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Are there ANY downsides to a back-to-back?

MissMelis

By MissMelis,
in Royal Caribbean International

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MissMelis

MissMelis

Posted
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Well, the hubby and I just got back from AOS 3 days ago, and we're both in withdrawl and NEED something to look forward to! However, we liked the fare that we paid for sailing in September, and everything seems pretty expensive to sail in February, when we would like to go again.

 

So I got the bright idea this morning of doing a back to back in the Bahamas (a 3 night and a 4 night), because it saves us HUNDREDS compared to actually taking a 7 night sailing. If I'm correct, we would also get one C&A credit per sailing too, wouldn't we? (That would put us both at platinum status, instead of staying a gold member for one 7 night sailing)

 

I had never occurred to me before to do a back to back to actually SAVE money, but the way I'm looking at it, you can't really go wrong. Is there something I'm missing that would downgrade our experience? We don't mind hitting some of the same ports twice, since anything away from winter in Chicago is an AWESOME time.

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TexCruise371

TexCruise371

Posted
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Well, the hubby and I just got back from AOS 3 days ago, and we're both in withdrawl and NEED something to look forward to! However, we liked the fare that we paid for sailing in September, and everything seems pretty expensive to sail in February, when we would like to go again.

 

So I got the bright idea this morning of doing a back to back in the Bahamas (a 3 night and a 4 night), because it saves us HUNDREDS compared to actually taking a 7 night sailing. If I'm correct, we would also get one C&A credit per sailing too, wouldn't we? (That would put us both at platinum status, instead of staying a gold member for one 7 night sailing)

 

I had never occurred to me before to do a back to back to actually SAVE money, but the way I'm looking at it, you can't really go wrong. Is there something I'm missing that would downgrade our experience? We don't mind hitting some of the same ports twice, since anything away from winter in Chicago is an AWESOME time.

 

Absolutely a wonderful idea! :D We have done 2 B2Bs on Majesty of the Seas since January.

 

We have to fly from Texas to cruise and we've decided that if we have to go that far that we're going to do more than a 3 or 4 day. Saves money too. If you get the same cabin for both cruises you will not have to pack up between legs.

 

I'm not sure which ship you are looking at but we love the Majesty.

 

Also, you will receive one credit for the 3 night and a credit for the 4 night.

 

Have fun.

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firefly333

firefly333

Posted
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Upside, if there is a hurricane, like came and hit Galveston while I was on Conquest, at least you have a break in between to get back and save your car. Folks told me I gambled and lost cruising in September, thats the only caveat, hurricane season.

 

I did a B2B like you are speaking of, but it went into Oct when less chance of hurricanes. I need one more credit to be platinum, hoping to book Voyager again next spring to get there myself.

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Puffinater

Puffinater

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My only comments would be that you will have the same menus and entertainment. But if that doesn't bother you - go ahead.

 

The menus have change very little over the past few years so even if you cruised a year later you would basically end up with the same menu. Same holds true with the production shows. The "headliners" also have a good chance of changing. On our recent B2B we only had one headliner twice.

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MissMelis

MissMelis

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Absolutely a wonderful idea! :D We have done 2 B2Bs on Majesty of the Seas since January.

 

We have to fly from Texas to cruise and we've decided that if we have to go that far that we're going to do more than a 3 or 4 day. Saves money too. If you get the same cabin for both cruises you will not have to pack up between legs.

 

I'm not sure which ship you are looking at but we love the Majesty.

 

Also, you will receive one credit for the 3 night and a credit for the 4 night.

 

Have fun.

 

We're also looking at Majesty. How big of a shock will it be for me, having only sailed on Voyager class ships to go down to the smaller size?

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JanineM

JanineM

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We're also looking at Majesty. How big of a shock will it be for me, having only sailed on Voyager class ships to go down to the smaller size?

 

The thing we really noticed was the stateroom size ... the "superior oceanview" is teeny. Really, really small compared to a standard balcony on a Voyageur class ship. In other ways the ship didn't feel much smaller.

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Gold Coast Cruisers

Gold Coast Cruisers

Posted
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We did 3xB2B a total of 42 days and LOVED it.

Yes the entertainment is similar but that's OK. The good thing is that you can choose who you want to see and watch them when you choose rather than having to go to the show because if you don't you miss out altogether.

 

Go for it, I'm sure it won't be your last B2B.;)

 

Jillybean:)

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critterchick

critterchick

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The only downside is that turnaround day can be a bit of a lost day, depending on how the port handles it. In Ft. Lauderdale, we had a leisurely breakfast, met with other B2Bers in the Schooner Bar around 10:00, were taken off and re-processed in a group. We were back onboard by 11:15 and had a nice quiet couple of hours in the Solarium until the new lot of cruisers invaded.

 

In LA we met around 9:30, had to wait about an hour because disembarkation was a mess, and then were escorted ahead of those still waiting to clear immigration. I went home for a couple of hours, but those who stuck around had to wait until boarding commenced for the new cruise - although they were the first to board, they had about an hour's wait in the P/D lounge, as I recall from the telling.

 

But the benefits far outweigh the negatives, especially if you keep the same cabin for both legs. Schlepping stuff down the hall is a minor inconvenience, but it's better to stay put if you can.

