Need help with a b2b

[bubba777]

You all at CC have been so good to help answer many questions that I have as a newbie cruiser. With one cruise under my belt, and a 4 day Bahamas coming up in January 2017, it is time to focus and start planning my 2018 vacations. I know that is a long way out, but with just my income, it takes a long time to save the cash. Here is what I am thinking:

 

7 day eastern on the Carnival Magic, followed immediately with a 7 day western. I am able to book the same cabin for both cruises.

 

Please tell me how a b2b works. Do I have to get off the ship, go through customs and through the terminal to check in again? Please tell me all about the benefits and all there is to know and consider about a b2b. Thank you for your help.

[gatour]

Towards the end of the first cruise, you be told where you need to meet up with your other B2B'ers (usually lounge somewhere onboard ship). Once most of the other passengers disembark you will be escorted off the ship where you will meet a TSA official who will look at your passport. You then be escorted back onto the ship where you can go back to your cabin or just wonder around.

 

Sometime during this process you will be given new room/charge keys. There will be no need to go stand in the lines to checkin. It a pretty simple process

[cruiser fanatic]

You all at CC have been so good to help answer many questions that I have as a newbie cruiser. With one cruise under my belt, and a 4 day Bahamas coming up in January 2017, it is time to focus and start planning my 2018 vacations. I know that is a long way out, but with just my income, it takes a long time to save the cash. Here is what I am thinking:

 

7 day eastern on the Carnival Magic, followed immediately with a 7 day western. I am able to book the same cabin for both cruises.

 

Please tell me how a b2b works. Do I have to get off the ship, go through customs and through the terminal to check in again? Please tell me all about the benefits and all there is to know and consider about a b2b. Thank you for your help.

 

Towards the end of the first cruise you should receive a letter with instructions on the process the morning of the next cruise. Typically, you will meet at Guest Services and once everyone is off the ship, you will be escorted to Customs and escorted back to the ship. Guest Services will give you the new sail and sign cards, you do not go check in at the terminal again. If you wish, Guest Services can give you "In Transit" cards which will allow you to get off the ship in Port Canaveral, without having to go through the check in process again. You do get a free fruit basket in your room for doing a B2B. You also get to go to new ports each time since you are doing another itinerary.

Edited September 12, 2016 by cruiser fanatic

[cruzin Phillis]

You all at CC have been so good to help answer many questions that I have as a newbie cruiser. With one cruise under my belt, and a 4 day Bahamas coming up in January 2017, it is time to focus and start planning my 2018 vacations. I know that is a long way out, but with just my income, it takes a long time to save the cash. Here is what I am thinking:

 

7 day eastern on the Carnival Magic, followed immediately with a 7 day western. I am able to book the same cabin for both cruises.

 

Please tell me how a b2b works. Do I have to get off the ship, go through customs and through the terminal to check in again? Please tell me all about the benefits and all there is to know and consider about a b2b. Thank you for your help.

I do not mind answering your questions. People tend to forget that it is not easy to always search the boards. As you can see I am going on my B2B next year.

Unfortunately, I have to pay for the cruise as a separate cruise but make sure you contact carnival and have them link you cruise together so that it reflects in the system. It does not do this automatically online. This will let your steward on board know that you are staying on and they can assist with wheather relocating you to your new room (if you are not booked in the same cabin). I am in the process of planning excursions for both weeks.

 

Here is a link to cruise mapper. It will show you the itineraries of carnival and other lines so that it will make it easier for you to plan the B2B. I found this site very helpful when it came to looking at dates. http://www.cruisemapper.com/ships

 

Hopes this helps. Please feel free to rely with any questions you may have.

[cmptrwiz]

Some downsides to a B2B are: The same cruise director so the same silly jokes. You will have the same shows, which can be nice if you miss one or really liked one. All the same food in the MDR.

 

The upside is: you really know the layout of the ship. Your room steward will be the same and maybe your dining room servers will be the same. Some Carnival workers will recognize you and you will have an empty ship on the second half. Also no FTTF required for the second half!

 

 

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[bubba777]

Thank you to those who took time to answer my question. I only have done 1 5 day cruise so I an not as experienced as most of you. I appreciate your insights and experiences.

