Do you personally count a back to back cruise as one cruise or two cruises?

[navybankerteacher]

If I get on a ship, unpack once, have the same cabin while on board, then pack, then debark, I would say I have taken one cruise.  The fact that one of the port calls might (or might not) be the same port at which I boarded and ultimately debarked might be seen by some as making it two cruises is really immaterial — as would be the fact that the itinerary I sailed actually composed of two or more segments.

 

If you got on a Lexington Avenue bus in New York at 86th Street and did not get off at 79th Street, when some got off and others boarded, but got off at 57th Street along with some of those who boarded at 79th Street — would you say that you had taken two bus rides?

[Shmoo here]

1 hour ago, navybankerteacher said:

If I get on a ship, unpack once, have the same cabin while on board, then pack, then debark, I would say I have taken one cruise.  The fact that one of the port calls might (or might not) be the same port at which I boarded and ultimately debarked might be seen by some as making it two cruises is really immaterial — as would be the fact that the itinerary I sailed actually composed of two or more segments.

 

If you got on a Lexington Avenue bus in New York at 86th Street and did not get off at 79th Street, when some got off and others boarded, but got off at 57th Street along with some of those who boarded at 79th Street — would you say that you had taken two bus rides?

Not really the same.  You only paid for one trip on the bus, as did those who got off early, or boarded after you.  You went from A to C, with a stop at B where some people got off and others got on.

 

2 separate cruises, where you pay separately for them, is 2 cruises.  You go from  A back to  A.  Some people get off, and others get on.  Then you go from A to A again.

 

So our second B2B (east/west Caribbean) we had to change rooms.  Is that 2 cruises then, because we had to pack up, change rooms, and unpack again?

Edited August 12, 2020 by Shmoo here

[navybankerteacher]

21 minutes ago, Shmoo here said:

Not really the same.  You only paid for one trip on the bus, as did those who got off early, or boarded after you.  You went from A to C, with a stop at B where some people got off and others got on.

 

2 separate cruises, where you pay separately for them, is 2 cruises.  You go from  A back to  A.  Some people get off, and others get on.  Then you go from A to A again.

 

So our second B2B (east/west Caribbean) we had to change rooms.  Is that 2 cruises then, because we had to pack up, change rooms, and unpack again?

Of course the bus thing was not a valid comparison.  But if I get on a ship from A to A, or if it is from A to B,, then back to A, then to C and finally back to A - it is still one cruise.

 

If you boarded QM 2 in Southampton for a crossing to New York and halfway across the Atlantic changed cabins (perhaps because the A/C malfunctioned) would that change make it two cruises?  

[Shmoo here]

15 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

Of course the bus thing was not a valid comparison.  But if I get on a ship from A to A, or if it is from A to B,, then back to A, then to C and finally back to A - it is still one cruise.

 

If you boarded QM 2 in Southampton for a crossing to New York and halfway across the Atlantic changed cabins (perhaps because the A/C malfunctioned) would that change make it two cruises?  

No, because you only paid once for that trip.  Our B2B where we changed cabins we paid for the eastern Caribbean cruise separately from the western Caribbean cruise = 2 cruises.

 

Our river cruise (technically a B2B) we paid for the whole cruise as one charge = one cruise.  But the cruise line has given us credit for 2 cruises on that one.  I count it as one cruise.

 

 

Edited August 12, 2020 by Shmoo here

[ldubs]

Hmmm, I've never done a B2B.  But I suppose if I did I would think of it as counting "trips" and call it one cruise.   I honestly don't know how many cruises exactly we have enjoyed.   When I ask Mrs Ldubs she says she doesn't know or care.  She just wants to go on the next one!   😃

[navybankerteacher]

8 hours ago, Shmoo here said:

No, because you only paid once for that trip.  Our B2B where we changed cabins we paid for the eastern Caribbean cruise separately from the western Caribbean cruise = 2 cruises.

 

Our river cruise (technically a B2B) we paid for the whole cruise as one charge = one cruise.  But the cruise line has given us credit for 2 cruises on that one.  I count it as one cruise.

 

 

Of course if you booked two one week cruises, which happened to be on the same ship with the second starting immediately after the first, that would be two cruises.  If you booked the same cabin for two weeks, on a ship which also booked those weeks separately - you have done something quite different: you have booked one cruise.

[cruizergal70]

17 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

And that is a bummer. We have a 7 night with a $600 OBC and will spend very little onboard. Followed with a 14 night TA back home and $100 OBC. My wife has the spa booked, we purchased the UDP, and will have over $400 in grats added to our account.  Will have to hit the casino bank on last night of the 7 nighter. 

Can you buy a gift card on board at one of the gift shops?

[davekathy]

23 minutes ago, cruizergal70 said:

Can you buy a gift card on board at one of the gift shops?

What cruise lines sell gift cards in the onboard shops? 

Edited August 12, 2020 by davekathy

[PORT ROYAL]

2 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Of course if you booked two one week cruises, which happened to be on the same ship with the second starting immediately after the first, that would be two cruises.  If you booked the same cabin for two weeks, on a ship which also booked those weeks separately - you have done something quite different: you have booked one cruise.

Interesting, two years ago we took a voyage from Hong Kong to Southampton (think 40 nights) on the QM.  Did the math and it was more beneficial financially to book 3 legs, use 3 FCDs each for OBC, then Shareholder benefit by 3.  All in the same stateroom.

Received three Booking refs, 3 FCD OBC and 3 Shareholder benefit, then 3 Lots of Diamond Packages while onboard.  Paid three sets of gratuity.  Settled Account three times.

