Back to Back Cruises

[shrimpcruiser]

I am considering my first back to back cruise this year. All my cruises prior have been 7 days.

 

Any suggestions/comments on if it is worth it and how to make the best of it?

 

Thanks to all!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Our first cruise was a back-to-back. Since then we have done dozens and dozens of them.

We love them.

We book them far enough in advance that we have the same cabin for both cruises. It's great to see a different set of ports on the second cruise.

The only draw back is when you return back to the embarkation port between the 2 cruises and if you are in a US port, you are required to go through Immigration and can not get back onto the ship until it gets down to "zero" count. Near the end of the first cruise you will get a letter explaining everything -- when and where you will meet to go through immigration.

[Bonnie J.]

Try to get the same cabin for both cruises. We have been on a few B2Bs and its easier if you don't have to change cabins. If you do then do not take anything out of your drawers. They are the same size in each cabin so you can just exchange the drawers. Your room steward will bring a rolling hanger thing for you to hang all your clothes on and put the drawers on.

You should choose a cruise with different ports each cruise. (Eastern on one, western on the other.)

You will get a letter in your cabin the last day of cruise. It will tell you when and where to meet for all B2Bs the last day. It's usually in the atrium about 10am. Then all are escorted off, go through CUSTOMNS and are escorted right back on the ship. Carnival gives all B2Bers a free drink when you get back on board. You will get a new sign 'n sail card, the old one won't work to open your cabin.

We have NEVER had to wait to get back on board if we don't go ashore. We have ALWAYS been taken right back to the ship. And its customs you go thru not immigration.

If you want to go ashore then you just go. But you have to wait for all new passengers to get on board before you can get back on board.

Its fun when the crew recognize you and welcome you back. The waiter you use will even know what you drink before dinner!

Our last B2B was in September on the Sunshine. We went again last week on the Sunshine and many of the crew knew us and even called me by my nickname!

Edited January 24, 2015 by Bonnie J.

[CruiserBruce]

Its more time on a ship...of course it is worth it!!! :D;)

[paul929207]

We have loved every b2b we have taken.

 

If you book early, you have a better chance to get the same cabin for both legs. This eliminates the need to move on turnaround day.

 

Many times a b2b can be booked as one cruise or as two shorter cruises. If yours can be booked either way, compare the costs taking into account any OBC you are entitled to. For instance, we sail with Princess and on our longer cruises, we will get $500 more OBC by booking two cruises rather than one. Other times the one is cheaper.

[NMLady]

I am considering my first back to back cruise this year. All my cruises prior have been 7 days.

 

Any suggestions/comments on if it is worth it and how to make the best of it?

 

Thanks to all!

 

It is definitely worth it, especially if the two segments are two different itineraries. We love b2b's since it is two cruises but just one air itinerary, one embarkation/disembarkation, one packing/unpacking.

 

As others have said, try to get the same cabin for both segments. That way, turnaround day will be like any other port day in that you don't have to change or pack anything in your cabin.

[NMLady]

...

If you want to go ashore then you just go. But you have to wait for all new passengers to get on board before you can get back on board. ... !

 

Hmm. our experience has been that you are given an "in transit" card which lets you bypass the lines of newly embarking passengers since you already have a ship card.

Edited January 24, 2015 by NMLady

[VenusLady]

I go on my first b2b next month, and I am really looking forward to it.

For the 'transit' day I have booked a ship excursion, so I won't be laying by the pool on show while the new cruisers board and are wandering around :p:D

[Talisker92]

We did our first B2B last year. It was a 32 day cruise from Buenos Aires to Los Angeles. The nice part was we got 2 bar setups, free laundry and each 500 internet minutes.

The main decision we made was to go with a minisuite instead of a balcony room.

If you go to our trip story, you can see the differences as we have layouts of both shown.

On the last page, we have a list of things that made our trip more comfortable.

http://stevekathytravels.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/southamerica2014.pdf

We are happy to answer questions.

[Bonnie J.]

If I'm going to do our laundry, I do it on turn around day. There is never a wait for a washer or dryer then!

[Shmoo here]

Hmm. our experience has been that you are given an "in transit" card which lets you bypass the lines of newly embarking passengers since you already have a ship card.

 

That can vary, depending on the cruise line.

[Waynetor]

We are starting 4 in a row on Monday. The only down side we see is the repeating of many of the shows on board. No issue for some people but for others that look forward to them it may be a problem. The menus will repeat. Not an issue for us as there is always something we did not have last time or we can repeat a favourite.

Try to get the same cabin but if not they will help you move. You would just pack your loose items and clothing that is hung up would be moved by them on their hangers.

Of coarse each cruise line can do things a bit different so once you have booked you could post on the board for that cruise line for any additional details.

[Hlitner]

We would just mention that cruise ships go 6 continents (we are not counting Antarctica here) and back to back situations vary depending on where you are in the world and which port is the turn around port. If doing a turn around in a USA port, there are some hassles involved since the US authorities (CBP) requires that all cruise ships be "zeroed out" before anyone can reboard the vessel. This is not a big deal if one leaves the port to go on a tour, go shopping, or whatever. But if you simply want to get right back on the ship you might find yourself being held in a special area of the cruise terminal for 15 min or 2 hours (you just do not know). Doing back to backs in Europe is usually very easy and similar to a regular port day.

 

One might want to consider that on most back to backs in the Caribbean you are going to get similar menus on both cruises, much of the same entertainment (guest entertainers will probably change), 2 welcome aboard shows, 2 farewell shows, etc.

 

 

 

Hank