How many of you've done b2b and your thoughts

[NOSaints1]

So never done one, but just wondering how many have you done one, your thoughts, what ship did you do it on, do they do anything for you special and how it all works and where did you go?

[elliair]

We've done a few mostly Mexican Riviera. It's the same trip that you just did. If you can tolerate doing the same thing over again then go for it. In recent years, we've backed away from doing B2B because we now do longer cruises - 10 days or more. However, we would consider doing a b2b on our Alaska cruise in May, I would never grow tired of such beautiful scenery.

[edinboro cruiser]

We did a b2b on the Liberty two years ago. You need to def make sure it's different routes. We did an east/west. For the second leg we got to pick our dining room seats. Stayed in the same cabin. We got a fruit plate and champagne. Last day of first leg we met a guest services, got off the ship, quick walk through customs than right back onto ship

[NOSaints1]

Would you do it again?

[jimbo5544]

def on our bucket list but need to be retired first.

[FloridaGram]

That was on my bucket list and we did it twice in 2014! I loved it! We booked while onboard last year and got some great prices. We had to change rooms but it was so easy, you have to pack up your stuff but the room steward moves it for you. Then after everyone else is off the ship, you get escorted off, through immigration and then right back on the ship while every one else waiting to get on is watching! It was so much fun. When we came back they took a picture of the group and gave it to us for free and had a free drink! AAnd then you can go to your new room!

 

My next goal is to do a B2B and stay in the same room!

 

I would do it again! We did eastern and western, then then did Aruba/Curacao 8 days and a 5 day Bahamas. I love Half Moon Cay!

Edited December 28, 2015 by FloridaGram

[NOSaints1]

Our only problem stopping us is the exchange rate sucks.

[Sillyjilly]

I do them all the time. The ship is my destination. :D:D:D

[dhaza]

Jan 2016 we are not really doing a B2B but we are going from a Saturday to Saturday on the Freedom and then a Sunday to a Sunday on the Magic. We have hotel for one night between cruises.

[tigercat]

We have done a couple of B2B's and will do another one starting Jan. 3, 2016. It is 2 different itinerary's but for the first time we have to change cabins. They are right beside each other so shouldn't be too hard to do. We were hoping to get the same cabin but the one we really wanted was booked for the first week. We will move to it the 2nd week.

tigercat

[Canadian_J]

I've done one B2B (Glory in 2013) and am doing another on Victory next month.

 

It was definitely on my bucket list, and I will say it's a fun experience being all alone on board for even that brief time. We moved rooms last time and the crew were extremely helpful, but this time we've got the same room. The re-embarkation process couldn't be easier. It only took about 10min or so when all was said and done, took longer just waiting for all the slow pokes to get off lol! As for "anything special", no. But we weren't expecting that. Just happy to keep on cruising!

 

For this B2B we're doing a 4n west then 5n east itinerary because we couldn't find a 7n for the same time period that interested us, so this lets us mix it up a little! We thought it was a creative new way to go :)

[jrgreiner]

We have done it once and loved it! We are going to do it again in 3 weeks. Doing a 6 day then a 8 day. Staying in the same room all we have to do is go through customs and ten back on the ship.

[lyannea]

Dec 2014, I did B2B on 2 different ships, first one out of Miami and the second out of Fort Lauderdale.

It took a bit of planning and so worth it, especially coming from the Pacific NW.

 

I was lucky enough to get good air fare rates to both cities with one way tickets and 2 great hotel rates (one the night before the first cruise and the other was the night before the second cruise) close to the ports.

 

These were my first Carnival cruises- the first one was the Breeze- beautiful ship, new, spacious and a great way to be introduced to Carnival's line.

 

My second one was the Freedom - the roll call consisted of people who absolutely loved the charm of the Freedom and it was that, and cozy- totally different vibe.

 

These were both 6-day Caribbean cruises to different locations, and, when it was all said and done, I felt as though I had been gone for a month.

 

I would do it again though, now, experimenting with leaving from the west coast

[SadieN]

Have done two B2B. Last two sailings of the Conquest out of NOLA and the Golden Princess out of San Pedro.

Both lines had the same procedures. If you're in the same cabin, just leave your stuff. If you're changing cabins, talk with your room steward. We pack everything up and attach the new cabin's luggage tag.

Onboard everything will repeat. The biggest difference will be the pax. Our first Conquest cruise was very vibrant, full of Saints fans. The second was much more sedate.

Your shipboard account will not roll over. If you have leftover OBC you'll need to go to GS and take care of it.

[<3_2_Cruise]

We did a B2B last year on the Fascination. Would love to do it again. We were on the first leg of trip with friends, then the second leg with family.

 

We did not have the same room for both cruises, but it was not a problem. We packed our bags and left them in our room. Then, the room steward moved the bags to our new room.

