What do I need to know about a B2B?

[lacruiser]

We are sailing 12/3 on Serenade, and considering tacking on the following week, which has a different Southern Caribbean itinerary. Since our first cabin isn't available, we'll be changing rooms. So, those of you who have done B2B's, what do I need to be aware of? Did you get tired of being onboard ship? (I know -- probably not!!:D) Did you get bored with the repeating menu? How did you handle laundry, etc.? Will we need to pack up everything and move it, or does the room steward take care of that?

 

Any and all help appreciated!

[cb at sea]

The menu and some entertainment will repeat...so plan your 1st week accordingly!

 

The room attendant will move your things....anything hanging, just leave it. Stuff in drawers, pack it back in the suitcase, and they will move it to your next cabin.

 

You can either pack enough for the entire trip, or let the ship do your laundry...your choice! OR...you can use your "turn around day" to get off in that port and find a laundrymat....do your own laundry...up to you!

[lacruiser]

Ha -- never thought about doing laundry in San Juan! Nice to know that we won't have to repack absolutely everything; we moved once from a grand to an owner's suite, and the attendant moved everything, but I wasn't sure if that might not be a suite perk.

 

On debarkation day do we need to disembark sans luggage and then go back through the checkin process? Or will the same seapass card be used?

 

We'll make D+ on the 2nd leg, and if I know my DH he'll be trying to move heaven and earth for any possible upgrades!

[Coralc]

When we did a B2B on Serenade in May...we didn't have to get off on turnaround day. But someone (DH) had to get up at 8 AM and go down to the international ambassador's desk and pick up the new seapass cards.

 

We didn't change rooms, fortunately and went back to sleep. There was a nice luncheon in the dining room for B2B cruisers only. We slept through that too.

 

It was really nice not to have to get off. :)

[stones902]

We are sailing 12/3 on Serenade, and considering tacking on the following week, which has a different Southern Caribbean itinerary. Since our first cabin isn't available, we'll be changing rooms. So, those of you who have done B2B's, what do I need to be aware of? Did you get tired of being onboard ship? (I know -- probably not!!:D) Did you get bored with the repeating menu? How did you handle laundry, etc.? Will we need to pack up everything and move it, or does the room steward take care of that?

 

Any and all help appreciated!

 

We are starting our b2b on the Serenade in about a half week. Last Nov we did our first b2b on the Liberty.

 

We had the same cabin both weeks. After everyone besides the b2b'ers and entertainers had departed the ship, we were escorted through Customs by an RCI representative. We had the choice of returning on board and waiting it out in a public area or heading into Miami for a few hours. We choose to stay on board near the pool. The staff was busy cleaning and we were able to listen to all the crew announcements regarding the particulars for the upcoming cruise.

 

The funniest thing was watching the first few pax boarding the 2nd week who were suprised that other passengers were already on board before they were. Took them a few minutes to figure things out.

 

We did have to wait about an hour and a half before the Windjammer opened for lunch.

[karena1]

We did a B2B on Serenade in April, luckily same cabins.

 

On the morning we got back to San Juan, we went to the International LA desks and got our new SeaPass cards. Since we planned to go into town for a few hours, we were also given a yellow "in transit" card to show customs when we left the ship. Having the yellow card meant we walked right off through an area to the right of customs. When we came back, all we had to do was walk back on and show our SeaPass card. However, since we chose to leave the ship, we were told we could not come back until after 10:30. It was no issue as we did not plan to come back that early anyway.

[Puffinater]

Cab fare from and to ship to do laundry will probably cost more than getting it done on the ship. Throw in the time spent doing the wash and it is really not a great idea.

[cruisegirl1]

We did one B2B and have one planned for this December. We did not depart the ship. We did change rooms but it was very easy. As noted, hang whatever you can, as the room attendant will move that and you can put other items in a suitcase. The staff assigned to the new room will likely have your room cleaned first and your items will be moved for you.

 

We were not offered any special lunch – I understand they need a specific number of B2B to hold it.

