B2B- what's good and what's not

[AF-1]

Hi am considering a 14 day B2B. Is I true that on week two all the food and entertainment will be the same as week one ? What about turnaround day. Do they make us leave the ship, will they kick us out of our cabin even tough we have the same one for week two? Thanks in advance.

[Medtech2]

Hi am considering a 14 day B2B. Is I true that on week two all the food and entertainment will be the same as week one ? What about turnaround day. Do they make us leave the ship, will they kick us out of our cabin even tough we have the same one for week two? Thanks in advance.

You will keep the same cabin. You leave all your stuff as is. You do have to leave to go through Customs but you will be first back on the ship. I wore my bathing suit so I could sit in the Hot tub and watch all the newbies come onboard :)

 

Shhhh---if you buy liquor the first week you can pick it up the last night and have it in your cabin the second week... ;)

 

While the itinerary and shows might be the same it will depend on the ship and the sailing. We happened to do an Epic B2B and the Legends show changed for us. If you are like me you run around trying to do and see everything. That second week is gravy--you relax and pick and choose what to do, or not. I wish all my cruises could be B2Bs!

[AF-1]

You will keep the same cabin. You leave all your stuff as is. You do have to leave to go through Customs but you will be first back on the ship. I wore my bathing suit so I could sit in the Hot tub and watch all the newbies come onboard :)

 

Shhhh---if you buy liquor the first week you can pick it up the last night and have it in your cabin the second week... ;)

 

While the itinerary and shows might be the same it will depend on the ship and the sailing. We happened to do an Epic B2B and the Legends show changed for us. If you are like me you run around trying to do and see everything. That second week is gravy--you relax and pick and choose what to do, or not. I wish all my cruises could be B2Bs!

 

 

Hey thanks for the feedback. Our B2B would be in Europe. I did a search and people say in Europe u don't have to clear customs or immigration.

[Demonyte]

It all depends on the itinerary. As the cruises would take place in Europe, procedure is much easier than in US ports - no need to leave the ship on the turnaround day if not desired.

 

Also food and entertainment might be different if the itinerary is designed so that it can be combined like Jade's summer cruises from Venice where she alternates between two 7-night itineraries - we did the "second" itinerary last summer (Greek Isles) and had different set of menus than usually used. On the other hand, it might be that everything in that regard is the same, at least they have the exact same entertainment staff onboard unless their contract happens to end just after the first cruise, but in theory they could have different shows.

[4774Papa]

We did a B2B on Celebrity Infinity, which included a transatlantic and British Isles cruise. Both were great.

There was some duplication of entertainment, but not all. The production shows put on by the ship's singers and dancers are usually the same, sometimes for years.

 

We have a B2B on the NCL Star in Sep/Oct, which includes a TA coming home. Looking forward to both cruises.

[KeithJenner]

I assume you're talking about the Jade 14 day cruise (noticed on the other thread you started).

 

This is a very common B2B cruise. We are doing it later this year, and a lot of the people on our roll call are also doing the 14 day. I'm sure it is the main reason why NCL alternate the itineraries like they do.

 

As a result, a lot of things will be planned to accommodate the B2B passengers. I understand from reviews that there are some differences in entertainment and that the menus don't repeat (NCL have about 14 menus, so they can avoid having many repeats).

 

It's likely that the first day menu will repeat, as it's Lobster night, for example, but I expect there to also be a lot of changes.

 

As goes the turnaround day, you don't have to pack anything up, and I don't believe that you even have to leave the ship (that seems to be a US requirement principally). We are planning on using it as an ordinary port day and visiting Venice. I also don't believe that you have to attend the second muster drill (although I can't say for definite).

[Demonyte]

It's likely that the first day menu will repeat, as it's Lobster night, for example, but I expect there to also be a lot of changes.

 

There are two lobster dishes in the menus, on menus #1 and #8. That is how I knew that we were on the "second" itinerary last summer on Jade as we had the menu #8 (lobster dish is Seafood Extravaganza) on embarkation night - usually menu #1 (lobster dish is Surf & Turf) is served across the fleet.

Edited March 10, 2014 by Demonyte

[KeithJenner]

There are two lobster dishes in the menus, on menus #1 and #8. That is how I knew that we were on the "second" itinerary last summer on Jade as we had the menu #8 (lobster dish is Seafood Extravaganza) on embarkation night - usually menu #1 (lobster dish is Surf & Turf) is served across the fleet.

 

Aah, OK, so it's likely that there will be no repeated menus at all then.

[gooch47]

Depending on your booking you may not be in the same cabin the second week. We did a couple of fairly last minute ones through CAS and had different cabins. In fact, the ones coming up in a couple weeks are different cabins.

 

They say the stewards will help you move, but they are so busy on turnaround day that we just shoved everything in our suitcases and schlepped them to the new cabin ourselves.

 

Yes, you must get off the ship. At least in New Orleans which is the only place we've done b2b's recently, you are given a custom form stamped "in transit" and some stickers to attach to your clothing that say the same thing. We don't get right back on the ship since there are plenty of things to do right near the ship in NOLA.

Edited March 10, 2014 by gooch47

[Demonyte]

Depending on your booking you may not be in the same cabin the second week. We did a couple of fairly last minute ones through CAS and had different cabins. In fact, the ones coming up in a couple weeks are different cabins.

 

Many Med itineraries are sold as combined itineraries where the booking is made for both legs as one.

 

Yes, you must get off the ship. At least in New Orleans which is the only place we've done b2b's recently, you are given a custom form stamped "in transit" and some stickers to attach to your clothing that say the same thing. We don't get right back on the ship since there are plenty of things to do right near the ship in NOLA.

 

As said at least in two posts in this thread, B2Bs in US ports are different from anywhere else - OP is looking at Med cruises.