We took one voyage, but Cunard treated it as three.

Did the same chop up for QM 2022 WC

Was not viable for QV 2021 WC

 

 

Edited August 12, 2020 by PORT ROYAL
Typo

[klkaylor78]

This is prob the best post - while counting days, segments, cruise numbers is fun - and insuring that our perks are correct based on same. The tip to look at longer "cruises" by segment or combination cruises (seabourn term) to insure that you get the most days for the least euros (or your denominator of funds). I have done that several times but the combined was always better than individual segments. Thanks for the tip and the reminder to look at the costs with the green eye shade of an accountant.

[ovccruiser]

I would think it depends how the cruise was booked, Cunard, for example, do a west bound TA Southampton to NY and then an east bound NY to Southampton. They also do a round trip Southampton - NY - Southampton, being one cruise.

[PORT ROYAL]

12 minutes ago, klkaylor78 said:

This is prob the best post - while counting days, segments, cruise numbers is fun - and insuring that our perks are correct based on same. The tip to look at longer "cruises" by segment or combination cruises (seabourn term) to insure that you get the most days for the least euros (or your denominator of funds). I have done that several times but the combined was always better than individual segments. Thanks for the tip and the reminder to look at the costs with the green eye shade of an accountant.

Don't forget to consider the 5% Cunard "release" discount. It helps.😉

 

[Flatbush Flyer]

2 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

 If you booked the same cabin for two weeks, on a ship which also booked those weeks separately - you have done something quite different: you have booked one cruise.

I am not disagreeing with the concept of having booked a single "cruise vacation" whether it's a B2B reverse itinerary OR staying aboard as the ship completes different itineraries while moving across intra/inter-continental regions (our preference).

 

But, the term "multiple segments" is a far more accurate description of one's cruise history when it comes to "why have a count?" at all.

 

As aforementioned, that distinction is very important for some cruise lines' loyalty programs (e.g., on Oceania) where accumulation of "cruise credits" (associated with the length of segments and how they are required to be booked) can result in sizable awards like a complimentary 14 day cruise.

[davekathy]

The cruise lines we cruise with consider B2B cruises two different cruises so do we. 

[Bevv]

Two

[sullaRaffaello]

On 8/11/2020 at 3:52 PM, taglovestocruise said:

And that is a bummer. We have a 7 night with a $600 OBC and will spend very little onboard. Followed with a 14 night TA back home and $100 OBC. My wife has the spa booked, we purchased the UDP, and will have over $400 in grats added to our account.  Will have to hit the casino bank on last night of the 7 nighter. 

 

Will you be able to use OBC in the casino? I know on some lines, OBC is not valid in the casino.

[taglovestocruise]

12 minutes ago, sullaRaffaello said:

 

Will you be able to use OBC in the casino? I know on some lines, OBC is not valid in the casino.

Last year I was able to get it the last night with a 5% fee.  Refundable just goes back to a cc. 

[BSR]

Two cruises

[Kartgv]

We don't count cruises - they're too variable, with ours varying from 4 nights to 34.   Instead we just kept track of the number of nights onboard.    We managed to hit 365 nights on the last night of our last cruise ending in October.    Since we've had to cancel 3 this year and now have medical conditions that probably mean we'll never cruise again, it's nice to have hit that 'one full year' milestone.    

[paul929207]

On Princess, all the perks we are eligible for are based on days.

[neverbeenhere]

We have never thought of how many cruise vacations we have taken, it would take some deep thinking and research to determine the number. We have always counted cruises. To us, b2b2b2b is four cruises. 
 

Cruise “days” or “credits” or “points” etcetera are a whole different thing. 

[Hlitner]

At the risk of sounding boastful, we stopped counting cruises many years ago (probably after the first hundred).  To be honest, we had lots count but also realized that it was not all that meaningful in terms of cruise experience.  The eye opening was when we were on a 62 day Prinsendam cruise (our longest cruise up to that time) and had lunch with a lovely lady who told us she was only on her 5th cruise.  She later mentioned that her first 4 cruises had all been full world cruises (each over 100 days long.

 

So now, we tend to talk about how many cruising "days" rather then cruises.   Another interesting lunch/dinner topic is to ask folks how many different cruise lines and ships they have experienced.

 

Hank

[davekathy]

We like to keep track of the number (counting) of cruises we have taken and the number (counting) of days for our own reasons. Bragging has absolutely nothing to do with the reason we keep track. Personal preference for whatever the reason why.  Never posted our cruise count or days on CC or talking number of cruises with others. 🥱

Edited August 17, 2020 by davekathy

[Sue Do-Over]

TWO.  We once took an NCL out of Orlando/Port Canavrel followed immediately by a Princess cruise out of Fort Lauderdale.  (It's possible I have the cruise lines reversed... they all blend together!)  Rented a car and drove it south a couple hours, stopping to load up on salty snacks and get a manicure along the way.  

 

We thought we'd selected entirely different routes, but ended up at 3 or 4 of the same ports.  Enjoyed some quiet time aboard, which is a nice break.

[davekathy]

46 minutes ago, Sue Do-Over said:

TWO.  We once took an NCL out of Orlando/Port Canavrel followed immediately by a Princess cruise out of Fort Lauderdale.  (It's possible I have the cruise lines reversed... they all blend together!)  Rented a car and drove it south a couple hours, stopping to load up on salty snacks and get a manicure along the way.  

 

We thought we'd selected entirely different routes, but ended up at 3 or 4 of the same ports.  Enjoyed some quiet time aboard, which is a nice break.

Not considered a B2B cruise.