Back-to-back cruises questions (merged)

[KMN927]

I dont mean to sound dumb but I am thinking of taking a B2B cruise next august. It would be 5 days to Bermuda then 9 nts to canada/New England. I just want to ask if u book both cruises ...do u get the same room on both or do u have to pack and unpack for the 2nd half? This will be our 8th cruise and the first B2B I have ever done. Also what about laundry? Hub asked that one...LOL......Any comments would be appreciated. We just sailed a 9 nt to eastern Caribbean on EOs from 8/25-9/3 It was wonderful..........Thanks Kathy

[cruisin4kicks]

It depends on what's available. We booked our 1st B2B for Oct2007 and got the same cabin for both legs. As far as laundry is concerned... RCI doesn't have public washers/dryers but I was told the price they charge for laundry is very competitive with what you would pay at home. The RCI site has prices but I don't remember the url address.

 

Tim

[Murphy]

I highly recommend trying to get the same cabin for both weeks. It works out much better and is less stressful IMHO. If you do have to change cabins they do help you move and you don't put your luggage out the night before. But I say, try to get the same cabin and enjoy the last day of leg one and the first day of leg two to the fullest without the moving headache.

[glgolfer]

We did a B2B in 2000 for 22 nights in the same D1 cabin. Just have RCI or your TA find a cabin that is available for both legs.

A B2B is great. Make sure you tell the Cruise Director, the Loyalty Ambassador and anyone else you meet on the staff that you are doing a B2B. You might be surprised at how you'll be treated.

[ckrobyn]

We are doing our first back to back this coming February/March - insofar as laundry is concerned, I did see the prices and they are very reasonable. My question is when you send the laundry out in the morning, when would it come back?

 

We don't have the same cabin for weeks ( although we did try for it!) I'm glad that we don't have to put our luggage out the night before - I am assuming that we can take it ourselves to the new cabin (which happens to be right next door!) or we could get some help....

 

What sort of different or special treatment do B2B passengers receive?

 

I'm really looking forward to this new experience!

[Murphy]

We are doing our first back to back this coming February/March - insofar as laundry is concerned, I did see the prices and they are very reasonable. My question is when you send the laundry out in the morning, when would it come back?

 

 

You can request same day express service, but it costs more. In by 9, back by 5 kind of thing. Otherwise it is back by 5:00pm the following day.

[ckrobyn]

You can request same day express service, but it costs more. In by 9, back by 5 kind of thing. Otherwise it is back by 5:00pm the following day.

 

Thanks for the info Murphy - I think we will be okay with getting our laundry back the day after.

[CruznTom]

Have your TA (if you use one) and/or RCL double check for same cabin, and then put you on the wait list for the other cabin on both legs.

On our upcoming B2B it doesn't look good for the same cabin, but they were the only 2 corner aft verandas when we booked. Chances are really slim that someone will give up one of those, but the time to check is the day after final payment is due.

Moving is not a big deal anyway.

[rubrrick]

My DW and I have done several B2B cruises (maybe 8 or 9 total) and we love them. A couple of tips. Since you are on a B2B ask your stateroom attendant to get the same day upcharge for laundry waived. They will do it.

 

We normally are treated to a bottle of wine or a special luncheon with other B2B cruisers. We have been invited to a special cocktail party for B2B cruisers.

 

As far as cabins go.........you need to book that same cabin upfront.

 

However, if you have to move........your attendant will help you the morning of debarkation. We just completed our last B2B on Friday, and last Monday, the staff moved us from one cabin to another. We packed our bags, but left all hanging items for the attendant to move. The attendant cleaned our new cabin first.........then let us move in, while everyone else was leaving the ship.

 

We love B2B's and wish you luck with your first one. Let us know how smoothly the transition went.:)

 

Rick

[BillOh]

I hope to make one of these someday. Glad you asked the question, great reading.

[SUZCRUZ]

I highly recommend trying to get the same cabin for both weeks. It works out much better and is less stressful IMHO. If you do have to change cabins they do help you move and you don't put your luggage out the night before. But I say, try to get the same cabin and enjoy the last day of leg one and the first day of leg two to the fullest without the moving headache.

We are going on our 1st B2B this Saturday. When I booked the cruises, I asked RCCL to waitlist us for the same cabin.

By the help of the poster on C.C., posting that they were giving up their/our cabin, we called RCCL and got it. Without their post, we probably wouldn't have gotten it, as it is a desired cabin.

Good luck, and just keep checking with RCCL. As when I checked back(early on) they stated we in fact hadn't been put on a waitlist. Be sure to check 60 days prior to sailing, as this is when final pmt is due and when cabins will be open for booking.

[MrPete]

Just curious.

 

Is a B2B better/equal/worse than going on two distinct different cruises? I can see losing one complete cycle of debarking/embarking, but other that that....?

 

Every time I think of doing it, I just think that I'd rather just go on two cruises, spaced out.

[Murphy]

Just curious.

