Back 2 back on freedom help

[Dave4120]

Hello...Just back from the Explorer and have just booked a back 2 back on the Freedom for next year, and will be booking a 2015 on the Quantum this Tuesday.

 

My questions concern any information anyone can provide on what we might need to know about doing a back 2 back, or, is there any information I can look up.

 

Wondering if we stay on the ship after the first cruise ends, custom issues, and anything else we should know. I was told that there are several things or procedures that go along with doing a back 2 back, and any help would be welcome.

 

We also booked a D1 cabin 9642 on the 9th deck. By the deck plan, this room looks like it has a good size balcony. If anyone has stayed in this cabin, I would like to hear some comments too.

 

Thanks for everything.

 

Dave

[Clarea]

You should receive a letter in your stateroom towards the end of the first cruise with details on changeover day.

 

Generally you will go off the ship as a group, go through customs, and get back on. The process should not take longer than 15 minutes, but sometimes there are delays. They may even have a luncheon in the MDR for your group, but this varies by ship and number of B2B guests.

 

I've found that it's a good idea to visit Guest Services early in the first cruise and confirm with them that they have you on the consecutive cruisers list.

[Smokey Mountain Tim]

This might be of interest. Specifically, post 193 through 195.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1844222

[cruisenfever]

We just did a b2b on Freedom this past December. Because there were so many of us staying on for the following cruise, we had a special meeting where they went over everything for turnaround day.

 

We met in Pharaoh's lounge on turnaround day and were lead off in a group. Went through Customs and Immigration and then sat in the terminal and had to wait until the ship recorded a zero count (which is what is done on all ships). We also got our new SeaPass cards at this time. Got back on the ship by 11 and were free to do what we wanted. Rooms were not available until 1:30, but for consecutive cruisers you were allowed to open the fire doors to enter your hallway to go back to your stateroom.

 

There are special instructions for those that might want to disembark early and explore Port Canaveral on their own.

 

If you are in the same cabin, there is no need to move anything. On debarkation morning breakfast was served until 8:30 in the WJ and 8AM in the MDR.

 

You only need to print off the SetSail Pass for the first cruise. Make sure that when you do your on-line check-in, you indicate on the Transportation Page that you are a consecutive cruiser.

[39august]

Patti, thanks for the info about the transportation page for consecutive cruises. I never fill out that page, so will do so for our b2b Freedom in Sept.

[cruisenfever]

Patti, thanks for the info about the transportation page for consecutive cruises. I never fill out that page, so will do so for our b2b Freedom in Sept.

You're welcome. :)

 

BTW, thought about you last week during those horrific tornadoes. Hope you and your family and friends are ok and weathered the storms without any problems.

[39august]

How thoughtful of you. The tornado path was several miles from our neighborhood. But stepson and step DIL had some roof loss and much debris scattered all over their yard. Their house is about one mile from the edge of the storm in Moore, Ok.

[cruzeluver]

We completed back-to-backs on Freedom last month (April) and our experience mirrored Patti's. Painless process and the luncheon for the consecutive cruisers was a very nice touch!

[Dave4120]

Hello Everyone...Thanks to all of you so far for the helpful, and, valuable information. It doesn't sound as difficult that I thought it would be.

 

One last question...I reserved our back 2 back cruise with a RCCL Cruise Specialist over the phone. I've noticed that they gave us two, separate reservations and reservation ID numbers. I've been told that is normal, however, at the bottom of my reservation, when I look on-line under "My Cruises", it says that our back 2 back cruises, ARE NOT, LINKED TOGETHER! A few other posters on this site said I should call RCCL back, and have them link the two reservations together. Is this something I need to do to make things flow smoothly?

 

Thanks again.

 

Dave

[cruisenfever]

How thoughtful of you. The tornado path was several miles from our neighborhood. But stepson and step DIL had some roof loss and much debris scattered all over their yard. Their house is about one mile from the edge of the storm in Moore, Ok.

Those were minor losses that can be repaired. Just glad that everyone is safe and sound. I know that you would be lost without your computer and CC.:D

Hello Everyone...Thanks to all of you so far for the helpful, and, valuable information. It doesn't sound that difficult that I thought it would be.

 

One last question...I reserved our back 2 back cruise with a RCCL Cruise Specialist over the phone. I've noticed that they gave us two, separate reservations and reservation ID numbers. I've been told that is normal, however, at the bottom of my reservation, when I look on-line under "My Cruises", it says that our back 2 back cruises, ARE NOT, LINKED TOGETHER! A few other posters on this site said I should call RCCL back, and have them link the two reservations together. Is this something I need to do to make things flow smoothly?

 

Thanks again.

 

Dave

Each cruise is independent of each other so they will each have their own booking number. You want to make sure that your CS links them by calling the back to back desk. This can be done at any time. If you are doing independent air, they linking them at any time won't be a problem. If you are using Choice Air, then they can't be linked until after you've made your flight arrangements.

 

Once on board, when the first cruise of over your SeaPass account is closed and a new one is started. There is no carry over of debits or credits.

[Dave4120]

Thanks Patti and Jim for the update. We just got off the Explorer, so, our next cruise isn't until next May 4th and 11th. Not sure if we will do our own air, or Choice Air. From where we live in Upstate NY, we have to take either Jet Blue, or, Southwest. I understand RCCL now uses Southwest with their Choice Air. However, I do not think we can even book Choice Air until around October or November, at least for those two airlines since they never post their dates more than 5 or 6 months in advance.

 

Dave

[cruisenfever]

Thanks Patti and Jim for the update. We just got off the Explorer, so, our next cruise isn't until next May 4th and 11th. Not sure if we will do our own air, or Choice Air. From where we live in Upstate NY, we have to take either Jet Blue, or, Southwest. I understand RCCL now uses Southwest with their Choice Air. However, I do not think we can even book Choice Air until around October or November, at least for those two airlines since they never post their dates more than 5 or 6 months in advance.

 

Dave

You're welcome. You can start looking at flight schedules 330 days from when you want to depart. I think you will really like Freedom.

[AZAficionado]

This might be of interest. Specifically, post 193 through 195.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1844222

 

Yea, this covers my recent experience. They went out of their way to make sure ever B2B cruiser knew exactly what was going to happen.