Considering first back to back, any advise regarding things to keep in mind?

[GranysT]

We did a B2B on Paradise, last Sept, a 4 day then a 5 day. We did get to keep the same cabin both legs. I agree, that is the way to go. Having to pack-up and move, would not be much fun.

 

Our cabin steward knew we would be in the same cabin for both legs.We were the only couple doing a B2B that trip. We got to sit comfortably in the atrium, and watch all the sad people leaving the ship. Once everyone was off, one of the women from GS came and escorted us off the ship and through customs. About a 20 to 30 minute process. Once back on board, the cruise director was waiting for us in the atrium.

They had a back drop screen, that said, We Love Our B2B Cruiser's. The girl from GS and the cruise director stood with us, and they snapped our picture. They gave us the photo, "free", if you can believe that one. lol. Got our new S&S cards, dinged in, and had the ship to ourselves for a couple of hours. I would love to do another B2B, anytime.

[rick and carrie]

We did a B2B on Paradise, last Sept, a 4 day then a 5 day. We did get to keep the same cabin both legs. I agree, that is the way to go. Having to pack-up and move, would not be much fun.

 

Our cabin steward knew we would be in the same cabin for both legs.We were the only couple doing a B2B that trip. We got to sit comfortably in the atrium, and watch all the sad people leaving the ship. Once everyone was off, one of the women from GS came and escorted us off the ship and through customs. About a 20 to 30 minute process. Once back on board, the cruise director was waiting for us in the atrium.

They had a back drop screen, that said, We Love Our B2B Cruiser's. The girl from GS and the cruise director stood with us, and they snapped our picture. They gave us the photo, "free", if you can believe that one. lol. Got our new S&S cards, dinged in, and had the ship to ourselves for a couple of hours. I would love to do another B2B, anytime.

Are you allowed to go to your cabin after clearing customs and reboarding, or do you have to wait until 1:30 like everyone else, except Diamond, Platinums and FTTF?

[riclop]

Try to get the same room.

[MNKEITH]

Thanks everyone. We did get the same cabin and in 56 days we will be back on the Vista for 14 days. It's a 6 day, then the 8 day. Only 1 of the 7 ports (La Romana) is new and Grand Turk we've been to many times, but the other 5, we have only been to once.

 

 

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[Agent.D]

Greetings -

 

I've been reading several posts on B2B and thought I'd add a little to the mix. I've done 6 or so B2B's on Carnival over the last 3 years and I've always booked through the Carnival website. So they know you'll be on the next sailing. Sometimes I've had the same room and other times not. Doesn't really matter, the steward moves your stuff for you while you're off the ship at customs. The only issue is when you switch SIDES of the ship. After a week on one side, you tend to always go the same direction when leaving your room. If you switch to the other side, well, you're always going the wrong way. :-)

 

With regard to customs. I've done B2B's out of Miami and Long Beach. In Long Beach several times I had to go (literally) outside and sit for a couple hours (along with the other B2B passengers) and wait to reboard. On the last one, they did allow us to sit in the 'Platinum' level air conditioned waiting area which was nice. But it still seemed rather unorganized. And when we got onboard, several of our cards didn't work, so a few of us had to stand in line at the pursuers counter and get new cards... But Carnival did buy us (all) a couple rounds of booze at the bar, so hey, it's wasn't the worst day ever. :-) However, on the two I did through Miami, it was zip-bam-boom, off and back on the ship in 15 minutes. So in other words, YMMV based on what port you're in. I'm doing another B2B out of Miami at the end of this week on the Glory. So I'm hoping for Zip Bam Boom again. :)

[AmBear]

Hello,

 

We just got back from our Vista cruise on 3/5. It went great and we are considering doing a back to back on her next year. We have the 6 day cruise picked out (sailing 3/4/18), we just need to decide if the 8 day will be before or after the 6 day.

 

We have never done a B2B and I was wondering if there are any specifics I should keep in mind before actually booking? Pros and cons sort of stuff.

 

Thanks

We did the shows the first week, the comedy club the second week in the evenings, just wasn't enough time to do both in one week! Also you could exit the ship in Miami, take one of the hop on/hop off bus tours that take your on several different tours of the city, one includes a boat tour also!

[Katie62]

Have our first B2B coming up in a few months, so all this info is very helpful.