[coevan]

On the Dream, we did not get off the ship. We met in the main theater. We had over 200 B2B cruisers. There were 5 customs agents on the stage. The process would have been a lot faster if the last rude couple didn't arrive 20 minutes after the assigned time, there's always someone. We could not start customs until all B2B's were accounted for. We are Platinum, Diamond was called first and we had our new S&S cards in about an hour, 20 minutes longer then it should have been.

Edited September 12, 2016 by coevan

[cruzin Phillis]

On the Dream, we did not get off the ship. We met in the main theater. We had over 200 B2B cruisers. There were 5 customs agents on the stage. The process would have been a lot faster if the last rude couple didn't arrive 20 minutes after the assigned time, there's always someone. We could not start customs until all B2B's were accounted for. We are Platinum, Diamond was called first and we had our new S&S cards in about an hour, 20 minutes longer then it should have been.

How awful! Unfortunately, there is one on every ship.

 

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[pusywillow]

Some downsides to a B2B are: The same cruise director so the same silly jokes. You will have the same shows, which can be nice if you miss one or really liked one. All the same food in the MDR.

 

The upside is: you really know the layout of the ship. Your room steward will be the same and maybe your dining room servers will be the same. Some Carnival workers will recognize you and you will have an empty ship on the second half. Also no FTTF required for the second half!

 

 

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So you are saying the FTTF will be good for going to Guest Services, being first on the tender and debarking first on the second leg? I have never heard that.

[ashley@cruisecritic]

Hi there,

 

Here's our article on back to back cruises. Hope it helps!

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2327

[serene56]

Some downsides to a B2B are: The same cruise director so the same silly jokes. You will have the same shows, which can be nice if you miss one or really liked one. All the same food in the MDR.

 

Important information- especially for a newbie.

 

Dining rooms menu will be exactly as your prior weeks.

same with the shows and entertainment. Nice because you will not have to rush ti get it all done the first week

 

Crew workers will get to know you and you should feel extra special the 2nd week when they start talking to you as if they know you

[cmptrwiz]

So you are saying the FTTF will be good for going to Guest Services, being first on the tender and debarking first on the second leg? I have never heard that.

 

 

No sorry that isn't what I meant. You won't need FTTF on the second half to get on the boat early and dump your carry ons in the room.

 

If everything else is important to you then yes get it!

 

 

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[BeachLoverstoo]

Since the OP is doing different itineraries, there will be some differences with the menu due to the port of call selections. We find so many items we want to try, having a second week is a bonus, not a downside.

Also on the Magic there are more dining options to try such as the free lunch menu at the Italian restaurant. If he likes the food, he might want to try dinner there on the second leg.:)

[shaharis1701]

On the Dream, we did not get off the ship. We met in the main theater. We had over 200 B2B cruisers. There were 5 customs agents on the stage. The process would have been a lot faster if the last rude couple didn't arrive 20 minutes after the assigned time, there's always someone. We could not start customs until all B2B's were accounted for. We are Platinum, Diamond was called first and we had our new S&S cards in about an hour, 20 minutes longer then it should have been.

 

Which port where you sailing out of? We are sailing out of Port Canaveral B2B on Magic and were wondering what we'll have to do.

[coevan]

The Dream out of NOLA 1/3-1/24

[easyboy]

Hi there,

 

Here's our article on back to back cruises. Hope it helps!

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2327

Thanks

[shaharis1701]

The Dream out of NOLA 1/3-1/24

 

Thanks. I wonder if anyone knows the procedure for Magic out of Port Canaveral. We are doing B2B in May for my Mom and I wanted to know what the expect. Never did one before,so excited!!

[coevan]

We are doing a B2B on the Magic in January.

[tandemcruzr]

Thanks. I wonder if anyone knows the procedure for Magic out of Port Canaveral. We are doing B2B in May for my Mom and I wanted to know what the expect. Never did one before,so excited!!

 

Same as described above -- meet, escorted off through Customs and escorted back on the ship, get new S&S cards, they may take a group photo and serve mimosas from the Atrium Bar.

[b2dhx]

How does parking work on b2b? I assume you will need to inform the parking attendant when you arrive of your plans and pay for both trips.

[coevan]

huh? you just pay the 2 weeks in advance, why would you go back to your car?

[bigredva]

We are doing a B2B on the Magic in January.

 

 

We are too. Starting with the January 21st cruise.

 

 

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