[2Shoes2Go]

We have done many b2bs and a few b2b2bs and s2s (side to sides; different ships). They are great fun! I'd make every cruise a b2b, if I could, but we have to go home, sometimes. :( :)

[Jeff90]

We did it back in February 2015 on the Conquest....would do it again...did 6 the 1st left then 8 the 2nd. 14 days total....doing it again on the Magic Jan 2017.

[N2Mischief]

We did what is technically referred to as a Side to Side...we did a week on the Liberty followed by a week on the Breeze. We liked it so much, the next year we did a Side to Back to Back to Side...I guess you would call it. A week on the Glory, followed by B2B on the Breeze, followed by a week on the Splendor. We liked it so much we have a B2B scheduled for 2016 on the Miracle...a week in Mexico followed by 2 weeks to Hawaii.

 

We love the B2Bs and will continue to do them as long as we are able.

[NOSaints1]

Would you prefer a b2b or a cruise equals to those days or around say like 10,11 days

[zqvol]

We have done it twice but never on CCL, so our sexperince is probably vastly different than on CCL. There is a lot of difference being on a ship with less than 100 passengers than being on CCL with over 2000.

 

We did Athens - Istanbul, and Istanbul - Athens (that was 10 different ports). The second time was Venice - Dubrovnik Dubrovnik - Athens (that was 13 different ports).

 

The second one was more like taking a 14 day cruise. The first was unique in that we got to visit Santorini, Kusadasi, Lesvos and Mykonos twice which gave us enough time to see all of things that we wanted without being rushed.

 

Because we were on a very small ship, I'm sure that turnover day was different. When we docked we just left the ship and went on our excursions, When we got back all we did was stop by guest services and grab a new ID card. We also got to skip muster drills on the second legs.

 

We would not hesitate to do it again especially if it was like the Venice - Athens 2 weeks.

[Cruisin 4 Ever]

We did what is technically referred to as a Side to Side...we did a week on the Liberty followed by a week on the Breeze. We liked it so much, the next year we did a Side to Back to Back to Side...I guess you would call it. A week on the Glory, followed by B2B on the Breeze, followed by a week on the Splendor. We liked it so much we have a B2B scheduled for 2016 on the Miracle...a week in Mexico followed by 2 weeks to Hawaii.

 

We love the B2Bs and will continue to do them as long as we are able.

 

That's what we are doing in February, a side to side a week on the Splendor followed by a week n the Breeze.

[Essiesmom]

Because we were on a very small ship, I'm sure that turnover day was different. When we docked we just left the ship and went on our excursions, When we got back all we did was stop by guest services and grab a new ID card. We also got to skip muster drills on the second legs.

 

It wasn't the small ship that made the difference, it was being in Europe. That 'zero down the ship' exercise in US ports is a US thing. You also have to do it in Vancouver if you do a B2B, but it is US immigration, not Canadian. You do not have to do it if you do a B2B that has turnaround day in Whittier or Seward. EM

[tandemcruzr]

We've done 4 B2Bs and 2 SXS. We have 6 more B2Bs booked beginning next month. All of our B2Bs have been in the same cabin. This past Nov on the Valor, when we returned from Customs, they took a group photo which was delivered to our cabin. We also got a fruit basket and a bottle of 'Brut.' That was the first time we experienced that. :)

 

And, yes -- we are retired.

Edited December 28, 2015 by tandemcruzr

[FloridaGram]

Would you prefer a b2b or a cruise equals to those days or around say like 10,11 days

 

Cruises of 10 to 11 days are infrequent IMO. I think that would be perfect though. I am looking at one right now on HAL to the Panama Canal. I have been contemplating it for a couple of years and watching the price rise $400 so I am probably going to do it!

 

One B2B was 15 days and I was bored by the last sea day. I had enough lounging on the deck, had done all the activities I was interested in and had read all my books so I was ready to go home. Now with the internet packages being more reasonable I probably would have been fine if I had the internet.

[Sparky2]

So never done one, but just wondering how many have you done one, your thoughts, what ship did you do it on, do they do anything for you special and how it all works and where did you go?

 

The last 3 years we've done B2B - Conquest, Liberty, Freedom. Also did B2B i 2008. Our upcoming is a B2B. All have been a total of 14-days. A 7 or 8-day cruise is just too darn short.

 

All of them have had different itineraries - Eastern & Western, Western & Exotic Southern, etc.

 

Last year on Conquest, they had champagne, mimosas, or OJ waiting for us when we got back on the ship after going through customs. They then took 2 photos of our group and delivered them to our cabin a few days later.

 

We've also always received a fruit basket & bottle of champagne delivered to our stateroom.

 

We are not doing B2B in 2017 because we've booked a 14-day partial Panama Canal transit Journeys cruise.