Back to Back (B to B) Tips???

We have been on a number of cruises, but are planning our first back to back on Celebrity. We would appreciate any guidance and tips on how to best plan this type of cruise. Particular problems or benefits to be aware of?

There are dozens of threads around on this topic- specifically about procedures on the turnaround day. The key here is what port? Non US ports, it is essentially the same as any other port on your cruise. US ports have particular procedures and requires.

How Celebrity handles any port requirements will be discussed on the Celebrity board. Are you changing cabins?

The earlier you book the better chance you have to get the same cabin for both legs. While it is not a major effort to move cabins, why bother.

When booking, check to see if the two legs can be booked as one cruise, in addition to booking two cruises. When comparing prices, be sure to take OBC into account.

We have been on a number of cruises, but are planning our first back to back on Celebrity. We would appreciate any guidance and tips on how to best plan this type of cruise. Particular problems or benefits to be aware of?

When we book B2B Cruises we make sure there are two different itineraries. We also have to have the same cabin on the second leg of the Cruise. Benefits...you get to stay on the ship and do another Cruise when most are getting off and heading home. Problems...we have never experienced any problems on any of our B2B Cruises. A day or two prior to the end of the first leg of your Cruise you will receive detailed instructions for your Turn Around Day.

Meals and entertainment repeats on a B2B....on a 14 night cruise, it's different every night.

It's easiest if you can have the same cabin on both cruises...but if you can't, the room attendants will help move you. You will disembark, get a new room key, and reboard, before new passengers are let onboard.

Each "leg" is a different cruise, so you will tip at the end of one, and then again, at the end of the next cruise...and settle you bill twice at the end of each "leg".

Each "leg" is a different cruise, so you will tip at the end of one, and then again, at the end of the next cruise...and settle you bill twice at the end of each "leg".

I don't know about all the other lines, but Princess rolls over your On Board Account to the second cruise. It is then settled at the end of the second leg.

I don't know about all the other lines, but Princess rolls over your On Board Account to the second cruise. It is then settled at the end of the second leg.

Celebrity and Royal settles your account after each leg of the B2B Cruise.

I don't know about all the other lines, but Princess rolls over your On Board Account to the second cruise. It is then settled at the end of the second leg.

Per Paul above ... That's the way Princess does it. :)

On our RCCL B2B things were simply changed to our credit card at the end of each.

Best thing you will ever do. We had a blast on our back to back, you really get to know the staff.

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We always tip at the end of our first cruise and during, at end of. second cruise........t hat as regards ou the 'over and above isps. W leave the auto matic hotel servi ce charge in place on our ship board account for all cruises. We alwaysbbook same cabin and don't care if it is same itinerary or an alernating one.

There's nothing nicer than the last night of the first segment of a B2B, knowing you don't have to worry about packing up and getting luggage put into the halls before midnight. You can relax and enjoy the entertainment of the evening and sleep well. Next morning it's the same thing, relax with the knowledge that for a while you will have the ship to yourselves (with a few others on the B2B) - it's like having a private yacht!

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

HAL will roll youro bill onto the next cruise but deliver a bill for you to see.

HAL will roll youro bill onto the next cruise but deliver a bill for you to see.

The OP is planning a B2B on Celebrity not HAL.

We try to pick 2 different itineraries

you may repeat the embarkation port but there are other cruises that start in one port & end in another

Book early so you can get the same cabin..it is not a big deal if you have to move cabins but we prefer the same cabin then we do not have to wait to get back in the cabin once the ship is cleared

Most of our cruises have been B2B.

Advantages # 1- You are on the ship longer! :D

When booking, book all at the same time and in the same cabin/ We have never had to move from one cabin to another because I am picky so I book early.

On the last night when you are walking back to your cabin, and see all of the luggage already outside cabin doors, it will really make you happy that you aren't having to put your luggage out.

We have been on a number of cruises, but are planning our first back to back on Celebrity. We would appreciate any guidance and tips on how to best plan this type of cruise. Particular problems or benefits to be aware of?

