B2B or 14 day

[FoghornLeghorn]

We're looking at a Caribbean cruise as a 7 day. Then noticed we could book it as a 14 day.

Any advantages to booking either way?

Price is about the same.

I assume as a 14 day we'd just get one cruise credit, so that could be an advantage booking it as two 7 days.

We'd need to make sure the same cabin was available on the two 7 days.... so the 14 day might be easier..

What say ye experienced cruisers? :)

[Once Upon A Time]

If you have status that entitles you to free internet minutes, it will make a difference.. Book as one cruise, get one free internet package… book as two cruises, you get the free internet minutes on both cruises.. We just found out the hard way...:(

[msmoger]

Our B2B on the CB next year was booked as two 7 day cruises. The price was very slightly more to do it that way. However, our TA (as well as the Princess website) was showing much more cabin availability for the two 7 day cruises as compared to the 14 day cruise. She's a high volume Princess TA so I assume this was not due to inexperience on her part. That made are decision easy since we were able to get the same cabin for both legs in the exact location we wanted.

 

Now of course we're guaranteed two cruise credits and internet minutes for both cruises. :D

[Dudleydog73]

14 days is usually the threshold for additional OBC so I would book what made the most sense economically.

 

For example, if one was eligible for Military and Sharehold OBC, you would get $100 for each of those for each 7 day cruise. That would be a total of $400. If you book as a 14 day you would get $250 for each of those for a total of $500 credit.

 

That is but one example, and only you can run the numbers to find out which way makes more sense for you.

 

As for the cruise credits, you can usually talk to the Captains Circle host onboard and have them add the additional cruise credit if you explain you are really doing a back to back, but booked as a single 14 day cruise.

[OCruisers]

If you're not already Elite, getting two credits by doing the B2B is something to consider.

We like booking it as a 14 Day because we only have to use one Future Cruise Credit and only have one Booking Number.

LuLu

[paul929207]

You need to look at the OBC you are eligible for.

 

The FCC it would be the same for balcony or above. 7 days is $50 while 14 days is $100 each. However, lower cabin categories it is $25 and $75. So an extra $25 if booked as a 14 day cruise.

 

Shareholder and Military are each $100 for 7 nights and $250 for 14. So an extra $50 for the one longer cruises.

 

Loyalty credits are per leg, so doubled for the 7 night bookings.

 

If you book as one cruise, you can ask the Captain's Circle rep or call after you get home and get the second cruise credit

[AKman2495]

I recently got off a 14 day B@B that was booked as a 14 day. From practical terms, the cruise will be treated as 2 7 day cruises -with 2 cruise cards and being in transit at the end of the first week.

 

Princess will count it as one cruise. But, if you go to the captains circle desk on the first day of the second eg, they will give you the extra cruise credit.

 

We did that and on that embarkation day, we moved up to platinum, with all of the bennies.

 

The cruise personalizer did not show us as platinum until after that cruise, but big deal.

 

Book the 14 day-that way you lock in the same cabin and get the credit for 2 cruises as I mentioned.

[skynight]

We're looking at a Caribbean cruise as a 7 day. Then noticed we could book it as a 14 day.

Any advantages to booking either way?

Price is about the same.

I assume as a 14 day we'd just get one cruise credit, so that could be an advantage booking it as two 7 days.

We'd need to make sure the same cabin was available on the two 7 days.... so the 14 day might be easier..

What say ye experienced cruisers? :)

 

You have to do the math, fare less OBC's for the two situations. If the math turns out to be the same or almost the same I would choose booking as two separate cruises. In this way you can take advantage of any promos that might come up for one week and not the other. It can happen if one of the weeks is a busy cruise week and the other not busy. If you book as two cruises, the TA can probably get the same cabin for both legs if they work on it. If not, it is easy to change cabins during turnaround day. In either case you will have to exit the ship, go through immigration and return to the ship. Princess will provide you with detailed information on this easy procedure. If booked as two separate cruises, customer service will link them together and you will have a single charge to your CC at the end of the second week.

 

If you decide to book as a single cruise you can still get a cruise credit for each leg. During the second week visit the Captain's Circle host. Ask them to give you credit for two cruises. They will amend your account to show an additional cruise credit with zero days. Your account will then show one credit with 14 days and one credit with zero days.

[FoghornLeghorn]

WOW :) I go to the grocery store and come back to a wealth of information!

I will certainly do the math.

Hadn't thought about my free internet minutes.

I'll see if I get more doing a 14 day or 2 - 7 days and I'll look at the OBC thing, too.

