our first B2B...I have ?s

[dulcimergirl]

No on the OBC, you will have to cash it out, then put it on the next cruise. It's easily done.

Yes, buy your liquor on the last evening of the first leg and they will let you take it to your room to pack it. Don't mention your doing a B2B.. lol Remember if you don't finish it, you will have to pack that off also so bring some bubble wrap, and a ziploc..

unless you want to share.. lol

[sailawaykaye]

We are doing a B2B in Dec. & will reach platinum on the 2nd leg. Exactly how do you go about linking both cruises to receive platinum benefits? I understand that some people call before their cruise & some when they check in. What is the best way to go about this? All info. will be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[Elaine5715]

Just check your cruise documents now. They should say Priority. You will not get a Platinum card until the 2nd leg.

[nodogkisses]

Subbing to this thread!! So happy to find this- I have had several of the same questions!

 

I am also doing B2B on Victory in October. This will be #9 & 10 for me, so PLATINUM!!! :D:D

 

Few more questions for you all:

1) From what I am understanding, everyone here got Platinum on that first leg, correct? I am debating getting the FTTF pass, but don't want to if I don't need it. But, that also raises another question. If I am Platinum, but the rest of my family is not, would they get that priority boarding with me? Or do I need the FTTF for them anyway? (We are in one cabin during the first leg) I don't care about the other perks, just the priority boarding/tendering.

 

2) I understand that SS accounts get closed out for each sailing, but what about OBCs? I have a decent OBC for the first leg, and may/may not use it all on that trip. If I have some left over, can it transfer to our next cruise?

 

3) On my last cruise, a gentleman that was doing B2B offered to buy alcohol for people that were going on our cruise (his second leg). He was able to get 2 bottles of vodka for my group. He told me how he did this, but honestly, I wasn't listening, because I didn't think that my next sailing would be a B2B. I would be interested in doing this. I am guessing it would get delivered to our stateroom on the last night of the first sailing, and then we would just pack in our luggage to move to our new rooms? (We are going from one balcony to connecting rooms. Love my kiddos, but need to have a bit of space for part of the trip. I think that long of all of us in 185 sq feet would be a bit much! LOL)

 

Since you're all in one room on the first leg, you'll all get priority boarding with your new Platinum status. Don't buy FTTF, you won't need it. Make sure you call Carnival and get those sailings "linked". As soon as they do it, you'll be able to go into your Cruise Documents and see that you are Platinum on the first leg of the cruise. Also, you Luggage Tags should say Priority, too.

 

It looks like dulcimergirl answered your other two questions. Hope you have great b2b.

[dec2007w3boys]

We are doing a b2b and plan to add the kids to the second leg. Has only one had any experience with this? Dh and I will have the same room. So that is easy. My question is how to best get the kids on the ship. Do dh and I get off and escort them back on. Do we allow are good friends to bring them to the ship (they are on first leg only and willing to help us get the kids from the airport if needed). And then we meet them at the check In. My pvp wasn't real sure and said to talk with guest services the first week, but p,annong ahead is my preference.

 

Thanks!

[kyo413]

Just check your cruise documents now. They should say Priority. You will not get a Platinum card until the 2nd leg.

 

Awesome!! Thank you! I just checked, and yes, mine say "PRIORITY" for both sailings!! My children's do not for the second leg. I am guessing that is because on the first leg they are in my room, and then the second one we have the connecting rooms. But I am guessing this is a mute point, since it sounds like we don't have to go through the embarkation process for that leg anyway. Am I correct?

[sailfirst]

do back to back cruisers not get those numerous announcements in the morning inside their cabins?

The only announcements you ever hear in your cabin are emergency ones for other ones you must open your door to hear them

[Rockee4055]

Can't wait to do my first b2b!! :)

 

Same here. I dream of the day my first B2B is booked! Hopefully next year.

[TVChick16]

I think whether they make you get off the ship or not depends on the port. We did a B2B on the Paradise in December/January. They did NOT make us get off the ship in Tampa, and there's another review on CC from a person who did a similar B2B out of Tampa and they didn't make them disembark either.

 

I thought we'd get a letter in our stateroom with instructions, but upon returning to our cabin on the final evening of the first leg we hadn't received anything. So, we went to the guest services desk around 10pm and they apologized for there not being a letter, but told us just to come to the desk in the morning and they'd give us our new Sail & Sign cards.

