B2B cruise, what's different, what to expect?

[dulcimergirl]

Here's the place for those of you that have done B2B's. Any tips? What fun things do you do?

Just want a little info on whats different,

I just booked my first b2b and altho I do have to change cabins, I'm only going down 4 doors.

I'm so excited... I haven't told my Hubbs yet..lol

[paul929207]

One big difference is the wonderful feeling on turnaround day, when you stay on the ship while everyone else goes home. Proceedures for turnaround day will depend on the port you are at. We have only had the turnaround in foriegn ports. We did not have to get off the ship or go thru immigration. It is my understanding that in US ports you will.

 

Ours have all been on Princess, so this may not be accurate if you are on a different line. We always got instructions a few days before the end of the first cruise and new cruise card the last evening. When we had Traditional Dining, the Maitre 'd came by a few days from the end to see if we wanted the same table for the next leg.

 

The menus and most entertainment are repeated on the second cruise. You may get lucky and have some entertainers get off and be replaced, giving some new shows.

[dublin]

B2B - we did a B2B in January and have scheduled another January 2011.

 

On turnaround day when everyone was getting off the ship we gathered as a group (about 120 of us) and were led to a seating area until all the 'other' passengers had left the ship. We received our new sea passes the night before. We waited about 30 minutes until we re-entered the ship and went to the main dinning room where a special lunch (3 or 4 choices) was served.

 

It was very nice and smooth. We were on the Serenade of the Seas out of San Juan. This is the same cruise we have scheduled for January 2011.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done quite a few back-to-back cruises.

 

The menus will be the same -- the entertainment will be the same.

 

You will have to go through immigration at the end of the first cruise. The last night of the first cruise you will get a letter explaining what time and where to meet to get off the ship and go through immigration.

 

Since you have to change cabins -- you will get new ID cards.

 

The cabin stewards are good about helping you move.

[mfeenker]

Here's the place for those of you that have done B2B's. Any tips? What fun things do you do?

Just want a little info on whats different,

I just booked my first b2b and altho I do have to change cabins, I'm only going down 4 doors.

I'm so excited... I haven't told my Hubbs yet..lol

Hi dulcimergirl,

I have done B2B's on the Monarch and have another in May. As you will be changing rooms the ship will want you to bring your luggage down to Guest Relations however I suggest seeing if your new room assignment is vacated and let the room steward (probably the same one as you are only going 4 doors down) know you are leaving your luggage -- make sure the steward can change your linens etc. You will then gather at Guest Relations and be escorted to the terminal and checkin (recieve new Sign & Sail cards) then be reboarded. Now is a great time to go up on Lido and grab a deck chair, the pool may also be available. Just relax and watch the passengers arrive. It is a good time to get photos of the ship without a lot of people.

[montana200024]

you are definately in for a treat...back to back is the only way to go...

we started years ago as this is our only vacation we take, and decided to make it good..boy i have to say..gotta love it

[KAYEF]

LAST summer we did a b-2-b in Alaska..............two reasons..............I do NOT like 7 day cruises, they're too short AND it was "almost" cheaper to cruise back than to fly back!:D

We did not have to "gather" and we did not have to disembark. We chose to spend some of the day in Seward so we could go to the aquarium and they gave us a different line for reboarding so we didn't have to stand in the long "boarding line."

The wonderful feeling of NOT having to pack the night before is almost "smug"...............but our day came on the next cruise.:(

[Hlitner]

Back to backs are a way of life for those of us who like longer cruises. But, the best place for these cruises is in Europe where there are no hassles between cruises (its just like another day). The back-to-backs that occur in US ports can be a pain because of our "friendly folks" from ICE who have silly regulations. For example, it is normal for you to have to get off the ship, go though immigration, and then get back on the ship. This should only take a few minutes, but you can never be sure when dealing with the US ICE folks. The one negative (this has already been posted) is that the entertainment, menus, etc. etc. are pretty much the same.

 

Hank

[KAYEF]

We didn't have to disembark in Seward, Alaska.;)

[mfeenker]

We didn't have to disembark in Seward, Alaska.;)

Different ports and different lines seem to have different ways. I didn't have to get off in Mobile AL last year.

[paul929207]

We have never gotten off, but we have never had a turnaround in the US

[frankandjill]

We have booked a 12 day cruise on the NCL Star in northern European waters in Sept. 2013 and are contemplating a b2b to Miami not yet booked. Does anyone know about the immigration off/on process in Copenhagen and NCL's policy in that port?

[paul929207]

We have booked a 12 day cruise on the NCL Star in northern European waters in Sept. 2013 and are contemplating a b2b to Miami not yet booked. Does anyone know about the immigration off/on process in Copenhagen and NCL's policy in that port?

It would not be the NCL policy, it would be Denmark's. We have never had to go thru immigration in Europe on a b2b.

[loubetti]

I did a B2B, and it was a non-issue. No grouping together, no nothing. Of course that was pre-9/11.

[Shmoo here]

We've only done one B2B. Transition was in Barcelona. They had all the B2B people meet in one of the lounges onboard. Then we were escorted off the ship as a group after everyone else had left. Had to check-in again (don't remember going through immigration/customs) and reboard. Total time off ship, about 15 minutes. Back onboard about 3 hours before the "new" cruisers.

 

:)

[Momis2]

We will be doing a B2B2B around South America in 2013. Total of 49 days! The longest cruise I have ever taken . We will keep the same cabin so it will be interesting to see how the logistics work out.