benefits of back to back cruises?

[kris4842]

what are the benefits of taking a back to back cruise?

[Sue L]

You get to stay on the ship longer!:D

[pjlee3333]

Possibly different ports if combining a East and West Carribean cruise for example. One set of airline tickets for two cruises if flying in. Twice as much fun.

[Gixer]

If you do a B2B do you have to get off the ship and go through the whole check in procedure again?

[applezz]

Sometimes 2 four night cruises are cheaper than a 7 night trip. You also get two cruises on your record instead of one for any loyalty programs.

[bullydogsmama]

My DH and my S and BIL and I did THREE back to back this winter, Hey it's been cold in New ENgland! The first criuse was on Carnival Valor for 7 days and then we packed up and took a cab to the end of the pier to NCL Jewel for a 5 day and then a 9 day. After the 5 day cruise we waited until the rest of the ship had cleared customs then "Guests in Transit" Which is what they call those who are staying on for another cruise, had to get off while customs cleared the ship, this took about 30 maybe 45 minutes and then we were back on the ship. Very easy to do.

[MJL]

Another benefit is that you get to know your service staff, cruise director, etc. better. And more importantly, they get to know you and any of the little things that may of value to you.

 

Mike

[shipshape sam]

what are the benefits of taking a back to back cruise?

 

 

Not sure if there are any.

 

I would guess people might list:

 

1) longer cruise

2) don't have to pack/unpack

3) hopfully have same cabin for both weeks(assuming two 7 day cruises)\

4) get a port day in city of embarkation

 

I think you kinda lose a day also. The day everyone is getting off, is a down morning at least. Nothing going on, facilities are not open. You do have to go through customs. The cruise line walks you through it to my understanding.

 

I would like to try one someday, especially if the itinerary alternates every other week.:)

[piercetc4]

the day last cruises pax get off the ship / new ones board is kinda neat as the ship is empty except for crew and other b2b 'ers - great time to go around taking pics of the ship and to enjoy the pool area with no crowds - i would do a b2b again no problem-

[piercetc4]

gixer- the b2b ppl are escorted off the ship to recheck in and get a new seapass then escorted back on before the other new pax get to check in- piece of cake-

[Cruising Greek]

My DH and my S and BIL and I did THREE back to back this winter, Hey it's been cold in New ENgland! The first criuse was on Carnival Valor for 7 days and then we packed up and took a cab to the end of the pier to NCL Jewel for a 5 day and then a 9 day. After the 5 day cruise we waited until the rest of the ship had cleared customs then "Guests in Transit" Which is what they call those who are staying on for another cruise, had to get off while customs cleared the ship, this took about 30 maybe 45 minutes and then we were back on the ship. Very easy to do.

 

Great idea! I would love b2b2b cruises. May I ask what your impression was between Carnival and NCL? I have not been on either line.

 

-Cruising Greek

[ssantow]

It is the only way you can get a 14 night caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean. They do not have many long cruises at all.

[Alexis]

what are the benefits of taking a back to back cruise?

 

Hi,

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.

We will be doing two more in September.

 

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 cabin 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.

 

If you decide to change cabins after the first week. They will help you move your things to the new cabin on a cart like bell hops use. You do not have to pack everything and leave the ship.

 

The only real discount you get other than C&A coupons, Platinum and Diamond/Diamond + Balcony discounts, 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. It will not be guaranteed though.

 

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 should receive a letter in your cabin by the end of the first week with your instructions on what to do. 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. ;)

[Sequim88]

Two B2B 12+ night cruises in a JS or above and you would be Platinum in one trip....IF you were retired or had almost a month of vacation that is. Not sure though if there is anywhere in the schedule where this could happen.

[ecmcm]

B2B is the only way to go!! We have to make arrangements for pets and parents and once that's organized, it doesn't really matter whether we're gone for one or two weeks. Our airfare is costly so if we stay two weeks it doesn't seem so bad. You get to enjoy the fabulous weather for twice as long, there is plenty to do and you don't feel like you have to cram it all into one week, lots of variety in the food so you have a chance to try more dishes, you only have to unpack and pack once, it's fabulous watching everyone else get off the ship on the turnaround day, clearing customs is fast and then you have the whole ship to yourself for a few hours, you know your way around when everyone else is lost, you get thoroughly spoiled for twice as long and you finally feel relaxed!! One week isn't enough for that, two weeks is great. We just did a Western and Eastern Caribbean on the Mariner which was great but we go for the ship so if the next one is two weeks doing the same route I doubt that will matter. I said this time that we should try for a B2B2B next time because maybe I'll feel like coming home after three weeks..........doubt it but we really should give it a try.

 

em

[danyelle]

This is such good information. I'd love to do a B2B eastern/western one day.

[PantherFan]

Possibly different ports if combining a East and West Carribean cruise for example. One set of airline tickets for two cruises if flying in. Twice as much fun.

 

Exactly why we are getting off the Liberty and spending the night at a hotel and getting on the Independence. With frequent flyer restrictions so annoying now it is just easier to take a longer vacation.

[Mydnite]

We are doing B2B in Sept. For us it is not worth the airfare to travel for a week only, we will also spend a few days in Orlando and Coca Beach. We are looking forward to not having to get off the ship and know who the staff are n the second week, we are doing a different itinarary, western and eastern, doing it that way as the second week is the more 'relaxed' in terms of the excursions we want to do.

 

The weeks we have choosen, and booking a long way in advance means that we got a cracking deal, paying less for 14 days balcony that some will pay for 7 days balcony at high season.

 

Overall, we wanted a longer cruise, and this was the only way to do it.

[marle7]

Hi,

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.

We will be doing two more in September.

 

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 cabin 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.

 

If you decide to change cabins after the first week. They will help you move your things to the new cabin on a cart like bell hops use. You do not have to pack everything and leave the ship.

 

The only real discount you get other than C&A coupons, Platinum and Diamond/Diamond + Balcony discounts, 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. It will not be guaranteed though.

 

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 should receive a letter in your cabin by the end of the first week with your instructions on what to do. 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. ;)

 

Good information. Do you have access to your cabin right away, or do you have to wait until 1:p.m. on the second leg?

[TigerLady]

what are the benefits of taking a back to back cruise?

 

You don't have to go home, and you still don't have to cook and clean:D!

[Inshape]

Dh and I did our first b2b on NOS since a 5 and 4 nighter was cheaper than a 7 nighter and got 2 credits for it. It was so nice staying on. You do get your seapass for the second cruise the last night. Then they meet you at 10:15 am, but 10:20 we walked off the ship and were back on by 10:30. It was wonderful. Kind of strange though when the new cruisers got on, kind of made me feel like they were invading my ship....HEHEHEHE!!! It was great and we will do it again. We did not even have the same cabins, and this was fine too. We just packed up fast and the room steward moved us, and the new room steward knew to clean our room first for us, and we were able to use the room but 10:30 AM when we reboarded.

[Bella Sailing]

We always wanted to do a B2B.

[drew0tonna]

If you do a B2b, do they still deliver your duty free purchases to your room on the last night of your first cruise?

[TiggerTwo]

On the B2B cruises that we have taken, your alcohol wasn't delivered till the last night of your second leg. However, if you have friends leaving at the end of the first week, not too hard to arrange a delivery to their cabin so that you have something to drink the second week.

[rkmw]

we are thinking of doing a 37 day b2b on the Rhapsody of the Seas around australia and then across to new zealand in feb 09