1. Not sure if this is universal or just because I am such a good guy, but b2bs (may) get $100 OBC extra on each leg. And maybe a free bag of laundry...

2. If your turn-around port is not used to b2b cruisers, there may be onshore confusion when trying to bypass the lines to get back aboard after your day ashore.

3. Talk to the maitre de, see if you can keep the same table, same servers through the whole cruise.

4. Tip at the end of the first segment as though you were departing. Then again at the end of each successive segment.

Enjoy the whole time aboard!

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We have done a ton of back-to-back cruises. In fact our first cruises were a back-to-back.

We book for enough ahead so that we get the same cabin for both segments. A short cruise is not for us especially now that we no longer have direct flights.

We do make certain that any people we wish to give extra tips to at the end of the first segment are given their tips the last full night of the first cruise. We have experienced times when the wait staff in the dining room changed stations, bar staff in the lounges changed work areas and even a few times we had a change of cabin stewards.

We have done a ton of back-to-back cruises. We do make certain that any people we wish to give extra tips to at the end of the first segment are given their tips the last full night of the first cruise. We have experienced times when the wait staff in the dining room changed stations, bar staff in the lounges changed work areas and even a few times we had a change of cabin stewards.

Good point!

We give extra tips the day or evening before turn around day. Typically this will be cabin steward, any wait staff or bar staff that have been exceptional.

We prepay the tips on all our cruises but we then tip the appropriate staff after the first leg and then the second as sometimes the crew will leave or change jobs/areas.:D

Dont forget that you do NOT need to do Muster on the second leg!

You certainly DO have to muster on the 2nd cruise! We have been on more then 100 cruise and quite a few B2Bs and always HAVE to go to muster! They even announce if you have been to a muster before, you must attend this one.

Tip- if you have to change cabins. Don't empty drawers and pack that stuff. Just switch drawers. The drawers are the same size - take new cabin's drawers out and put your old cabin ones in your new cabin. Your steward will bring a rack to hang clothes on and put drawers on along with everything from cabin #1 along with our empty suitcases. We usually do this before we go to customs.

Not my experience and not the experience of many on these boards. Also cruisers who do multiple back to backs like Pescado Amarilo http://pescadoamarillo.blogspot.ca/ Have been quite specific about no doing repeated musters. If on a longer sailing, there is a "best before" on musters, must be done every so often, but it is something like a month or two.

Perhaps it makes a difference if you are booked as one 14 day cruise vs 2 - 7 day cruises, or as someone on CC mentioned, if you change cabins.

My experience is with Princess and HAL

Not my experience and not the experience of many on these boards. Also cruisers who do multiple back to backs like Pescado Amarilo http://pescadoamarillo.blogspot.ca/ Have been quite specific about no doing repeated musters. If on a longer sailing, there is a "best before" on musters, must be done every so often, but it is something like a month or two.

 

Perhaps it makes a difference if you are booked as one 14 day cruise vs 2 - 7 day cruises, or as someone on CC mentioned, if you change cabins.

 

My experience is with Princess and HAL

The OP is planning on doing a B2B Cruise on Celebrity. Celebrity and Royal still require B2Bers to attend the muster drill. Bonnie J was correct.

We were on a 14 day cruise in February (not 2x7 day cruises), and had to attend muster drill on turn-around day.

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Not my experience and not the experience of many on these boards. Also cruisers who do multiple back to backs like Pescado Amarilo http://pescadoamarillo.blogspot.ca/ Have been quite specific about no doing repeated musters. If on a longer sailing, there is a "best before" on musters, must be done every so often, but it is something like a month or two.

 

Perhaps it makes a difference if you are booked as one 14 day cruise vs 2 - 7 day cruises, or as someone on CC mentioned, if you change cabins.

 

My experience is with Princess and HAL

The OP is planning on doing a B2B Cruise on Celebrity. Celebrity and Royal still require B2Bers to attend the muster drill for each sailing. Bonnie J is correct.