 

We had the same cabin for both legs, so we quite enjoyed not having that "last night of the cruise" feeling while we knew everyone else was. :p We didn't set an alarm for the morning we were pulling into Tampa because we figured we'd be awakened by the announcements and all the only thing on our agenda for the morning was to shower and eat breakfast. We WERE awakened by an announcement, and it was around 8am telling us that we were not able to enter the Tampa Bay due to fog. We looked out the window and couldn't see anything! We saw our room steward who told us what was going on and we said it didn't matter since we were staying aboard. He laughed and we realized he thought we were joking. Apparently no one bothered to tell him we were B2B or he hadn't checked his list yet.

 

We spent the day watching movies in one of the lounges and finally docked in Tampa in the mid-afternoon. We had already visited the guest services desk and they told us to come back after they started disembarking guests. We did so, but they were in a frenzy and said they hadn't received the manifests for the next sailing yet and told us to come back yet again. They were able to give us our new Sign & Sail cards, and we checked to make sure they worked in our cabin door, which they did.

 

Because we were so delayed, the turnaround between the final guests departing the ship and the next batch arriving was only about 45 minutes. We spent that time walking around the quiet ship and taking photos of areas that would soon be bustling again. We were the only B2Bers on the sailing and felt like we shouldn't be there and that staff was going to ask us to leave. :o

 

They started boarding the passengers for the new sailing after 5pm. We snapped a few more pics and then went back to our cabin, which had not been cleaned! Our steward stopped by and apologized and said they were running behind trying to do such a short turnaround (understandable) and would service our room during turndown. That was fine with us. We decided to watch a movie in our room until dinner. Around 6pm there was a knock at our door and it was room service with a complimentary bottle of champagne from the food and beverage manager (B2B gift).

 

We didn't go back to the guest services desk until late that evening, and I'm not sure why we even needed to because they said everything was in order since I had checked in for both legs online.

 

B2B photo links are in my signature.

[TVChick16]

:eek::(:eek:

 

Hmm so If I can finagle 3 more cruises this year I'll be platinum?!?

 

The answer to this is yes. As long as you COMPLETE the 10th cruise by December 31, 2013, you will be grandfathered in as Platinum.

 

Sounds crazy, but it's possible! As of December 2012 I only had 6 cruises under my belt. My husband and I did B2Bs in December/January on the Paradise over New Years and I sailed on the Breeze with my mom at the end of January, and so I'll gain Platinum status on our upcoming Fascination cruise at the end of June! :D

[kyo413]

The answer to this is yes. As long as you COMPLETE the 10th cruise by December 31, 2013, you will be grandfathered in as Platinum.

 

Sounds crazy, but it's possible! As of December 2012 I only had 6 cruises under my belt. My husband and I did B2Bs in December/January on the Paradise over New Years and I sailed on the Breeze with my mom at the end of January, and so I'll gain Platinum status on our upcoming Fascination cruise at the end of June! :D

 

I had 7, but with my 8th one booked for this past April. I thought for sure I was going to get that close, but not have hope for 10 before end of the year. We moved last fall, and our old house has been sitting empty, on the market since September, so not exactly in the budget to do a vacation when carrying 2 mortgages! However, DH had said that *if* the house sold or rented out, we would still do some sort of trip with the kids this year (my cruise in April was a girls only bday trip). The house rented, and given the choices of where to go, the kids insisted on a cruise! So, I used my persuasive skills (and puppy dog eyes), and asked DH if he was "really going to let me get that close to Platinum, and allow it to slip through my fingers?". The next morning I got the green light to book B2B, and here we are! 10 cruises down!! :D:D:D:D

[bonnys]

We did our first b2b for Christmas last year and are doing another on the Victory in Aug. /Sept. We will both turn Platinum on the second leg but our docs for the first already have Priority on them. Sooo ready to be on board now!

[Seago2]

My question is a little like dec2007w3boys (hasn't been answered yet)...

 

I'm on a 5 day with my son and my husband is coming on for the 7 day after. It's not a critical question, as obviously we'll have our phones and will be able to find each other, but how does he link on to my S&S card? Or does he just use his own account? Is it better to have him waiting and grab him when we zero down and add him then to our account, thereby making him the fastest FTTF person alive?