 

Is a B2B better/equal/worse than going on two distinct different cruises? I can see losing one complete cycle of debarking/embarking, but other that that....?

 

Every time I think of doing it, I just think that I'd rather just go on two cruises, spaced out.

It's a personal choice I guess. Our B2B have been part of repositioning cruises that went from Tampa to San Juan and we stayed on from San Juan to Baltimore and the other one was from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale and then a Fort Lauderdale round trip. I live where I have to fly to a departure port. So if I do at 14 day trip with only one airfare, it saves us a lot of money. I doubt I would have do the same itinerary two weeks in row, but there a quite a few ships in the Caribbean that do the Eastern Carib one week and the Western Carib the other week, so we might do that some day.

[Alexis]

Hi, These two postings cover almost everything about back to back cruises.

This is for RCCL cruises only. I am going to give you my whole posting on B2B cruises.

We have done many B2B over the years. They are wonderful. We usually do the Eastern and the Western, but have done the Southern route also.

 

My first thing about a B2B cruise is I NEVER cruise them unless I can stay in the same cabin. I am not one for an upgrade or changing to another because I always pick the exact cabin I want and insist on staying with it.

There is no repacking to be done and everything you have stays in the same cabin. By now your cabin attendant knows you and is familiar with your times, likes and dislikes.

 

On your second week of the cruise you should start to receive small plates of "goodies" brought to your cabin every afternoon. Bottle of wine, chocolate covered strawberries, hors d'oeuvres and other different little tidbits. This is not always done on every ship.

 

We lucked out on our cruises coming up in September and got two C&A coupons in their magazine worth $150.00 off of each week. We then got the discount on the balcony cabin for Platinum members. We have since had a price drop for the one week of our B2B so we got another price refund by calling RCCL. (I book directly with them by phone)

 

The only real discount you get other than C&A coupons is you only have to pay to fly one time for both cruises. Your fare to get there and your fare to get home. Saves on airfare.

 

The dining room menu has enough variety that you can eat a different meal every night for the two weeks. I do not find the food to be boring on a B2B. You do not normally stay at the same table the second week, nor have the same wait staff. It can be requested if you would like to stay with your waiter.

 

The entertainment as far as the main shows are usually the same for the two weeks. The comics or other show people normally change by the second week. If not, check out another thing on the ship you missed the first week.

 

On the day of turn around, you are usually escorted off the ship by an officer and returned to it within minutes. No going back in line to re board for the second week. This will depend on the port you are in. They do not do the same procedure in all of them. Sometimes they hand you the new card at the pursers desk.

 

I hope this explains some of the questions anyone might ask. ;)

 

__________________

 

This is another great B2B posting by Cruise Critic GMoney. There are different things listed than I gave you.

 

Congrats on your B2B. Here is my standard B2B post, as I've been lucky enough to do a few... If you are staying in the same room, you don't need to move a thing.

 

The process varies by ship. The port you sail from generally dictates if you will have to disembark between cruises. Bayonne, for example, is more relaxed; we just stayed on (but I know Jewel doesn't sail from there). Miami is much more strict, and you to have to disembark briefly, then reboard. In the Miami instance, here's what you can expect:

 

+ During your first cruise, stop by Guest Relations and introduce yourselves and B2B cruisers and ask what the process is.

 

+ Generally, you get a letter at the end of your first cruise outlining the procedure. Hopefully this info matches what you were told by GR.

 

+ On the last day of your first cruise, all B2B cruisers will likely be asked to congregate in a specific public area just as disembarkation is winding down. Sometimes they will also make a PA announcement for B2B cruisers to assemble.

 

+ Someone from the ship will lead you off the ship. You will go through immigration, and then you can immediately reboard (before the new passengers get on), or go off and do something in that port.

 

+ You will get your new Sea Pass by either 1) visiting Guest Relations very early on the last morning of your first cruise, or 2) from the ship's representative who leads you off through customs. It seems to vary.

 

+ Keep the following in mind: 1) Your 2nd cruise Sea Pass will not have your digitial picture attached to it. You will get stopped when they discover this the first time you disembark, and they will take your picture right then and there. 2) Your credit card info is not automatically attached to your 2nd cruise Sea Pass, so check with Guest Relations to make sure everything is set up correctly before your card is denied.

____________________________________

[glgolfer]

Our B2B was from Acapulco to Hawaii for 11 nights, then Hawaii to Vancouver for 11 nights. We loved it as we didn't have to fly to/from Hawaii. WE'ew golfers, so we got to play golf one time ion port and sightsee the other time (or 3 in Lahaina).

Since we took so many ship excursions, the excursion manager became a good friend and sent us wine in our cabin. The Cruise Directors wife was the Hostess (hate that RCI eliminated them) and we got to know them both.

We were invited to dine with the Captain, invited to the Diamond party (even tho we weren't diamond yet), got a take the tender anytime pass and went with one of the excursion desk folks to the Arizona Memorial in Honolulu on disembarkation/embarkation day for everyone else.

