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Packing for a B2B


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We enjoy the fact that we don't have to pack after the first leg or put our luggage out. We do sleep in a bit then go grab a pool lounger and relax. Love our B2B's and always book the same cabin.

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Haven't done a b2b but I've done a few 2 week cruises from the UK and can say this - if you're planning on eating and drinking to your heart's content, bring a slightly larger/stretchier set of clothes for the second week. Things never seem to fit me as well on the second week, so I always take one set of clothes for the first week and another set of clothes for the second. That way I won't have to struggle to do a zip or buttons up when I've put on a tad too much weight from all the eating. If you're flying and don't want to take too much extra, just take clothes that you know will fit you if you put weight on. I find that my cruise weight tends to be about the same as my Christmas weight so generally tend to take dresses that I wear over the holidays. 🤣 

Edited by cloud_nine
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Just now, cloud_nine said:

Haven't done a b2b but I've done a few 2 week cruises from the UK and can say this - if you're planning on eating and drinking to your heart's content, bring a slightly larger/stretcher set of clothes for the second week. Things never seem to fit me as well on the second week, so I always take one set of clothes for the first week and another set of clothes for the second. That way I won't have to struggle to do a zip or buttons up when I've put on a tad too much weight from all the eating. If you're flying and don't want to take too much extra, just take clothes that you know will fit you if you put weight on. I find that my cruise weight tends to be about the same as my Christmas weight so generally tend to take dresses that I wear over the holidays. 🤣 

 

Sea air shrinks clothing😉

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30 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

Buy a bottle of your favorite adult beverage the last night of first leg. They generally let you take it back to cabin then. 

 

Bailey's works well

 

We did that when we found out our cabin attendant was fond of the stuff in the purple bag.  Added that to his well deserved extra tip.  😉 

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6 hours ago, CaribbeanCrushed said:

 

We've talked about it for years, but I was always the one not wanting to take that much time off work or be gone from home for that long. My wife was surprised when I suggested it. She keeps asking if I can really do it! LOL Thanks for the tip in regards to the liquor and souvenirs!

Were you able to book the same cabin for both legs of the trip?

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2 hours ago, island lady said:

 

We did that when we found out our cabin attendant was fond of the stuff in the purple bag.  Added that to his well deserved extra tip.  😉 

I do that too.     I learned a room steward that we had in 2019 was on our sailing in 2020 that I gave her a nice bottle as we loved her.    She couldn't believe I tracked her down and brought her a present.     To me it's the little things like that that matter.

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2 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I do that too.     I learned a room steward that we had in 2019 was on our sailing in 2020 that I gave her a nice bottle as we loved her.    She couldn't believe I tracked her down and brought her a present.     To me it's the little things like that that matter.

 

We indeed meet so many wonderful crew members.  Miss them all.  

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6 hours ago, CaribbeanCrushed said:

 

Do you stay onboard or go into town for the day? 

Sometimes we get off, sometimes we don't.     Our last one last January we got off and I got a taxi to a liquor store to buy a couple more bottles of wine for the cabin since you are allowed 2 per cruise and I stopped for some personal supplies at a Walgreens.    then we went right back to the ship and loved being able to pass right thru security without standing in the long line.     We made it back in the time for the b2b luncheon, which to me isn't anything special, but you should decide for yourself and give it a try at least once. 

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Many years ago we seemed to have the ship to ourselves for a good amount of time. In the past few years, we had to gather about 9:00am,  wait till the ship was cleared by authorities ( hopefully by 9:30) ,  get escorted off, go through customs, get new sea pass cards ( sometimes we get the new cards at the  initial gathering spot) , wait in the terminal then are allowed back on.    The first group of new passengers  is called is just seconds behind us. 

 

So,  we find that there is not really much time to have the ship to ourselves. 

 

The  turn around morning is still relaxing for us.  We  have a leisure breakfast and the best part is  knowing you don't have  to leave to go home!

 

We've had the same cabin but also had to change cabins.  Either is fine.  The pack up is minimal because they will move the hanging clothes and we  just fill the  suitcases.   This is when NOT  overpacking helps.   And,  honestly, I often like a new  clean cabin.  Sometimes, just prior to the meet up, we'll  move the suitcases to the new cabin closet.   We even had to move from a suite the first week  to a  balcony the second week , and honestly didn't care, we were so happy to still  be on board. I'll admit, when we've done it the other way, it is a bit more fun. 😀  Many years ago (seems like a lifetime ago) , RCCL gave complementary  upgrades.   So, we might get upgraded for one leg of a   B2B. We most often took the   upgrade, even it if meant moving. 

 

If you are on an Oasis Class ship and  didn't make dining or entertainment reservations for the  second week,  someone will likely be at the  meeting room to make  your reservations. 

 

Just one more thing,  one recent crusie ( recent because it was 5 or 6 cruises ago in Fall of 2019 - not recent by  the calendar) there was a scheduled Coast Guard inspection on TAD.  We were told   of the inspection and told we would not be allowed back on board for several  hours.   We had warning to were prepared to wait in the terminal.

 

For reference - all our B2B have been in US ports.  

 

OP - ask away.  

M

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35 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Sometimes we get off, sometimes we don't.     Our last one last January we got off and I got a taxi to a liquor store to buy a couple more bottles of wine for the cabin since you are allowed 2 per cruise and I stopped for some personal supplies at a Walgreens.    then we went right back to the ship and loved being able to pass right thru security without standing in the long line.     We made it back in the time for the b2b luncheon, which to me isn't anything special, but you should decide for yourself and give it a try at least once. 