 

We are switching cabins. I've heard so many different responses.... I'm sure it's line-specific, ship-specific, sailing-specific, but in your experience, do you have to totally pack up or can you kind of throw everything together and use a luggage cart to move it? Does the new room steward freak out if you try to move it over early? Can I move my hanging things on hangers?

 

Thanks, everyone!

[darth frosty]

My question is a little like dec2007w3boys (hasn't been answered yet)...

how does he link on to my S&S card? Or does he just use his own account? Is it better to have him waiting and grab him when we zero down and add him then to our account, thereby making him the fastest FTTF person alive?

 

We are switching cabins do you have to totally pack up or can you kind of throw everything together and use a luggage cart to move it? Does the new room steward freak out if you try to move it over early? Can I move my hanging things on hangers?

 

Thanks, everyone!

 

You get a new sign and sail card so in that sense its like a whole new cruise with your husband linked in.

 

As far as switching rooms just let your 1st leg room steward know you will be switching and he will help co-ordinate your transfer with your 2nd leg room steward.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

People can tell you their experiences to give you an idea, but be prepared it may be different. When we did our first B2B last year, I was all prepared from what I've read here and there were some definite differences. I don't know if it was the port (Long Beach) or that we were the only people doing a B2B on the sailing. We went to Guest Services and they didn't know we were doing B2B. They had to look at the next sailing and saw that we were booked in the same cabin. They gave us our transit letters and told us to come to Guest Services the final morning.

 

No one seemed to have any idea what to do with us. We were told to wait at the atrium bar and we waited there for about 45 minutes. Several people came by asked if they could help us and each time we explained that we were staying for the next sailing. Finally someone came to us and told us to go off the ship to the VIP check-in. No one escorted us and it was quite confusing since areas had been blocked off as all the guests except us had left the ship. We were yelled at a couple times because they thought we were trying to sneak someplace. That was quite unpleasant.

 

We went to VIP check-in and showed our transit letters. The woman guarding the door yelled at us that we were in the wrong place. Nice. Someone came out and chastised her and took us inside. My DD was proud of me because I didn't take her head off. LOL. Inside, they issued new S&S cards and about 30 minutes later someone came and escorted us onto the ship. He was awesome. :D

 

We felt like celebrities for the first couple days--the crew acted so excited to see us! There were two bottles of champagne and a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries from Guest Services and the Hotel Director. I've learned since that I could have exchanged the champagne for wine. I wish I'd know that then!

 

 

 

I would use the laundry room the turn over day- throw the stuff in the washer then go have your breakfast. By the time you are done eating the washer will be done.

 

 

 

Be very careful doing this. I read a report here on CC where someone did this and the cew removed their laundry thinking it was left by a departing passenger. They lost all the clothing that was in the guest laundry room.

 

Also, be sure to tell your steward you're doing B2B if you're in the same room. They won't necessarily know that.

 

 

 

Be very

[WinnipegCruiser]

We did our last cruise back in Feb of 2011.

It was a B2B2B and yes on our last B we were also on #10.

Their computer system on the ship didn't know until the afternoon of that day. So basically we didn't get the new special card until much later.

There are some cool advantages to the B2B. You can read my review of the cruises in the links in my signature below.

One advantage is you can really shop around for a better dinner table during the first cruise for the next one.

You can buy liquor on the last night of the first cruise and they let you take it back to your cabin.

If you gamble, you might be able to get the Casino host to allow you to just add to the points you accumulated on the first cruise for the second. Faster to free drinks...

If you get anything taken away from your luggage in the first cruise (liquor etc) they will give it back to you on the morning of your second cruise.

.....Have a great time.

[littlesnit]

Wow. So glad I found this thread.
Thinking about doing a B2B in Sept. Hopefully by then they will be #9 and 10. BUT, the first leg will be with a friend. The second will be with my DBF, my niece and her hubby.

I will need to get off and make sure my friend is in good hands to get her back to the bus (her first cruise and in NYC, so I'm guessing the porters will get her across the street and to the cab station for a nice tip.) Then I will have to find my DBF and my family. Will they be able to board Priority with me? (Family's first cruise, DBF's 8th on Carnival.) We won't be linked by a credit card to my niece's booking, but my PVP said we will be linked at least for dining rooms, and to contact her closer to cruise so we can be linked for other things????? So hoping that I can get my group boarded Priority cuz my DBF can be such a bear when he has to wait (but he loves to cook, therefore I'm keeping him!) ;)

And yes, I'm totally trying to get my 10 in this year to be grandfathered in.