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TravelerThom

TravelerThom

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Well, the hubby and I just got back from AOS 3 days ago, and we're both in withdrawl and NEED something to look forward to! However, we liked the fare that we paid for sailing in September, and everything seems pretty expensive to sail in February, when we would like to go again.

 

So I got the bright idea this morning of doing a back to back in the Bahamas (a 3 night and a 4 night), because it saves us HUNDREDS compared to actually taking a 7 night sailing. If I'm correct, we would also get one C&A credit per sailing too, wouldn't we? (That would put us both at platinum status, instead of staying a gold member for one 7 night sailing)

 

I had never occurred to me before to do a back to back to actually SAVE money, but the way I'm looking at it, you can't really go wrong. Is there something I'm missing that would downgrade our experience? We don't mind hitting some of the same ports twice, since anything away from winter in Chicago is an AWESOME time.

I will not deny any of the positives pointed out by you and others. I can think of several downsides however.

 

As pointed out by critterchick, not only is the turnaround day mostly lost but you have to go thru Muster drill again.

 

The demographic tends to be rowdier the shorter the cruise [gotta get my full experience and only have three days to do it!], especially on the weekend cruise [but then if you are party animals this might be a plus].

 

You can not access your cruise information on www.RCCL.com - I'm totally mystified as to why "My Cruises" doesn't just list two separate cruises [it is two separate booking numbers], but instead they don't show info for either cruise.

 

Not discouraging you in your idea, just pointing out what comes to mind. Have a great time.

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traveling1969

traveling1969

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We're also looking at Majesty. How big of a shock will it be for me, having only sailed on Voyager class ships to go down to the smaller size?

We did a back-to-back on Majesty in May. The staterooms are definitely smaller than Voyager-class but they were okay for us. Make sure you get the same stateroom for both legs to avoid having to move (or you can do what we did...1st leg in an ocean view and the 2nd in a mini-suite...we had to move but that was worth 3 cruise credits and gave us diamond status). Another trick is that the larger ocean views have views obstructed by lifeboats. Somewhere on this web site, someone has listed the rooms that have a relatively unobstructed view BETWEEN the lifeboats. By the way, we loved the majesty and are considering another of the same. Bon Voyage!

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Retired LEO

Retired LEO

Posted
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Sorry to hijack but i have a question. When you go to pay your parking at say Miami or Port Canaveral, you pay in advance and if I remember right they just tell me how much for that ships sailing. How do they know you are doing b2b and do you just tell them?

 

In Miami you pay on the way out so it'll go by your ticket. I'm not sure about Port Canaveral.

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cruisegirl1

cruisegirl1

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I had actually planned a back to back on the Sovereign earlier this month but just took the 3 day mainly because of the ship.

 

While I adore the Sovereign , I really didn’t want to be on that ship for 7 days. You will only visit two ports, Nassau and (hopefully) Coco Cay. The menu is different (not as extensive and will repeat) , cabins are smaller and there is no concierge lounge. Entertainment may not vary and there will be no headliner.

 

I have been on the Sovereign lots, (I have only 6 weeks between the upcoming sailing and my last sailing) but prefer a “better” ship for a 7 day cruise.

 

M

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gjkubel

gjkubel

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To clarify - we did not have to "re-muster", we got a special card - like a note to the teacher!

 

Please explain more about how you got this? Has anyone else had similar experiences? I have never heard this before and would love to learn more as I am on a B2B on Jewel in just over a month.

 

Thanks!

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bthom70

bthom70

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Please explain more about how you got this? Has anyone else had similar experiences? I have never heard this before and would love to learn more as I am on a B2B on Jewel in just over a month.

 

Thanks!

 

We did a B2B in April on the Enchantment, our lovely Cabin Stewart, came to our cabin and said to stay in for the drill and not come out or make any noises, he would make sure we were accounted for.

Needless to say we gave him an extra tip.

We're doing another B2B in 21 days on the Majesty, can't wait.

For us, we're Platinum and trying to make Diamond, plus the cabin prices were really attractive and we both HAD to get away, work was driving us crazy.

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Merion_Mom

Merion_Mom

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Just did a B2B on the Majesty. Had to change cabins (under duress) which was a bigger-than-minor but less-than-major inconvenience.

 

I see no downside.

 

Yes, we had the same ports. (two times in Nassau, two times in CocoCay) - only one day in Key West.

 

First time in Nassau, we just strolled around and had a lunch of conch chowder and fried conch. (much better than conch fritters)

 

Second time in Nassau, did the Comfort Suites/wristbands for Atlantis deal.

 

First time in CocoCay, relaxed in hammocks and played Queen of the Iguanas.

 

Second time in CocoCay, stayed on board and made it my own personal "sea day".

 

Only one day of same entertainment. It worked out perfectly, because the repeat was on the final night, when we needed to be packing anyway. All "headliners" were different.

 

Without being asked, we were assigned the same table and waiters for both cruises. I had our friends (CC) moved to our table for the second cruise. It was great.

 

Majesty was a wonderful home for 7 nights. My first cruises were all on Voyager class, and I have had no trouble enjoying EVERY class of ship on which I have cruised since.

 

P.S. I have NEVER heard of anyone legitimately "getting out" of a second Muster. Although on a certain level, I wish that I could, I don't think that it's a good idea.

 

First cruise or hundredth cruise, it's important enough that everyone should attend.

 

But I lived through this: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE2DB1030F936A35757C0A967958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

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