Uri1961 Posted February 9, 2011 #1 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have seen that a lot of members go on btb cruises. I am interested in this. Can someone give me more info? Is there a big discount? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted February 9, 2011 #2 Share Posted February 9, 2011 No discount. We're doing a back to back on Navigator because 5 days isn't long enough.:D Basically, you book them as 2 different cruises. They are actually treated as 2 different cruises. You just don't have to get to the port and go through the check in process with everyone else on the second cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trainman-2 Posted February 9, 2011 #3 Share Posted February 9, 2011 The thing to do is to call RCI and ask to speak to a back to back expert. They have people with the ability to look at multiple sailings. The "trick" with a B2B is to get the same cabin so you don't have to change cabins. Pick your port, pick your ship, and call RCI and they will set you up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemylab Posted February 9, 2011 #4 Share Posted February 9, 2011 We booked a B2B because we wanted something longer than 7 days. We looked at the 10 day sailings on Princess, but a B2B on the Serenade was cheaper. So rather than doing 2 seven day cruises a year, we've decided to do them B2B and only pay one airfare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted February 9, 2011 #5 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have seen that a lot of members go on btb cruises. I am interested in this. Can someone give me more info? Is there a big discount? The criteria I use when booking a B2B is I get the same cabin for both legs of the Cruise and it does two different itineraries. Our upcoming B2B Cruise on the Liberty Of The Seas goes to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted February 9, 2011 #6 Share Posted February 9, 2011 The downside to a B2B is that the menus and most entertainment will be repeated. If you choose, say, a 12-14 nighter, rather than a B2B, you will NOT have the "repeats"...just something to keep in mind! And, with a longer cruise (as opposed to a B2B), you won't have to worry about changing cabins or trying to book something where you don't have to pack up and move! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcur Posted February 9, 2011 #7 Share Posted February 9, 2011 My favorite b2b is a repositioning cruise or transatlantic, with either the last cruise just before, or the first cruise right after, the repo or TA. Makes for more interesting itineraries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanAllyn Posted February 9, 2011 #8 Share Posted February 9, 2011 We are booked on our third b2b out of Fort Lauderdale on the Allure. In each case, one cruise was eastern and the other western Carribean. Although there is no discount, there is usually a small extra, like lunch in the dining room on the change over day. Royal calls it "continuing cruisers" and they have someone at reservations to handle those. We have always gotten the same cabin on both halves. You do have to go through customs and immigrations on the turnaround day. Once it was done on the ship, once in the terminal. In both cases it took less than a half hour and we then had the ship to ourselves. We could return to our cabin immediately, even though new passengers had no access until 1 or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J&RLOVESTOCRUISE Posted February 9, 2011 #9 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I was told that if you don't get off the ship on the turn around day then you do not have to go through customs. Also if you are a B2B you will be offered on the turn around day for dinner a 2 for 1 deal in one of the sepciality rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisenfever Posted February 9, 2011 #10 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I was told that if you don't get off the ship on the turn around day then you do not have to go through customs. Also if you are a B2B you will be offered on the turn around day for dinner a 2 for 1 deal in one of the sepciality rest. It depends on the port. If you do a b2b o Serenade, you do not have to get off the ship on turn around day. I believe that is only done in US ports. They offer a special luncheon for consecutive cruisers on turn around day, if they are enough people to warrant a luncheon. Serenade used to offer the 2 for 1 on the first night of the second cruise, but since the BOGO coupon was issued for D+ members, they do not offer that any longer and I don't believe other ships do as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassmofi Posted February 9, 2011 #11 Share Posted February 9, 2011 The downside to a B2B is that the menus and most entertainment will be repeated. If you choose, say, a 12-14 nighter, rather than a B2B, you will NOT have the "repeats"...just something to keep in mind! And, with a longer cruise (as opposed to a B2B), you won't have to worry about changing cabins or trying to book something where you don't have to pack up and move! However the atmosphere on a 12-14 night is completely different than a 7 nighter. The 12-nighter I took on