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Pros and Cons of doing a back to back cruise

divngmedic

By divngmedic,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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divngmedic

divngmedic

Posted
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I am thinking of taking the family on a back to back cruise this year. I did not get to take a vacation last year so I am looking to make up for lost time.:D Most likely we will be taking the Valor out of Miami, 6 night for the first leg and 8 night for the second leg. I can take my family of three on this back to back for the same price as 7 night from another cruise line on one of their newest ships.:eek:

 

So for those of you who have done a back to back, what are the pros and what are the cons about doing a back to back?

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ready2cruzagain

ready2cruzagain

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There are so many advantages. For us, we drive so to do a b2b is great and makes up for the driving time. Not worth driving 2 days to go on a 5 day cruise. Also,

 

You get to watch everyone get off the ship and you don't have to :D

You don't have to pack the last night of the first cruise :D

You can buy liquor from the gift shop the last night and take it back to your room for the next cruise.

You get on the ship for the second leg before anyone else

You get to go to your room before the 1:30 time that Carnival allows everyone to go to their room (we were allowed to go back and forth from room to wherever on the ship)

You can keep your same dining waiter and assistant waiter if you want...just ask the maitre d for the same table for the second leg of your b2b

 

I am sure there is a lot more I am missing but trust me...it is great. We only do b2b's now.

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Catrin

Catrin

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If you are into the shows, a con would be that it is the same entertainment week after week.

 

I would take advantage of this, however and spread them out! That way, I would never feel like I am missing anything!

 

I would make sure that the B2B has a rotating schedule of ports, however!

 

It is something we always talk about, but can never take that much time away from work!

 

Have fun!

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BelizePlease

BelizePlease

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Pro - you get to see your same favorite crew members for another cruise!

(have some fun and not tell them you're staying onboard..."Oh yeah...we didn't feel like getting off..." LOL)

 

Pro - you have the lido deck to yourself while everyone else is boarding! (Warning...feelings of "Who are these people getting on MY ship???" will surface...)

 

There are no Cons. None. :D

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IloveCruising2x2

IloveCruising2x2

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Pro - you get to see your same favorite crew members for another cruise!

(have some fun and not tell them you're staying onboard..."Oh yeah...we didn't feel like getting off..." LOL)

 

Pro - you have the lido deck to yourself while everyone else is boarding! (Warning...feelings of "Who are these people getting on MY ship???" will surface...)

 

There are no Cons. None. :D

 

 

I take it you are a Belize fan from your screen name. We are going to Belize and have heard good and bad from others. What can you tell me about leaving the port? I would love to tour the city. Thanks!

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MrsZee

MrsZee

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Like others said, I think the only con would be the entertainment, but even then I don't think it's really a con because I always have 5 different places I want to be at the same time, so spreading the shows out and not seeing them twice would be a plus to me.

 

If you can take that much time off work and can afford the trip, GO! :)

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MissKIA

MissKIA

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I am thinking of taking the family on a back to back cruise this year. I did not get to take a vacation last year so I am looking to make up for lost time.:D Most likely we will be taking the Valor out of Miami, 6 night for the first leg and 8 night for the second leg. I can take my family of three on this back to back for the same price as 7 night from another cruise line on one of their newest ships.:eek:

 

So for those of you who have done a back to back, what are the pros and what are the cons about doing a back to back?

 

Pro: You can take your time doing everything on the ship. You don't have to cram all of the shows and activities into one week

 

Pro: You have two weeks to try all of the meals in the MDR. If you can't decide between 2 meals you can try the other next week.

 

Pro: You get to stay on when everyone gets off and have the ship (virtually) to yourself for a few hours.

 

Pro: You get TWO weeks instead of ONE!

 

Con: Obviously it's double the cost. You don't get any kind of deal for doing a B2B other than maybe a fruit basket. But like others said if you have to fly you are saving the airfare for your second cruise so that makes this also a Pro!

 

Con: You can still only bring on 12 drinks and 1 bottle of wine each.

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divngmedic

divngmedic

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If you are into the shows, a con would be that it is the same entertainment week after week.

 

I would take advantage of this, however and spread them out! That way, I would never feel like I am missing anything!

 

I would make sure that the B2B has a rotating schedule of ports, however!

 

It is something we always talk about, but can never take that much time away from work!

 

Have fun!

We are not much into the entertainment stuff.:eek: I plan to spend most of my time at the poker table. Right before our first cruise the part of our a/c went out and the money I had saved for tips and bar bill was ate by that. But I spent about 8 hour total that week playing poker and paid the bar bill, tips and came off the boat with $400 in cash.:D

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pryd

pryd

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Cant think of any Cons....So here are a few Pros that were not mentioned

 

Trivia. You get the advantage on your 2nd half to get all the answers right...

 

You really get to know the crew. They just smile brighter when they remember you are joining them for another cruise right after your first.

 

If I remember correctly if you let your PVP know you are on a B2B you might get a special gift from Carnival on your 2nd leg in your cabin.

 

The customs check with B2B is so cool. YOu are escorted to the agent wave your passport, and get back on the ship and it all takes about 20 minutes.

 

You can have lots of fun with your wait staff on your 2nd leg. The other tablemates will think you are best friends with them.

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divngmedic

divngmedic

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Like others said, I think the only con would be the entertainment, but even then I don't think it's really a con because I always have 5 different places I want to be at the same time, so spreading the shows out and not seeing them twice would be a plus to me.

 

If you can take that much time off work and can afford the trip, GO! :)

Since I did not get to take a vacation last year I have a few extra days to take. Since I work 24 hour shifts and only work 8 days a month, I can take 4 days off and be off half the month.

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BelizePlease

BelizePlease

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I take it you are a Belize fan from your screen name. We are going to Belize and have heard good and bad from others. What can you tell me about leaving the port? I would love to tour the city. Thanks!

 

I love Belize...even though I've only been twice. I came up with my screen name after we had gotten back from our cruise that stopped there for our first time. We had gone to Goff's Caye. It was a little teeeeeeeeeeeeny tiny island. It was like Gilligan's Island and it was pure paradise. Unfortunately...I don't know much about city tours...as we hop right into the tinier boats that take us out to these islands right off the tender. Wish I could be more help!

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mondello

mondello

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They will return all your booze purchased in ports and/or on the ship to you the last evening of your first cruise. You can really party down the second cruise and save on your bar bill. Others can sail the second/8 night cruise with you for some bottoms-up partyin'.

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MSRussell

MSRussell

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I did mine on the Sensation...I was able to leave the ship, take a special bus to Walmart, load up on more pop, and the little things that I had forgotten to bring with me.

Got back to the ship showed the woman outside the rope my boarding pass, told her I was doing a Back to Back. She walked me right around everyone to the check in desk. Oh, the looks I got! But some were experienced cruisers and knew what was going on.

Like everyone else said,it sure saved on airfare.

Melanie

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divngmedic

divngmedic

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Everything on the ship the 2nd week will be the same up to the jokes of the CD. Its nice to do at least different ports, best for us is to flip a ship, love that (flip a ship), :D

Now that would a huge con. I did not like our CD's jokes the first cruise we took.

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