Benefits For B2B Cruisers

[handwcruisers]

We are going on our first b2b cruise on Liberty next year and I know I have seen something that tells exactly what all the benefits are. I know about meeting the day before the disembark and escort off the ship and back on but somewhere I had seen a list that was on Royal's website and now I can't find that. If anyone could help out I would greatly appreciate it.

[cruisenfever]

We are going on our first b2b cruise on Liberty next year and I know I have seen something that tells exactly what all the benefits are. I know about meeting the day before the disembark and escort off the ship and back on but somewhere I had seen a list that was on Royal's website and now I can't find that. If anyone could help out I would greatly appreciate it.

From the RCI website http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contentPage.do?pagename=consecutive_cruisers

 

Since we only do consecutive cruises, please be aware that each ship handles consecutive cruisers differently and what is posted in the link above might not be what you will experience.

Edited November 2, 2015 by cruisenfever

[handwcruisers]

Thanks for the link. Have you done b2b on Liberty? Do you know how they handle things.

[biomedbob]

We've done 7 or 8 b2b and each had been slightly different. From easy peasy to a real cluster.

 

I guess there is no right answer, but try to go to the meetings.

 

On our most recent, there was nobody at the assigned meeting place on the time they posted.

 

Once we found the correct meeting place the loyalty ambassator had already led the folks off.

 

We got off but discovered they hadn't made our seapasses for the next cruise.

 

Short version........We b2b had to wait in the terminal for about 3 hours before we were allowed to get back on the ship!

[cruisenfever]

Thanks for the link. Have you done b2b on Liberty? Do you know how they handle things.

Yes, we did a b2b this past June on Liberty when she was ported at Port Liberty, NJ. On turnaround day, those that were consecutive cruisers and staying on board met in a lounge and then we were all escorted off the ship, into the terminal, through Customs & Immigration and then back onto the ship. Received our new SeaPass cards the morning of turnaround day.

 

Everyone was given an "in-transit" card so that if you wanted to leave the ship, once you returned, you didn't have to go through the check in process. You just showed your in-transit card to a pier rep and you were then directed to where people were boarding.

 

If you are staying in the same cabin, you will have access even though the fire doors may be closed. If you have to move cabins, then you will only need to pack up lose items in your suitcase. Anything hanging in the closet will be taken on their hangers to your new cabin. Always a good idea, if you are changing cabins, to go and meet your cabin attendant for the second cruise sometime during the first cruise.

 

Just remember that when you do a consecutive cruise, they are totally independent of each other. With that I mean, when cruise 1 is done, your account is closed and a new account is started for the next cruise. Any unused OBC from cruise 1 can not be carried over to the next cruise.

 

Once you do a consecutive cruise, you will be hooked. I do hope you have a wonderful consecutive cruise experience.:)

 

Edit to add: Now that Liberty is going to be cruising out of Galveston, turnaround day may be handled differently than it was for us at Port Liberty.

Edited November 2, 2015 by cruisenfever

[handwcruisers]

Thanks I know that anything can be good or bad experience depending on the people who are running it or whatever comes up but we definitely planning on trying to be where we are supposed to be at whatever time.

With this being our first b2b

First on Liberty

Being our first out of Galveston. We haven't cruised at all since 2010, we had a car accident that left me with a number of issues and it has made it hard for me to fly unless we were to do first class (and that would cost more than the cruise). So we are driving down to Galveston from Oklahoma, going a couple of days before the cruise to do some sightseeing in the Galveston area.

We are so looking forward to this, we have almost a year to go before the cruises but are already looking forward to it. Counting the days and enjoying the planning.

[denatravels]

I did a B2B on Liberty in August. There were not really any benefits, other than being in the terminal for less than 15 minutes. There was no day before meeting. No bars would make any drinks. I did have access to my cabin.

[cruisenfever]

I did a B2B on Liberty in August. There were not really any benefits, other than being in the terminal for less than 15 minutes. There was no day before meeting. No bars would make any drinks. I did have access to my cabin.

Holding a meeting for consecutive cruisers always depends on the number of consecutive cruisers there are. We've experienced both.

 

As far as turnaround day goes, it all depends on the ship as to what special things are done for consecutive cruisers. On Allure, they did lunch at Giovanni's and on other ships, if there were enough consecutive cruisers, it was lunch in the MDR. Just experience that on our b2b on Serenade in September.

Edited November 2, 2015 by cruisenfever

[Ashland]

Yes, we did a b2b this past June on Liberty when she was ported at Port Liberty, NJ. On turnaround day, those that were consecutive cruisers and staying on board met in a lounge and then we were all escorted off the ship, into the terminal, through Customs & Immigration and then back onto the ship. Received our new SeaPass cards the morning of turnaround day.

