Back to Back cruising

[HoneyG6]

Hi, we are thinking of doing a back to back on RCCL next April and wondered how that works. Does the ship charge you the same amount for both cruises, or do you get a break on the 'second' leg of the b to b? Do you stay in the same cabin both weeks? Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you

[CruiserBruce]

Yes, no, maybe. It all depends on the cruise and RCI. If the two cruises are different, they won't likely be the same price. Some cruise lines give you a small break for booking B2B, some don't. Keeping the same cabin depends on how and when you book, and RCI's policy.

[hoopslover]

Hi, we are thinking of doing a back to back on RCCL next April and wondered how that works. Does the ship charge you the same amount for both cruises, or do you get a break on the 'second' leg of the b to b? Do you stay in the same cabin both weeks? Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you

We booked b2b on RCCL for next April. Both were close in price and we had our agent find 2 cabins available on both weeks so we wouldn't have to change after a week. He found us that and we booked, I have been looking for an online agency that would either have a lower price and/or perks. I found one that was almost $600 less for the two cruises and offered an OBC. Since it was within the first 60 days, it got transferred today with everything intact and my additional OBC applied. Well forth the effort.

[leaveitallbehind]

RCI treats the B2B as two separate cruises in terms of pricing as well as customs, etc. Whatever the market pricing is for each leg is what you will be charged. Keeping the same stateroom for each leg is dependent upon availability at the time of booking - if the same stateroom is available on both legs you can reserve it and keep it for both. If you are in different staterooms the your stateroom attendant will move your clothes for you to the next stateroom on the last day of the first leg once everyone has disembarked.

 

You also will need to disembark, pass through customs, and re-board for the second leg. However, to expedite this and keep this simple for you, all passengers who are doing a back to back with you will meet in a separate lounge and once everyone is off the ship, you will be escorted as a group off and through customs and then back on board. This will take place prior to the next itinerary's passengers begin boarding. You can then leave the ship as you wish so long as you are back on board at least 90 minutes prior to departure. You will also be required to perform muster again.

[leaveitallbehind]

We booked b2b on RCCL for next April. Both were close in price and we had our agent find 2 cabins available on both weeks so we wouldn't have to change after a week. He found us that and we booked, I have been looking for an online agency that would either have a lower price and/or perks. I found one that was almost $600 less for the two cruises and offered an OBC. Since it was within the first 60 days, it got transferred today with everything intact and my additional OBC applied. Well forth the effort.

 

 

Just be aware that RCI (as with most mass market lines) does not discount their basic stateroom fare to travel agents. Any "discount" and perks offered by a travel agent is coming from their commission or a slight reduction offered for blocks of rooms they book. In most cases where that happens, you are also limited in stateroom selection to the block of rooms booked by that TA. Just confirm the written invoice total to verify the actual amount reduced and any other restrictions that may apply, such as any separate fee that may be charged by them for originating, modifying, or canceling a booking made through them - and IMO avoid those that would charge this.

[NantahalaCruiser]

RCI treats the B2B as two separate cruises in terms of pricing as well as customs, etc. Whatever the market pricing is for each leg is what you will be charged. Keeping the same stateroom for each leg is dependent upon availability at the time of booking - if the same stateroom is available on both legs you can reserve it and keep it for both. If you are in different staterooms the your stateroom attendant will move your clothes for you to the next stateroom on the last day of the first leg once everyone has disembarked.

 

You also will need to disembark, pass through customs, and re-board for the second leg. However, to expedite this and keep this simple for you, all passengers who are doing a back to back with you will meet in a separate lounge and once everyone is off the ship, you will be escorted as a group off and through customs and then back on board. This will take place prior to the next itinerary's passengers begin boarding. You can then leave the ship as you wish so long as you are back on board at least 90 minutes prior to departure. You will also be required to perform muster again.

I believe that the customs procedure you are describing is for a US turn-around port; please note that procedures can be somewhat different for other countries.

[leaveitallbehind]

I believe that the customs procedure you are describing is for a US turn-around port; please note that procedures can be somewhat different for other countries.

 

You are correct - that was my assumption. Good point.

[spookwife]

Hi, we are thinking of doing a back to back on RCCL next April and wondered how that works. Does the ship charge you the same amount for both cruises, or do you get a break on the 'second' leg of the b to b? Do you stay in the same cabin both weeks? Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you

 

 

each cruise is considered a completely separate transaction. so whatever the going rate is for each itinerary when you book is what you pay . there are no discounts for multiples

 

since they are treated as 2 distinct entities, whether or not you can stay in the same cabin is up to inventory. if not, the cabin steward will happily move all your stuff for you during the turnover period that morning.

 

you still need to 'get off' the ship at the end of the first leg as the ship cannot begin boarding the next batch until no one is left over from the prior cruise. every ship/port handles that differently. but you can usually count on being back on the ship long before regular boarding has begun. you may even get a special turnover lunch deal in a sit down venue

[leaveitallbehind]

each cruise is considered a completely separate transaction. so whatever the going rate is for each itinerary when you book is what you pay . there are no discounts for multiples

 

since they are treated as 2 distinct entities, whether or not you can stay in the same cabin is up to inventory. if not, the cabin steward will happily move all your stuff for you during the turnover period that morning.

 

you still need to 'get off' the ship at the end of the first leg as the ship cannot begin boarding the next batch until no one is left over from the prior cruise. every ship/port handles that differently. but you can usually count on being back on the ship long before regular boarding has begun. you may even get a special turnover lunch deal in a sit down venue

 

Almost verbatim of my post number 4.

[NantahalaCruiser]

each cruise is considered a completely separate transaction. so whatever the going rate is for each itinerary when you book is what you pay . there are no discounts for multiples

 

since they are treated as 2 distinct entities, whether or not you can stay in the same cabin is up to inventory. if not, the cabin steward will happily move all your stuff for you during the turnover period that morning.

 

you still need to 'get off' the ship at the end of the first leg as the ship cannot begin boarding the next batch until no one is left over from the prior cruise. every ship/port handles that differently. but you can usually count on being back on the ship long before regular boarding has begun. you may even get a special turnover lunch deal in a sit down venue

Again, this "zero count" policy before boarding for the second leg is specific to US ports. Policies can be significantly different in other countries.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Hi, we are thinking of doing a back to back on RCCL next April and wondered how that works. Does the ship charge you the same amount for both cruises, or do you get a break on the 'second' leg of the b to b? Do you stay in the same cabin both weeks? Any advice is appreciated.

 

Thank you

 

 

On Oceania, some B2B cruises are marketed as "extended voyages" consisting of 2-3 cruise segments. You book the cruise as a single voyage that has a savings of 5-10% over the total cost of the separate segments. You get the same cabin and amenities for each segment. The best value here is choosing one that mixes transoceanic two week with port intensive one to two week segment.

 

 

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[NantahalaCruiser]

On Oceania, some B2B cruises are marketed as "extended voyages" consisting of 2-3 cruise segments. You book the cruise as a single voyage that has a savings of 5-10% over the total cost of the separate segments. You get the same cabin and amenities for each segment. The best value here is choosing one that mixes transoceanic two week with port intensive one to two week segment.

 

 

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On our Asian B2B on the Celebrity Millennium last fall, Celebrity gave us a $100 per person discount off the sum of the prices for each individual leg.