Back to Back Questions

[karena1]

We are doing a B2B on Freedom in October, booked very early so were able to get the same cabin for both weeks, right next to sister/BIL so we will open our balcony dividers for the 2 weeks.  We plan to go to Isla Verde to the beach on turnaround day.  Have not done a B2B in a while, so really looking forward to doing one again.

[Sunshine3601]

22 hours ago, LeeW said:

Other minor points.  Immigration may or may not board the ship to clear you.  More likely your B2B group will be the last people escorted off the ship, you go through immigration, get new cards and right back on before others board.  Typically this is 9:30-10:30.  If you are going into town instead, you will usually get your new cruise cards the night before and you can get off at any time.  Then you are not allowed back on until boarding (they have to zero the passenger count).  You will need your passports going out through immigration, but not to get back on since you already have your room key and have checked in.  Doesn't hurt to have it but no reason for anyone to ask for it.  In-Transit card and room key get you through security and allows you in hallways while cabins are being cleaned.

 

Coordinating with your old and new stewards is important - they will move your luggage and hanging clothes.  Once the old occupants of your new cabin leave you can move your safe contents into the new cabin (preferred).  

 

The Pan American pier is across the bay from Old Town, adjacent to a small airport.  Not walkable into town, but you can easily pick up a cab with the passengers getting off.

We, also, have done a bunch of B2B's.   You will really enjoy!

If not able to have RCL or a TA book same cabin for both cruises, no biggy, the staff of RCL make as simple as possible for you to change rooms.    We joked with our stateroom attendant when she told us not to worry about packing stuff on hangers on our first B2B that we were going to hang up all of our underwear too!

Definitely take advantage and explore san juan on the changeover day.    It is easy peasy to get back on the ship and kinda fun to walk by everyone that is standing in security line.    You'll feel special - LOL!

Have fun!!!

 

Edited February 25, 2020 by Sunshine3601
typo

[2chiefs]

B2B's used to be a little more special. A long time ago, we had B2B lunches complete with senior officers at our tables and free wine. We haven't seen the senior officers or wine on recent B2B cruises so I guess they don't do that anymore. Our lunches were always in the MDR. Someone mentioned some being done in specialty restaurants so I guess anything can happen!...

 

We are on a Harmony B2B this coming December...

 

T

[davekathy]

3 minutes ago, 2chiefs said:

B2B's used to be a little more special. A long time ago, we had B2B lunches complete with senior officers at our tables and free wine. We haven't seen the senior officers or wine on recent B2B cruises so I guess they don't do that anymore. Our lunches were always in the MDR. Someone mentioned some being done in specialty restaurants so I guess anything can happen!...

 

We are on a Harmony B2B this coming December...

 

T

We did a B2B on the Freedom March/April 2019. No officers at the consecutive cruisers lunch but we had wine. Red and white. But this hasn't always the case on our B2B cruises. 

Edited February 25, 2020 by davekathy

[Merion_Mom]

2 hours ago, 2chiefs said:

B2B's used to be a little more special. A long time ago, we had B2B lunches complete with senior officers at our tables and free wine. We haven't seen the senior officers or wine on recent B2B cruises so I guess they don't do that anymore. Our lunches were always in the MDR. Someone mentioned some being done in specialty restaurants so I guess anything can happen!...

 

We are on a Harmony B2B this coming December...

 

T

 

hhmmm…………..I don't know when your first B2B was, or how many you have done, but I have never had officers attend a B2B lunch.  They are quite busy on turnaround day.

[ONECRUISER]

5 hours ago, 2chiefs said:

B2B's used to be a little more special. A long time ago, we had B2B lunches complete with senior officers at our tables and free wine. We haven't seen the senior officers or wine on recent B2B cruises so I guess they don't do that anymore. Our lunches were always in the MDR. Someone mentioned some being done in specialty restaurants so I guess anything can happen!...

 

We are on a Harmony B2B this coming December...

 

T

Agree. Know many times Serenade still does Lunch in one of the Specialty Rest, inc my last one 3 months ago. Few when there was many B2B passengers was in MD... Havent been with Officers in at least 3-4yrs

[ZiggaZagga17]

8 hours ago, 2chiefs said:

B2B's used to be a little more special. A long time ago, we had B2B lunches complete with senior officers at our tables and free wine. We haven't seen the senior officers or wine on recent B2B cruises so I guess they don't do that anymore. Our lunches were always in the MDR. Someone mentioned some being done in specialty restaurants so I guess anything can happen!...

 

We are on a Harmony B2B this coming December...

