How do you take advantage of a B2B cruise?

We sleep in while everyone is scurrying out of their cabins and off the ship. Then we casually make our way to our meeting location. We take the leisurely stroll through customs and then race to be the 1st to Bing back in! Okay, we don't really race, and sometimes we are 2nd or 3rd, but all the same.

We used to go to the pool next as we had it all to our self! We were able to use the seats or loungers that were never available during the cruise!

Once they were pouring free champagne as guests entered so we just sat in the lobby and drank free champagne for an hour or two, and watched all of our new friends entering the ship.

The first hour is magical because the ship is all yours, but it soon fills up and becomes the normal madhouse.

Another idea is to get to the buffet when it first opens. You will be the first one in, with no other people.

We used to go to the pool next as we had it all to our self! We were able to use the seats or loungers that were never available during the cruise!

Did you put towels on all the loungers? 😁

I found that the first weeks internet package worked on change over day.

Yes, it's a wonderful feeling not having to place your luggages in the hallway the night before disembarkation.

Yes, have breakfast in the main dining room the morning of disembarkation...take your time, no rush.

Perhaps you can help your cabin steward...tell him/her not to clean your cabin that morning....one less cabin for them to clean.

Usually, there's a meeting for all B2B passengers...free cocktails/champagne is sometimes served. Then a special lunch on embarkation day.

Before the end of the first week, you can ask the Maitre d to put you in a nice table for the second week...never hurts to try.

If you like alcohol, you can buy a bottle the first week and it will be delivered in your cabin at the end of the first week. You'll have it available for the second week.

Enjoy the empty ship. Happy Sailing. :)

You cannot linger in the dining room. They want you OUT. Service tends to be somewhat poor that last morning. The sooner they can get rid of you, the sooner they can start working on the next cruise.

As for getting a bottle for the second half of your B2B - there is only one surefire way to do this. Make friends on the first cruise. Scope out the choices. Choose, say, a bottle of Absolut for $22. Give your new friend $22. Let him/her buy it and have it delivered the last night. Go pick it up from their cabin.

Easy peasy.

I found that the first weeks internet package worked on change over day.

at some point in the cruise(2-3 days left), if you're d or d+ the cost for the internet package for the remainder of the cruise can be bought using one of the free day credits. so you get 2-3 days on the first cruise and it seems to run a couple of days into the second cruise. if i remember correctly i had almost 6 days of internet using of one my credits in december.

A few things stand out from our B2B a few years ago: We were on the Jewel (a smaller ship, so to speak). We really got to know the cruise staff and they seemed to go out of their way to talk with us and made sure we were having a great time. The cabin attendant was very helpful in making sure our turn around day was as easy as possible. Due to a routine (?) sanitizing of the ship, Even the B2B passengers had to leave the ship. Their was a letter left in our cabin explaining the whole process, and our new sea pass cards were also provided.. We got to sleep in a little. After a leisurely breakfast, we grab everything in the safe (left everything else in the room) and went to a designated lounge that had coffee and danish. After every other passenger left. and cruise staff member escorted us to a lounge area in the terminal. I got to officially be the last passenger off the ship. Light refreshments were provided. We were then allowed to return to the ship before the new passengers. Yes, I was officially the first passenger on the ship (at least that was what I was told). A very nice sit down lunch was served to us. Enjoy the trip!

on the end of your first week you may have to meet somewhere to cancel your first weeks card and then use your new card to be put in the computer for the second week. Sometimes you are lead off the ship and then right back on.

Another thing if you try to go back to your room they will tell you that you cant,

just tell them you are B2B,they will let you go.Also they usually have a special lunch for all B2Ber.

We love doing B2B,will be doing one in October and a B2B2B in January

have a great trip

When i used my coke cup in the freestyle machine it indicated on the screen that the cup would expire a week after my cruise ended. Still, if it were me I would buy the soda package for both cruises. You are paying for the package by the day, so it seems unethical to me to only pay for half the time you plan on using it.

I personally would not be comfortable stealing a second week of soda after paying for just the first week. No matter how you look at it, you would be stealing. Just not in my wheelhouse.

Well RCI don't seem to worry about stealing from their customers by charging a full 7 days for the Drinks packages when customers don't board until the afternoon on day 1 and depart quite early on the last day. And being charged exorbitant prices for the Drinks packages too! :D:D

Well RCI don't seem to worry about stealing from their customers by charging a full 7 days for the Drinks packages when customers don't board until the afternoon on day 1 and depart quite early on the last day. And being charged exorbitant prices for the Drinks packages too! :D:D

I didn't know you were forced to buy a drink package:rolleyes:

Well RCI don't seem to worry about stealing from their customers by charging a full 7 days for the Drinks packages when customers don't board until the afternoon on day 1 and depart quite early on the last day. And being charged exorbitant prices for the Drinks packages too! :D:D

On a 6 night cruise (which is 7 calendar days) what do you think would be a more fair way to charge? Right now they charge per night, so a 6 night cruise is 6 x rate. Are you proposing only paying for 5 nights? How does that make sense when you're on board for 6 nights and 7 calendar days? Do they still charge for 6 nights but not let you use the package the first or last day?

