B2B- when you have that hour or so on board before others board.....

[rene194215]

Is anything open? I was wondering if after I get my room key I can check out the table I am at. First leg is YTD and second is with my friend and I want to do just the 2 of us,

 

I read that food will not available or drinks (not a big deal as I will be ok from breakfast and I will have my wine if I want a drink)

 

Would guest services be open? I know that that is where we would meet to get the new card. But I wonder if I would be able to go there and set up my account as I will use cash for the sign and sail account. Too bad that they cannot link the first to the second :(

 

I know I am going to take advantage and go around the ship. I will have a nice new camera to try thats got a wider angle, I cannot wait!!!

[Sparky2]

Is anything open? I was wondering if after I get my room key I can check out the table I am at. First leg is YTD and second is with my friend and I want to do just the 2 of us,

 

I read that food will not available or drinks (not a big deal as I will be ok from breakfast and I will have my wine if I want a drink)

 

Would guest services be open? I know that that is where we would meet to get the new card. But I wonder if I would be able to go there and set up my account as I will use cash for the sign and sail account. Too bad that they cannot link the first to the second :(

 

I know I am going to take advantage and go around the ship. I will have a nice new camera to try thats got a wider angle, I cannot wait!!!

 

We'll be doing our 4th B2B next January.

 

At the end of the 1st cruise, you wait in the lobby & someone will take you down through customs & back on the ship.

 

We usually go to our cabin to get rid of our passports, then go to the lido & find a nice place to sit & wait for the buffet to open. We're one of the first ones at the deli or Bob's Burgers when they open and can relax before the big rush is on.

 

Around 1 or so we go check out our MDR table.

[mississauga]

Is anything open? I was wondering if after I get my room key I can check out the table I am at. First leg is YTD and second is with my friend and I want to do just the 2 of us,

 

I read that food will not available or drinks (not a big deal as I will be ok from breakfast and I will have my wine if I want a drink)

 

Would guest services be open? I know that that is where we would meet to get the new card. But I wonder if I would be able to go there and set up my account as I will use cash for the sign and sail account. Too bad that they cannot link the first to the second :(

 

I know I am going to take advantage and go around the ship. I will have a nice new camera to try thats got a wider angle, I cannot wait!!!

 

Are you in the same cabin? If so, that is the biggest plus of a b2b. No packing and unpacking for cruise #2.

 

The food venues are usually opened early for guests boarding early so even if they are closed briefly between breakfast for the departing guests, the turnaround for them opening for lunch for the new embarking guests is very minimal. We have in the past boarded by 10:30am and Lido was opened.

 

As you said, after having breakfast you probably will not be looking for food anyways.

 

I would think that Guests Services would be opened as they are manned 24 hours a day. You would need your new S&S card before setting up a new account and no, GS is not where you will usually get it. You will receive a letter the night before and meet in a designated area to receive your new card, walk off the ship as a group, go through immigration and then return to the ship. You card will be activated as you re board the ship. There was an occasion that we received our new card with the letter the night before but we still had to wait to re board the ship before our card was activated.

[WindsorFred]

Don't forget that you can go to the Fun Shops after 7 PM the last night of your first leg and purchase a bottle or two and they give you them to take back to your room. If you buy it on shore or earlier at the Fun Shops it may not be delivered to your room at the end of the first leg, as has been reported here by some. So if you "imbibe" at all this is a more inexpensive way to do so. Enjoy your cruise.

[ItsAllAboutTheSass]

We like to eat breakfast late and not have to worry about lunch right away. Once we get back on, we grab loungers by the pool and people watch.

[rene194215]

Are you in the same cabin? If so, that is the biggest plus of a b2b. No packing and unpacking for cruise #2.

 

The food venues are usually opened early for guests boarding early so even if they are closed briefly between breakfast for the departing guests, the turnaround for them opening for lunch for the new embarking guests is very minimal. We have in the past boarded by 10:30am and Lido was opened.

 

As you said, after having breakfast you probably will not be looking for food anyways.

 

I would think that Guests Services would be opened as they are manned 24 hours a day. You would need your new S&S card before setting up a new account and no, GS is not where you will usually get it. You will receive a letter the night before and meet in a designated area to receive your new card, walk off the ship as a group, go through immigration and then return to the ship. You card will be activated as you re board the ship. There was an occasion that we received our new card with the letter the night before but we still had to wait to re board the ship before our card was activated.

 

Luckily yes, I am in the same cabin!! So that helps a lot!!!

 

Don't forget that you can go to the Fun Shops after 7 PM the last night of your first leg and purchase a bottle or two and they give you them to take back to your room. If you buy it on shore or earlier at the Fun Shops it may not be delivered to your room at the end of the first leg, as has been reported here by some. So if you "imbibe" at all this is a more inexpensive way to do so. Enjoy your cruise.

