Back to Back Cruise tips

[dgg4]

We are going on our first b2b cruise on the IOS at Easter. We have the same cabins for both cruises.

 

Does anyone have any tips? We have been told that we have clear customs after the first cruise but don't really have any other details. I'm sure lots of you have done this before so any and all suggestions would be appreciated!:p

[CRUZBUDS]

It's a wonderful experience.

 

Here's a tip I don't see discussed much. Our table mates on the first leg were also B2B and we hit it off. We were surprised that we were scheduled to be moved to different tables for the second leg. If you're in a simialar situation speak to the maitre'de right away to insure you get ewhat you want. They were able to re-loacte us, but judging by the quality of the second leg service, we didn't get the "A" team.

[Aubiecruiser]

It's a wonderful experience.

 

Here's a tip I don't see discussed much. Our table mates on the first leg were also B2B and we hit it off. We were surprised that we were scheduled to be moved to different tables for the second leg. If you're in a simialar situation speak to the maitre'de right away to insure you get ewhat you want. They were able to re-loacte us, but judging by the quality of the second leg service, we didn't get the "A" team.

 

Good point, I hadn't even thought about the dining room. We travel with friends and always "link" or reservations so that we are seated together but hadn't thought about getting the same table and waiters for both legs. Thank's for bringing it up. We're booked on a b2b on the Serenade next year.

Aubie

[dgg4]

I'd already thought of the dining. If we like the service I was going to make sure we got the same waiters on the second leg. If we don't I was going to make sure we changed.:p

[Janet524]

I'd already thought of the dining. If we like the service I was going to make sure we got the same waiters on the second leg. If we don't I was going to make sure we changed.:p

 

I suggest that if you talk to your head waiter mid-way through the cruise about staying with the same waiters or changing as you like. Even if you're at the same table for both cruises, your wait staff may not be. We were surprised to learn this on our B2B on Liberty OTS in November. We were assigned the same table for week two, but alas, our waiters had been moved to another station.

[megr1125]

I'd already thought of the dining. If we like the service I was going to make sure we got the same waiters on the second leg. If we don't I was going to make sure we changed.:p

 

On our b2b on Enchantment we begged the maitre d' to give us the same table for 2 and same staff...he had to rearrange the asst waiter's schedule for the next week, but he happily accomodated us!

 

It's lots of fun! you'll be escorted off the ship and back on, shouldn't take long! (varies by port though!)

 

You'll get a letter explaining what to do! Ours said they would link our new seapass to our CC from the 1st leg but they didn't. Turned into a PITA, BUT i made them fix it....they wanted me to go get my CC...(i was eating a dripping ice cream cone!) i said NO..your letter says you'll do it..so YOU do it, i will not waste my time! Lo and behold...they did!

 

So...just stop by guest relations the 1st or 2nd day of leg 2 and make sure it's all set up!

[dgg4]

OK.....you've got an acronym I can't figure out.....what is a CC????

[Slam308]

OK.....you've got an acronym I can't figure out.....what is a CC????

 

I'm guessing "credit card." The same thing happened to us. We were told that they would automatically use the same credit card for the Seapass account on our second leg. Sometime during the second week, we were told our card had been shut off. We had to go to the Purser's desk and give them our (same) credit card info. Because we didn't go through the whole initial boarding process again, they hadn't swiped our card for the second week and were treating our account like a cash account that had a preset limit. We've never done a cash account, so I'm not sure if you have to give them a certain amount of cash to begin with and then up the amount as you go along or how that's handled.

[Slam308]

FYI-

I was just on the RC website and they have a new page. Under "Before you board" and "What to know before you go" the have a new page for "Consecutive Cruisers."

There's not a whole lot of detailed info, but I hadn't seen that before. Definitely some new perks that weren't around two years ago.

 

Copied and pasted from the RC website:

Just because your ship is docking, doesn't mean your vacation is ending. If you're one of the lucky ones continuing on the following voyage aboard the same ship, we've enhanced our award-winning Gold Anchor Service to provide a seamless transition for you.

 

Here's what you can expect between cruises:

 

A sneak peek Compass-a variation of the popular daily Cruise Compass program schedule-created especially for Consecutive Cruisers

- Includes the following sailing's itinerary highlights, such as entertainment and dining events, and special events exclusively for Consecutive Cruisers

Special attention, activities and dining options, such as:

- Personalized services

- Assistance to ensure your main dining room seating requests are made in advance of the following cruise

Continued access to your stateroom, including in-stateroom TV entertainment

A special notice to keep you in the loop of turnaround day immigration requirements and options-whether you’re planning to remain onboard or go ashore

A minimal amount of ship-wide public announcements to maintain a relaxing atmosphere; we'll try and limit all departure updates to the departure lounges and in-stateroom TV programming

A hot breakfast in our dining room or café. If you're in a suite category stateroom, you'll be treated to an exclusive continental breakfast hosted by guest services or the concierge

An on-hand Shipboard Staff, ready to answer any questions and ensure your comfort

[efiinut]

We did b2b in March. One Caveat if you get off you can't get back on until they start boarding at 11 AM. We made the mistake of getting off to go to church, we had driven down to Miami, went to church in Miami Beach and than had breakfast. Got back to the ship about 10:15. Wouldn't let us board even through we had our new seapass and letter saying we could. These were customs people nor RCCL people. RCCL will guide you off the ship and back on early. Our mistake was not staying away long enough.