Back to back cruises

[Stonymtncruiser]

Does anyone know if cruise lines give you a deal if you book back to back cruises in advance?

[CruiserBruce]

All depends on the cruise line. Some do, some don't.

 

In our experience- 5 B2Bs in a row on Holland America, the combined cruise's fare was never less than 10% cheaper then the two cruises individually. The fare decrease has been as much as almost 23% cheaper.

[dorisis]

If you can book the B2B as 1 cruise, it will be cheaper than 2 seperate cruises.

 

~Doris~

[melbur]

On Royal Carib there is no deal to book a B2B, they are considered 2 separate cruises. Be sure to try and get the same cabin for each week so you don't have to move mid trip.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done back-to-back cruises on various cruise lines.

On some we have gotten a little savings -- maybe a couple of hundred dollars.

HAL started something new a few years ago -- Collector's Cruises for some of the back-to-back cruises. Instead of getting 2 reservations you only need 1 reservation. And there is some savings with this.

When we have done back-to-back cruises we always made certain that we book early enough to get the same cabin for both segments.

[lady_cruiser]

We have done two B2Bs on Royal Caribbean and never had any deals. A B2B is basically two consecutive cruises.

[TrqoisWtrs]

If you can book the B2B as 1 cruise, it will be cheaper than 2 seperate cruises.

 

Can't do that on Carnival. Have to book two separate cruises, and like others said - try to get the same cabin.

 

And no discount on the price, but on the second leg, Carnival will send a bottle of champagne and a plate of chocolate covered strawberries to your cabin as a thank you. Yes, not much, but still a nice touch. :)

[Hlitner]

Try shopping around among some of the major Cruise Agencies (they are online) and simply ask! You might get a pleasant surprise :) But if you deal direct with the cruise line you will only get a break if they have a promotion for combined cruises.

 

Hank

[gadaboutgal]

Sometimes Princess sells two back to back 10day cruises as one cruise, but you can, also, book both segments as a single. The advantage to you is that the 2 cruises move you upward in status levels more quickly with 2 points versus the one 20 days cruise at 1 point. And there is no price break usually for doing the 20 day cruise vs the two 10 day cruises.

[sail7seas]

We do many b-to-b's and sometimes get a small discount...... nothing very significant.

 

We only book b-to-b on dates we can keep the same cabin for both segments. Not a big deal to move but we don't want to bother.

[indigosails]

We nearly always book B2B cruises. If nothing else, you save a couple round-trip airfares, which is significant. Make sure you get the same room for both legs of the trip. Having to move is a drag.

[paul929207]

We changed cabins for the first time a few weeks ago. While I prefer not to do it, it is certainly better than going home.

[Hlitner]

Just thought we would add why we prefer a longer cruise as opposed to shorter Back to Back cruises. When you do a back to back you will usually have the same menus, the same major shows, often the same guest entertainers, you will have two welcome aboard shows (normally a waste) and 2 last night shows (often more wasted time). Plus, you have the hassles that can often happen with a turn around day.

 

Hank

[CruiserBruce]

Just thought we would add why we prefer a longer cruise as opposed to shorter Back to Back cruises. When you do a back to back you will usually have the same menus, the same major shows, often the same guest entertainers, you will have two welcome aboard shows (normally a waste) and 2 last night shows (often more wasted time). Plus, you have the hassles that can often happen with a turn around day.

 

Hank

 

Turnaround Day hassles are only really about US ports. In non-US ports it is another port, no hassles.

[Hlitner]

Turnaround Day hassles are only really about US ports. In non-US ports it is another port, no hassles.

 

Agreed! But most of those on here seem to be referring to back to back cruises from US Ports. One bummer (for us) are that most of the cruise lines have really cut-back on their 14 day Caribbean cruises in favor of back to backs. For years, the Grand Princess did a nice 14 day Caribbean cruise but last year they changed to 7 day cruises which really limit itineraries and involve that awful turn-around experience at a Florida port. And now with the Sequester thing the Obama administration seems to want to give us assurances that the turn-around experience will even be worse (the sky is falling....the sky is falling). For a true 14 day Caribbean experience one must pretty much look towards either Celebrity or HA (and even they do not do it very often).

 

Hank