 

Everyone was given an "in-transit" card so that if you wanted to leave the ship, once you returned, you didn't have to go through the check in process. You just showed your in-transit card to a pier rep and you were then directed to where people were boarding.

 

If you are staying in the same cabin, you will have access even though the fire doors may be closed. If you have to move cabins, then you will only need to pack up lose items in your suitcase. Anything hanging in the closet will be taken on their hangers to your new cabin. Always a good idea, if you are changing cabins, to go and meet your cabin attendant for the second cruise sometime during the first cruise.

 

Just remember that when you do a consecutive cruise, they are totally independent of each other. With that I mean, when cruise 1 is done, your account is closed and a new account is started for the next cruise. Any unused OBC from cruise 1 can not be carried over to the next cruise.

 

Once you do a consecutive cruise, you will be hooked. I do hope you have a wonderful consecutive cruise experience.:)

 

Edit to add: Now that Liberty is going to be cruising out of Galveston, turnaround day may be handled differently than it was for us at Port Liberty.

 

Sorry..may be a silly question...but can you come and go easily through the fire doors ? We'll be on our first B2B on AOS next May.

[denatravels]

Sorry..may be a silly question...but can you come and go easily through the fire doors ? We'll be on our first B2B on AOS next May.

 

 

Your stateroom attendant would obviously know you. Just tell anyone else that asks that you are on a B2B. I ended up coming through the very far door and passed a few people I didn't know. Wasn't an issue.

[cruisenfever]

Sorry..may be a silly question...but can you come and go easily through the fire doors ? We'll be on our first B2B on AOS next May.

Not silly at all. Yes, the fire doors can be easily opened. That's the best part of doing a b2b. Watching the faces of those that just boarded as you open the fire door to go to your cabin and they have to wait.:D

[handwcruisers]

We do have the same room on both cruises, we are in a handicapped as I need handicapped bathroom, walk with a cane and bring a regular wheelchair just in case I need it (did have to use it for a day and half on New England/Canada on our last cruise). My DH and I were just talking a couple of days ago about how nice it will be to spend the last day of the first cruise not having to worry about packing up. We are staying on board during turnaround and enjoying the time at the pool without crowds. Am hoping that they do have a lunch somewhere for us, would enjoy meeting others who are doing the same thing. There are already 1 other couple on our first week that will be b2b with us on the 2nd week.

And that does sound like fun being able to walk to the room thru the fire doors while everyone else has to wait til 1pm.

Our week 2 will be a different set of ports with the exception of going to Cozumel both weeks.

I am planning to have as much as I can paid for on both weeks that we don't have to spend much except spa (gotta have a couple of couple massages) and specialty restaurants. We don't want to book and pay for those early to see what specials we can get on board.

We are planning to get at least one beverage package on each leg.

[denatravels]

We do have the same room on both cruises, we are in a handicapped as I need handicapped bathroom, walk with a cane and bring a regular wheelchair just in case I need it (did have to use it for a day and half on New England/Canada on our last cruise). My DH and I were just talking a couple of days ago about how nice it will be to spend the last day of the first cruise not having to worry about packing up. We are staying on board during turnaround and enjoying the time at the pool without crowds. Am hoping that they do have a lunch somewhere for us, would enjoy meeting others who are doing the same thing. There are already 1 other couple on our first week that will be b2b with us on the 2nd week.

 

And that does sound like fun being able to walk to the room thru the fire doors while everyone else has to wait til 1pm.

 

Our week 2 will be a different set of ports with the exception of going to Cozumel both weeks.

 

I am planning to have as much as I can paid for on both weeks that we don't have to spend much except spa (gotta have a couple of couple massages) and specialty restaurants. We don't want to book and pay for those early to see what specials we can get on board.

 

We are planning to get at least one beverage package on each leg.

 

 

That part was really great-- my experience on the Liberty was "go eat with the masses in the windjammer". You will get to meet the others in the lounge as you wait to depart.

[erros]

Does anyone know what they do for passengers that change from one Royal ship to another? Brilliance to Ovation in May.

[cruisenfever]

Does anyone know what they do for passengers that change from one Royal ship to another? Brilliance to Ovation in May.

You will disembark Brilliance and then make your way over to the Ovation. You will have to collect your luggage in the terminal and then go through Customs & Immigration. Sometimes they offer a shuttle between ships, but this is something that is controlled by the port.

Edited November 3, 2015 by cruisenfever

[serialcruiser48]

My wife and I were b2b on Allure of the Seas BCE RT and BCE to FLL on Oct25,2015. We were treated to an 1 1/2 hour line getting off and back on. Everyone was pissed! I'm Diamond Plus and a Pennacle was next to us. There was no reason for this long line!!!!!

[rubrrick]

Yes, we did a b2b this past June on Liberty when she was ported at Port Liberty, NJ. On turnaround day, those that were consecutive cruisers and staying on board met in a lounge and then we were all escorted off the ship, into the terminal, through Customs & Immigration and then back onto the ship. Received our new SeaPass cards the morning of turnaround day.