Glad to know I'll have to disembark no matter which way I choose.

Thanks to everyone for helping me with this!

[LynnMW3]

I recently got off a 14 day B@B that was booked as a 14 day. From practical terms, the cruise will be treated as 2 7 day cruises -with 2 cruise cards and being in transit at the end of the first week.

 

Princess will count it as one cruise. But, if you go to the captains circle desk on the first day of the second eg, they will give you the extra cruise credit.

 

We did that and on that embarkation day, we moved up to platinum, with all of the bennies.

 

The cruise personalizer did not show us as platinum until after that cruise, but big deal.

 

Book the 14 day-that way you lock in the same cabin and get the credit for 2 cruises as I mentioned.

 

We booked a 14-day for next April, not realizing it was also being offered as two 7-day cruises...we booked using an FCC and got nice OBC and the military credit.

 

After the first leg, we'd qualify for platinum, but I was unsure about if they'd move us up for the second half (I'd really like to get the internet minutes for the second half.) I'll see the Captain's Circle person on the first day of the second leg and see what we can work out!

 

As another poster mentioned, there are many more staterooms available for the 7-day cruises, alot of them available for both legs; only two in our category still available when booking as a 14-day.

 

Wish us luck!;)

[Lanwood]

Glad you raised this question, as I have booked a 14 day Caribbean for next year thinking I would automatically get the to 2x7day itinerary's credited to my Captains Circle. Now I know what to do when on board - Cheers :)

[Cruise Junky]

Why don't you book a true 14 day Caribbean cruise on another cruise line? It's such a waste of time having to go back to Ft Lauderdale

[LynnMW3]

Why don't you book a true 14 day Caribbean cruise on another cruise line? It's such a waste of time having to go back to Ft Lauderdale

 

At least for us, right now, we wanted to attain Platinum status...besides, we're kind of partial to Princess...Celebrity is good also, but given the timing, Princess was the way to go this time...

[Sillyjilly]

If you have status that entitles you to free internet minutes, it will make a difference.. Book as one cruise, get one free internet package… book as two cruises, you get the free internet minutes on both cruises.. We just found out the hard way...:(

 

You get more minutes on a 14 dayer. 250 I think.

 

Also, you don't have to get off the ship and go through customs after 7 days.

 

Now getting an extra bar set up and OBC might be worth it. :D (If you're Elite)

Edited May 21, 2014 by Sillyjilly

[cubfan63]

You get more minutes on a 14 dayer. 250 I think.

 

Also, you don't have to get off the ship and go through customs after 7 days.

 

Now getting an extra bar set up and OBC might be worth it. :D (If you're Elite)

 

 

Unfortunately, the part about not having to go thru Customs on turnaround day on a 14 day is untrue. Since it is in FLL, you have to get off and go thru Customs either way.

 

And since it is a turnaround day, you will get a new mini-bar setup for Elite either way.

[Sillyjilly]

Unfortunately, the part about not having to go thru Customs on turnaround day on a 14 day is untrue. Since it is in FLL, you have to get off and go thru Customs either way.

 

And since it is a turnaround day, you will get a new mini-bar setup for Elite either way.

 

Are you sure? If it's booked as a 14 dayer that makes no sense. :confused:

[yoyosma]

I have always gotten internet minutes for both legs of a B2B cruise booked as a logical. On my last one I had been informed by someone that I would no longer get the second week of minutes, confirmed by the internet manager's helper. so I bought the special extra minutes. Turned out that I got the minutes for the next segment as well as having the extra minutes carry over to the second leg.

 

Always get a second mini bar at the beginning of the second leg.

 

Always get a second bathroom amenities at the beginning of the second leg.

 

I have never gotten the special OBC that comes with having more than 20 or 31 or 41 or 51 cruise credits on the second leg, just the first one. No complaints here though, I am happy with what they give me.

 

Always get the free wine tasting for both weeks.

 

Have I forgotten anything?

[yoyosma]

Unfortunately, the part about not having to go thru Customs on turnaround day on a 14 day is untrue. Since it is in FLL, you have to get off and go thru Customs either way.

 

And since it is a turnaround day, you will get a new mini-bar setup for Elite either way.

 

Actually, I am pretty sure you only go through immigration. You do not fill out the customs form. That has always been my experience in Ft. Lauderdale. In Alaska you have already cleared immigration (and customs) when you board in Vancouver so don't have to do anything at Whittier.

 

Correction, you do have to activate your new cruise card.