 

T

yeah we're the complete opposite - never had one in the MDR (yet! we've our next B2B in October, but again on an Oasis Class) but they've always been in a 'speciality' restaurants! Maybe it's the class of ship that defines the venue - ie more choice on an Oasis class and the number of passengers too?

Edited February 25, 2020 by ZiggaZagga17

[2chiefs]

15 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

hhmmm…………..I don't know when your first B2B was, or how many you have done, but I have never had officers attend a B2B lunch.  They are quite busy on turnaround day.

I went back and looked at our cruise history and it looks like we've done 8 of them. Only one had senior officers which was in December 2012 on the Mariner out of Galveston. The hotel director was at our table and there were others at other tables. Most of our early ones had wine but none lately. Good to hear from davekathy that some ships are still serving wine.

T

[2chiefs]

9 hours ago, ZiggaZagga17 said:

yeah we're the complete opposite - never had one in the MDR (yet! we've our next B2B in October, but again on an Oasis Class) but they've always been in a 'speciality' restaurants! Maybe it's the class of ship that defines the venue - ie more choice on an Oasis class and the number of passengers too?

Maybe they also take into account how many B2B'ers there are. Perhaps a small specialty restaurant for a small crowd?

T

[2chiefs]

17 hours ago, davekathy said:

We did a B2B on the Freedom March/April 2019. No officers at the consecutive cruisers lunch but we had wine. Red and white. But this hasn't always the case on our B2B cruises. 

Good to hear!! My fingers are crossed for our upcoming B2B this December on Harmony!!

The stories are fun with the senior officers but the wine is better!

As Merion_Mom has experienced, it's probably the exception. Especially with the huge success of RCI's loyalty program.

T

[2chiefs]

12 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Agree. Know many times Serenade still does Lunch in one of the Specialty Rest, inc my last one 3 months ago. Few when there was many B2B passengers was in MD... Havent been with Officers in at least 3-4yrs

Thanks. I was beginning to think my memory was failing LOL. I'm not the only one that has had the B2B lunch with officers present.

T

[island lady]

18 hours ago, davekathy said:

We did a B2B on the Freedom March/April 2019. No officers at the consecutive cruisers lunch but we had wine. Red and white. But this hasn't always the case on our B2B cruises. 

 

Hello my DS friend!  🙂 

 

B2B lunch last month on Vision was indeed great, lunch menu from Chops, but held in MDR. 

 

B2B on Rhapsody (currently on) had good lunch in MDR, but not nearly as nice as Vision.  (And actually the food on Rhapsody pales in all areas compared to Vision).

 

No wine served at B2B lunch (as in "meal with an officer") on either ship.  And no officers present at either as well.  

Edited February 25, 2020 by island lady

[davekathy]

13 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Hello my DS friend!  🙂 

 

B2B lunch last month on Vision was indeed great, all food from Chops, but held in MDR. 

 

B2B on Rhapsody (currently on) had good lunch in MDR, but not nearly as nice as Vision.  

 

No wine served at B2B lunch (as in "meal with an officer") on either ship.  

Thanks for sharing this info. We are doing a B2B on the Rhapsody 2021 and I was wondering  if we might get some wine with our TAD lunch. I guess I'll just have to stagger in the MDR with a glass of wine. 😉 Hope you guys are having great weather and lots of fun on your Rhapsody cruise. We'll be doing a B2B on the Celebrity Summit out of SJ starting  28 March. More than ready. Celebrity has never had wine with their TAD lunches. Enjoy my DS friend. 🍷🍷

Edited February 25, 2020 by davekathy

[island lady]

2 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Thanks for sharing this info. We are doing a B2B on the Rhapsody 2021 and I was wondering if if we might get some wine with our TAD lunch. I guess I'll just have to stagger in the MDR with a glass of wine. 😉 Hope you guys are having great weather and lots of fun on your Rhapsody cruise. We'll be doing a B2B on the Celebrity Summit out of SJ starting  28 March. More than ready. Celebrity never has never had wine with their TAD lunches. Enjoy my DS friend. 🍷🍷

 

Thanks!  Hope you have a great cruise next month as well!!  As a matter of fact, knowing we would not be served wine with that long lunch, we indeed walked in with a glass each, and were not the only ones. 😉 

 

We have indeed had good weather so far both last week, and now into half way through this week.  

 

We were docked right behind Celebrity Summit on each turn around day in SJ while on Vision last month.  She is a pretty ship...nice aft cabins (we were "butt to butt" and could see their aft cabins from ours).  

 

Our next cruise is not until June, doing Grandeur while we still can.  😮  Time to "cruise" in the motor home again, doing the pretty beaches of the Florida Panhandle for a couple of months starting next month.

 

Cheers my DS friend!!  🍷🍷