 cruises and make me Gold at the end of cruise number 2.

Anyone else having issues seeing anything but the home page for DCL???? Everything I click gives me the "We're working on it" message - hence why I looked at another site.

 

[ldo]

B2B is same dining rotation and same entertainment. The only benefit of gold IMHO is being able to book a day ahead of everyone else and reserve cabanas, shore excursions early. The past 2 cruise releases, unless you wanted a specific "secret" cabin, etc., it did not seem to matter for pricing/availability. So, think about your possible future cruises after this one. Is being gold important enough to have the same etnertainment and same dining? But, I would do the RCCL greek isles--did it on Princess--awesome bucket list trip. You could probably fly the Paris and get your Disney fix at DLP. That what we have done after 2 cruises.

 

[wilma-bride]

We loved our B2B. You can request the same dining team. i heard that they ask you before the end of the first cruise, but we actually went to guest services to ask to keep the same team because we also wanted to request a specific rotation for the second cruise. We just told our servers that we asked to keep them for the second cruise.

 

[tink1970]

I think if the $$ is similar, I'd do whichever one had the most interesting itinerary to you. I agree with PP that gold isn't that exciting (or worth doing Nassau twice if that isn't your thing). So if it's the Greek Isles with another line, great. If you love love love Atlantis (or just hanging out on the Dream) do the B2B, if the Eastern or Western on the Fantasy gets you excited...that's your answer. All fun choices for sure.

 

[Dug720]

B2B is same dining rotation and same entertainment. The only benefit of gold IMHO is being able to book a day ahead of everyone else and reserve cabanas, shore excursions early. The past 2 cruise releases, unless you wanted a specific "secret" cabin, etc., it did not seem to matter for pricing/availability. So, think about your possible future cruises after this one. Is being gold important enough to have the same etnertainment and same dining? But, I would do the RCCL greek isles--did it on Princess--awesome bucket list trip. You could probably fly the Paris and get your Disney fix at DLP. That what we have done after 2 cruises.

Considering that Golden Mickeys and Believe are my two favorite shows, that doesn't bother me at all.

I'll see how I feel on this upcoming Royal cruise...I don't DISlike them, but I do miss the little Disney touches. And since I cruise solo, there's not this huge price gap that I see families talking about for me. The BIG disadvantage in another European sailing is the darn airfare - so many flights go to Orlando I can usually find pretty good deals on those. Plus, the cruise goes out of Civatavecchia - so Paris is really out of the way, and adding that on would make it a TON more money. It's really the DCL difference I'm missing and wanting a fix of.

Then again, I do have servers and bartenders on the Fantasy I love, so...

Lots to ponder...

 

[FigmentSpark]

Do you love cruising and will cruise DCL again? Go for the B2B for the gold.

 

[Flossbolna]

Plus, the cruise goes out of Civatavecchia - so Paris is really out of the way, and adding that on would make it a TON more money.

If you get an open jaw ticket USA to Paris and then back Rome to USA, it should not cost you more than a return to Rome. There ought to be affordable flights from Paris to Rome (or if you want to do Paris after Rome, the other way around). I know that I can get one way flights from Germany to Paris for 50 €, so about 60 US$. 2017 is the 25th anniversary for DLP and they are working hard to get the park back in shape for it. 2017 would be a fantastic year to visit! And while the official hotels are very pricey, the tickets are affordable compared to the ones in the US and there are plenty of off site hotels one stop on the local train away that offer all different price categories. So, adding DLP would cost money, but not a ton (compared to what a cruise and a transatlantic flight costs).

Good luck with your decision!! Personally I would love it if you booked another DCL cruise, I have missed you here on the cruise board!

 

[Dug720]

If you get an open jaw ticket USA to Paris and then back Rome to USA, it should not cost you more than a return to Rome. There ought to be affordable flights from Paris to Rome (or if you want to do Paris after Rome, the other way around). I know that I can get one way flights from Germany to Paris for 50 €, so about 60 US$. 2017 is the 25th anniversary for DLP and they are working hard to get the park back in shape for it. 2017 would be a fantastic year to visit! And while the official hotels are very pricey, the tickets are affordable compared to the ones in the US and there are plenty of off site hotels one stop on the local train away that offer all different price categories. So, adding DLP would cost money, but not a ton (compared to what a cruise and a transatlantic flight costs).

Good luck with your decision!! Personally I would love it if you booked another DCL cruise, I have missed you here on the cruise board!

Thank you!!

I probably won't make a fully-booked decision until I get back from my upcoming RCCL cruise, but I will keep everyone posted!

I was looking and either way my birthday would be a sea day, so I could do it up right with Palo brunch (even if a bit different now that I have to eat gluten-free)!! Yummy!!

 

[ldo]

if you cruise solo, you might consider Epic solo studio room for Europe, if you are OK with the smaller room. I have read that they have nightly meet/greets in the studio only lounges, where they organize dinners together, etc. Also, we took easyjet Rome-Paris for 85 euros PP. Europe will certianly cost more than Florida cruising, but the destination is fabulous.

 

[Dug720]

if you cruise solo, you might consider Epic solo studio room for Europe, if you are OK with the smaller room. I have read that they have nightly meet/greets in the studio only lounges, where they organize dinners together, etc. Also, we took easyjet Rome-Paris for 85 euros PP. Europe will certianly cost more than Florida cruising, but the destination is fabulous.

Zero desire to go on Norwegian OR sail in a coffin.

And my last Fantasy cruise - where they did a solo cruisers table dump which I bailed on after night one - proves that just because people cruise solo does not mean they have ANYTHING else in common.

 

[ldo]

gotcha. Although we found NCL Epic in Europe to be very nice. Certainly at least as good an experience as RCCL.

 

[Dug720]

gotcha. Although we found NCL Epic in Europe to be very nice. Certainly at least as good an experience as RCCL.

I just find their whole dining set up too confusing to deal with while on vacation. And I don't need tons of activities to keep me "occupied" so their ships just feel too busy for me - basing it on what I see on the website.

On RCCL I do Radiance class or smaller, so they don't have all the bells and whistles.