Anyway, I can't just gather up DBF and leave my family members stranded, as this is their first cruise and they don't know what to expect or where to go, and we want to get our embarkation pics taken together, etc.

Leave it to me to make things complicated, but I'd appreciate any help to figure out how to pull this all together. :o

[serene56]

[quote name='Seago2']

I'm on a 5 day with my son and my husband is coming on for the 7 day after. It's not a critical question, as obviously we'll have our phones and will be able to find each other, but how does he link on to my S&S card? Or does he just use his own account? Is it better to have him waiting and grab him when we zero down and add him then to our account, thereby making him the fastest FTTF person alive?

Can I move my hanging things on hangers?

Thanks, everyone![/QUOTE]

pack your hanging stuff already on hangers. put plastic between the clothes.

You also want to rethink using your phones onboard. you will be using the ships cell service - not your own.

You all will have your own sign and sail card. You need this card to get in the cabin and to get on and off the ship. You set up charging privileges when you do your online check in.

I have not yet given my kids charging priviledges on a cruise.

[Elaine5715]

[quote name='littlesnit']Wow. So glad I found this thread.
Thinking about doing a B2B in Sept. Hopefully by then they will be #9 and 10. BUT, the first leg will be with a friend. The second will be with my DBF, my niece and her hubby.

I will need to get off and make sure my friend is in good hands to get her back to the bus (her first cruise and in NYC, so I'm guessing the porters will get her across the street and to the cab station for a nice tip.) Then I will have to find my DBF and my family. Will they be able to board Priority with me? (Family's first cruise, DBF's 8th on Carnival.) We won't be linked by a credit card to my niece's booking, but my PVP said we will be linked at least for dining rooms, and to contact her closer to cruise so we can be linked for other things????? So hoping that I can get my group boarded Priority cuz my DBF can be such a bear when he has to wait (but he loves to cook, therefore I'm keeping him!) ;)

And yes, I'm totally trying to get my 10 in this year to be grandfathered in.

Anyway, I can't just gather up DBF and leave my family members stranded, as this is their first cruise and they don't know what to expect or where to go, and we want to get our embarkation pics taken together, etc.

Leave it to me to make things complicated, but I'd appreciate any help to figure out how to pull this all together. :o[/QUOTE]

If DBF and family's boarding passes say Priority, then yes. If not, no.

[Seago2]

[quote name='serene56']pack your hanging stuff already on hangers. put plastic between the clothes.

You also want to rethink using your phones onboard. you will be using the ships cell service - not your own.

You all will have your own sign and sail card. You need this card to get in the cabin and to get on and off the ship. You set up charging privileges when you do your online check in.

I have not yet given my kids charging priviledges on a cruise.[/QUOTE]

Ok I think you misunderstood me- I mean from the first cabin to the second. Do I need to pack the hanging stuff or can I use a suitcase cart thing? We are switching cabins between B2B segments. The cell service comment was for us to find my husband when he boards for the second segment. Just wondering if we can grab him when we zero down and get him on board with us first. Then wondering if we can add him to our (my) Onboard account when he gets on or if he'll have to set up his own account.

[kyo413]

I have a few more questions for seasoned B2Bers.

1) The permissible bottle of wine that we can bring in carry on... can we bring two? Do we just pack the second and get it back that last night?

2) Doing B2B with younger kids- the last (and only time they have cruised) cruise that they went on, we did the YTD, as it made more sense. However, we prefer set dining times- we enjoy getting to know table mates, and moreso, getting to know the wait staff. What do others do when on a B2B? One early, one late (we prefer late, but that is LATE for our 9 and 5 year old, especially if Camp Carnival has something going on. But we are not early eaters, even in everyday life). So what do you think? YTD/early/late/combo? We were not the biggest fans of YTD, but currently have it booked for both, as it has the most flexibility.

