B2b

[disneygirl10]

Considering doing a B2B Eastern/Western Caribbean.

 

I would love to hear any personal experience and pros and cons on the subject!

[SuiteTraveler]

There are no cons, only pros!

 

Seriously, more is more when it comes to cruises! Have a fantastic time! I do know that a b2b on the same ship is often cheaper than 2 one week cruises. The only other possible issue is that if you only dine in the MDR, the menus will be repeated during week 2. But then, all you would do is order something different if you didn't want to have the same thing again.

[disneygirl10]

There are no cons, only pros!

 

Seriously, more is more when it comes to cruises! Have a fantastic time!

 

 

Thanks for the response! I'm worried about the disembarkation/embarkation on the 2nd one. How long in between do you typically have? Do you just stay at the port?

 

 

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[SPacificbound]

B2Bs are my favorite. :D You will love it the final night of cruise one when you don't have to pack up.

 

We have done 3, 4 & 5 consecutive cruises.

[OCruisers]

All of your stuff stays on the ship.

They will "mother hen" you through your turnaround day! :D

[NMLady]

Thanks for the response! I'm worried about the disembarkation/embarkation on the 2nd one. How long in between do you typically have? Do you just stay at the port? [\quote]

 

 

You must leave the ship until everyone has left the ship, then if you wish you may return to the ship. Nice to have it mostly empty until the new passengers embark.

Or you may treat the day as a port day and spend the day sightseeing.

 

You will receive a letter in your cabin a day or so ahead of time telling you details.

[Talex831]

With Disney, at Port Canaveral, we were some of the last people off the ship, had to go through customs, and then right back upstairs to the waiting area to check-in and get our new room keys and then reboard the ship. We were back onboard about 45 minutes after we got off. I think they just had to clear the ship and we were let back on.

 

 

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[Grandma Dazzles]

Have done B2B on RC Oasis class ships. Nice because they do one week eastern, one week western. Very relaxing. Basically a 14 day cruise, especially if you book the same cabin. Only had to step off ship to check with customs, etc. Got right back on before passengers for the second week began boarding. If you wanted to spend more time ashore in FLL you could, but personally preferred to get back on the ship.

[disneygirl10]

Thanks all!! It looks like my cabin on the already booked Western, is not available for the following week. I have an aft balcony and changed our cabin 3 times so far..looks like I may have to do a 4th. I'll need to research these other rooms. Hopefully will find a few YouTube videos.

 

 

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[easyboy]

Considering doing a B2B Eastern/Western Caribbean.

 

I would love to hear any personal experience and pros and cons on the subject!

 

 

We love to do B2Bs. Our next is a 14day B2B Caribbean Cruise next month. Nice to have the pool almost to yourself on turnaround day.

 

 

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[lauraodonnell86]

We've done 2 B2Bs on Adventure of the Seas with RC and we didn't even have to get off the ship on the "middle day". We just met in a lounge and customs was there to take care of everything. B2Bs are the BEST way to go. I can't imagine only doing 7 days after doing 14 the last 2 years. It feels so good on that turnaround day to be able to wave bye to the people leaving and just hang by the pool all day. Pretty much have the place to yourself for a bit!!

[Talex831]

We've done 2 B2Bs on Adventure of the Seas with RC and we didn't even have to get off the ship on the "middle day". We just met in a lounge and customs was there to take care of everything. B2Bs are the BEST way to go. I can't imagine only doing 7 days after doing 14 the last 2 years. It feels so good on that turnaround day to be able to wave bye to the people leaving and just hang by the pool all day. Pretty much have the place to yourself for a bit!!

 

 

 

We're these US sailings or European?

 

 

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[lauraodonnell86]

We're these US sailings or European?

 

 

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Both were out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

[Talex831]

That may be why you didn't have to disembark. I believe in US ports you have to. In Europe you can stay onboard.

 

 

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[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done many B2B cruises on various cruise lines.

In fact our first cruise was a B2B on the Cunard Countess.

HAL now calls many of their B2B cruises Collector Cruises. You get 1 ID card that covers both cruises.

No matter what cruise line you choose, you will get a letter the last full day of the first cruise explaining what to do on "turn around" day. As you want to do a western/eastern Caribbean cruise, you will be required to go through immigration at the end of the first cruise. You can take a ship's excursion, go tour on your own or just go through immigration and get back on the ship. One thing -- no matter what you decide to do, you can't get back on the ship until it is down to what is called "zero" count meaning that all passengers are off the ship. Several times there were so many of us staying on for a second segment (over 700 people) that the local authorities had us stay on the ship and we had to sit in the show lounge and wait for them to come on board to do immigration.

[Bonnie J.]

We have been on B2Bs and do enjoy them. You will get a letter at end of 1st cruise explaining what happens at the end of this cruise. All B2Bers meet usually in the atrium at 10 or 10:30 am. This is when everyone else has to be off the ship. We are then escorted to customs where we give them our form.

Then if you want to get off the ship, you do. However you cannot get back on until all the new passengers do. If you're not getting off he ship, you are escorted back on. On most ships you then get a new sign 'n sail card. The old one will no longer work at your cabin door. On Carnival we are given a sticker that says "welcome back" and everyone ends up getting a free drink at the atrium bar!

