Back to Back Cruises

[near the beach]

We a thinking about a back to back cruise. :) I would image that you would have to pay deposits on two cruises. :confused: What happens on the last night of your first cruise? Do you need to tell the cabin steward that you will still be in the room for the next cruise? Don’t know why, just the question. Can you change cabins? Do you have to leave the ship? How easy would it be to get back on? Any other tips?

[firefly333]

I would tell your cabin steward, as there have been a few times the steward cleared out someone's stuff :(

 

they will give you a time to meet, probably in the atrium around 10 am and escort you quickly thru customs and give you a new card for the next week. I got mine in the atrium from the purser's desk once ... the other time from the boarding folks in the terminal.

 

Yes, you can change cabins, but have to pack up. I didnt get any help either time from the steward changing cabins (changed both B2Bs) in spite of folks here posting of course they will help you NOT.

[martinchem]

One time we booked different rooms and also had to move our stuff, no problem though. It's easier to book the same room B2B. It's an easy process and a welcome package in the room w/wine makes it well worth the trouble.

[michellejed]

You will have 2 deposits for a B2B and if the same cabin is available for both sailings then no you won't have to move.

 

If you book 2 different cabins then you will have to move and more then likely have to do it yourself. Let your steward know.

 

They take all the B2B people off the ship and to customs at one time, takes about 20 minutes or so and you are back on board and free to enjoy the ship for a few short hours by yourselves.

 

Have a great time!

[PA Dutchman]

Book the same room for both cruises. Get new S&S card around 10:00 from the purser's desk. We did not have to go thru customs till after the 2nd cruise. Fill your customs card out for the 2 weeks or whatever time. We don't do the same ship BToB anymore everything is the same the 2nd week, even the jokes. If you want to do it because of intinary. We mow flip ships, off one and on to another. Thats nice.

[onthehighseas606]

Book the same room for both cruises. Get new S&S card around 10:00 from the purser's desk. We did not have to go thru customs till after the 2nd cruise. Fill your customs card out for the 2 weeks or whatever time. We don't do the same ship BToB anymore everything is the same the 2nd week, even the jokes. If you want to do it because of intinary. We mow flip ships, off one and on to another. Thats nice.

 

Not having to get off the ships is nice to know. We are sailing B2B in October, same ship but different itinerary. I don't want to get off the ship and go through embarking again. We'll just go to the pursers office.

[Carnival Platinum Cruiser]

I would tell your cabin steward, as there have been a few times the steward cleared out someone's stuff :(

 

they will give you a time to meet, probably in the atrium around 10 am and escort you quickly thru customs and give you a new card for the next week. I got mine in the atrium from the purser's desk once ... the other time from the boarding folks in the terminal.

 

Yes, you can change cabins, but have to pack up. I didnt get any help either time from the steward changing cabins (changed both B2Bs) in spite of folks here posting of course they will help you NOT.

 

Guess it depends on what ship you are on. Our recent Fantasy B2B I told the purser we were changing cabins for our 2nd leg and he spoke to our room steward to make sure he moved our suitcases to the new cabin. It was done before we got back on the ship with our new cabin card.

[Carnival Platinum Cruiser]

Not having to get off the ships is nice to know. We are sailing B2B in October, same ship but different itinerary. I don't want to get off the ship and go through embarking again. We'll just go to the pursers office.

 

We were told you must go off the ship (In Mobile, AL) and turn in your customs form as they said we must do it in person. The purser took us off the ship to turn in the form then to the room where you get your S$S card then right back on the ship. In all it took 15 minutes or so.

[cruiserbryce]

the steward would probably know from the manifest that you are staying (ours did) but you can mention it just in case. You can change cabins if you wish I guess but why go through the hassle. CCL did make us disembark briefly when we did our B2B

[firefly333]

Guess it depends on what ship you are on. Our recent Fantasy B2B I told the purser we were changing cabins for our 2nd leg and he spoke to our room steward to make sure he moved our suitcases to the new cabin. It was done before we got back on the ship with our new cabin card.

 

I didnt tell the purser, maybe that helps. I told our cabin steward, that we needed a cart to help us move, if he didnt help ... three times ..everyone said oh we will be sure and tell the right person, never could get any confirmation. I kept on but never could get anyone to help, not even the last morning.

 

The first time I thought, ok its a misunderstanding, we had 3 in our section same steward and lambie told him she didnt need help, as she just moved a few cabins (to my cabin) .. so maybe he thought no one needed help .. was more forcefull the next time .. to no avail.

[near the beach]

We are thinking back to back because of different itineraries. ;) I didn’t think about the shows, ect all being the same. I know sometimes comedians come and go. We just like being on board. Not having to make a bed or doing dishes. It would be a new experience which is always nice. :p

[gatour]

This was our experience on Fascination in Dec.

 

We originally booked the first cruise to be with family members. After doing the numbers, realized, we could do a B2B cruise (9 days' total for a lot less that we pay for a 7 day cruise).

 

By this time we could not get the same cabin for both cruises without paying a lot more money, so decided to go the separate cabin route.

 

On the final day of our first cruise we received a letter about the procedures. For people changing cabins, you had to pack and your cabin steward would make sure your bags would be transferred. (This last part was specifically stated in the letter). On "disembarkation/re-embarkation" day you were to show up at the Pursers desk when final disembarkation announcements were made estimated time between 9:30-10:00am.

 

The day before disembarkation, I specifically mentioned to our room steward that we are doing B2B cruises. He said that we should pack and move our bags, this was in direct contradiction of the letter that we had received. I figured it was a misunderstanding due to language communication difficulties.

 

On the morning of disembarkation/re-embarkation, we left our bags in the original cabin. I had printed out the bag tags for the followup cruise, and left them on-top of the bags so the transfer people would now where our new cabin was at.

 

We proceeded to the pursers desk at the appointed time. Since they were still disembarking people we were asked to sit at the atrium bar. A short time later, us and one other person who was doing a B2B (visiting a family member who worked on the ship) were escorted down to the gang plank. On the way there the escorter gave us our new room keys. We then walked to Customs/immigration only to find no one there. The escorter went behind the scenes and found someone to do the customs/immigration routine. We were then led back on the ship where we were told to go wherever we want but that there was going to be Coast Guard inspected fire drill, but we were not required to participate.

 

Around noon, embarkation began for the rest of the passengers, while were already enjoying a nice meal at the buffet. Around 2pm we went to our new cabin but our bags were not there. After about hour, our old room steward comes panting to our door, with our bags. Basically said I just found your bags in your old room.

 

It was obvious there was a gap in what the letter said to do and what the room stewards were trained to do (or more liked inadequately trained to do). I definitely mentioned this in my comment cards.

 

Having said that. Doing B2B was otherwise great. Not having to recheck-in was a plus. Quiet time aboard the ship during turn-around. Getting to the embarkation buffet before the crowds no lines a plus.

 

But the best thing you almost feel like you are a rock star. On the second cruise, we had our "regular" bar server etc, recognize us and say glad to see us immediately back and they remembered our favorites. In fact on the first night, the piano bar singer came over during one of her breaks to talk (I was a frequent visitor during the first cruise)

 

Overall future B2B are in the cards.