Is it a hassle doing a back to back on same ship?

[Maggiepie]

We are thinking of doing a b-b (5 days/4 days) on Carnival Dream in 2021 for our 50th wedding anniversary but was wondering if it is a hassle getting off/on for the switch over?  How long can we expect before we are back on and ready to roll again?  If the majority tell me there is very little disruption I think we will seriously consider.  We've always done 7+ day cruises (this will be our 25th cruise) and felt the entertainment was great....with less day cruises how do you feel the entertainment compares as we do enjoy the shows.  Any positives/negatives will be greatly appreciated.

[Elaine5715]

22 minutes ago, Maggiepie said:

We are thinking of doing a b-b (5 days/4 days) on Carnival Dream in 2021 for our 50th wedding anniversary but was wondering if it is a hassle getting off/on for the switch over?  How long can we expect before we are back on and ready to roll again?  If the majority tell me there is very little disruption I think we will seriously consider.  We've always done 7+ day cruises (this will be our 25th cruise) and felt the entertainment was great....with less day cruises how do you feel the entertainment compares as we do enjoy the shows.  Any positives/negatives will be greatly appreciated.

Just stay in the same cabin and save yourselves the only hassle of moving.  All the B2Bs will  be escorted off and back on, the process just depends on how many, how long it takes to clear departing crew (who exit after you) and if any issues pop up.  

Edited December 15, 2018 by Elaine5715

[Essiesmom]

The only hassle about a B2B from a US port is the regulation to 'zero down' the ship before boarding any new passengers.  The last night of the first cruise, you will get a letter in your cabin instructing you on the procedure.  Usually they tell you to meet in a certain place at a certain time, they will give you your Sail & Sign pass for the second cruise, and walk you off the ship to immigration, and back on.  If you have the same cabin for both legs, you need do nothing but tell your cabin steward that you are staying on for the next cruise.  If you have to move to a different cabin, the steward will help.  Depending on the port, you might want to treat it as just another port of call, and get off with departing passengers.  they will give you an 'In Transit' pass to use getting back on the ship, bypassing the lines.  

 

   One of the unfortunate things about turn around day is that you can't sleep in.  There will be too much noise with departing passengers, announcements, and the dining areas will open earlier and close early, so if you attempt to sleep in, you might miss breakfast.  EM

[Maggiepie]

Thanks for your feedback.  We would definitely be staying in same cabin so with the exception of going thru customs it sounds like we should think of it as a port day as Essiesmom said.....without the beautiful beach opportunities 😉

[Shaded Lady]

1 hour ago, Maggiepie said:

Thanks for your feedback.  We would definitely be staying in same cabin so with the exception of going thru customs it sounds like we should think of it as a port day as Essiesmom said.....without the beautiful beach opportunities 😉

Well- depending on the port, you may have the beach opportunities! Galveston, Miami and Pt Canaveral all have great beaches a short taxi ride from the dock, so that may be an option as well!

[dbrucern]

Very simple process, we did it in Ft. Lauderdale and took the opportunity to get off have lunch at one our favorite seafood restaurants and then headed back.  We have also just done the process of going thru customs and back on to enjoy the quiet before everyone else boarded.  Just remember if you have any money on your casino account you have to remove the night before because it does not go over to your next sailing which a number of people thought it did.

 

Edited December 15, 2018 by dbrucern

[Ocean Spirit]

We did it on the Triumph this year.  Told to meet at specific area.  Once everyone was off you and any other b to b's and any contract staff are walked off.... saw NO one walked through customs, they looked at our passport and immediately walked back onto the ship.  It was great!  Had the whole ship to ourselves!!!  You really need to book the same cabin for both cruises.

 

[bakersdozen12]

We have done one B2B so far and the changeover day was a hassle but only because the girl leading us on and off the ship had no idea what she was doing. She got lost leading us back on so we were not the first ones onboard. Not even close. But, other than that, it was a nice experience because we were already settled into our room and didn’t have to unpack. I made an appt at the spa and enjoyed a manicure during sailaway while everyone else was stressed about getting their bags, setttling in, and learning the layout of the ship. 

