Best Way to Book Elite Back to Back Cruises?

[RS79]

My dw is elite on Princess, and we very much enjoy the stocked minibar that we receive on each cruise, as well as the internet minutes. We are planning back-to-back 10 day Caribbean cruises this fall, and were wondering if it makes any difference if we book it as one 20 day cruise, or two 10-day cruises (there is a $100 or so price difference). Does anyone know if we will get the stocked minibar and additional internet minutes on the second 10-day cruise if we book it as one 20-day cruise? Thanks.

[Murphey]

In our experience we've gotten a new set up each cruise regardless of how it is booked. It has also worked out that way for internet minutes, but I think it really depends on the person working in the internet café. But we've never had an experience where we lost minutes by booking one way or another. They are very used to dealing with b2b-ers! Have a great cruise.

[ggprincess2004]

You will get the minibar set up on each part of the cruise, whether you book it as one, or as a b2b. What makes a bigger difference to us is how the internet minutes fall, the way the OBC credit is maximized.....you will also get credit for both legs as separate cruises on your Captain's Circle account.

[paul929207]

You have to look at your situation.

 

Do you have two FCC's each? If so, I believe you get $100 each per leg for the 10 day cruises. $150 each for 20 day. This assumes a balcony or higher

 

Are you shareholders. You would get $100 for each leg with 10 day legs, but $250 for the 20 day cruise.

 

Are you eligible for the loyalty OBC? One obc for each leg. So you get double with the 10 day legs.

 

Eligible for the military? Same as shareholder above.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Our recent experience with B2B cruises was that it made no difference to our minibar how they were booked...we got it each turnaround either way.

 

Captains Circle OBC (for more than 20 cruise credits)...you'll only get one per booking, not per cruise.

 

Internet...they've gotten very picky with this lately. If you have one booking number, you get internet minutes one time and they carry over from your first cruise to your second. However, this might mean you end up with many fewer minutes in total as you would get if you booked it as two separate bookings. We've also not been allowed to carry over internet minutes from one booking number to another.

 

For a couple of years, Port Everglades port taxes were being charged for each cruise, such that we saved money if we booked the logical bookings if for no other reason than lower port taxes. That seems to be less an issue this winter (but do look at it both ways). Now we only book logical bookings when the cabin we want has been set up that way through Yield Management (which is a real issue); otherwise, it seems to get us a little extra if we book the cruises as standalone bookings.

[long cruiser]

You also can in your mini bars for two coffee cards for each cruise.The cards are also good for gullet's.

long cruise

[Colo Cruiser]

Enjoy your mini bars. :)