B2B cruises?

[Soleil09]

Can someone give me some insight on this? Is there a benefit (other than an extended vacay)?

[firefly333]

for me, if I have to fly somewhere, it saves the cost of getting to the cruise once, but get two cruises. I like B2Bs on shorter cruises especially. Often 2 shorter cruises out of Florida are cheaper than a 7 day on a newer ship.

[hlb76]

I'm also debating a b2b or a 7 day. It's hard to pick since most b2b are places we have been but it would be so fun to know the last day of the first leg we still ahve more to go. And the morning of the second leg to get a prime spot in the sun w/ a few DOD's ( or better yet the booze I bought on the first leg) and watch the people come on board.

[scperk]

Yes the booze you buy on the first week is still delivered to your cabin on the last night of the first week..You can try to get the same room so you won't have to move but if you do have to move your cabin stewart will help you..We like to do the shows the first week and just relax the second week because the shows are usually the same..Also Fire mentioned that you only have to fly once and do 2 cruises....:)..:)...Dennis

[JRock59]

I agree with all of the above! LOVE sailing on B2B's! :D

[LHP]

for me, if I have to fly somewhere, it saves the cost of getting to the cruise once, but get two cruises. I like B2Bs on shorter cruises especially. Often 2 shorter cruises out of Florida are cheaper than a 7 day on a newer ship.

 

Hey....(old age brain here, I can't remember)....

 

are you the cruiser that had issues with a B2B on the Triumph this year?

 

The reason I ask is ...

 

we just did a B2B and the Purser's Desk is a mess. They never even escorted us off the ship?????

 

They said to meet at 10AM and we would be "escorted off and back on"...but no one showed up and when one of the Entertainment Staff went to ask about it....they came back and said the Purser's staff said to just walk off.

 

Now at 10AM...the line was all the way through the bridgeway...we would have been standing for an hour?????? Plus can you imagine trying to explain to Customs why you have no luggage?????

 

So we just winged it....

 

There were two photographers getting off the ship and we just followed them and pretended they were leading us off....to avoid the line.

 

Fortunately, I have a friend who is a Carnival Rep at that port and he had another Carnival Rep escort us to Customs and explain that we were doing a B2B...which is why we had no luggage.

 

We did not want to get right back on the ship this time...since I had some shopping to do.....

 

We got back around 1:00pm...got our cards at the VIP office and walked right on the ship.....

 

but that has NEVER happened before...and we have done B2B out of New Orleans, Miami and Port Canaveral.

 

I think it is the ship...not the port.

 

Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands.....

[SMSACE6]

I have not as yet joined the B2B crowd, but I just know some day I will. My Mom who is a cruise veteran ( Celebrity, Princess, NCL and Royal Carib), had never sailed with Carnival until last year, when I talked her into a 7 day cruise with me on the Carnival Liberty because the price was a steal!. To make it short, she was blown away by our 7 day cruise, and she still goes on and on about how good Carnival is for the price. She is a bit of a food snob, yet she found the food on our cruise to be very good. I think she still likes Celebrity best, but she still talks about how great our cruise was, food was excellent everywhere, but mostly she liked the vast variety of food that was available. And she loved the entertainment on board too.

 

I asked her recently why she wasnt considering Carnival for her next cruise with my Dad, and she said that they wanted to go on cruises longer than 7 or 8 days. I said B2B, and she looked at me like I was nuts. She had never heard of such a thing.

 

Now that she knows, I think she will be checking.:)

[firefly333]

Hey....(old age brain here, I can't remember)....

 

are you the cruiser that had issues with a B2B on the Triumph this year?

 

The reason I ask is ...

 

we just did a B2B and the Purser's Desk is a mess. They never even escorted us off the ship?????

 

They said to meet at 10AM and we would be "escorted off and back on"...but no one showed up and when one of the Entertainment Staff went to ask about it....they came back and said the Purser's staff said to just walk off.

 

Now at 10AM...the line was all the way through the bridgeway...we would have been standing for an hour?????? Plus can you imagine trying to explain to Customs why you have no luggage?????

 

So we just winged it....

 

There were two photographers getting off the ship and we just followed them and pretended they were leading us off....to avoid the line.

 

Fortunately, I have a friend who is a Carnival Rep at that port and he had another Carnival Rep escort us to Customs and explain that we were doing a B2B...which is why we had no luggage.

 

We did not want to get right back on the ship this time...since I had some shopping to do.....

 

We got back around 1:00pm...got our cards at the VIP office and walked right on the ship.....

 

but that has NEVER happened before...and we have done B2B out of New Orleans, Miami and Port Canaveral.

 

I think it is the ship...not the port.

 

Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands.....

 

It was Dec 2009. I did one leg with Traveller353, and some other good CC folks.