Edited March 10, 2014 by Demonyte

[AF-1]

Hi everyone; thank you for all the feedback. Yes we are excited. We will be doing the 14 day out of venice. It has two different itineraries; so with that said here is what I am gunning for.

1. we may have a few days with same menu in MDR (no big deal)

2. The headline entertainment will be the same; however, the smaller acts may change in each port.

3. Our travel agent is trying to book same cabin for both legs; I believe it will be done.

4. We are doing an aft cabin for the first time. Looking at Jade the cabins look pretty square; where u can't look down and into the cabin below. Has anyone here on this thread been in aft cabin on NCL? If so, please let me know how you liked it.

Thanks

[BabsinTX]

Hi everyone; thank you for all the feedback. Yes we are excited. We will be doing the 14 day out of venice. It has two different itineraries; so with that said here is what I am gunning for.

1. we may have a few days with same menu in MDR (no big deal)

2. The headline entertainment will be the same; however, the smaller acts may change in each port.

3. Our travel agent is trying to book same cabin for both legs; I believe it will be done.

4. We are doing an aft cabin for the first time. Looking at Jade the cabins look pretty square; where u can't look down and into the cabin below. Has anyone here on this thread been in aft cabin on NCL? If so, please let me know how you liked it.

Thanks

 

If at all possible, get the same cabin for both legs--less hassle and more relaxing. At the end of the first week people will be packing and sad about leaving, and you'll be having a drink and smiling.

 

After you've sailed in an aft cabin, you'll be hooked for life. I can't get my husband to try anything else! First, there is very little traffic around aft cabins, so you'll see your neighbors and steward, and that's about it. Your balcony will have very little wind (compared to being forward or on the side) so you can sit outside more than you might in other cabins.

 

You will have an awesome cruise!

[4774Papa]

We did a B2B and had different cabins. It was no big deal to move. We had to pack and tip the room steward, but it worked.

[AF-1]

BabsinTX. We did get same aft cabin for both legs. Yeah for us

4774Papa. We lucked out and got same cabin . Did u have aft balcony?

Edited March 11, 2014 by AF-1

[cpcanuck]

4. We are doing an aft cabin for the first time. Looking at Jade the cabins look pretty square; where u can't look down and into the cabin below. Has anyone here on this thread been in aft cabin on NCL? If so, please let me know how you liked it.

Thanks

 

I was in an aft balcony on the Dawn and absolutely loved it! Out of the wind, relaxing and quiet with very little noise or traffic in the hallway. You do have long walks to the rest of the ship - but hey...with all the rich food you will want to walk some of it off! :)

 

As for the cabins above - when you are standing at the rail and look up you can the balcony above - but when you are sitting on the chair or lounger there is an overhang which does give privacy.

 

My next cruise will be in an aft cabin again! I'm completely hooked!

[BabsinTX]

Hello. My name is BabsinTX and I'm addicted to aft cabins.:D

[meggie711]

Hi everyone; thank you for all the feedback. Yes we are excited. We will be doing the 14 day out of venice. It has two different itineraries; so with that said here is what I am gunning for.

1. we may have a few days with same menu in MDR (no big deal)

2. The headline entertainment will be the same; however, the smaller acts may change in each port.

3. Our travel agent is trying to book same cabin for both legs; I believe it will be done.

4. We are doing an aft cabin for the first time. Looking at Jade the cabins look pretty square; where u can't look down and into the cabin below. Has anyone here on this thread been in aft cabin on NCL? If so, please let me know how you liked it. Thanks

 

Loved our aft-facing balcony on Epic!!

[AF-1]

So my next question is, the long walk from the aft cabins; does this vary by ship? We r on Jade so when I looked at a deck map, the aft stairs didn't look too far away. Am I wrong?

[cpcanuck]

So my next question is, the long walk from the aft cabins; does this vary by ship? We r on Jade so when I looked at a deck map, the aft stairs didn't look too far away. Am I wrong?

 

It's not that the aft stairs or elevators are far away, it's the fact that you are at one end of the ship and a lot of the public areas are midship or front of ship which requires lots of walking from stern to bow. It's actually not that bad, but it is surprising how long the ship is when you do have to walk the whole distance when you've forgotten something in the cabin! :)

[Demonyte]

No, the stairs aren't that far - Jewel class and earlier ships still have three elevator banks making moving around much easier than on new ships with only two elevator banks. If the location is good for you, all depends on what your "hot spots" are. For us, cabin locations in midship or in aft are great because of the close proximity of buffet, MDRs, our favourite bars etc. We don't do much of the shows so only thing we need from fwd of the ship is the casino and occasional yoga classes for my GF in the gym.

[Va Girl]

Just wondering...Does NCL close out your on-board account each week or is it one bill at the end of the B2B??? We are doing the Jade out of Venice. Got that aft balcony that we love!

[peg013]

Just wondering...Does NCL close out your on-board account each week or is it one bill at the end of the B2B??? We are doing the Jade out of Venice. Got that aft balcony that we love!

 

Not sure if it is the same on all ships but when we did a B2B on the Dawn (Dec 2012) that each week was booked separately - we had one bill for both weeks which was wonderful because we had $1025 in OBC to spread out over both weeks.

[Demonyte]

If booked separately, just make sure before the very end of first leg that they know about the second in guest services do they won't close the account by accident (I think thay they mark the account when one visits them as instructed in Freestyle Daily). If booked as one combined itinerary, the onboard account carries on for the whole duration and there is no need to visit Guest Services for anything B2B related.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Demonyte

[AF-1]

Even though you are on B2B or if NCL booked it as a 14 day trip, you will have to close out folio and get new card for second portion of trip.

[AF-1]

I will stick to the aft cabin. I don't mind walking and rarely use elevator.