the Explorer out of Cape Liberty was very weird, and it turned me off the cruising for quite some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbur Posted February 9, 2011 #12 Share Posted February 9, 2011 It depends on the port. If you do a b2b o Serenade, you do not have to get off the ship on turn around day. I believe that is only done in US ports. They offer a special luncheon for consecutive cruisers on turn around day, if they are enough people to warrant a luncheon. Serenade used to offer the 2 for 1 on the first night of the second cruise, but since the BOGO coupon was issued for D+ members, they do not offer that any longer and I don't believe other ships do as well. We just got off our B2B on Serenade and they do still offer the 2 for 1 at either Portofinos or Chops for all consecutive cruisers. The turnaround luncheon in the MDR was also offered. This time the specials for consecutive cruisers also included 30% off all spa/salon services booked at the CC get together for any time during the upcoming week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puffinater Posted February 9, 2011 #13 Share Posted February 9, 2011 B2B is a great way to experience two different routes. Same cabin is your best bet. As for menus repeating true but there will be a week seperating the repeat. Fact is the menus repeat whether it is on a b2b or a month later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeylee Posted February 9, 2011 #14 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I was told that if you don't get off the ship on the turn around day then you do not have to go through customs. Also if you are a B2B you will be offered on the turn around day for dinner a 2 for 1 deal in one of the sepciality rest. We have done two B2B's on Freedom from Port Canaveral and we did have to get off and go through customs. They took us off as a group, so it wasn't much of a hassle. We were back on long before the new folks came on. We have never been offered any 2 for 1 deal in a speciality restaurant. They did provide a luncheon for the B2B passengers in the MDR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisenfever Posted February 9, 2011 #15 Share Posted February 9, 2011 We just got off our B2B on Serenade and they do still offer the 2 for 1 at either Portofinos or Chops for all consecutive cruisers. The turnaround luncheon in the MDR was also offered. This time the specials for consecutive cruisers also included 30% off all spa/salon services booked at the CC get together for any time during the upcoming week. Thanks Melanie, I had heard they had stopped that last year when the BOGO coupon was issued. Guess they reinstated that for consecutive cruisers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmwnc1959 Posted February 11, 2011 #16 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I too am booked on a B2B for late this year, a 5-night followed by a 4-night. It turned out the price was nearly exactly the same as the 7-night I was looking at but gave me two extra days for less than $75 total. The itinerary will be in its entirety that of a standard 7 day Western Caribbean (Jamaica, Cayman Is., and Cozumel) plus a stop at Key West as well as three full days at sea. On turn-around day I was told that I would have to leave the ship long enough to clear Customs (my luggage etc stays on the ship), stay in a special area until the ship got the All Clear, then be the first to reboard before the new set of passengers were allowed on. I did get the exact same cabin for both segments and made sure the two separate reservations were cross-referenced and special notes made in the reservations that this was a B2B just in case someone mis-interpreted the purpose of the cross-reference. Also it is a good idea to remind your stateroom attendant (maybe on the first day) that you are doing a B2B so that they don't freak out on Turn-Around Day as to why all your stuff is still there when everybody else is packed and disembarking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danp Posted February 11, 2011 #17 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I agree with my friend melbur,the one good thing about doing a B2B on the Seranade is that you do 10 different ports in the fourteen days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev_des Posted February 11, 2011 #18 Share Posted February 11, 2011 im on a b2b but couldnt get same rooms does the room attendant do all the moving bags for u as i have heard,will i have to wait until after 1 get into new room Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puffinater Posted February 11, 2011 #19 Share Posted February 11, 2011 We have changed rooms and the cabin attendant or a helper will move your things. Any thing on hangers stays on hangers. Just pack up the suit case with whats left. We met with the new attendant and had no problem getting into the new cabin before 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev_des Posted February 11, 2011 #20 Share Posted February 11, 2011 ah thanks thats great hear that dont even have take clothes off the hangers.there be no hassle so changin rooms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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