 

 

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[GlamorousGirl]

We are taking our first back-to-back on Carnival Pride in April. I consider myself VERY fortunate to have found a back-to-back itinerary going to different destinations. Cruise #1 is going to Bermuda and Cruise #2 is going to the Caribbean. My top tip would be see if you can find a ship where the itinerary will change for your second half! Other than that I can't post tips because I haven't taken it yet, but thanks for posting this so I can get some tips too!

[tugtraveller]

We are doing our first B2B cruise in February on the Carnival Glory. It's normal course is 7 nights in the Western Caribbean (Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, Grand Cayman, then back to Miami). Followed by the 2nd week visiting the Eastern Caribbean (Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk). The B2B makes sense for us because we are retired and coming all the way from California. I am not thrilled about having sea days getting to Miami and back out again. But, since our adult daughter decided to join us for the 1st week and do some scuba diving, it allows her to get back to work after only a 7-day cruise. Win/win.

[SNJCruisers]

We are doing our first B2B cruise in February on the Carnival Glory. It's normal course is 7 nights in the Western Caribbean (Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, Grand Cayman, then back to Miami). Followed by the 2nd week visiting the Eastern Caribbean (Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk). The B2B makes sense for us because we are retired and coming all the way from California. I am not thrilled about having sea days getting to Miami and back out again. But, since our adult daughter decided to join us for the 1st week and do some scuba diving, it allows her to get back to work after only a 7-day cruise. Win/win.

Having four ports to visit on a 7 night cruise is the best that you're going to find out of any of the FLA embarkation ports. Out of San Juan, there are two different RCI ships that visit five ports just like the Carnival Fascination. If you did the Fascination as a B2B with the Jewel of the Seas, you would visit 10 ports, with 8 of them being different and only 1 at sea day each week. Barbados and St. Maarten would be duplicates.

If you have an aversion to at sea days, the only way to usually avoid them is to cruise in Europe.

[ManyMore]

I always like to do the shorter cruise first, then you know you have more days ahead on the first one.

[JWGrayson]

Most of our cruises are B2B as we find it just as easy to go for 14+ days as it is for 3,4 or 5 day criuse. Be SURE to check with Guest Services to let them know you are B2B. You would think they would know, but we have found that to not always be the case.

 

As others have said, everything is repeated- menus, production shows, comedy shows, etc! One thing that bothers me is that nearly every word out of the Cruise Directors mouth is the same. I call it "Wash, Rinse, Repeat." They do the same jokes every cruise. It is like they have no idea how to improvise. This may sound negative on my part, but it helps to set your expectations.

 

Enjoy, John

Edited January 12, 2018 by JWGrayson

[SNJCruisers]

The solution to the B2B repetition is to do it on two different cruise lines. We did a 7 day on X combined with a 6 day on RCI a few years ago and loved it. The only hassle was the pack/unpack and schlepping four bags, but they flew for free on Southwest and luggage express through RCI meant that we only had a small carry on to leave the ship with.

[tugtraveller]

The solution to the B2B repetition is to do it on two different cruise lines. We did a 7 day on X combined with a 6 day on RCI a few years ago and loved it. The only hassle was the pack/unpack and schlepping four bags, but they flew for free on Southwest and luggage express through RCI meant that we only had a small carry on to leave the ship with.

 

THAT is an excellent idea -- and adds some fresh, new menus and shipboard experiences. We just might try that next time since we have to pack and change cabins anyways. Love it!

[SNJCruisers]

THAT is an excellent idea -- and adds some fresh, new menus and shipboard experiences. We just might try that next time since we have to pack and change cabins anyways. Love it!

Don't know if they still do it, but I had read on the boards about a couple that did a Sat-Sat backed up with a Sun-Sun on RCI and RCI put them up in a hotel the night in between the cruises.

[janjan3839]

I am doing my first B2B in October on the Paradise! So excited. A five day was too short for us, flying in, so we are doing two 5 day cruises! Can't wait.

[AmBear]

There is no such thing as too much cruising. We did 29 days straight in April, 3 weeks on the Glory out of Miami, followed by a 8 day southern cruise on the Conquest out of Fort Lauderdale!

Enough,,,,nope, just take a short break!-))

Now we've booked 2 weeks on the Glory in Miami, in Oct.-Nov 3, then drive to Port Canaveral to immediately board the Breeze on Nov 3 for a 14 day Journey's cruise! 28 days straight!-))

[waldreps]

We're doing a B2B on the Magic out of Miami on December 23 and December 30, 2018. We're staying in the same cabin. This will also be our first cruises. We just wanted to take as long a vacation as we could. I had to do it over Christmas and New Year's so I could use those holidays to give me enough time off for the 2 weeks. We can't wait!

