B2B question

[crazytomatoes]

My husband and I are already booked on Celebrity Infinity on the Buenos Aires to Valparaiso 14 day cruise in March 2017. We are thinking of adding Valparasio to Miami and have a few questions.

How does a B2b work?

Do we have to pack up and leave the ship only to turn around and embark again or can we stay on the ship?

If we can stay on the ship can we come and go as we like to explore in Valparasio without our luggage?

If we are lucky enough to keep the same room can we leave everything as is or do we have to pack up as if we were leaving the ship? If we can't get the same room how does that work?

This itinerary seems to be perk free at the moment is that because it is so far away, should we wait to book and see if they at least offer a drink package?

 

Thanks in advance for your assistance

 

Charlene

[ellbon]

unless you are switching cabin you do not have to move a thing. you will get new room key cards- each cruise you get new ones. you can leave the ship and enjoy the day. you take your new room key and your passport as you will show both to get on ship. think the keys show up in your cabin a day or two before. relax and enjoy all those lovely ports.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

My husband and I are already booked on Celebrity Infinity on the Buenos Aires to Valparaiso 14 day cruise in March 2017. We are thinking of adding Valparasio to Miami and have a few questions.

How does a B2b work?

Do we have to pack up and leave the ship only to turn around and embark again or can we stay on the ship?

If we can stay on the ship can we come and go as we like to explore in Valparasio without our luggage?

If we are lucky enough to keep the same room can we leave everything as is or do we have to pack up as if we were leaving the ship? If we can't get the same room how does that work?

This itinerary seems to be perk free at the moment is that because it is so far away, should we wait to book and see if they at least offer a drink package?

 

Thanks in advance for your assistance

 

Charlene

 

You do not have to pack up but you might have to leave the ship briefly. I know you do in Ft. Lauderdale, not sure about Valparasio. If it is necessary to disembark you will meet in a common area with other B2B cruisers, will be led off the ship and should embark very soon after. You can leave the ship and explore. Your luggage stays on the ship. If you get the same cabin leave everything in the room. If you have to change cabins you will have to pack toiletries and clothing in drawers. Anything on hangers will be moved by the stateroom attendant on a rolling card. They will also transfer your other items to the new cabin.

 

Both cruises are treated separately as far as charges on board. Your account for the 1st leg will be closed out and you will be given new sea passes for the 2nd leg. Any on board credit not used on the 1st leg does not carry over to 2nd.

 

Not sure why they are not offering any perks under Go BBB. We booked our 2017 cruise under 123 Go and received perks.

[Doctor G]

The procedures for B2B depend on the port, thus not always the same. In some cases, the staff will escort all B2Bers off the ship and then back on, getting a new seapass card. In some cases, you do not have to get off the ship, but a new seapass card will be issued. In any case, you are free to leave the ship for the day if you wish. You will be given a transit pass so you do not have to stand in a line to get back on the ship. You will receive a full set of instructions in writing, usually the night before the turn around day.

 

If you stay in the same cabin, you just leave all your stuff as is. Usually you can do whatever you please on the turn around day. In the past I have arranged with the room steward to sleep late and let him know when I want the cabin cleaned. If you have to change cabins, the room steward will move your stuff, but you will have to pack up. You can ask for wire hangers for your clothes and they will move them on the hangers. The best option is to stay in the same cabin, and that is why I would book early.

 

Also, the two cruises are considered two different cruises. Your account will be closed out at the end of the first cruise and a new account established for the second. Nothing carries over; thus, you lose any Internet minutes, non-refundable OBC, etc. from the first cruise. If you receive any coupons for benefits, you will get another set with the second cruise.

 

I love back to back cruises. It's fun to stay onboard when everyone else is leaving.

 

Carolyn

[rose6]

If you have to change cabins for the second cruise you might find it helpful to know that you can go to guest relations with any valuables you have in your safe and they will keep them in their safe until your new room is ready. This would allow you to explore the port without having to carry your jewelry and cash with you. Also, if you want to get off the ship there may be a stated time by which you must disembark. For example it was 9 AM in Rome. If you are not off by the specified time I remember you had to remain on board until the new cruisers arrived.

[grandgeezer]

Most of our B2Bs are tied around a transatlantic. At least in the past, the TA leg is much less than the other leg. On the B2B we are doing, in October, it would cost us over $400 p.p. to stay in the same cabin. Changing cabins is a piece of cake . This will be our fourth time. 10 minutes to pack things up, another 10 minutes to unpack in the new cabin, for $800 savings, it's a no brainer.

[GranthamMommy]

I believe your Valparaiso to Miami cruise is considered a repositioning cruise and they don't usually have perks.

 

That being said, I'm on a Ft Lauderdale to Valparaiso cruise in December. There was one day when I saw 123 Go available and I was able to get it. That was about a year and a half before. Since then I haven't seen any perks for it. The same 2014 cruise ,180 days out, was not offering any perks.

 

See what your TA will throw in.

[Northern Aurora]

.....

This itinerary seems to be perk free at the moment is that because it is so far away, should we wait to book and see if they at least offer a drink package?

 

Thanks in advance for your assistance

 

Charlene

 

We almost always do B2B or B2B2B cruises as it just seems a more efficient use of air fare. One of our future B2B bookings is actually the Buenos Aires to Valparaiso and then onto Florida in March 2017!

 

While others have answered regarding the details on a B2B turnaround process I just wanted to comment that there can be a great variety on the turnaround day as to such issues as when you actually receive your new sea pass card and so forth. But when the passengers who will be disembarking receive their disembarkation packets and instructions the B2B passengers will receive a succinct letter of instructions regarding the turnaround process. If you have any questions after receiving that letter just call Guest Relations.

 

We actually did a turnaround day in Valparaiso this past March. While the process may be handled differently in March, 2017 all B2B passengers were asked to be physically off the ship for about 1.5 hours. Two different reasons were provided.

 

The Valparaiso to Miami cruise is considered to be a repositioning cruise, and perks are generally not offered on repositioning cruises.

[crazytomatoes]

Thanks for all of your responses, it sounds like it will be easy to do and we have decided to book it!

[Northern Aurora]

Thanks for all of your responses, it sounds like it will be easy to do and we have decided to book it!

 

We'll see you onboard!

 

When we did the B2B2B on Infinity this past spring I was told that slightly over 500 passengers were on both the Buenos Aires to Valparaiso and then Valparaiso to Florida legs. I suspect a similar number will do both legs in March, 2017. It is such a fun itinerary that we immediately booked the March, 2017 to do it again.

[crazytomatoes]

We'll see you onboard!

 

 

 

When we did the B2B2B on Infinity this past spring I was told that slightly over 500 passengers were on both the Buenos Aires to Valparaiso and then Valparaiso to Florida legs. I suspect a similar number will do both legs in March, 2017. It is such a fun itinerary that we immediately booked the March, 2017 to do it again.

 

 

Fantastic!