Back-to-back Procedure

[txfab]

What are the procedures for back to back cruises? We are on the Majesty for 2 short cruises in a row but will be changing cabins.

 

Can we leave our bags on board and circle through customs?

What have others done?

 

We might take a tour Miami for the a couple hours and then get back on the ship. To answer the question in your mind we are doing this to move up to the diamond level before our Fall cruises.

[CruiseKeeper]

I've read where the b2b'rs receive a letter or form in their cabin informing them of the procedure, but we did not receive any direction while on the Majesty in December. We weren't able to get our JS for both legs and had to switch cabins.

 

We took matters into our own hands and located our terrific new cabin steward (Richard) and he handled our luggage transfer. I have to mention again (as I did in my survey) that the pursers’ desk was no help whatsoever:p . The ship gets deserted by 11:00 except for the b2b'rs and we found others sitting in the centrum that had cornered the LA to help us as well. It was really disorganized and resulted in problems for me disembarking at our first (second leg) port because the computer was confused about who I was. That took 2 trips to the pursers’ desk where they were really getting tired of seeing me.

 

Even with the glitches, I'd do it again and again....after all, I got to stay on the ship! :D

 

We were able to leave our luggage onboard and we did not have to even see customs. The LA took our passports and did that for us.

[txfab]

Thanks. Maybe there will be others who also decided to "hang out" and make a 4 night and 3 night into a 7 night. It would be cool to watch some of the goings on after the passengers have left and the newbie's come on board.

 

Some how we would have to get a new sail card and re-sign in.....

[StormGoddess]

You should be escorted off and brought through customs to be brought right back on the ship without having to wait in that line again.

[dagadget]

Thanks. Maybe there will be others who also decided to "hang out" and make a 4 night and 3 night into a 7 night. It would be cool to watch some of the goings on after the passengers have left and the newbie's come on board.

 

Some how we would have to get a new sail card and re-sign in.....

 

 

CC member wolfcathorse did this on Sovereign back in 2006. I would ask them how they did this. They did have pictures of what the ship looks like when everyone else is leaving. I am wondering if you get a special discount for 4 and 3 night back to back cruises. You can book a 7 nighter for less than the back to back. This idea only makes sense if you get a fat discount somehow for the B2B. But it would be nice to get someone that has done it a few times for info on how it is done.......

[prc]

My wife & I did a 3+4 on the Majesty last April/May. We also were changing cabins, so during the 3 nite we went and found the attendant who would be taking care of the cabin we would have for the 4 nite. He was very accomodating and let us bring all of our luggage up the the new cabin on Monday morning. We then took our ID, etc. and went to the pursers desk (we had been told to meet there at a specific time). We were escorted off and down to customs by a member of the pursers staff, and they checked us off the list, then we were immediately taken back on board. The lady from the purser's desk then gave us new seapass cards. The whole thing took maybe 30 minutes.

[CruiseKeeper]

CC member wolfcathorse did this on Sovereign back in 2006. I would ask them how they did this. They did have pictures of what the ship looks like when everyone else is leaving. I am wondering if you get a special discount for 4 and 3 night back to back cruises. You can book a 7 nighter for less than the back to back. This idea only makes sense if you get a fat discount somehow for the B2B. But it would be nice to get someone that has done it a few times for info on how it is done.......

 

No special discount for a 4 and 3 night back to back cruise. The cruise line treats them as separate cruises (and they are!). My b2b was cheaper than a 7 nighter at the time but different itineraries and dates of course, may vary. Actually, this cruise does make sense as the timing was perfect for us, we only had to pay airfare once and we earned extra cruise credits.

 

These helpful boards are full of advise regarding b2b's. What I have learned is that due to customs and configurations of ports, there is no set procedure for the transition during b2b's, although that would be nice.

[txfab]

Thank you for the responses.

 

These 2 shorter cruises did cost more than if we had booked one longer cruise. We needed 3 credits so that meant a JS and an inside combo to make it to diamond level. We are doing a JS and an oceanview...originally I was trying to come up with 2 short cruises one being in Orlando and one in Miami. The best we could do was a b-to-b.

 

I confirmed with Crown and Anchor that a three night qualifies for a credit which we did not know.

 

I learn so much from these boards...thanks.

[Nancynurse]

This is great information...I have a few other questions.

 

We are doing a B2B on a Radiance Alaska cruise in 2008. Since we are not changing cabins we thought we would take the time in port that day to see Victoria BC. Can we leave the ship to sight see for the day and then get back on, or do we have to stay on board?

 

The other question is will we have to wait on long lines to reboard, or will we already have our new sea-passes when we get off?