Also, since we did the theater Academy at Sea, all the performers knew us and waved to us from the stage their last performance (that was fun).

 

It's a great feeling when everyone else is getting off the ship and you're only halfway through your cruise..

[shipknotshore]

Since you are on a B2B ask your stateroom attendant to get the same day upcharge for laundry waived. They will do it.

Rick

 

This is nice to know.......we're doing our 1st B2B in a few months. We were fortunate to get our cabin for both weeks.

Wondering if you MUST leave your cabin early in the a.m. like all passengers are instructed to do, or can you take your time and leave your room when it's time to do the "turn around" for all B2B cruisers????

It's amazing how crowded the ship is on departure morning with everyone waiting to leave....we'd just as soon stay in our cabin as long as possible.

[Murphy]

This is nice to know.......we're doing our 1st B2B in a few months. We were fortunate to get our cabin for both weeks.

Wondering if you MUST leave your cabin early in the a.m. like all passengers are instructed to do, or can you take your time and leave your room when it's time to do the "turn around" for all B2B cruisers????

It's amazing how crowded the ship is on departure morning with everyone waiting to leave....we'd just as soon stay in our cabin as long as possible.

Yes you can stay in your cabin until you want to get off the ship or move to the pool or whatever. Just be sure to let your cabin steward know what you plan to do. We told him to make up our room whenever it was the most convenient for him and he actually waited until he had the new boarding cabins made up so he was ready for the new passengers.

[H2OH!]

Hello Murphy..I see we are neighbors...You are in McHenry and I live in East/West Dundee.

[Maineac]

My DW and I have done several B2B cruises (maybe 8 or 9 total) and we love them. A couple of tips. Since you are on a B2B ask your stateroom attendant to get the same day upcharge for laundry waived. They will do it.

 

We normally are treated to a bottle of wine or a special luncheon with other B2B cruisers. We have been invited to a special cocktail party for B2B cruisers.

 

As far as cabins go.........you need to book that same cabin upfront.

 

However, if you have to move........your attendant will help you the morning of debarkation. We just completed our last B2B on Friday, and last Monday, the staff moved us from one cabin to another. We packed our bags, but left all hanging items for the attendant to move. The attendant cleaned our new cabin first.........then let us move in, while everyone else was leaving the ship.

 

We love B2B's and wish you luck with your first one. Let us know how smoothly the transition went.:)

 

Rick

Rick,

could you please explain what you mean by "same day upcharge for laundry waived"??????

We're doing our first B2B and love the advice.

[MrPete]

I take it they charge a premium if you want same day service. On Carnival, it's 50% of the bill :eek:

[torpeedo]

Warning warning, reading these posts can be dangerous for your wallet.. After reading this thread we researched a B to B for our 8 day Jewel, 2/10/07. We will now be doing a B to B and booked 2/4/07 (6 day to western caribbean). Unfortunately we can't get the same cabin but got the one sort of next door. We are booked in 9078 for the 2/10 and booked 9092 for the 2/4/07. Got a good resident rate saving nearly $300 off the cabin. First time that ever happen!:D

SO we are now really excited! We have been on the Radiance and hope the Jewel is a close version. Beautiful ship. Thanks for all the great info.

[Murphy]

Warning warning, reading these posts can be dangerous for your wallet.. After reading this thread we researched a B to B for our 8 day Jewel, 2/10/07. We will now be doing a B to B and booked 2/4/07 (6 day to western caribbean). Unfortunately we can't get the same cabin but got the one sort of next door. We are booked in 9078 for the 2/10 and booked 9092 for the 2/4/07. Got a good resident rate saving nearly $300 off the cabin. First time that ever happen!:D

SO we are now really excited! We have been on the Radiance and hope the Jewel is a close version. Beautiful ship. Thanks for all the great info.

Great cabins and not that bad to move from one to the other. Might I suggest you wait list? On the 2-10 sailing waitlist for cabin 9092 and on the 2-4 sailing waitlist for 9078. If either one becomes available for either week, you'll then be in the same cabin... just a thought.

[torpeedo]

THANKYOU! That is a great idea! I didn't want to give up those cabins as they have great balcony space. I will call RCI and waitlist!

[Maineac]

I take it they charge a premium if you want same day service. On Carnival, it's 50% of the bill :eek:

 

Thanks Mr.Pete......:)

[LuvMyVette]

Hi:

 

DH/I will be going on our first B2B a week from today! (Yahoo!):D

We booked our cruise a year ago and requested the same cabin for both cruises so I don't have to pack/unpack again.

If you can't get the same cabin, then waitlist it and hopefully it will open up for you.

I'm bringing some laundry detergent to wash some items in the sink. If anything else gets dirty/stained then we'll use the ships laundry services.

The packing has been a challenge since this is my first B2B. I decided to pack for a nine-day cruise with extra underwear/socks/some toiletries.

 

Whatever you decide to do have a wonderful time.

Sea ya!