First B2B and some questions

[J13C85]

DW and I have always wanted to do a B2B but thought it would be to difficult to swing the time off work.  I found a 14 day E/W Carib on Sky Princess over Christmas of 2023.  We thought the price was insane so we booked it.  Now I have some questions.  

 

First, I looked at the 2 7D cruises that make up this cruise, and the individual cruises (for the category we booked) were appx $4K more than the 14 day.  Is that normal?

 

Next, does Princess limit available cabins as I saw cabins available for the individual cruises that were not available for the 14 day one.

 

Lastly, how does disembarkation/embarkation work between cruises?

 

We are extremely excited and thanks in advance for any guidance

[PacnGoNow]

7 hours ago, J13C85 said:

DW and I have always wanted to do a B2B but thought it would be to difficult to swing the time off work.  I found a 14 day E/W Carib on Sky Princess over Christmas of 2023.  We thought the price was insane so we booked it.  Now I have some questions.  

 

First, I looked at the 2 7D cruises that make up this cruise, and the individual cruises (for the category we booked) were appx $4K more than the 14 day.  Is that normal?

 

Next, does Princess limit available cabins as I saw cabins available for the individual cruises that were not available for the 14 day one.

 

Lastly, how does disembarkation/embarkation work between cruises?

 

We are extremely excited and thanks in advance for any guidance

It is possible that a 14 is less than booking two 7’s.  Most of the time it’s close in price, but you found a deal.

 

Yes, the cabin availability is different, as they hold back availability for the different booking scenarios.  So, it may change later, but far ahead you will see that on almost every sailing.

 

Assuming this is FLL turnaround. B2b’s are given a paper a few days before the turnaround as to the specifics that day.

You will meet in a group in a MDR, usually on deck 5 and after the ship has been cleared of all passengers through security….a PCL agent will lead you off the ship through customs and back OB. You only have to take your passports and medallion with you.  
 

You can go ashore, if you wish.  Get off with everyone else and do customs. They will give you a transit card, which you will show when you reboard with the new guests. 

 

 

[skynight]

First, I looked at the 2 7D cruises that make up this cruise, and the individual cruises (for the category we booked) were appx $4K more than the 14 day.  Is that normal?

Don't know the new normal. In the past booking two 7 day cruises was just about the same price as one booking number for the 14 day. $4,000 difference seems high. Maybe it has something to do with Christmas and New Year holidays. 

Next, does Princess limit available cabins as I saw cabins available for the individual cruises that were not available for the 14 day one.

Yes. Princess sets aside most cabins for the 7 day cruises and then a smaller number of cabins for the two week bookings.

Lastly, how does disembarkation/embarkation work between cruises?

Fort Lauderdale? It is easy. You will receive instructions in your cabin. Read and follow them exactly. You will have two options.

a) Disembark and go into town. Bring your passports, medallions and intransit card (supplied on board) with you. Re-board anytime after general boarding has begun, usually around 11:30 +/- . You will have to go through immigration when disembarking and security when re-boarding.

b) Choose not to go into town. Meet at the designated location and time, shown in the instructions, on board. It is usually the theater. You must show up. There are no exceptions. The usual meeting time is around 9:30am so you have time to have a nice breakfast. Once all those disembarking have cleared the ship your group, there will be hundreds of you, will be escorted off the ship and through immigration. Once every passenger is off the ship then your group will be permitted to re-embark. If even one passenger is missing you will have to wait until that passenger is located and exits the ship.

If you are staying in the same cabin then leave everything as it is like a normal day. If you have to change cabins your cabin steward will provide instructions.

 

[J13C85]

Thank you both.  Very much appreciated

[JF - retired RRT]

On 9/29/2022 at 6:09 AM, skynight said:

First, I looked at the 2 7D cruises that make up this cruise, and the individual cruises (for the category we booked) were appx $4K more than the 14 day.  Is that normal?

Don't know the new normal. In the past booking two 7 day cruises was just about the same price as one booking number for the 14 day. $4,000 difference seems high. Maybe it has something to do with Christmas and New Year holidays. 

