Have you ever booked a "back-to-back" cruise?

[JayDeeJay]

Did you like it? We're thinking about it ... would like some input from people who've already done it . . . what do you think???

[crazy canuck]

We have done many back to back. We usually look for ships that do different itinerarys every week or 10 days. We are doing the Freedom in Europe in April and May doing the Eastern Med one cruise and Western the next. The only negative is the shows are the same and the Cruise Director tells the same jokes including the ad libs.

[mkk]

We did an E/W Carib back to back two years ago on the Glory..even had to change cabins cause we made the second week reserv. last minute...

 

Pros:..Knew our way around the ship REALLY well by second week..

Knew the staff well...nice to be 'recognized'... Nice having same wait staff two weeks in a row..they REALLY get to know your every need!

Got to try more menu items cause the menus repeat..

Got to skip some shows and do other things (or nothing:)).

All in all a very relaxing time!

 

Cons: Menus and shows DO repeat..Cruise Directors dialogue word for word the same as week prior..(but that really didn't bother us.)

If you want a completely different, exciting experience..a b2b probably isn't for you..If you want a very stress-free, relaxing week without feeling any pressure to "do and see it all"..by all means do a b2b!

BTW..With CCL you do have to disembark after the first leg...(not luggage) but they walk you off, through customs and back on..usually less than an hour!

Have fun!

[qzbean]

My best friend and I cruised the Victory to Canada back-to-back last summer. We were interested in a summer cruise to Canada, but wanted a longer itinerary than was offered on Carnival. The 4-day and 5-day in succession was the perfect solution, and for the same price we had paid for the 8-day Eastern Caribbean on the Legend a year earlier.

 

We found plenty to keep us entertained on the ship without repeating the shows, and of course there are always many options in port.

 

The very best part was returning to New York mid-trip, knowing it was not the end, but another beginning! (Our tablemates from the first cruise were very jealous.) We loved it and would definitely do it again.

[Cruising Retired Army SGM]

I did a back to back to back this past Sept and Oct on the Holiday out of Mobile. I was by myself in a 1A and I was getting rates of $240-$290 price range and they were 5-5-4 day cruises. I had no problems at all and each time I came back to Mobile I was escorted off the ship to go thru passport control and after I picked up a newspaper I was escorted back on the ship and then I had to go to the information desk where they processed me back on the ship.

 

Now when I fly to Rome in June for the Carnival Freedom Iwill be in Platinum status as this will be my 10 Carnival cruise.

[Sirwinston]

I would not do the same cruise twice. If the same ship was doing new port(s) then I would. Last year I did a 3 day Mexico and then 11 day Hawaii on same ship. I did change cabin and cabin mates. The 3 day was the "add on"

It would be fun to do a crusie and a repositioning crusie back to back. Or a 4 day and 5 day. But I cannot see doing the same exact cruise twice.

[Guienevere_Arianette]

Is there a search engine that will help find back to backs? Or do I have to find out myself? Make a list of every ship and every date; then cross reference which ships embark/debark same port/day, etc.

[we2cruze]

One of the best things about a b2b is that at disembarkation after the first cruise, you get to keep cruising!!!!! All those others passengers are so sad and are being kicked off the ship, but not you, no, you not only get to stay on the ship, but you know your way around and you know your room steward (if you book the same room both cruises) and you get to skip the muster drill.:D

[melissasneu]

We did b2b Alaska. We liked having the same ports twice because didn't have to choose if we were interested in more than one excursion. If there was something we really liked or didn't get to see enough of we got another shot at it the following week. You really get a chance to relax too. Did not go to the shows every night and slept in a few times too. Roundtrip air save us money vs Alaska cruise/land tour. Really got to know the staff. Met some really nice people or each leg. I say if you have the time go for it!

 

Melissa

[Sparky2]

Did you like it? We're thinking about it ... would like some input from people who've already done it . . . what do you think???

 

We're schedule on the Liberty next year and are doing the 6 day Western Caribbean and then 8 day exotic Western Caribbean - 6 different ports with a total of 6 full sea days. Have chosen the same cabin for both cruises so will not have to pack and move. Guess we'll have to do laundry, though! Really, really looking forward to it.

[Thestral]

Thanks for the information everyone. A friend and I were just thinking about how that would work. We'd love to do a cruise and then just stick around for the next one- especialy if it goes to different ports. I could make the time, I just don't know if anyone else could! It would be so relaxing on the second trip. Be great to be able to skip a show on the first if you were tired and know that you could see it again on the next one (or if you really liked one then you can see it again).

[PINEVIEW01]

I just did a b2b back on Elation. I got to keep the same room even thou I did a 1A gty. Kudos to Carnival, in a 4A. I got walked off and was treated like royalty by the Carnival staff, customs and security while waiting for security to hunt up and throw off the rest of pax'ers. For some reason people were refusing to get off:D . They still had to hunt dow 17 people and throw them off:eek: . Than I went and sat in VIP were the Carnival rep walked me back on with the bride and groom. Ahead of the rest of the VIP's. I even got to go to my cabin even tought the fire doors were shut to everone else. It was a grin. I had one more port on the second cruise. And I can do Coszumel any day:cool: .

 

I went Platinum, too.

 

Now I'm going to do 3 in a row on RCCL this November. I want to be Platinum on them too!

[mjktg99]

For our honeymoon my DW are doing 2 cruises in a row but not on the same ship. We are 1st flying down to Miami and taking a 4 Day on the Fascination and when that gets done on that Friday, we will be renting a car and driving up to Port Canaveral to take a 7 Day on the Glory which leaves that Saturday.

 

 

Now... only the wait is what lies ahead...:(