B2B Questions

[tripplanner77]

I am doing a back to back in Sept on The Freedom have some questions (have not booked part 2 yet). Do you need to clear customs and what do you then do with the items you have purchased since you will still have them at the end of next curise. What about alcohol does Carnival bring it to your room at end of frist cruise and will they move your luggage to your new room.

[candigirl41]

I am doing BTB this coming Monday. PVP called to wish me bon voyage and told me the cabin steward will move my bags from my first cabin to second cabin. If you buy alcohol the first cruise they will deliver it the last night of the first cruise therefore you have it for the second cruise. Just pack it up to move to new cabin. Curious about the customs question too. Do you declare it when you go through customs the first time or just declare what is left after 2nd time.

 

Candi

[okgirl]

I did my 1st B2B on the Glory 8/30 & 9/6. We had to fill out a customs form and be escorted as a B2B group to the head of the customs line then get in a special line to get back on before anyone else was embarked.

 

We stayed in the same room, but I had heard that if we had changed the cabin steward would have moved us, but not packed us. And I didn't buy any liqour, but they were very aware that we were B2B and I've heard that this issue can go both ways.........

[tripplanner77]

thanks for the info hopefully someone can answer the customs question

[wasiii]

.....I received a letter the last night that said I had to go on the customs line @ 6:30 am. Got online and waited 45 minutes. When I got to the customs agent, he asked me what I was doing here. I said I was on a B2B an received a letter to come here. He stamped my stuff and said have a nice day. I don't think I needed to be there. My son and I waited in the lobby until the last people were off the ship. We were brought over to the purser's desk and given our new S&S cards. Never even had to get off the ship. By the way, had the same cabin for both cruises so I didn't even have to pack up.

 

:D

[LHP]

thanks for the info hopefully someone can answer the customs question

 

You literally clear Customs separately for each cruise.

 

We went on a B2B on the Imagination and it was a breeze. At the end of the first cruise, there was a letter telling us to meet them at the Purser's Desk at 10:30am with our completed Customs card.

 

We walked off the ship, gave Customs the customs card and walked right back on the ship.

 

If you purchase "the limit" of liquor on the first cruise and "the limit" on the second cruise....just simply fill out each Customs card and explain you did a

B2B if they ask at the end of the second one why you are carrying off TWICE the legal limit!! ;)

 

One tip...if you are like us and collect EVERY Embarkation picture, you will have to make arrangements to get the SECOND picture taken. Security will allow you off the ship to have that done and then you can come right back on.

 

The pictures folks were not set up with they walked us through Customs.

 

Second tip: It was just posted on these boards that Carnival is getting "wise" to folks that do the B2B and use the liquor that they purchase from the first cruise to drink on the second one. So don't be surprised if you don't get your liquor from the first cruise until the last night of the second one.

[Drew B]

Second tip: It was just posted on these boards that Carnival is getting "wise" to folks that do the B2B and use the liquor that they purchase from the first cruise to drink on the second one. So don't be surprised if you don't get your liquor from the first cruise until the last night of the second one.

 

That may be the case with liquor bought ashore. However, if you buy duty free booze on the last afternoon/evening from one of the shops onboard, don't they just let you walk out of the store with it? I can't imagine that they go to the effort of cross-referencing your S&S and stop you. And if they don't let you take it with you, simply say "Never mind, then. I don't want to buy it." I bet that'll change their mind quickly!

[tripplanner77]

thanks for the info and any other hints or experience would be welcome

[LHP]

That may be the case with liquor bought ashore. However, if you buy duty free booze on the last afternoon/evening from one of the shops onboard, don't they just let you walk out of the store with it? I can't imagine that they go to the effort of cross-referencing your S&S and stop you. And if they don't let you take it with you, simply say "Never mind, then. I don't want to buy it." I bet that'll change their mind quickly!

 

Yes indeed you do. Good idea!!!

[DGP1111]

That may be the case with liquor bought ashore. However, if you buy duty free booze on the last afternoon/evening from one of the shops onboard, don't they just let you walk out of the store with it? I can't imagine that they go to the effort of cross-referencing your S&S and stop you. And if they don't let you take it with you, simply say "Never mind, then. I don't want to buy it." I bet that'll change their mind quickly!

 

Drew: Yes, that is the current 'loop-hole', and should work with ease. But for those who are buying earlier in the sailing (like on the night where if you make a purchase you are entered into the free booze raffle), they are now advising that your liquor will be delivered to your cabin on the final night of your last sailing.

That is what was printed on the letter in September for those doing a back2back on Carnival Liberty. I think that's what LHP was referring to, since I'd posted that info earlier.

[DGP1111]

Yes indeed you do. Good idea!!!

 

I think someone should 'test the waters' on this one.

Perhaps I should volunteer. :D

[DONDON55]

I'm confused on the B2B cruisers?????????

 

why would you take the same cruise back to back?? Wouldn't you want to see different ports, different ships, different menus???

I could see taking a 4 day cruise, get off, and then take another 3 or 4 day from the same port a day or two later.

 

Please help me understand without yelling at me.....:p :p

 

dondon55

foxboro MA

[tha sista]

I'm confused on the B2B cruisers?????????

 

why would you take the same cruise back to back?? Wouldn't you want to see different ports, different ships, different menus???

I could see taking a 4 day cruise, get off, and then take another 3 or 4 day from the same port a day or two later.

 

Please help me understand without yelling at me.....:p :p

 

dondon55

foxboro MA

most ships don't sail the same itinerary each week. I am doing a b2b next week 4 day and 5 day with all different ports. Don't care if the menu is switched around as I like the food nightly. Why do it? Longer cruise!