We usually like the luncheon because it is  something different and  a served lunch.  On Oasis class,  and depending on how many are on B2B, we've  had a nice lunch in Jamie's.  Even if we have access to Coastal Kitchen, we still do the  B2B lunch because of the  different venue and  in a way to shows appreciation for the offer.  We figure if folks don't do the lunch, they will stop offering it. 

 

The times we've had it in the MDR, we've had a variety of menus.  I will say that some meals  are way better than others. 

 

M

 

 

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Upon disembarkation of the first cruise make sure to go down to the exit door wearing a bathrobe with mimosa in hand and snark at all the peons leaving the ship. (Just remember someone will be doing it to you at the end of your second cruise)

Edited by neverbeenhere
Happens often enough
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1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

We usually like the luncheon because it is  something different and  a served lunch.  On Oasis class,  and depending on how many are on B2B, we've  had a nice lunch in Jamie's.  Even if we have access to Coastal Kitchen, we still do the  B2B lunch because of the  different venue and  in a way to shows appreciation for the offer.  We figure if folks don't do the lunch, they will stop offering it. 

 

The times we've had it in the MDR, we've had a variety of menus.  I will say that some meals  are way better than others. 

 

M

 

 

Yes, you are right.     I do enjoy the lunch in Jamie's and Chops and we have had some okay one's in the MDR too.  It all depends what port we are at and what the weather is.    Sometimes I prefer to get myself settled into my sun deck chair while everyone else boards the ship and finds their way around.   Always a fun day to people watch 🙂

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1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

We usually like the luncheon because it is  something different and  a served lunch.  On Oasis class,  and depending on how many are on B2B, we've  had a nice lunch in Jamie's.  Even if we have access to Coastal Kitchen, we still do the  B2B lunch because of the  different venue and  in a way to shows appreciation for the offer.  We figure if folks don't do the lunch, they will stop offering it. 

 

The times we've had it in the MDR, we've had a variety of menus.  I will say that some meals  are way better than others. 

 


We did a few b2bs in 2019 (out of the US) and the lunch was definitely better on some ships (Harmony even served complimentary wine and beer 😁) than others (Freedom out of San Juan wasn’t that great).


We usually stay onboard too, it is a great people watching day.

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10 hours ago, CaribbeanCrushed said:

 

Do you stay onboard or go into town for the day? 

We've done it differently on different ports. In Florida, we stay on the ship. In Europe we get off. In Australia, you gave to get off so we enjoyed a ferry ride to Bondi Beach. 

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2 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Yes, you are right.     I do enjoy the lunch in Jamie's and Chops and we have had some okay one's in the MDR too.  It all depends what port we are at and what the weather is.    Sometimes I prefer to get myself settled into my sun deck chair while everyone else boards the ship and finds their way around.   Always a fun day to people watch 🙂

Yes-People watching is always fun, especially on the first day.  Sometimes we stay on the promenade of a freedom or oasis class ship and watch the passengers jaws drop when first get on board. 
 

m

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16 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Yes, you are right.     I do enjoy the lunch in Jamie's and Chops and we have had some okay one's in the MDR too.  It all depends what port we are at and what the weather is.    Sometimes I prefer to get myself settled into my sun deck chair while everyone else boards the ship and finds their way around.   Always a fun day to people watch 🙂

 

We adore the TAD lunch!  On our last B2B2B...we mixed it up.  Lunch in town (San Juan) on the first one, but stayed on ship the second turn around day to enjoy the lunch.  We had so much fun conversation...and a lot of wine!  😉 

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13 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

We adore the TAD lunch!  On our last B2B2B...we mixed it up.  Lunch in town (San Juan) on the first one, but stayed on ship the second turn around day to enjoy the lunch.  We had so much fun conversation...and a lot of wine!  😉 

Right now I just want to be on a cruise ship, lunch, dinner menus, no dishes to wash, etc.  We are away now, on Hilton Head Island,  but still cooking, etc.  Turnover day lunch sounds good.  Currently our next scheduled Cruise is in October on the Anthem to the Canary Islands and the TA.  We'll see.

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Don't know if this was mentioned.  We always go to guest services towards the end of cruise to make sure they have us as staying aboard.  Tell your cabin steward so he or she knows and like others have said, we let him know he can skip our cabin.  If moving to different cabin, I search out the steward for our new cabin, to let introduce myself.  The last time we moved the steward was glad I did this as he asked us how we wanted our beds made so they were already separated when we got there. Even asked us what our dinner schedule was and if we needed ice or any other special needs.   He was a great cabin steward.

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Haven't done B2B but will be April/May 2022.  TA and then following cruise.  Same ship but have to change rooms - just a few doors down.  

We have been sailing Celebrity and get complimentary laundry.  Does Royal offer any specials on bags of laundry?  We were on Brilliance August, 2019 but don't recall. We got used to packing light and sending out laundry as were doing 12-14 day cruises in the past.  

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36 minutes ago, retiredgram said:

Don't know if this was mentioned.  We always go to guest services towards the end of cruise to make sure they have us as staying aboard.  Tell your cabin steward so he or she knows and like others have said, we let him know he can skip our cabin.  If moving to different cabin, I search out the steward for our new cabin, to let introduce myself.  The last time we moved the steward was glad I did this as he asked us how we wanted our beds made so they were already separated when we got there. Even asked us what our dinner schedule was and if we needed ice or any other special needs.   He was a great cabin steward.

 

Exactly what we do.  😉 

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36 minutes ago, retiredgram said:

If moving to different cabin, I search out the steward for our new cabin, to let introduce myself.  The last time we moved the steward was glad I did this as he asked us how we wanted our beds made so they were already separated when we got there. Even asked us what our dinner schedule was and if we needed ice or any other special needs.   He was a great cabin steward.

 

We do that to coordinate moving our luggage and having safe access

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