Back to Back Question

[Cnd_Cruiser]

We are thinking of doning a Back to Back in Feburary, those of you who have done it what were the pros and cons?. Can you keep your same room, what do you do about laundry?

[Mocorobabe]

Back to back are great, BUT make sure you can have the same room for both cruises. It is a hassle moving all your things.

 

Feburary is a good month as you can use lots of jeans during the day...figure 3 days with one pair. I even use jean shorts and get lots of wear from them. You have to figure that for dinner the people on the second leg won't have seen the things you've worn so double up. There is a laundry which will wash or clean some clothes.

 

Go to it and have some fun.

 

Mocorobabe

[cb at sea]

You could always take your dirty laundry ashore on boarding day of your 2nd cruise and find a laundromat!

[katiel53]

I take enough clothes for one week that if I were on a 2 week cruise I would be fine. I wouldn't try to look for a laundry service off ship, but I do have to say that the laundry prices onboard are so not bad. I would wash undies and whatever I thought I could do in the cabin. I have a small, really small, bottle of Tide that I take on cruises. I haven't had to use it yet, but hey, who ever knows?

 

I also bring a Tide pen thing so if I get a stain, I can get it out immediately. I keep hoping we will do a B2B and I know I will get by with the clothes I have for a week for 2 weeks. If I had to send things out, I know they do a great job on RCCL as I have sent things.

 

Enjoy your cruise and don't worry about laundry.

 

Katie

[shipknotshore]

Another Pro for doing a B2B is having to book airfare once!!! We have to fly to Fla. from Calif. and besides saving the money it also saves on vacation time since we always seem to fly in at least one day prior to the ships departure.

 

Haven't found any cons about doing a B2B yet!!! If you book it you won't be sorry....it's so wonderful not to have to get off the ship after the 1st leg.

[Bobster]

You can keep the same cabin (assuming it's available when you book) and not have to change everything after the first leg. We have done several, primarily because 7 days is too short. Based on our last experience, you will have to get off the ship and reboard escorted by a crew member. This seems to vary depending on the ship.

[aqhacruiser]

RCCL also has a special B to B department to help you set one up. Just ask for it when you call customer service:)

[Firefighterhoop]

I have a few questions:

 

How often is the entertainment repeated? Do they often rotate the guest entertainers or will it be the same ones (obviously the stage shows are the same)

 

How long are you off the ship during turn around day?

[cruz4natic]

We did a b2b last October from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale. Actually, was a b2b2b. A 7 night, 3 night, and an 11 night transatlantic. We never had to get off the ship in between cruises. Our new sea pass cards were delivered to the cabin the new morning of new cruise. Yes, we did have the same cabin for all three cruises. I would have hated to have to move. We also requested our same dining table, with the same waiters. We requested that on the first leg of cruises. We told them we were b2b2b and would hope to stay at same table. They were more than happy to keep us at same table. Actually, for the 3-night they were not able to, a large travel agent group had booked the entire lower level of restaurant, but they were very apologenic, we didn't mind because they were so nice. They greeted us with open arms after the 3 night. They were all wonderful. Kept same table, waiters and cabin steward. Hated to leave!! We got info for laudromats in area in between cruises. We got off late morning, after 7 day, did some laundry in port, had some lunch, made a day or it and reboarded with fresh laundry, ready to go for next 11 days. Would highly recommend b2b's. Very relaxing. It's fun to watch all the people leaving, knowing your staying for another fun filled cruise. As far as entertainment, we did see some shows repeated, but found they must have picked up new entertainers along the way. Some shows were new shows we hadn't seen. Definitely think about it. It can be lots of fun. We would do it again in a heartbeat.

[Host Kewlguy]

We did a b2b last October from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale. Actually, was a b2b2b. A 7 night, 3 night, and an 11 night transatlantic. We never had to get off the ship in between cruises. Our new sea pass cards were delivered to the cabin the new morning of new cruise. Yes, we did have the same cabin for all three cruises. I would have hated to have to move. We also requested our same dining table, with the same waiters. We requested that on the first leg of cruises. We told them we were b2b2b and would hope to stay at same table. They were more than happy to keep us at same table. Actually, for the 3-night they were not able to, a large travel agent group had booked the entire lower level of restaurant, but they were very apologenic, we didn't mind because they were so nice. They greeted us with open arms after the 3 night. They were all wonderful. Kept same table, waiters and cabin steward. Hated to leave!! We got info for laudromats in area in between cruises. We got off late morning, after 7 day, did some laundry in port, had some lunch, made a day or it and reboarded with fresh laundry, ready to go for next 11 days. Would highly recommend b2b's. Very relaxing. It's fun to watch all the people leaving, knowing your staying for another fun filled cruise. As far as entertainment, we did see some shows repeated, but found they must have picked up new entertainers along the way. Some shows were new shows we hadn't seen. Definitely think about it. It can be lots of fun. We would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

We were told all the waiters rotate to different tables after each cruise. Therefore they never have the same tables two cruises in a row. The waiters never even work with the same assistant waiters two cruises in a row.

[critterchick]

Whether you must disembark in between legs of the B2B seems to be port-dependent. In Fort Lauderdale on the Jewel, we met in the Schooner Bar at about 10:00am and disembarked after the last of the non B2B pax had left. We were off the ship for about 15 minutes to go through customs and re-board(some in the group complained about how long it took).

 

On Monarch last Friday, I went home in between legs (to see my dogs), but those who transitioned at the port went through customs, got new seapasses and waited about an hour to re-board - they had to wait until general boarding commenced, but they were the first to be on the ship.

 

On the Jewel, the production shows repeated, but as we had only seen one the first time, it was fine with us - we just saw the second one. The headline entertainment changed from one cruise to the next. We were originally assigned the same table, but wanted to sit with Shipknotshore, so we switched. I did check, however, and our incomparable waitstaff from the first leg had been split up to work different tables, in fact, our AW was at the station next to us, so I was able to chat with her a bit.

 

I don't think there are any real cons to a B2B, either. You could quibble about having to be off the ship, or the dining room closing at 8:30, but it's really no biggie.

[NoVa Mimi]

We are going on our second B2B on FOS in July and we can't wait! Our first was on AOS and we just love it! :) We were escorted off about 11am and the ship's officer that escorted us just had her follow her off, get our picture taken for our new card and then right back on again. It is so great not to have to get off at the end of week 1. We usually go to have a leisurely breakfast in the DR that morning and relax until the "new folks" get on. It's so nice! I also cannot think of any cons to going on a B2B.

[Murphy]

We were told all the waiters rotate to different tables after each cruise. Therefore they never have the same tables two cruises in a row. The waiters never even work with the same assistant waiters two cruises in a row.

 

On our Grandeur B2B last spring we asked to stay at the same table with the same waitress. She told us she kept her table (as did a few of the waiter/ress) around her, but the asst waiters did change around.