[mariemorgan]

Don some ships do eastern than western.

[BeyondKen]

Why would you take the same cruise back to back?? Wouldn't you want to see different ports, different ships, different menus???

I'm hoping to do a B2B on the Carnival Glory. It alternates between an Eastern Caribbean itinerary and a Western one:

 

Eastern Caribbean: Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL ; Nassau, Bahamas ; Fun Day At Sea ; St. Thomas, USVI ; St. Maarten, NA

 

Western Caribbean: Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL ; Fun Day At Sea ; Cozumel, Mexico ; Belize ; Isla Roatan ; Fun Day At Sea ; Freeport, Bahamas

[DGP1111]

DonDon55: It's an excellent question. In addition to the alternating itineraries that have been mentioned above, I'm preparing to do one in a few weeks that is different as well. Carnival Splendor is arriving into Florida to begin her first US voyages. The first sailing was to be 11/17, which left this little 'gap' after her arrival from the transatlantic crossing.

Carnival later decided to slip in a quick 2-day sailing into that gap, and numerous passengers decided to book into that one as well. The two sailings last for a total of 6-days, and is about as unique a b2B as can be created without repeating ports.

We actually have a fun roll call created for the 2-dayer.

[LHP]

I think someone should 'test the waters' on this one.

Perhaps I should volunteer. :D

 

That's a plan.

 

You will now be known as 00DGP1111 (Mission Impossible Music playing in the background)

[LHP]

I'm confused on the B2B cruisers?????????

 

why would you take the same cruise back to back?? Wouldn't you want to see different ports, different ships, different menus???

I could see taking a 4 day cruise, get off, and then take another 3 or 4 day from the same port a day or two later.

 

Please help me understand without yelling at me.....:p :p

 

dondon55

foxboro MA

 

 

That's a fair question....

 

when we did our first one on the Imagination in January, it went to two different sets of ports. In fact, back then, you could take a B2B2B and never hit the same port. Of course, now it is doing 3 and 4 not 4 and 5...so I am not sure what the port set up is for the Imagination now.

 

 

And then there are those of us who don't care where we go!! (if you have seen one thatched hut you have seen them all!!!)

 

We are doing a B2B on the Fantasy this coming January, that goes to Cozumel the first cruise and Cozumel and somewhere else the second cruise.

 

Cozumel happens to be our favorite port...so no problems!!

[Dabaras]

I'm confused on the B2B cruisers?????????

 

why would you take the same cruise back to back?? Wouldn't you want to see different ports, different ships, different menus???

I could see taking a 4 day cruise, get off, and then take another 3 or 4 day from the same port a day or two later.

 

Please help me understand without yelling at me.....:p :p

 

dondon55

foxboro MA

 

I'm leaving next Saturday for a Western on the Triumph and the following Saturday I leave for an Eastern on Triumph. Six different ports and I only have to move three cabins down in between trips. :D

[DONDON55]

THANKS EVERYONE...............I always thought the ship comes in and goes back out comes in and goes back out.........following the same course.

 

this is great to know........my hubby won't fly so we have to drive when we go. Living in New England we do not have many cruises to choose from so we have to drive to florida for more choices.

 

Will definitely keep this in mind for our next trip (2009 if the economy picks up and gas gets cheaper, but definitely 2010)

 

thanks again............

 

dondon55

foxboro ma

[tripplanner77]

Just book the freedom for 09/06/09 which is the front end of the B2B of 09 12 09. Thanks for all the information.

[Drew B]

I'm confused on the B2B cruisers?????????

 

why would you take the same cruise back to back?? Wouldn't you want to see different ports, different ships, different menus???

I could see taking a 4 day cruise, get off, and then take another 3 or 4 day from the same port a day or two later.

 

 

Well, my B2B is going to go Western, then Eastern. However, I'd do Western twice back-to-back, as I'm having trouble choosing between excursions at the various ports, anyway. It's not like you can see everything a port has to offer in 2/3 of a day, right? :)

[BEEZALAR]

You literally clear Customs separately for each cruise.

 

We went on a B2B on the Imagination and it was a breeze. At the end of the first cruise, there was a letter telling us to meet them at the Purser's Desk at 10:30am with our completed Customs card.

 

We walked off the ship, gave Customs the customs card and walked right back on the ship.

 

If you purchase "the limit" of liquor on the first cruise and "the limit" on the second cruise....just simply fill out each Customs card and explain you did a

B2B if they ask at the end of the second one why you are carrying off TWICE the legal limit!! ;)

 

One tip...if you are like us and collect EVERY Embarkation picture, you will have to make arrangements to get the SECOND picture taken. Security will allow you off the ship to have that done and then you can come right back on.

 

The pictures folks were not set up with they walked us through Customs.

 

Second tip: It was just posted on these boards that Carnival is getting "wise" to folks that do the B2B and use the liquor that they purchase from the first cruise to drink on the second one. So don't be surprised if you don't get your liquor from the first cruise until the last night of the second one.

 

you are right about the liquor. we just got back from fascination b2b and they wouldn't give us our liquor untill the last night of the second cruise. I was alittle po'd about this since I bought it for my dd and sil for the second one....they were joining us. One tip that works ......buy it on the last night when they will let you take it with you to the room. Then they can't take it back :p . They don't know you are doing a b2b in the store.

[CruiseCentric]

..buy it on the last night when they will let you take it with you to the room. Then they can't take it back :p . They don't know you are doing a b2b in the store.

Actually, they dont care. When I did my back to back I was telling the guy that I was doing a B2B.