 

Regarding laundry - You mentioned that you will become D+ for the second leg. There should be a coupon for complimentary bag of “wash and fold” on about day 4. This might be good option. Actually you will each get a coupon. Remember- not only can you wear some clothes twice during the cruise, you can repeat them the second week.

 

We found the trip relaxing and fun as we didn’t need to do everything the first week. We scheduled specialty dining to break the monotony of the dining room

 

Have fun.

[Tim,n,Sue]

We just finished a B2B on the Sereande 2 weeks ago.

 

Sat 4PM. Consecutive cruisers meeting in the Viking Crown to review the process.

 

Sun 8AM-9AM Go to International desk on deck 8 to hand in old seapass cards and get new ones. Your old seapass cards will be returned 2 days later. You do not have to get off the ship but if you want to they will give you an in-transit card to show the people in the port. We went off for about 20 minutes and the process worked well.

 

Cabins. Your cabin will be done very early and your clothes will be moved for you with minimal work for you. You can access your cabin anytime.

 

Between 10:30 and 11:30 you have to stay in one place as they test fire doors, elevators etc. Don't want you getting stuck on an elevator.

 

11:30 am go to MTD for Consecutive Cruisers lunch.

 

We did not have any problem with the repeating menu. The food was the best we had in a few years.

We used the ships laundry service for a few things.

 

The Serenade has an excellent process and the lunch is great.

 

Enjoy your B2B.

[lacruiser]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm tending to agree about the laundry -- can't see myself schlepping it through San Juan! We love the old city so will probably opt to get off the ship and wander/shop/eat.

 

With both the itineraries being port-intensive, it's great to have the second week to take the pressure off. Only one of those (Grenada) is new to us, so we won't be trying to do the "must-see" stuff everywhere.

[Teeara]

We just finished a B2B on the Sereande 2 weeks ago.

 

Sat 4PM. Consecutive cruisers meeting in the Viking Crown to review the process.

 

Sun 8AM-9AM Go to International desk on deck 8 to hand in old seapass cards and get new ones. Your old seapass cards will be returned 2 days later. You do not have to get off the ship but if you want to they will give you an in-transit card to show the people in the port. We went off for about 20 minutes and the process worked well.

 

Cabins. Your cabin will be done very early and your clothes will be moved for you with minimal work for you. You can access your cabin anytime.

 

Between 10:30 and 11:30 you have to stay in one place as they test fire doors, elevators etc. Don't want you getting stuck on an elevator.

 

11:30 am go to MTD for Consecutive Cruisers lunch.

 

We did not have any problem with the repeating menu. The food was the best we had in a few years.

We used the ships laundry service for a few things.

 

The Serenade has an excellent process and the lunch is great.

 

Enjoy your B2B.

 

Great info. Thanks!

[stones902]

We just finished a B2B on the Sereande 2 weeks ago.

 

Sat 4PM. Consecutive cruisers meeting in the Viking Crown to review the process.

 

Sun 8AM-9AM Go to International desk on deck 8 to hand in old seapass cards and get new ones. Your old seapass cards will be returned 2 days later. You do not have to get off the ship but if you want to they will give you an in-transit card to show the people in the port. We went off for about 20 minutes and the process worked well.

 

Cabins. Your cabin will be done very early and your clothes will be moved for you with minimal work for you. You can access your cabin anytime.

 

Between 10:30 and 11:30 you have to stay in one place as they test fire doors, elevators etc. Don't want you getting stuck on an elevator.

 

11:30 am go to MTD for Consecutive Cruisers lunch.

 

We did not have any problem with the repeating menu. The food was the best we had in a few years.

We used the ships laundry service for a few things.

 

The Serenade has an excellent process and the lunch is great.

 

Enjoy your B2B.

 

Thanks for posting - good info on the Serenade's procedures. Can you estimate how many passengers were doing the b2b as you were? Just curious.

[Trainman-2]

Call RCI and ask for the Consecutive Cruiser Desk.

 

These people specialize in B2B's and may be able to find you a single cabin that you like for both legs of the B2B.

 

If you don't ask! You don't Get!

[Tim,n,Sue]

Thanks for posting - good info on the Serenade's procedures. Can you estimate how many passengers were doing the b2b as you were? Just curious.

