Logistics of Back to Back Cruising?

[Bfson]

Doing our first back to back cruises on Royal. What are the logistics? Must we actually get off the ship at the end of the first cruise? Do we have to settle our bill at end of the first cruise? Can we carry over any unused OBC? Anything we should know?

[KJL53]

You do get off the ship but as a group. You go through customs and then get back on. If you are staying in the same room everything is left in the room. If you are changing you pack what is in the drawers and leave suitcases in the room. Hanging clothes and suitcases will be moved by cabin attendant. Your bill is setteled from the last cruise and no OBC can not be transferred.

 

Very easy process. A meeting is held on the last day of the cruise detailing the process.

 

Hope this helps.

[AussieVisi2r]

It's a very easy process. Lucky you!

 

Some people use unused OBC as tips.

 

Raina

[NorbertsNiece]

You may or may not have to get off the ship... .we didn't on Adventure... depends on port and the situation on the day. The whole process is explained during your first week and you will receive new seapass cards for the 2nd week. If you've bought any internet time this will NOT be carried over either. You may or may not be offered lunch elsewhere than WindJammer on changeover day. You can go ashore if you want; as you will have your new cards you can bypass the check in lines.

Edited February 3, 2014 by NorbertsNiece

[Grandma Gail]

We are doing a B2B on Grandeur March 8 & March 18. Our DGS is joining us on the second leg and we want to meet him outside the terminal when his Mom drops him off. Any problems getting off and then back on. Any guidance would be appreciated. I know there will be a B2B meeting but just trying to pass info on to DD.

[kc320]

We are doing a B2B on Grandeur March 8 & March 18. Our DGS is joining us on the second leg and we want to meet him outside the terminal when his Mom drops him off. Any problems getting off and then back on. Any guidance would be appreciated. I know there will be a B2B meeting but just trying to pass info on to DD.

 

There won't be a problem if she drops him off AFTER general boarding has begun...usually around 11:30....if she drops him off before then you can still get off...but would have to wait with him after he checks in & then board with the rest of the new passengers...

[lady_cruiser]

Check with Customer Service, you can probably cash out your unused OBC which gives you a little extra spending money for the second week; tips for tour guides, drinks on one of the islands, souvenir, etc.

[Ourusualbeach]

Check with Customer Service, you can probably cash out your unused OBC which gives you a little extra spending money for the second week; tips for tour guides, drinks on one of the islands, souvenir, etc.

 

Any refundable OBC will automatically be applied back to your credit card.

 

If you have non refundable OBC left over you may take it out in cash at the casino but they will charge you a 5% fee for doing this. Do not leave this until the last morning as the casino will be closed.

[kc320]

Any refundable OBC will automatically be applied back to your credit card.

 

If you have non refundable OBC left over you may take it out in cash at the casino but they will charge you a 5% fee for doing this. Do not leave this until the last morning as the casino will be closed.

 

I've had refundable OBC given back to me as cash with no problem...usually have to wait until the last afternoon of the cruise, but they will give it to you..just have to ask..

[bilyclub]

You do get off the ship but as a group. You go through customs and then get back on. If you are staying in the same room everything is left in the room. If you are changing you pack what is in the drawers and leave suitcases in the room. Hanging clothes and suitcases will be moved by cabin attendant. Your bill is setteled from the last cruise and no OBC can not be transferred.

 

Very easy process. A meeting is held on the last day of the cruise detailing the process.

 

Hope this helps.

 

We have gone b-b 3 times, never a meeting explaining things. Just a letter saying to where to meet on the last day. Depends on the ship and how many b-b onboard.

[mjldvlks]

As others have said, the specifics vary. On our one and only B2B we had to get off because the ship was going through some sort of inspection [customs related I think -- it has been a while]. But they went out of their way to make sure we knew what was going on and herded us through the process to make sure we didn't get lost. We had to get off and go through the check in at the terminal, but we were at the front of the line -- ahead of even the suite pax for the second cruise.

[mollyeilis]

We met a couple doing a b2b on our recent Freedom cruise. They did have an actual meeting, and the husband was really annoyed that they had to settle the bill for the first cruise. His annoyance (his description of his feelings) made sense to me, but RCCL having to close the books on one cruise before starting the second also makes sense, IMO.

[cruisenfever]

We met a couple doing a b2b on our recent Freedom cruise. They did have an actual meeting, and the husband was really annoyed that they had to settle the bill for the first cruise. His annoyance (his description of his feelings) made sense to me, but RCCL having to close the books on one cruise before starting the second also makes sense, IMO.

Each cruise is treated independently because each cruise has its own booking number and that is why the account must be settled prior to the conclusion of the first cruise.

[mollyeilis]

Each cruise is treated independently because each cruise has its own booking number and that is why the account must be settled prior to the conclusion of the first cruise.

