Back 2 back questions

[Dave4120]

Hello...My wife and I have cruised many times with RCCL, but have never done a true, back 2 back cruise, until now.

 

We will be cruising on the Explorer out of Cape Liberty in March to the Bahama's for 7-nights, then, when that cruise ends, we will stay on board in the same cabin, and leave for Bermuda.

 

I know many of you have probably done back 2 back cruises before, and would welcome any information you can provide to help ease my nervous mind.

 

I have several questions, including do we stay on board after the first cruise, are there special forms to fill out, etc.

 

Thank-you very much for any information.

 

Dave

[homeschoolmama]

Hi. Done many b2b cruises and is simple. The ship will notify you night before last day and all b2b cruisers meet in a location. Ship personnel take you off together just to clear customs and then you go right back on and have the whole ship to yourselves. Some ports customs come on and clear you so you do not even have to get off. Sometimes there is also a special lunch just for b2b cruisers in the main dining room, while all the other cruisers who are embarking have to jam into the buffet. It always goes very smoothly.

 

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[Dave4120]

WOW...Thanks so much for your response. I did not realize the procedure was that simple. How exciting it will be when we get to stay on for another cruise instead of having to get off after the first cruise and go home sad sooner than later.

[homeschoolmama]

It is the greatest feeling to walk down the hall the last night of the week and see everyone else putting their suitcases in the hall and you don't have to! An empty ship is the pinnacle of relaxing!

 

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[Ourusualbeach]

It is the greatest feeling to walk down the hall the last night of the week and see everyone else putting their suitcases in the hall and you don't have to! An empty ship is the pinnacle of relaxing!

 

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And being the only ones aboard for that first hour in the morning.

[Traveling Library]

We did our first B2B in San Juan in Feb 13. As HomeSchoolMama says the process is smooth. We had a meeting and got our new SeaPasses and "transit" cards the day before.

On the turn-over day we took a ships tour to El Junque National Park. When we returned we skipped all lines and zipped back on board. They had a special luncheon for B2B who did not get off the ship.

We told our cabin steward to make up our room last.

[Dave4120]

This all sounds very exciting. Only about 4-months to go. I have a funny feeling, once we do this back 2 back, it will be the only way we do future cruises, if, the cruise prices are as favorable as they were for these 2 cruises.

 

Thanks to everyone who has responded.

[pcur]

One of my favorite b2b's is a transatlantic or repositioning cruise, with the last of the old itinerary or the first of the new itinerary added to the front or back end.

 

We've done

 

last Mediterranean, Transatlantic West including Caribbean;

 

last Caribbean, Transatlantic East;

 

last Alaska, Trans Pacific to Hawaii

 

 

Transatlantic cruises are among the best for bang-for-your-buck value, too.

 

Western Caribbean out of Galveston or New Orleans are great before an eastbound Transatlantic, because you get Mexico, Caribbean, and Europe in one big trip. Also, the Western Caribbean itineraries are usually cheaper, too.

 

We always get off the ship on turnaround day. If you do, be sure to ask which way to come back in, because sometimes they have you go in the crew's door.

 

You're gonna love your b2b!!!

[Scotty G]

Something sometimes overlooked. When you check in online be sure and ID yourself as a "Consecutive Cruiser" for the end if the first cruise and start of the second. This will appear at the place where they ask how you are arriving and departing from the port. This will set up your account for the second cruise amongst other things.

[Dave4120]

Hello Ian and Linda...Thanks for the information you provided. Obviously, I would have never known about checking off consecutive cruiser. If there is anything else worth mentioning, I'm sure someone else will also reply.

 

Thank-you again.

Dave

[Grandma Dazzles]

Just completed a B2B on the Allure.

 

The procedure was simple and went well. We had a meeting earlier in the week - well attended - and procedure was explained in detail.

 

The morning of embarkation we met in the Schooner Lounge and around 10:30 we were escorted off the ship to clear immigration and customs. We received our new Sea Pass cards, had our photo taken, and went back on the ship - first passengers of the new week on board!

 

RC had arranged lunch in Giovanni's for us - thanks RC - it was excellent!

 

One thing, we stayed in the same stateroom and we were glad that we did. RC will move all your hanging items in the closet from one room to another, but you have to pack your suitcase with the rest to move. I think that would be a pain, unless you really had a better stateroom. By staying in the same room we really felt like we were coming "home" and our steward knew us well - as did the neighboring stewards - all very friendly and welcoming us back. We were able to access our room right away - did not have to wait until 1:00 p.m.