 

Everyone was given an "in-transit" card so that if you wanted to leave the ship, once you returned, you didn't have to go through the check in process. You just showed your in-transit card to a pier rep and you were then directed to where people were boarding.

 

If you are staying in the same cabin, you will have access even though the fire doors may be closed. If you have to move cabins, then you will only need to pack up lose items in your suitcase. Anything hanging in the closet will be taken on their hangers to your new cabin. Always a good idea, if you are changing cabins, to go and meet your cabin attendant for the second cruise sometime during the first cruise.

 

Just remember that when you do a consecutive cruise, they are totally independent of each other. With that I mean, when cruise 1 is done, your account is closed and a new account is started for the next cruise. Any unused OBC from cruise 1 can not be carried over to the next cruise.

 

Once you do a consecutive cruise, you will be hooked. I do hope you have a wonderful consecutive cruise experience.:)

 

Edit to add: Now that Liberty is going to be cruising out of Galveston, turnaround day may be handled differently than it was for us at Port Liberty.

 

We were just off the NV in Galveston for a B2B2B, and it was handled exactly as you mentioned for the LB in New Jersey. There are two different itineraries, and the one that takes in Belize and Roatan creates a longer wait to go thru immigration. Rumor has it that officers check closer for drugs from those ports.

 

We were treated to a special lunch for B2B'ers only.

 

Rick

[cruisenfever]

My wife and I were b2b on Allure of the Seas BCE RT and BCE to FLL on Oct25,2015. We were treated to an 1 1/2 hour line getting off and back on. Everyone was pissed! I'm Diamond Plus and a Pennacle was next to us. There was no reason for this long line!!!!!

The port that you do your turnaround in, controls how consecutive passengers are handled. RCI must adhere to their rules and procedures.

 

If you experienced this long line in Barcelona, then it was the Port Authorities that controlled your debarkation.

Edited November 3, 2015 by cruisenfever

[Sianli]

We did b2b a few years ago on Vision and in addition to a special lunch, we received several coupons including a free 15 minute call home each and a free sack of laundry I'm not even remembering what all. We actually didn't use a lot of them but it was nice getting the extra coupons. Very smooth and easy. As it was a foreign port we did not go to the special lunch.We were out exploring the port.

[davekathy]

OP...the best benefit of doing a B2B Cruise is you get to stay on the ship another week. Every B2B Cruise we've done we had a lunch in the MDR on turn around day. Our turn around days have been well organized.

[BillOh]

Thanks for the link. Have you done b2b on Liberty? Do you know how they handle things.

 

It might be worthwhile to search for recent B2B cruisers on Navigator. As someone mentioned each one seems a little different per ship, but it seems to be a dance between the ship and the port. With you being in Oklahoma, I assume you are looking Liberty out of Galveston. When are you going? I believe this is the first time Royal is bringing this class of ship to Galveston and those first times always seem to be a bit precarious.

[Beachin2]

On all of our B2B cruises they have given us a code for 30 free internet minutes to complete the guest satisfaction survey from cruise #1 (since the survey response time would expire before the end of cruise #2).

 

If they don't give it to you - talk to guest services. They really want those surveys done.

[Cigar King]

Not silly at all. Yes, the fire doors can be easily opened. That's the best part of doing a b2b. Watching the faces of those that just boarded as you open the fire door to go to your cabin and they have to wait.:D

 

Not everyone waits. In fact, it seems like more and more we are seeing people, who are clearly not B2B cruisers just ignoring the signage completely.

[Cigar King]

Does anyone know what they do for passengers that change from one Royal ship to another? Brilliance to Ovation in May.

 

When I did this (it was not these ships) they did nothing. I asked, but was told I was on my own. Oh well.

 

FWIW, I called this a S2S (side to side) cruise, since it was not really a B2B.

[handwcruisers]

It might be worthwhile to search for recent B2B cruisers on Navigator. As someone mentioned each one seems a little different per ship, but it seems to be a dance between the ship and the port. With you being in Oklahoma, I assume you are looking Liberty out of Galveston. When are you going? I believe this is the first time Royal is bringing this class of ship to Galveston and those first times always seem to be a bit precarious.

 

Yes we are going Liberty out of Galveston, we are not cruising until Oct 2016 but are all ready looking forward to it and counting down the days. I am a big planner and start early. That is part of the fun for me. I try to plan excursions or things to do on our own without using ship excursions. Yes it is the first time for this size ship in Galveston and the port is terrible right now from what I understand but by Oct Liberty will have undergone the dry dock in Jan 2016 and they are supposed to be done with the new cruise terminal (which will make 3 ). Hopefully the new terminal will have things running more smoothly by Oct, only time will tell.