 

Yes, it makes sense from Royal's POV. But his emotions about it made sense as well. :)

[madelk]

Is there anything special one must do when booking to specifically make it a B2B? Or do you just make two simple online bookings as normal? Is there any special discount for doing B2B? I'm interested in some of the newly (and soon to be) announced re-positioning cruises so I'm sure the immigration stuff would be different and don't expect you to detail that - it was just the booking side of things I was wondering if there were any tips or anything I should know about.

[Clarea]

Is there anything special one must do when booking to specifically make it a B2B? Or do you just make two simple online bookings as normal? Is there any special discount for doing B2B? I'm interested in some of the newly (and soon to be) announced re-positioning cruises so I'm sure the immigration stuff would be different and don't expect you to detail that - it was just the booking side of things I was wondering if there were any tips or anything I should know about.

Just make two consecutive bookings. There is no discount. If you book far enough in advance, you can get the same stateroom for both cruises.

 

Once the bookings are made, call Royal and ask to have the bookings "linked". This lets the people on board the ship know you're a consecutive cruiser, so they can prepare for the second cruise. One caveat is that linking the cruises causes some features of Royal's website to malfunction, even more than the usual malfunctions. Things like making a Choice Air booking won't be possible on the website with linked cruises. I usually wait until after final payment to have the cruises linked.

Edited April 4, 2014 by clarea

[madelk]

Thanks so much for your quick reply Clarea!

I won't be booking air or anything like that through RC but thanks for the heads up (my current first choice has the same cabin available and the turnaround port is where I would fly home through anyway so it's looking very doable! :) )

[rubrrick]

Each cruise is treated independently because each cruise has its own booking number and that is why the account must be settled prior to the conclusion of the first cruise.

 

 

Hi Patty! You are correct that Royal Caribbean treats each cruise seperately, and one is billed and their account cleared, before the start of the next cruise, on a B2B.

 

Now, the person complaining (annoyed) at this situation, might be a long time cruiser with Princess Cruises, where, at the end of each consecutive cruise, a statement is delivered to the cabin, but the charge card is not charged till the end of all consecutive cruises.

 

This I know for fact, as last month I completed a B2B on the Sapphire Princess, as well as last fall, I was on a B2B2B2B on the Golden, and in both cases, I was given a statement at the end of each cruise, with an accumulated amount owed, but not charged till my cruises were over.

 

I don't know how other lines work, as I have only experienced B2B's with Royal (Celebrity as well) and Princess.

 

Hope this finds Jim and you well, and cruising often!;)

 

Rick

[OSULabRat]

Just make two consecutive bookings. There is no discount. If you book far enough in advance, you can get the same stateroom for both cruises.

 

Once the bookings are made, call Royal and ask to have the bookings "linked". This lets the people on board the ship know you're a consecutive cruiser, so they can prepare for the second cruise. One caveat is that linking the cruises causes some features of Royal's website to malfunction, even more than the usual malfunctions. Things like making a Choice Air booking won't be possible on the website with linked cruises. I usually wait until after final payment to have the cruises linked.

 

Now this brought up a question for me! I am doing my first B2B on Oasis this May, and when I did the online check-in for the second cruise, there was on option under "pre cruise arrival plans" or whatever that was "consecutive cruiser". Would this be the same as having to call and "link" them? I would certainly hope that that was all the notification they would need, I hate sitting on hold when it is something I can do online!

 

Thanks! :-)

 

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[Clarea]

Now this brought up a question for me! I am doing my first B2B on Oasis this May, and when I did the online check-in for the second cruise, there was on option under "pre cruise arrival plans" or whatever that was "consecutive cruiser". Would this be the same as having to call and "link" them? I would certainly hope that that was all the notification they would need, I hate sitting on hold when it is something I can do online!

 

Thanks! :-)

The travel plan page on the website is not the same as linking the cruises.

 

I called C&A a couple of times last week and the hold time was just a few minutes.

[Photofinish4]

Just make two consecutive bookings. There is no discount. If you book far enough in advance, you can get the same stateroom for both cruises.

 

Once the bookings are made, call Royal and ask to have the bookings "linked". This lets the people on board the ship know you're a consecutive cruiser, so they can prepare for the second cruise. One caveat is that linking the cruises causes some features of Royal's website to malfunction, even more than the usual malfunctions. Things like making a Choice Air booking won't be possible on the website with linked cruises. I usually wait until after final payment to have the cruises linked.

I'm doing a b2b2b in 2 weeks and I did my choice air last year when I booked my cruise

[Clarea]

I'm doing a b2b2b in 2 weeks and I did my choice air last year when I booked my cruise

That's good to know, maybe they fixed the problem with making Choice Air bookings on a linked cruise.

Edited April 5, 2014 by clarea

[OSULabRat]

The travel plan page on the website is not the same as linking the cruises.

 

I called C&A a couple of times last week and the hold time was just a few minutes.

 

Thank you!

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

[dancersp119]

has anyone done a b2b on explorer???we are doing a b2b in may and was just wondering how they handle it on explorer...

[FLACRUISER99]

has anyone done a b2b on explorer???we are doing a b2b in may and was just wondering how they handle it on explorer...

How they handle it this week has no bearing on how they will handle it next week.