 

They sure messed up in between the two legs. Finally took us to this really old ancient lady who was slower like in a tv show (you know where you cant believe someone is really moving that slow). She took forever processing us one by one. Meanwhile our Carnival escort left and never came back, so they wouldnt let us back on the ship. Finally someone came, but it took almost the whole time we have to enjoy between cruises.

[WinnipegCruiser]

Figure that all the ships have to make their cruises add up to 7 or 14 days.

 

So for example many do one itinerary that is 3 days, and then another that is four... adding up to 7 days...

 

But my favorite is two itineraries of 5 days each, and then four days... now adding up to 14 days....

 

What does this have to do with B2B?

 

Well, you can stay on the same ship, and see lots of different ports just by juggling these itineraries.

 

I really like the two five day (Destiny) back 2 backs.... ten days, with a day before and after.... is just perfect for that two week vacation.

 

Maybe you can do the five day, and then the four day.... adding up to 9 days...better than 7 days, but not quite 14 days...

 

See what I mean?

[cooltj]

I'm also debating a b2b or a 7 day. It's hard to pick since most b2b are places we have been but it would be so fun to know the last day of the first leg we still ahve more to go. And the morning of the second leg to get a prime spot in the sun w/ a few DOD's ( or better yet the booze I bought on the first leg) and watch the people come on board.

 

This is the reason why we booked B2B in April... Looking forward to sitting on the Lido deck watching all the sad faces walking off...:D

[MalGee64]

We tend to do all our cruises as back-to-backs for the airfare reason - it costs us between $1500 and $2000 per person for a return flight to the US or Europe, so an extra $500 or $600 each to get an extra week or two on the ship isn't a major outlay.

 

On the Spirit in 2006, in Vancouver, the chief purser escorted us from the ship through Customs and back onboard - took about twenty minutes all up. Nice and easy. In Dover in 2008, on the Splendor, ships staff said we could wait until everyone else had disembarked, then just go ashore and come back when we were ready. We did this, went for a stroll around in town, came back and bypassed the whole check in procedure, went straight to the new s&s card desk, and were back onboard in minimum time. Nice and easy.

 

The best (and saddest) part of B2B cruising I find is the changeover day - we tend to grab a cold drink, and hang around in the atrium somewhere waving and grinning at our new friends who are headed for the airport, which is a bittersweet feeling. However, knowing that you're staring down the barrel of another week or more onboard is a great feeling...

 

Cheers!

Mal

[triplee]

Hi,

 

Just a side note.

 

When you book a b-2-b, whether it is 2-seven day cruises, (Glory: week 1 Western Caribbean, week 2 Eastern Caribbean) or a 5 day followed by a 4 day (Elation 12/3/2011 & 12/8/2011), each cruise counts toward your attaining platinum/milestone status!

 

It felt good doing a back-to-back and racking up 2 cruises to get closer to becoming platinum.

[CWcruisers]

LHP that story really blows. What ship was that? My DH and I do seminars on ships and one year on the Miracle, we did a B2B. I went to the Purser's desk two days before and asked if he could get off and lead the group to the bus, and they said no problem. Big Problem. Customs did not want to let him back on. How he got off without a Customs Form is a mystery to this day! Makes you wonder huh?

 

But, when it works right, it is a good thing. Next B2B for us is Liberty 01/22 & 01/29/11!

 

SCPerk, I thought they caught up with us on the B2B booze delivery. Do you have recent info?;)

[Poomah]

1st b2b coming up in January - can hardly wait - have heard many conflicting reports so will just have to wait and see for myself.

 

Some have said the staff treats you extra special (from the treatment received in the past it is hard to imagine it could be even better)

 

Bring it on - I'm ready!

[firefly333]

LHP I agree, your story way tops anything I witnessed. That ship needs a little more education on how to handle a B2B.

[Traveler353]

I have my first B2B coming up in December on the Elation out of Mobile. How do people handle the parking situation for a B2B in the terminals?

[firefly333]

I have my first B2B coming up in December on the Elation out of Mobile. How do people handle the parking situation for a B2B in the terminals?

 

This is when getting a hotel with free parking comes in. I arrange with the hotel that its ok to park for longer. I have the mobile site for hotels that offer cruisers parking somewhere, gotta run to take my dad to the doctor, if you dont have it, email and Ill give you the links I have. This is when hotels free cruise parking really works to your benefit.

 

When will you be on. Im on Elation Feb 12 and was hoping to make it B2B

[Traveler353]

This is when getting a hotel with free parking comes in. I arrange with the hotel that its ok to park for longer. I have the mobile site for hotels that offer cruisers parking somewhere, gotta run to take my dad to the doctor, if you dont have it, email and Ill give you the links I have. This is when hotels free cruise parking really works to your benefit.