 

I thought about this but I would never be able to drink a whole bottle within 4 days!!:eek: But I do remember seeing smaller bottles of something.. Maybe vodka in like a sample pack, I could get that!

[mommom of 7]

A lot of this also depends on which ship you are on. Out of Tampa some time after 11:00 you can pick up your card at Guest Services, at that time I'm sure that they will set up your account. After the ship clears GS is very busy in the back getting ready for the new group.

From other ports you will go threw customs. The lido food is always ready by 11:00.

I use my time to get my laundry done & Larry sits & people watch, he try's to stay in the Lobby. We have done at least 10-12 B2B'S B2B2B'S & ONE

B2B2B2B.

Char

[luv2croos]

We used our between time to spend time in the pool at the back of the ship. My hubby doesn't like to get in the pool with a lot of people. We had it all to ourselves for quite some time.

[Elaine5715]

It may not be an hour, it could be 10 minutes before they start boarding.

[Jana60]

Is anything open? I was wondering if after I get my room key I can check out the table I am at. First leg is YTD and second is with my friend and I want to do just the 2 of us,

 

I read that food will not available or drinks (not a big deal as I will be ok from breakfast and I will have my wine if I want a drink)

 

Would guest services be open? I know that that is where we would meet to get the new card. But I wonder if I would be able to go there and set up my account as I will use cash for the sign and sail account. Too bad that they cannot link the first to the second :(

 

I know I am going to take advantage and go around the ship. I will have a nice new camera to try thats got a wider angle, I cannot wait!!!

 

I enjoy a nice hot tub soak but hate to share with crowds or kids so the last time I did a back to back I was a woman with a plan! I took a large chilled glass of wine and soaked in my own personal, empty hot tub until the ship started getting populated again. :D

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

[TH III]

We went and found the Suites on the ship during the hour or so we had on our one and only (so far) B2B. Gave us a chance to see them first hand. We decided, they are nice, but not worth the extra money compared to the balcony on Lido deck.

 

We were very careful to stay out of the way of the very busy Stewards cleaning for the on coming guests.

[BSQ]

Depends on the ship. I just had to go to GS At whatever time the letter they sent me said to be there, got my new sail n $sign card and that's all. I don't recall anything open at all except GS.

 

The quiet of the ship, yet everyone in mouthing getting her ready, was quite a different experience. I just tried to stay out of the way while I sat on deck and read with my coffee.

 

Because we didn't get off the ship, when I tried to get off at the first port on the second leg, my card sounded a buzzer at security. Turns out they had to take my picture. :) also, and not sure why. later in the evening I had to go to GS because my CC didn't carry over to the second sailing.

Edited June 10, 2014 by BSQ

[rene194215]

Thank you all for responding!

 

I have yet another question. I will have a sign n sail account set up with cruise cash and cash. I know I have to cash out at the end of the first cruise. But how do things get set up for the second part? I just posted a question about the actual cruise cash. I would assume it would be there to use? Oh and then at the end of the second leg cash out as well in the casino!

[PaulMedik]

.......... at the end of the second leg cash out as well in the casino!

 

 

Rene,

 

Make sure you cash out at the casino at the end of both legs; the first leg won't carry over. The policy is you lose whatever is left, but they've mailed us checks in the past.

[2Shoes2Go]

Great time to make pictures; nearly empty ship. Our experience has been, usually on the last night, of the first leg, the maitre d will check with us on what our table desires are for the second leg. Love B2Bs! Enjoy!:)

[GuitarPlayer]

We never got off the ship, just went to the embarkation deck and someone from customs came on and looked at our paperwork, carnival person gave us S&S cards and said "See you later, have a great 2nd week."

 

DW and I, too, encountered the "BUZZ" when trying to get off at first port. Needed our pics taken. Be aware of that, and perhaps ask when you are getting your card how do you get your pic taken?

 

We did have to move cabins, but only to the other side of the ship on the same deck. We really didn't "repack and unpack." More like carried our stuff over on hangars and then moved the other hangers to first room. Room stewards understood and had no issue with us putting stuff in second room even though it wasn't completely ready for us.

 

We mostly did people watching and wandered around a pretty empty ship, but it didn't take long for round two to start up.

 

I highly recommend B2B, although 2-5Days were better than 2-7Days B2B. 14 days was just too long for us (but we have 5 DD's so we were missing them too).

 

GP

[GuitarPlayer]

...

 

Wow, I want my .sig to look like yours someday.

 

Jealous!

 

GP

[edinboro cruiser]

On my b2b I was asked what table I wanted for the second leg and we got it

 

 

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[Anyislandwilldo]

If you find a table you like for dining then ask the maitre'd on the first leg if he can assign you that table for the second leg. Ask early!