[Grandma Dazzles]

To OP - everyone has given pretty much the same, but slightly different advice!

 

Have only done B2B on RC, and also on different ships and different ports. Each port and ship seems to have their own slightly different routine. On the Allure in FLL we were escorted off the ship, and then boarded right back - did not have to wait for new passengers. Anyone who wanted to explore FLL was given an in transit card to enable them to bypass any lines (other than security) and walk back on.

 

We were also given a free lunch at Giovanni's, which was very nice.

 

Should you choose two different cabins, the room steward will move your hanging items from the closet. You just have to pack up your suitcase, and they will then move that too.

 

Definitely keep personal items, meds, valuables, etc. with you, as cabin doors are open; lots of people coming and going.

[Bonnie J.]

When we do a B2B and have to move to a different cabin we DO NOT pack anything! Our two cabin are the same class and identical. So, we just move the full drawers. Take the full one out and just exchange it with the empty one from the new cabin. The steward can put the drawers on the cart he's moving your hanging clothes and do the exchanging for you.

The bathroom stuff is the only thing we have to move and we may just put that on top of a drawer! But, I get mugs from the buffet and all my toothbrushes, paste, comb, etc. are in the mugs and they are easy to move !

[disneygirl10]

Thank you for the responses! Lots of great info here!

I am cruising on the NCL Escape 6/24-7/1, and am going to call today to see about adding the following week.

 

I'm not 100% certain yet..original plan was to do 6 nights land/7 nights sea, but this would be a nice way to knock out both itineraries at once. The travel party is myself and my 1st grader. I'm going to talk to him about it as well.

I don't think I'm willing to give up my cabin on the western, so we would definitely have to change rooms. I don't mind packing up, it's great to hear that I can just leave out luggage though! That was one of my main concerns.

 

 

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[NantahalaCruiser]

We have been on B2Bs and do enjoy them. You will get a letter at end of 1st cruise explaining what happens at the end of this cruise. All B2Bers meet usually in the atrium at 10 or 10:30 am. This is when everyone else has to be off the ship. We are then escorted to customs where we give them our form.

Then if you want to get off the ship, you do. However you cannot get back on until all the new passengers do. If you're not getting off he ship, you are escorted back on. On most ships you then get a new sign 'n sail card. The old one will no longer work at your cabin door. On Carnival we are given a sticker that says "welcome back" and everyone ends up getting a free drink at the atrium bar!

 

 

Although specific arrangements seem to vary a lot depending on the port and cruise line; I find it hard to believe that they would not let you back on the ship until ALL of the new passengers boarded - tell me that they would have you sitting there waiting for the last straggler to arrive a half hour before the sailaway!

 

In contrast, on a recent B2B with Celebrity with a turnaround in Hong Kong we received a special pass that allowed us to bypass the embarkation lines when we came back on board at any time we wished.

[Floridiana]

I find it hard to believe that they would not let you back on the ship until ALL of the new passengers boarded -

 

That is a misunderstanding. In US ports, you have to wait for re-boarding until all passengers of your first cruise have left the ship. It does not matter when the passengers of the second leg arrive.

 

I have done b2b with Miami and San Diego as turn around ports. Both times, I had the same cabin. I went through US immigration when leaving the ship, did some sightseeing on my own and returned without standing in the line for new passengers. There was a separate fast line for returning passengers.

 

If your turn-around port is Miami, you can actually walk to downtown from your pier. In Fort Lauderdale, the cruise port is very large and not conducive to walking.

[Grandma Dazzles]

That is a misunderstanding. In US ports, you have to wait for re-boarding until all passengers of your first cruise have left the ship. It does not matter when the passengers of the second leg arrive.

 

I have done b2b with Miami and San Diego as turn around ports. Both times, I had the same cabin. I went through US immigration when leaving the ship, did some sightseeing on my own and returned without standing in the line for new passengers. There was a separate fast line for returning passengers.

 

If your turn-around port is Miami, you can actually walk to downtown from your pier. In Fort Lauderdale, the cruise port is very large and not conducive to walking.

 

 

On the Allure in FLL we did not have to wait to re-board. In fact we walked down the gangplank into the terminal, customs/immigration officials were waiting, and we walked back on the ship. New Seapass cards were issued and we were back on the ship in minutes. Anyone who did not want to go back at that time was given a card indicating "in transit" so they could skip lines for reboarding. It was very simple.

[GottaKnowWhen]

... on a recent B2B with Celebrity with a turnaround in Hong Kong we received a special pass that allowed us to bypass the embarkation lines when we came back on board at any time we wished.

 

 

Ditto for us, we had an In Transit pass that allowed us to bypass lines when re boarding Celebrity Millennium in Vancouver.

Our new cabin was about 10 doors down the corridor from the old, we had coordinated with both room stewards, and we had transferred our stuff to the new cabin by the time we disembarked that morning. Would have been nicer not to move at all, but still less painful than making and putting suitcases out on the last night of a cruise.

 

Stan