3) Kind of a silly question.... for elegant night, do you wear the same thing both cruises? My thinking is that I would never do that on a sailing with 2 elegant nights, but what are the chances of anyone (other than us) knowing the difference on a B2B, and it may increase our chances of getting good formal pictures, and none of our friends/family would know they are from 2 different nights ;). Thoughts?

[Quilting_Cruiser]

[quote name='kyo413']

3) Kind of a silly question.... for elegant night, do you wear the same thing both cruises? My thinking is that I would never do that on a sailing with 2 elegant nights, but what are the chances of anyone (other than us) knowing the difference on a B2B, and it may increase our chances of getting good formal pictures, and none of our friends/family would know they are from 2 different nights ;). Thoughts?[/quote]


Oh, you're so silly! ;) Seriously, I can't imagine anyone would notice if you wore the same thing on both elegant nights on the [I]same [/I]sailing (unless it was something like a red sequined cocktail dress). Who's to notice on a B2B. I'm sure the crew couldn't care less. I've gotten to the point where I bring only one outfit for both elegant nights. :o I understand about the photos, so I'd base it on that.

[Cruisin'Doc]

[quote name='Publius1787']
The way the middle section is done seems to vary from port ot port, we were in NOLA and they had us wait until everyone left the first leg and then walked us down to Customs and than we got your new S&S cards and they walked us right back on about 30 minutes before they started the boarding for the second cruise. Tell your steward about the B2B and usually they will clean your cabin first thing, go up and have breakfast so they can get in there early. We hung out on our balcony after the room was cleaned and then walked the ship and found stuff we hadn't seen before, it was a lot of fun.

Have a great time![/quote]

This is great! It looks as though you were on the Conquest, and we are doing a B2B on the Conquest in July. I have a couple of questions, if you do not mind.
1) What time/where did you meet to be escorted to customs?
2) Did you have to wait in the terminal to reboard, or did you just hand in your customs form and reboard?
Thanks!

[Cruisin'Doc]

[quote name='dulcimergirl']
6. If you receive your Players Club card, during the first cruise, mention to the club manager your on a B2B and you will get a new card, as soon as the casino opens, and won't have to wait to accrue the points again.
Be sure to tip your waiter/waitress at the casino if you have a "free drinks" card. They are more likely to return often. If you don't its awfully hard to catch one.
[/quote]

Dulcimergirl - re: #6 - do you mean the drinks 'On Us' card? If so, do you mean tell the casino manager (or is a host ok to tell?) while you're on the first leg, and when the casino opens on the second leg, you will get the card as soon as it opens?

Just wanting to clarify :)

[Vmalcolm]

Just did b2b on Dream in May. We had to switch cabins which was not a big deal. Since we had purchased a lot of liquor on the first leg we decided it would be easier to take it off at the end of that leg and put it in the car (without having to cart luggage too). This caused us numerous problems.

First, our liquor was not delivered as we were doing b2b. No big deal, we went to guest services and explained what we were doing and they eventually delivered it.

Next morning we went to guest services and got our new cards and proceeded off with the in transit cards they gave us. Went to car, stashed stuff, and returned. No one knew what to do with us. After sitting us in a couple of places we were finally put in VIP lounge (we both are platinum). We had to wait with everyone to board, in transit pass was worthless. Fine...

We got to point to insert card for pictures, cards were invalid. We were given guest badges and told to get on. They had us sit in the lobby on the ship till someone from guest services could come and get us. Eventually they came, took us to the desk, and after standing there for awhile, they told us the new information was not in the system and we'd have to come back after 12:30 to get cards. Huh? How could the information not be in yet as all of the new passengers were already getting on.

They told us we could just go to our room. Nice, but no keys as no card. They said our room steward should be around in the hall. Off we went. No room steward to be found. After searching the hall we finally found someone who found him for us. Didn't want to let us in as we had no cards. Finally convinced him by identifying our luggage.

Great, in the room, unpacked. We are stuck. Both of us couldn't leave at one time.

Finally at 12:30 we got our new cards.

We did not get fruit and wine gift. Our points in casino didn't carry over even though we asked. Got a letter thanking us for doing b2b, that was it.

When we went to debark at first port, our cards wouldn't work as there was no photo associated with it. While we held up all the folks in line they tried to take our pictures for about 5 minutes. Eventually it worked and we had no further problems.

Not huge problems, but thought I'd post our experience with our b2b.

Valerie