 

When will you be on. Im on Elation Feb 12 and was hoping to make it B2B

 

 

Thanks Fire, but I only live 50 minutes from Mobile. So in this case I don't really need a hotel. I have been doing a little searching and found that the city parking garage across from the Downtown Radisson is only $7 a night and about 4 blocks from the terminal with free shuttle service thrown in. This will be a 9 day cruise and the parking fees at the terminal add up in a hurry.

I guess what I was asking was when people park at the terminal and pre-pay do they tell the attendant that they are doing a B2B or just pay for the first leg of the cruise.

[LHP]

1st b2b coming up in January - can hardly wait - have heard many conflicting reports so will just have to wait and see for myself.

 

Some have said the staff treats you extra special (from the treatment received in the past it is hard to imagine it could be even better)

 

Bring it on - I'm ready!

 

That was my exact thought when I heard about the issues the Triumph was having with the way they handled the B2B.....

 

so now I have that first hand experience.

 

We have done B2Bs on the Fantasy out of New Orleans without an issue....

so it have to be the SHIP...not the PORT.

 

Had we known that they were not going to walk us off at 10AM....we would have just hung around the ship until they called our names.

 

That way the lines would have been gone....

 

We did not need to get right back on the ship, since we had some shopping to do. And I had my FunPass for the next leg and our Passports (since you have to have them to clear Customs from the first cruise)..... so getting back on would not be an issue.

 

NOW HAVING SAID THAT...I have just sent John Heald an email with a full explanation and asked him to forward it to the correct department.

 

I don't know which person oversees the Purser's Desk.....

 

so perhaps by the time you sail....things will be corrected.....

 

 

 

Autism and lines do not mix!!

[firefly333]

Thanks Fire, but I only live 50 minutes from Mobile. So in this case I don't really need a hotel. I have been doing a little searching and found that the city parking garage across from the Downtown Radisson is only $7 a night and about 4 blocks from the terminal with free shuttle service thrown in. This will be a 9 day cruise and the parking fees at the terminal add up in a hurry.

I guess what I was asking was when people park at the terminal and pre-pay do they tell the attendant that they are doing a B2B or just pay for the first leg of the cruise.

 

I get it, but if I can get a hotel around as cheap as parking, then I get a hotel.

 

Before you decide its not worth it, add up what the B2B costs are of parking at the port. You might change your mind. Even $7 a day x say 14 days, that why I park in Galveston at the hotel, even though I live close enough to drive down the day of the cruise.

 

I see your point too though, that you dont want the hotel. The hotel charges room tax, and parking doesnt, so its usually not a wipe out, but sometimes for me it has been in Galveston.

[Traveler353]

Fire, I had not looked at it that way. Makes sense. (Fuzzy Math) $63 at the public park vs $135 at the terminal for 9 nights. Checked several downtown hotels and prices run from $98 to $160 a night. Still got plenty of time to took into it more, but as of now the public parking looking is looking like it might work best for me.

[firefly333]

Fire, I had not looked at it that way. Makes sense. (Fuzzy Math) $63 at the public park vs $135 at the terminal for 9 nights. Checked several downtown hotels and prices run from $98 to $160 a night. Still got plenty of time to took into it more, but as of now the public parking looking is looking like it might work best for me.

 

EconoLodge in Galveston has free cruise parking and only costs $40, $36 if you are a senior, or have a AARP type card at age 50, AAA etc.

 

For $40 it was a toss up if it was worth paying taxi fare to the cruise for 7 days or not. Parking is cheaper. For a B2B, Id have left it at the hotel.

 

I have been looking at Mobile and thinking of making it a B2B. I was going to cancel Ecstasy .. now I have Ecstasy and Elation 2 weeks or less apart, and my sister and her husband said they might do Ecstasy, so I cant cancel ...

 

Im still debating the B2B on Elation, for the cruise after feb 12.

[Traveler353]

Fire, thanks for the Galveston info. It will come in handy for next December when I cruise on the Magic. I have not even really been thinking about that cruise. It is so far away in time. Only a 7 hour or so drive from Biloxi to Galveston, so that will be an easy drive down and back.

[AdrenalineRush]

1st b2b coming up in January - can hardly wait - have heard many conflicting reports so will just have to wait and see for myself.

 

Some have said the staff treats you extra special (from the treatment received in the past it is hard to imagine it could be even better)

 

Bring it on - I'm ready!

The staff just knows your wants and needs the second cruise. I did b2b on Liberty and had the same wait staff for both cruises. They didnt have even ask what I wanted, since I always have the fish. It was more like, what would you like with your fish this evening..:p

 

You will love that feeling of knowing the last night of the first leg, you have another cruise to go. Its also nice to skip a show or activity and pick it up on the next leg.