Next, does Princess limit available cabins as I saw cabins available for the individual cruises that were not available for the 14 day one.

Yes. Princess sets aside most cabins for the 7 day cruises and then a smaller number of cabins for the two week bookings.

Lastly, how does disembarkation/embarkation work between cruises?

Fort Lauderdale? It is easy. You will receive instructions in your cabin. Read and follow them exactly. You will have two options.

a) Disembark and go into town. Bring your passports, medallions and intransit card (supplied on board) with you. Re-board anytime after general boarding has begun, usually around 11:30 +/- . You will have to go through immigration when disembarking and security when re-boarding.

b) Choose not to go into town. Meet at the designated location and time, shown in the instructions, on board. It is usually the theater. You must show up. There are no exceptions. The usual meeting time is around 9:30am so you have time to have a nice breakfast. Once all those disembarking have cleared the ship your group, there will be hundreds of you, will be escorted off the ship and through immigration. Once every passenger is off the ship then your group will be permitted to re-embark. If even one passenger is missing you will have to wait until that passenger is located and exits the ship.

If you are staying in the same cabin then leave everything as it is like a normal day. If you have to change cabins your cabin steward will provide instructions.

 

Excellent instructions. Although, the times I've done B2Bs in FLL, there weren't "hundreds". One time there were 6. Other times as many as 20. Never seen hundreds.

[PacnGoNow]

2 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Excellent instructions. Although, the times I've done B2Bs in FLL, there weren't "hundreds". One time there were 6. Other times as many as 20. Never seen hundreds.

I think this year has been unusual due to FCC and pent up travel for us.  We did a lot of b2b’s this year and had from 200 to 500 on each b2b.

I think next year will be a lot different.

JMO

 

[skynight]

5 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Excellent instructions. Although, the times I've done B2Bs in FLL, there weren't "hundreds". One time there were 6. Other times as many as 20. Never seen hundreds.

Expect 100's when the sailings are sold as both 7 day and 14 day cruises.

[SiliconCruiser]

On 9/28/2022 at 9:09 PM, J13C85 said:

Next, does Princess limit available cabins as I saw cabins available for the individual cruises that were not available for the 14 day one.

 

Lastly, how does disembarkation/embarkation work between cruises?

Your cruise history and status will have this credited as two separate cruises.  Cabin availability for your 14 day b2b would have to be a single cabin that is available on both legs of the cruise.

 

Your first embarkation would be like any other cruise.  The disembarkation/embarkation would be with all the other passengers that are also on the b2b.  You'll probably be the last group off (before the walk off the Covid cases)  and you'll be walked off the ship as a group and go to a holding area at the terminal and walked back on the ship (no security, just get off the ship so that they can say the ship is empty.)  If you choose to leave the ship during that day, you'll be given a transit card so that you don't have to go through all the other stuff, and you'll just go back on the ship when you return, but you will have to go through security.

 

This was our last cruise in December 2019 before the world came to a halt.

[tcdcruiser]

As mentioned above even with an “In Transit” card you will have to deal with port security to reembark.  Plan your return time carefully to avoid long lines. 

[Papa Yoda]

 

And don't forget to get Shareholder and Veteran's (if qualified) OBC for both legs.  If you are Elite you get a mini-bar each leg.

 

Your folio will just roll over - no need to close out.  Unused OBC rolls over.  Casino however must be closed out last night of first leg.

[VibeGuy]

If there is a particular cabin available for both sailings that isn’t showing in the 14NT availability, it is possible to get inventory management to turn it into a 14NT Cabin - I’d suggest using a travel agent or Princess PVP. 

[skynight]

9 hours ago, Papa Yoda said:

 

And don't forget to get Shareholder and Veteran's (if qualified) OBC for both legs.  If you are Elite you get a mini-bar each leg.

 

Your folio will just roll over - no need to close out.  Unused OBC rolls over.  Casino however must be closed out last night of first leg.

Shareholder and Vets OBC goes by booking number. One booking number on a 14 day cruise = $250 shareholder OBC/cabin and $250/qualified person up to two per cabin in military benefit. The amounts are $100 for each cruise when booked as two 7 day cruises.