Edited May 21, 2014 by yoyosma

[cubfan63]

Actually, I am pretty sure you only go through immigration. You do not fill out the customs form. That has always been my experience in Ft. Lauderdale. In Alaska you have already cleared immigration (and customs) when you board in Vancouver so don't have to do anything at Whittier.

 

Correction, you do have to activate your new cruise card.

 

 

OP asking about FLL, where you do need to go off of the ship, since you have left the country, regardless of booked as 2-7 day cruises or one 14 day. Difference between immigration and customs blurred to me.

 

Agree that Whittier is completely different since you are already in the United States.

[cubfan63]

Are you sure? If it's booked as a 14 dayer that makes no sense. :confused:

 

 

What was your experience with this?

[yoyosma]

OP asking about FLL, where you do need to go off of the ship, since you have left the country, regardless of booked as 2-7 day cruises or one 14 day. Difference between immigration and customs blurred to me.

 

Agree that Whittier is completely different since you are already in the United States.

 

If you wish to visit Fort Lauderdale on turn around day you will take your passport, in transit card, old cruise card and new cruise card with you. you may get off at any time during disembarkation. You will ring your old card out, go into the cruise terminal and get in the line for customs and immigration with your passport and in transit card. After clearing this, you can do your thing in Ft. Lauderdale. You may then reboard whenever you choose once regular embarkation has begun. You will reboard using your new card.

 

If you are not planning to leave, you will meet in a designated area with other intransit passengers with you old card, new card, in transit card and passport. When everyone else is off the ship you will be escorted into the cruise terminal and your passport will be looked at by an agent. Then you will be seated to wait to reboard once the ship reaches a zero count. Then you reboard with your new card for a new picture. It doesn't usually take too long, but there always seems to be at least 1 passenger who doesn't read the information or doesn't believe it applies to them, so you usually have to wait a while for the zero count. I have had it take as little as 10 minutes total or as long as an hour and a half. The more people in transit, the longer it takes.

 

Simply put, the customs part of customs and immigration is where you declare what you are bringing into the country and may include inspection of your luggage or collection of duty. The immigration portion determines your eligibility to enter the country, thus the need to show your passport or other paperwork. I am sure there is more to it than I am aware, but this is my basic understanding.

 

Whittier is completely different because you clear US customs and immigration in Canada before boarding the vessel whose first stop is in the US. If you didn't clear in Canada before you leave, you would have to clear in your first port in the US. Or perhaps customs in Whittier.

[skynight]

You get more minutes on a 14 dayer. 250 I think.

You will get 150 mins. each leg. Unused mins from the first leg will be there during the second leg. That is the way it always worked for me.

Also, you don't have to get off the ship and go through customs after 7 days.

You are correct about Customs, but you are required to exit the ship with your passport and cruise cards and go through Immigration. The ship is required to have a 'zero passenger count' before they are allowed to board any past or new passengers. Leave your luggage on board. You can exit the ship anytime after disembarkation has started to tour around, shop, etc. and then re-board anytime after general boarding has started around noon.

Now getting an extra bar set up and OBC might be worth it. :D (If you're Elite) If you book as a 14 day, all the OBC's will show up as credits on the first leg, none will show on the 2nd. You will receive a new mini bar set up for each leg even if you booked as a 14 dayer. Not mentioned is the coffee card. We have always told the staff that we are on a b2b and they marked the card as such, thus receiving the brewed coffee and tea for both legs.

 

See above

[paul929207]

OP asking about FLL, where you do need to go off of the ship, since you have left the country, regardless of booked as 2-7 day cruises or one 14 day. Difference between immigration and customs blurred to me.

 

Agree that Whittier is completely different since you are already in the United States.

Immigration deals with authorizing the individual to enter the country. Customs deals with authorizing your stuff to enter.

[sept10dsm]

Our port charges were less costly by booking our Alaska last summer as the 14 day as compared to 2 seven day cruises. Also, as stated the OBC are different. The military works as does the shareholder. Two 7 day you get $100 per leg but if booked as the 14 day $250. For us the 14 day worked out much better with savings as well as OBC. This year I don't think Princess is even offering those as the 14 day 1 cruise.

[sashas_mom]

I just booked a 14 day Caribbean cruise on the Regal for 2015. There were only two cabin choices available in the category I wanted with sold out on all the other decks (I wanted a lower deck). After this discussion I checked the 2 seven day cruises and every deck for both sailings are available. Now, that's just dumb. Why not let me choose where I really want to be? After all, I'm booking this cruise way in advance and should be able to get what I want.

 

Thank you for this thread. I hope it will enable my TA to get me the cabin I really want.