[coevan]

Our last 3 cruises were B2B. We are always on the ship an hour before general boarding. The only problem is there is no food or bar until about 11. 

[chocolate melting cake]

We've done several B2B s, each time it was about 5-15 min from leaving the ship to getting our new S&S cards and back on. There are 2 drawbacks with a B2B (at least on the 7 day trips we did), the menus are the same each day---not too bad as there are enough choices, and the entertainment repeats---again you can always choose the comedy club over the show you saw on the first cruise. Enjoy!

[evandbob]

It is a simple procedure to do a B2B if you are keeping the same cabin.  For B2B 4 and 5 day cruises through, you might want to compare how just one 8, 9, or 10 day cruise might be pricewise.......you may come out ahead on a longer duration sailing.  Happy anniversary whatever you decide.

Edited December 16, 2018 by evandbob

[PhillyFan33579]

Evandbob said what I was thinking when reading this thread. I would suggest looking at a longer cruise than doing a B2B on two shorter cruises.  Only attending one safety briefing instead of two safety briefings would be enough for me to look at booking a longer cruise. 

[BoDidly]

Anything can be a hassle if you let it. 

[kona_wahine]

We did it once on the Breeze, and it was, well, a breeze. Had the same room, there were 16 of us in the group. you meet at a specified spot and they give you new S&S cards (that may have changed since they are in mail boxes now) and then led off thru a quick customs check, then right back on. Got a mimosa toast, took our picture, and had a fruit basket in our room.

[eltigre]

Our first B2B is coming up on the Paradise a 5 night & a 4 night. A balcony on the first Cuba sailing and an aft facing on the second Cozumel sailing.  Wanted a Cuba cruise & it was just too short after flying from Vancouver to Tampa. Also wanted to try an aft cabin. The move is only 5 cabins down on the same deck so this will work out well I think.   

 

Suggestions for Tampa to stock up on wine & soda? Or possibly something close by worth a visit? 

[CruiseGal999]

12 hours ago, Maggiepie said:

We are thinking of doing a b-b (5 days/4 days) on Carnival Dream in 2021 for our 50th wedding anniversary but was wondering if it is a hassle getting off/on for the switch over?  How long can we expect before we are back on and ready to roll again?  If the majority tell me there is very little disruption I think we will seriously consider.  We've always done 7+ day cruises (this will be our 25th cruise) and felt the entertainment was great....with less day cruises how do you feel the entertainment compares as we do enjoy the shows.  Any positives/negatives will be greatly appreciated.

 

I did a b-b in September.  Total 20 days onboard.  It was FABULOUS.  Now, my trip was on NCL ... I see you're in Carnival's page.  But as far as experience ... I LOVED it ... a lot of days to explore, use and enjoy the ship.  For us on NCL, there was no getting off and getting back on.  Many were in the same cabin for each cruise, so no moving or any affect to them at all.  I had to move, I packed and stewards moved my luggage to my new cabin for me and I was in my new cabin much earlier than the 'new' guests arriving onboard.  

[gatour]

If you want to treat it as port day.  Let them know and they will give you an intransit card.  After doing whatever want to do, when you get back to the pier, show the intransit card and you can bypass the check in lines.

 

Although not applicable for the OP, if you are changing cabins, let your room steward know including the new cabin number.  They don't always get the note that you are doing a B2B and are changing cabins for the second leg

[NWACruiser]

We did a B2B on the Dream in New Orleans.  We had different cabins, so we had to pack the night before.  We worked with the cabin stewards to arrange moving everything.  They accommodated well. 

 

For disembarkation/embarkation, all we had to take off was our identification and customs information.  We met in the atrium to wait while the other passengers disembarked.  They led us off the ship and through customs.  Once we cleared customs we had to go through a check-in process that more or less was going past the new passengers and back onto the ship.  We were escorted back to the atrium. 