 

Nancy

[dagadget]

No special discount for a 4 and 3 night back to back cruise. The cruise line treats them as separate cruises (and they are!). My b2b was cheaper than a 7 nighter at the time but different itineraries and dates of course, may vary. Actually, this cruise does make sense as the timing was perfect for us, we only had to pay airfare once and we earned extra cruise credits.

 

These helpful boards are full of advise regarding b2b's. What I have learned is that due to customs and configurations of ports, there is no set procedure for the transition during b2b's, although that would be nice.

 

I am going to have to look at this a little closer. We had an E2 on Mariner for a 7 night cruise @ $999 PP Sovereign of the Seas has nothing equivelent to an E2 but the Jr Suite is 874.30 PP and 334 for our son as a 3rd. Going to look into a SOV and see what it would be for that same time period. I like the extra cruise credits too as I want to make Platinum level before I book a cruise for the mother in law and mother for 2009. I may end up doing a 4 nighter for them as well.

[Merlin139]

This is great information...I have a few other questions.

 

We are doing a B2B on a Radiance Alaska cruise in 2008. Since we are not changing cabins we thought we would take the time in port that day to see Victoria BC. Can we leave the ship to sight see for the day and then get back on, or do we have to stay on board?

 

The other question is will we have to wait on long lines to reboard, or will we already have our new sea-passes when we get off?

 

Nancy

 

I have now done 3 cruises B2B, one was B2B2B all were from Miami and we have done both options stayed on the ship, only getting off with other B2B's to go through the immigration and also getting off to look around Miami. When you get off make sure they know you are B2B you should then be taken to the front of the immigration line.

 

When you go to get back on board you then go through the normal process but as you should have your new seapass cards you just go to the line to board the ship. If you forget something remember you cannot reboard the ship until evryone has disembarked and the ship is ready to accept new passengers.

 

If you are settling your seapass account by Credit Card go down to Guest Relations when you get back on board and get your card swipped. This will save any embarresment when your card is declined on Monday night in the Casino.

 

Do you have a balcony or seaview cabin for your Alaska cruise?

 

if you do surely you would want to be facing the land up and down?

 

We are looking at doing Alaska in June 2009 as its our 25 Wedding Anniversary and will be changing cabins so we can see the land eachday.

[depplep]

I'm looking at a B2B in Oct. on Majesty. Does anyone have any experience with dining assignments as far as keeping the same table and/or same size table?

[starlake]

Normally on a B2B you keep the same table for both cruises---not always but usually works out this way.

I would advise you on your 2nd day of the first cruise, go to customer relations and tell them that you are on a B2B. Ask them if there is anything special you need to do. They normally will tell you that you will be receiving a paper with information on what to do. Or they will tell at that time what the procedure will be. (For OP, your cruises are both short and this is probably the best way to handle it)

Your room attendant will move your items. You have to pack up enough so that you can move easily.

As was already previously mentioned, it depends on what ship you are on if you have to desembark or if they will let you stay on while others disembark and the new people embark. It also sometimes depends on how many B2B there are.

Enjoy, have a great time

[depplep]

Forgive the stupid question, by when booking the B2B I assume that I would book it as two separate cruises and two separate deposits?

I usually book online with RCI.

I hadn't thought about B2B before but this would give us enough credits to put us at Diamond level. Sounding better by the minute!

[DrSeuss]

Forgive the stupid question, by when booking the B2B I assume that I would book it as two separate cruises and two separate deposits?

I usually book online with RCI.

I hadn't thought about B2B before but this would give us enough credits to put us at Diamond level. Sounding better by the minute!

 

Hi - I have just booked a back 2 back :D and only paid one deposit - this was direct with RC

[depplep]

Dr.Seuss, did you book online or over the phone?

[Nancynurse]

We have booked aft cabins for these cruises. We actually have two sets of cabins that we have deposits on to try to decide which dates we prefer!

 

On our last cruise, we booked one cabin on either side of the ship for our party to get the best of both worlds. It was a great cruise!

 

Nancy

[jbond]

Sorry, duplicate post.

[jbond]

Does RCI require you to go to both muster drills on a B2B? The CG requirement is that you only have to do muster drills every 30 days if you are on the same ship. We have done B2B's on Princess and they do not require you to attend the second muster.

[starlake]

We were required to do both.

[CruiseKeeper]

We paid 2 deposits for the Majesty b2b and went to 2 muster drills. It never occured to me to try to weazel out of the second one.

[crock921]

we also had to pay a deposit for each leg of our b2b on the AOS (14 days total)