[cb at sea]

On a B2B, everything repeats, except the "guest" performers. All the menus, productions shows, etc...are the same on each cruise. Only the "guest" performers will be different. And, the passenger mix...that's a big one....it's the passenger mix that gives a cruise it's "feel".....so expect an entirely different "feel" on the 2nd leg.

[tugtraveller]

We did our first B2B on the Glory this past February. The first week (western caribbean) was our best cruise EVER. The 2nd week (eastern caribbean) "meh". It was okay, but not great.

 

So, i will give MY honest opinion which might be different from everyone elses. The 1st week dinner was exciting, but by the 2nd week--- same old menu -- no surprises. We also enjoyed the people more on the 1st week. Then the fun people all left, and we had a bunch of fuddy-duddies the 2nd week. Same shows in the big theater. But the comedians that flew in for the 2nd week were actually better than the 1st week.

 

So, for me, if I had it to do again. I would book one ship for the first week, then come back to Miami/Ft Lauderdale and book a TOTALLY different ship for the 2nd week. I know not everyone feels this way-- I met one Minnesota couple that was on the Glory for 4 weeks straight, and lots & lots of happy people doing B2B's because you have 2 totally different sets of ports-- which is actually quite nice.

 

But for me, I needed the menu, the entertainment, the games -- not just to be an EXACT repeat of the 1st week!

 

---- Rene

Edited June 12, 2018 by tugtraveller

[AmBear]

We did our first B2B on the Glory this past February. The first week (western caribbean) was our best cruise EVER. The 2nd week (eastern caribbean) "meh". It was okay, but not great.

 

So, i will give MY honest opinion which might be different from everyone elses. The 1st week dinner was exciting, but by the 2nd week--- same old menu -- no surprises. We also enjoyed the people more on the 1st week. Then the fun people all left, and we had a bunch of fuddy-duddies the 2nd week. Same shows in the big theater. But the comedians that flew in for the 2nd week were actually better than the 1st week.

 

So, for me, if I had it to do again. I would book one ship for the first week, then come back to Miami/Ft Lauderdale and book a TOTALLY different ship for the 2nd week. I know not everyone feels this way-- I met one Minnesota couple that was on the Glory for 4 weeks straight, and lots & lots of happy people doing B2B's because you have 2 totally different sets of ports-- which is actually quite nice.

 

But for me, I needed the menu, the entertainment, the games -- not just to be an EXACT repeat of the 1st week!

 

---- Rene

I'd agree, if you go to the same place everyday, you'd tire from it.

My advice would've been, try other dining venues, on the Glory you have,,,buffet, mdr., guy's burgers, pizza, blue iguana sandwiches, seafood shack, chef's table, steakhouse, old fashioned bbq, room service.

Entertainment, the same, maybe on week 2, don't watch, participate.

As far as table guests go, it could've been reversed, the better people for you on week 2.

And you can always ask the maitre d to change you to another table.

Look on the plus side, you saved the traveling costs, and hassles of traveling to the port twice!

[factotumdeb]

we haven't done a b2b in a few years, but the first one we did, we made the mad dash to the red frog pub and got our free round of beer for being the first on the cruise there. only time i tried it, cause we actually had a chance on being on the ship really early. just not sure if they still do that. hope so, it was kinda cool :)

[telebax51]

I'd agree, if you go to the same place everyday, you'd tire from it.

My advice would've been, try other dining venues, on the Glory you have,,,buffet, mdr., guy's burgers, pizza, blue iguana sandwiches, seafood shack, chef's table, steakhouse, old fashioned bbq, room service.

Entertainment, the same, maybe on week 2, don't watch, participate.

As far as table guests go, it could've been reversed, the better people for you on week 2.

And you can always ask the maitre d to change you to another table.

Look on the plus side, you saved the traveling costs, and hassles of traveling to the port twice!

 

I agree with your response AmBear we just got back from our first BTB /TA on the Horizon and we did what you recommend change food venue, entertainment venue, it was the best cruise to date now i'm hooked looking to combine my 8 day Aruba with a 7 day extension.

[Sparky2]

we haven't done a b2b in a few years, but the first one we did, we made the mad dash to the red frog pub and got our free round of beer for being the first on the cruise there. only time i tried it, cause we actually had a chance on being on the ship really early. just not sure if they still do that. hope so, it was kinda cool :)

 

It's not supposed to work they way, but sometimes the bartender slips up.