 

They served us free mimosas while waiting for the new cabin to be ready.  Once the cabin was ready, we were given access to the cabin and the rest of the ship.  It was strange to be on a ship that size and no other passengers anywhere.  

[coevan]

7 hours ago, gatour said:

If you want to treat it as port day.  Let them know and they will give you an intransit card.  After doing whatever want to do, when you get back to the pier, show the intransit card and you can bypass the check in lines.

 

 

This completely unnecessary as you will have your new S&S card. You are escorted off the ship, quick customs, new card, and reboard. A B2B will never have to wait to board with the new group. Yes, they gave us in intransit card, but it was not necessary.

[Clarasgrandma]

I think there are pros and cons to doing a B2B vs a longer (example 14 day) cruise.  To me, the day of getting off and then back on inbetween cruises is basically a wasted half day.  We were in limbo for quite awhile.  We had different rooms and our 2nd room wasn't ready when we were told it would be so we had to wait til 1ish to access it.  We had to sit in a room for awhile with the other B2B'ers waiting for the escort off the ship and back on.  That being said, they did supply us with beverages and cookies, danish, etc.  Also had to go through the Muster Drill again.  Not anything that keeps us from doing B2B cruises but just some things to consider as you plan.  For us, the price is cheaper than booking a longer cruise.  We will always do B2B now.  Our first one was last year.  We have three more booked.  As others have said, there is so much to do that what you miss on the first cruise, you can do on the 2nd cruise.  We went to the shows the first cruise and then comedy club the 2nd cruise.  We were able to try different MDR meals as well spread out over 2 weeks.  It really wasn't a hassle at all to do the B2B.  We quite enjoyed it!

[OCruisers]

We have been on B2B cruises many times on several lines.

Unfortunately, ours with Carnival was the worst by far.

We were doing a 14 day (7 & 7 B2B) in the same cabin for both.

We met as instructed and walked thru so that went fine.

Then they had us sit in an area.  No one came to get or update us for an hour.  

Many of us explained we were "In Transit" and were wondering when we could go back to the ship.

We were told to continue to wait.

Finally when we we told we could reboard, it was to a deck area outside of the ship with no seats.

Once finally inside the ship which was not until others for the next cruise were boarding, we could not go back to our cabin... the same as for new folks boarding. 

Not a good experience.   

 

 

[Elaine5715]

2 minutes ago, OCruisers said:

We have been on B2B cruises many times on several lines.

Unfortunately, ours with Carnival was the worst by far.

We were doing a 14 day (7 & 7 B2B) in the same cabin for both.

We met as instructed and walked thru so that went fine.

Then they had us sit in an area.  No one came to get or update us for an hour.  

Many of us explained we were "In Transit" and were wondering when we could go back to the ship.

We were told to continue to wait.

Finally when we we told we could reboard, it was to a deck area outside of the ship with no seats.

Once finally inside the ship which was not until others for the next cruise were boarding, we could not go back to our cabin... the same as for new folks boarding. 

Not a good experience.   

 

 

You were being held because there was a problem or a delay in crew whose contracts were ending voluntarily or not voluntary.  Custom Officers could have also be doing an inspection with the puppers.   

[moilman]

We were on Celebrity Reflection and did a back to back. Celebrity has it down to a science. Those guests doing b2b are greeted by an assigned representative who takes you through the debarkation process. (The ship has to "zero" out the passengers through the computer) Then you are escorted to a seating area at the port, and in a short while board once again.  Have a ball. 

[Joebucks]

Is it a hassle? Well of course it is less desirable that staying on the ship. There are pros and cons to every option. Balance them out and see what works best for you. I wouldn't get hung up on one detail. Personally though, I would do a longer vacation as there would be more variety to the entertainment and itinerary. The removal of an extra debarkation day wouldn't hurt either.

[Sparky2]

We've done several B2B cruises in the same cabin.  We tell our steward to do the change-over the day before if he has time.  This way it's one less cabin for him to do on change-over day.