Choosing how to arrange a B2B

[vicocala]

Hi we are doing our first B2B in three weeks and my wife and I were just discussing why we are doing our cruise the way we are.

 

I decided to do an Eastern Caribbean first followed by the west. I have two reasons for my logic and wanted your thoughts.

 

The first reason is that we are unsure how a 14 day cruise will end up working for us. While I am almost always sad to leave at the end of a seven day cruise and would like a little longer, I would prefer that the busiest part of the cruise (more port days) to be after a chance to relax a bit. We start with two sea days. This gives the DW a chance to rest before the activities begin.

 

The other reason is I would prefer to have port days to look forward to instead of sea days. If we were to start to get antsy, I would prefer activity as opposed to leisure at that point.

 

What are your thoughts on a B2B in the Caribbean? Would the logic change on north/south Alaska runs or e/w cruises in the Med?

 

Thanks for your thoughts, I know it is a first world question but I would be interested in what order you have or would of done such a trip.

[Kamloops50]

NB and SB cruises in Alaska would more a less the same. Depending on the cruise line you might see something different.

Princess on a NB visits Glacier bay and College fiord plus the usual three ports.

SB they visit Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. Holland America on some SB cruise changes Skagway to Haines .

[Essiesmom]

It would depend on price and time, but all I ask is to finish with a sea day. EM

[Crzyfrk62]

I did a B2B last November and did it the same way... turned out great, it was my first cruise (s) longer then 10 days and I was busy and sad when it ended. This November I'm doing the B2B 10 night cruises.... it will be West first then East. Not sure if it will be much different. No choice in that because they are the only 10 nights B2B.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Crzyfrk62

[BermudaBound2014]

I think your logic works good for what you are interested in. Honestly, IMO you can't go wrong. I've never been on a longer itinerary and felt board and was never itching to leave. I think you'll get hooked, and then you'll look at 7 day cruises as little spritz-trips. Enjoy! :).

[vicocala]

Yes, I'm afraid I might get spoiled. That happened with balconies and to an extent, the suites too. I guess it is part of the normal progression we compulsive cruisers go through. :D

[suzyed]

We love the longer cruises and have even cruised for 29 days!

 

I'm new to MSC and just looking to book a first cruise....is there any advantage to booking B2B as opposed to booking as one sailing? I'm looking at the new ship for 2018 and our friends booked it as B2B (7+7 days), but I see it booked as 14 days?

Thanks in advance.

Edited May 30, 2016 by suzyed

[Kamloops50]

We love the longer cruises and have even cruised for 29 days!

 

I'm new to MSC and just looking to book a first cruise....is there any advantage to booking B2B as opposed to booking as one sailing? I'm looking at the new ship for 2018 and our friends booked it as B2B (7+7 days), but I see it booked as 14 days?

Thanks in advance.

 

Depending on how the cruise lines calculates the benefit levels . If by the number of day (HAL) or points per no advantage . If by the cruise (Princess) you get an extra credit for the second cruise.

[Skier52]

We love the longer cruises and have even cruised for 29 days!

 

I'm new to MSC and just looking to book a first cruise....is there any advantage to booking B2B as opposed to booking as one sailing? I'm looking at the new ship for 2018 and our friends booked it as B2B (7+7 days), but I see it booked as 14 days?

Thanks in advance.

 

One advantage is you get double freebies. eg If you are in an Aurea cabin you will get two Bali massages instead of just one , or, if the cruise comes with OBC you may get more if say it was $/£100 per 7 nights and $/£150 for 14 nights. If you also hold a Black card you will get two bottles of Spumante each. But you have weigh up the cost, it may be cheaper to book a 14 night cruise rather than 2 x 7 nights and so the saving could be used to any the "freebies" you would have got otherwise..

 

You will get more points on the voyagers club from 2 x 7 nights

 

Bella 7 nights 500 points ( 1000 for 2 x7) 14 nights 700 300 extra

 

Fantastica 7 nights 0 700 points ( 1400 for 2 x7) 14 nights 1000 400 extra

 

Aurea 7 nights 1000 points (2000 for 2 x7) 14 nights 1500 500 extra

 

 

The cons. are that you may need to move cabins and if sailing from an American port go through immigration again on change-over day

 

Pete

Edited May 30, 2016 by Skier52

[Mikesa1721]

Depending on how the cruise lines calculates the benefit levels . If by the number of day (HAL) or points per no advantage . If by the cruise (Princess) you get an extra credit for the second cruise.

 

MSC calculates points by voyage. We booked a B2B onboard MSC Seaside but booked it as 2 separate weeks so we receive 1500 points each per sailing. If we were to book the same sailing as a 14 night sailing,,,I'm not so sure if MSC would consider it as a 9+ night sailing,,,

 

Edited May 30, 2016 by Mikesa1721

[Crzyfrk62]

If its booked as a B2B yes you will have to get off and go thru customs in between. We met in a lounge and all who were doing the B2B were escorted off together. Once thru customs you could return right away or hang out in port (MIAMI).

We had the same room so we didn't have to pack or move, although the butler would have done this for us. The day before the concierge issued us our new cards. I must say MSC made that part fairly easy.