 

There we 48 people doing the B2B for our cruises. This number was provided during the Sat review meeting. Drinks were provided.

 

As well we changed C&A status after the first half of our B2B. We visited the LA early on the first cruise he asked us to come back at 5:30PM on day one of the 2nd leg. He issued us new cards that we picked up at Guest Relations. Another painless process.

[stones902]

There we 48 people doing the B2B for our cruises. This number was provided during the Sat review meeting. Drinks were provided.

 

As well we changed C&A status after the first half of our B2B. We visited the LA early on the first cruise he asked us to come back at 5:30PM on day one of the 2nd leg. He issued us new cards that we picked up at Guest Relations. Another painless process.

 

Thanks very much. That is a few more couples than we had on the Liberty last year this time. I would say there were no more than a dozen folks doing the b2b. At least 2 of them were entertainers holding over for the next sailing.

 

I'll also mention that the Liberty cruises are set up for b2b itinerary much the same way the Serenade it. Each week they alternate between and Eastern and Western initerary. The only repeated port was Labadee.

[megr1125]

you have to know that they will eventually kick you off...

[travelbig]

You will not have to "wonder" what your process will be. Toward the end of the first week, you will be given written instructions with the procedure detailed of what you are expected to do.

[lacruiser]

Great information! We would have loved to have kept our first cabin (1100--my personal fave) but it's not available for the second leg. Stupid us didn't decide to do this a year ago when we originally booked! But we've got a nice little D-1 on the hump right down the hall. I can suffer...:p

[megr1125]

the cabin attendant will move your stuff...you'll need to pack up the stuff in drawers, but the hanging stuff will be moved just like that....

 

it's really pretty easy......LOVE my b2bs.....

[travelbig]

We took everything on hangers over to the "new" room on the hangers and returned that number of empty hangers to the "old" room. We everything else in the suitcases or plastic bags and made one trip with it. Yes, the room steward will offer to do it for you, but do you know how busy they are on turn around day?

[critterchick]

We took everything on hangers over to the "new" room on the hangers and returned that number of empty hangers to the "old" room. We everything else in the suitcases or plastic bags and made one trip with it. Yes, the room steward will offer to do it for you, but do you know how busy they are on turn around day?

 

At the risk of seeming heartless and imperious, they are always busy, and it's part of their job to help the passengers out in that kind of move. I imagine that they also know the optimal time to make the move so as not to be tripping over piles of sheets & towels and disrupting the attendant in the new stateroom.

[sg1phileshipper]

We are sailing 12/3 on Serenade, and considering tacking on the following week, which has a different Southern Caribbean itinerary. Since our first cabin isn't available, we'll be changing rooms. So, those of you who have done B2B's, what do I need to be aware of? Did you get tired of being onboard ship? (I know -- probably not!!:D) Did you get bored with the repeating menu? How did you handle laundry, etc.? Will we need to pack up everything and move it, or does the room steward take care of that?

 

Any and all help appreciated!

 

The most important thing you need to know is that the second week will pass as fast at the first week :(

 

I changed cabins too and my new stateroom was aware which cabin I was gonna be in (just a few doors down) and cleaned it as soon as the people in there were gone. Pack up loose stuff and change the hangers. Took me a minute or two to change cabins. I did it myself, cause they have so much on their hands on turnaround.

Repeat menu second week on Freedom.

I did laundry in my cabin every day, since the $25 dollar laundry special didn't show up...

Enjoy your B2B

 

Cindy

[RSGS315]

On my last back to back I had to move from a deck 8, balcony cabin to an outside on deck 2, as I only decided on the cruise to stay onboard. That's all that was available at that late time. I had heard of a huge snow storm coming to New Jersey after my first cruise, that's why I wanted to stay onboard.

It was easy, as I gave my Stewart $20.00 to move me to the new cabin. He did so and I had to do nothing but get my new cabin key. They did not have the b/b lunch, as there were only 5 of us repeating. I was able to use my new cabin, as soon as it had been cleaned.

 

Ginnie