You are right of course. We are blessed, and I will work to eradicate any smugness on my face as I watch the disembarkation......but that's gonna take a lot of effort on my part :)

 

 

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Just remember that the next week someone is going to be watching you walk down the gangway. That may help you keep things in perspective.

Well RCI don't seem to worry about stealing from their customers by charging a full 7 days for the Drinks packages when customers don't board until the afternoon on day 1 and depart quite early on the last day. And being charged exorbitant prices for the Drinks packages too! :D:D

I thought about that also but when I boarded day 1 just after 11am the pub was open and we got the celebratory first drink. So you do get a full 7 days as you can drink day 7 until bed time.

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Just remember that the next week someone is going to be watching you walk down the gangway. That may help you keep things in perspective.

The key words are NEXT WEEK.

Don't feel bad about the fact that your vacation is half over. Other folks may have extended at the beginning or end of the cruise vacation...just off ship.

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Well RCI don't seem to worry about stealing from their customers by charging a full 7 days for the Drinks packages when customers don't board until the afternoon on day 1 and depart quite early on the last day. And being charged exorbitant prices for the Drinks packages too! :D:D

What others do has no bearing on what you do! Integrity comes from within based on your own sense of morality :evilsmile: :halo: - not a 'quid pro quo' assessment. No one is forced to purchase either soda or alcohol packages.

What others do has no bearing on what you do! Integrity comes from within based on your own sense of morality :evilsmile: :halo: - not a 'quid pro quo' assessment. No one is forced to purchase either soda or alcohol packages.

Oh dear.:(

Well RCI don't seem to worry about stealing from their customers by charging a full 7 days for the Drinks packages when customers don't board until the afternoon on day 1 and depart quite early on the last day. And being charged exorbitant prices for the Drinks packages too! :D:D

How is that stealing? You know the amount of time you will be onboard when you purchase the drink package. You know the cost of the drink package when you purchase it. You are not required to purchase the drink package. You decide to make the purchase knowing the time you are onboard and knowing the price you are paying. So please explain how that is stealing.

on the end of your first week you may have to meet somewhere to cancel your first weeks card and then use your new card to be put in the computer for the second week. Sometimes you are lead off the ship and then right back on.

Another thing if you try to go back to your room they will tell you that you cant,

just tell them you are B2B,they will let you go.Also they usually have a special lunch for all B2Ber.

We love doing B2B,will be doing one in October and a B2B2B in January

 

have a great trip

make sure you attend the B2B meeting it will give you all the info you will need

We did our 1st Back to Back in January and will be doing it again January 2018 on the Navigator. There is nothing wrong with a smug look on the last day of the first leg. Enjoy it. You planned and worked hard for it. Most likely, those not staying on for a B2B, are likely ready to go or may be able to experience that look one day in the near future. Its not personal and you mean no one any harm.

I would take that first leg and really relax...no rush for anything, because you have another coming right up...enjoy yourselves.

I was recently on a B2B on a ship we will likely sail again. Early on turn around day, when cabins were being cleaned, we walked around the hallways to see cabin categories we were likely to book. I was surprised to see some differences in cabins in the same category. Specifically, the cabin I was in had a desk with drawers on each side. The cabin just a few doors away only had drawers on one side of the desk.

M

We're doing our first b2b in Oct/Nov. I'm looking forward to not having to pack after 7 days and put luggage out. Since we're on Oasis, it's more likely there will be enough b2bers for a lunch. What's also great about our trip is that when we do get off after 14 days we're spending 5 more days at Shades of Green at Disney before we head home. Three weeks of vacation:hearteyes:

As for getting a bottle for the second half of your B2B - there is only one surefire way to do this. Make friends on the first cruise. Scope out the choices. Choose, say, a bottle of Absolut for $22. Give your new friend $22. Let him/her buy it and have it delivered the last night. Go pick it up from their cabin.

What about buying it on the afternoon of the last sea day? They usually just give it to you at the register to take back to your room.

What about buying it on the afternoon of the last sea day? They usually just give it to you at the register to take back to your room.

Might work, but I would ask their policy first. I remember on Monarch they would make us pick up the liquor early on the morning of departure.

What about buying it on the afternoon of the last sea day? They usually just give it to you at the register to take back to your room.

Why chance it? My method is foolproof.

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