 

Have always known how hard the stewards work, but being B2B was a real eye-opener! Once passengers cleared the rooms it was like an army arrived - lots of extra staff, polishing, cleaning, changing out mattresses, occasional chair, etc. It seemed very well planned with everyone having a specific job to do - they all worked so well together and so hard. Made us think another reason not to change stateroom unless you had a major reason - hallways were very congested with carts, etc., wouldn't have wanted to move from one room to another.

[Langley Cruisers]

We had a glorious B2B last year on Jewel. In addition to what everyone else has said, we decided to give our steward the last morning off as far as we were concerned. We told him we were consecutive cruisers, and please don't bother coming in on turnaround day. They are so busy getting the cabins ready for the new set of passengers, we knew he would probably appreciate this, and he did! We put our Do Not Disturb card in the door slot and told our steward not to come into our cabin until evening. :)

 

Don't be nervous; there are no forms to fill out. The staff knows who the consecutive cruisers are, not to worry (although for peace of mind you can just verify this at Guest Relations in the first few days).

 

Enjoy your cruises!!

[crisndeefromde]

And my two cents...once you do one...you will want more....lol

 

enjoy

[Dave4120]

All of these additional tidbits of information gets us more excited about our upcoming back 2 back cruise. How nice if we end up getting a private lunch, plus, being first back onto the ship sounds great. And, I think it is a great idea to give our room steward the day off so he or she can prepare the other rooms for the new passenger arrivals.

 

I would like to thank all of you for you insight, and, for your personal experiences. We love reading them.

[Langley Cruisers]

And my two cents...once you do one...you will want more....

 

So true! We are looking at a B2B for next year after I am finished my cancer treatment. It will be a real celebration. :)

.

[Grandma Dazzles]

And my two cents...once you do one...you will want more....lol

 

enjoy

 

Totally agree! This was our first one and we loved it. Enjoyed staying on the same ship and in the same cabin.

 

With the rising price of air fares, a 7-day seems so short; you are no sooner there than home again, and the air fare is high! Loved doing the Western Caribbean one week and then the Eastern the next. If not a B2B would prefer more 10-12 day cruises.

[Grandma Dazzles]

So true! We are looking at a B2B for next year after I am finished my cancer treatment. It will be a real celebration. :)

.

 

Good luck with your treatments! A B2B would be a wonderful relaxing celebration.

[Merion_Mom]

Dave, you need to wait for a response from someone who has done a B2B specifically on the Explorer. Each port does things a little bit differently, and Cape Liberty is about as different as it gets!

[cruiseacecat]

I can only add make certain before the end of your first cruise that guest services actually knows you are b2b. One hand does not always know what the other is doing. Please do double check. You do not want any glitches that morning.

[Dave4120]

I'm sure with so many things going on, it could be possible for something to get mixed up.

 

Yes, it would be nice to hear from someone who has done a back 2 back on the Explorer out of Cape Liberty. I guess that would indicate if the procedures are the same on everys hip and port, or, slightly different.

[crisndeefromde]

So true! We are looking at a B2B for next year after I am finished my cancer treatment. It will be a real celebration. :)

.

 

It will be a great celebration for sure!!!!!!

[Langley Cruisers]

It will be a great celebration for sure!!!!!!

 

Good luck with your treatments! A B2B would be a wonderful relaxing celebration.

 

Thank you both! I'm hanging in there for now. ;):)

 

...Yes, it would be nice to hear from someone who has done a back 2 back on the Explorer out of Cape Liberty. I guess that would indicate if the procedures are the same on every ship and port, or, slightly different.

 

Dave, I would advise you not to worry about this or really even give it a second thought. The procedures and instructions for consecutive cruisers will be spelled out for you in a number of ways, including printed material left in your cabin, and a meeting in one of the lounges with all the B2B cruisers and a few staff members who will explain everything. Considering we didn't know what to expect on our first B2B, everything went very smoothly. I'm sure yours will too. :)

.

[Dave4120]

Thank Karen and to everyone else for all of the helpful information. Will respond back to how things went after we return from our cruises.

 

Dave

[epcopres]

What perks do you get for being a B2B cruiser. I heard on the 2nd leg you were considered diamond for the week. Is that true? Any other perks?

[Colorado Babe]

What perks do you get for being a B2B cruiser. I heard on the 2nd leg you were considered diamond for the week. Is that true? Any other perks?

 

No perks per se. If you went from Emerald to Diamond after the first leg of the B2B, then you would be Diamond for the second cruise.