Back 2 back cruises

[Oldgoat61]

We are booked on a back2back on the Magic.  We have never cruised b2b on Carnival, and I want to get an idea of what to expect once the first cruise ends.  Can we stay onboard, or do we have to get off, just to get back on?  In short, what is the process. Any info is greatly appreciated.😀

[ObstructedView2]

1 hour ago, Oldgoat61 said:

We are booked on a back2back on the Magic.  We have never cruised b2b on Carnival, and I want to get an idea of what to expect once the first cruise ends.  Can we stay onboard, or do we have to get off, just to get back on?  In short, what is the process. Any info is greatly appreciated.😀

 

Carnival B2B cruises @:

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4529/~/back-to-back-cruises

 

 

👍

[coevan]

Think of it as 2 separate cruises. When your first cruise is over, you will zero out your S&S account and get a new S&S card and new folio number. We have stayed on the ship and customs boarded and check in and out in 10 minutes. Other B2B we would meet in the MDR and an officer will escort you to the customs  by the luggage area, again a cursory check and back on the ship. For us it's very important to get the same cabin so you do not have to pack and unpack again. After you have your new S&S card you can get off the ship and explore the port and bring 2 more bottles of wine onboard. You do not have to wait in line to reboard, there is a separate line B2B and crew.  

[Oldgoat61]

Does guest services leave a letter in our stateroom about when and where to meet?  Thanks

[Luckysll]

3 minutes ago, Oldgoat61 said:

Does guest services leave a letter in our stateroom about when and where to meet?  Thanks

Yes they do.

 

When I've done a b2b, I've also gone to GS during the cruise just to confirm they have my name on the list of guests cruising b2b.  

[Oldgoat61]

Thanks all!!

[EngineCo52]

Following this. We're doing a B2B on the Horizon in February. Im really excited I've never done a B2B before. I heard also depending on the ship and person running the show sometimes after everyone goes to customs they take you to a room and give you snacks and drinks and a certificate saying back to back cruiser and take a picture of everyone who's doing a back to back. 

[grima625]

3 hours ago, EngineCo52 said:

Following this. We're doing a B2B on the Horizon in February. Im really excited I've never done a B2B before. I heard also depending on the ship and person running the show sometimes after everyone goes to customs they take you to a room and give you snacks and drinks and a certificate saying back to back cruiser and take a picture of everyone who's doing a back to back. 

I've only done one b2b, but we had a package that was in our stateroom on the first cruise.  I took everything that was in the package with me to the meeting time at the end of the first cruise where we were given our new S&S cards.  They took us off the ship, and just partially down the gangway where we met with the customs officer.  The customs officer wanted to see everyone's port clearance document which would allow you to debark, and leave the port if you desired to do so.  Not everyone brought their packages since they weren't planning to leave the ship, but they couldn't get back onboard until the customs officer saw that form.  The ship's officer who was overseeing everyone had to send someone to get extra copies of these documents for the people who didn't bring theirs. 

 

After everyone was back onboard, we had a group photograph taken with the CD and all of the b2b cruisers.  There were also snacks and drinks served at the atrium bar.

[Anyislandwilldo]

If you can, make sure you book the same cabin for the 2nd leg.  It just makes it so much easier and stress free.  The cabin steward will move everything for you but I prefer to leave everything alone by staying in the same cabin.  If you have any funds on your SS card in the casino, ,make sure you cash out the last night of the 1st leg or you will lose it.  Savor that feeling when you see everyone else leave the ship and know that you get to stay on the ship for another cruise 😊

[Oldgoat61]

5 hours ago, Anyislandwilldo said:

If you can, make sure you book the same cabin for the 2nd leg.  It just makes it so much easier and stress free.  The cabin steward will move everything for you but I prefer to leave everything alone by staying in the same cabin.  If you have any funds on your SS card in the casino, ,make sure you cash out the last night of the 1st leg or you will lose it.  Savor that feeling when you see everyone else leave the ship and know that you get to stay on the ship for another cruise 😊

We have done 3 b2b cruises, but on another line.  We made sure we got the same cabin for both! Thanks 😁

[Sparky2]

We've done several B2B cruises since 2013.  We always have the same cabin.  We've always met in the lobby, turned in our S&S cards to be checked out (did receive them back if we wanted them for souveniers), received new S&S cards, went off the ship to go thru customs, and then back on.  In the lobby we received champagne, OJ, or Mimosa and had a group picture taken.  We also have always received a basket of fruit & bottle of champagne.

 

You are allowed to bring 1 bottle of wine per person for the 2nd cruise (as well as 1st cruise) as long as you have your boarding documents with you when you board at beginning of 1st cruise.

 

 

[sassy~one]

I just got off the Sunrise b2b2b  YEP 18 nights.  Norfolk VA is a tough port for this.  We had to get off the ship and go back through everything.  We did have a guide, but still it was a PITA.

[Sparky2]

33 minutes ago, sassy~one said:

I just got off the Sunrise b2b2b  YEP 18 nights.  Norfolk VA is a tough port for this.  We had to get off the ship and go back through everything.  We did have a guide, but still it was a PITA.

 

That would be annoying.

[coevan]

Is it because it's on a military base?

[Anyislandwilldo]

13 hours ago, sassy~one said:

I just got off the Sunrise b2b2b  YEP 18 nights.  Norfolk VA is a tough port for this.  We had to get off the ship and go back through everything.  We did have a guide, but still it was a PITA.

We had to get off the ship in New Orleans too but the whole process took 10 minutes.  Carnival definitely needs improvement in this area.  We sat in the lounge for almost 90 minutes before they walked us off the ship 😒

[Hunter69]

We have got off on both B2B's we have done. They took our luggage to the next cabin...We got off last at 9:00am; went shopping for more soft drink's (Soda) & lollies (Sweets). Got back to Passenger terminal a hour & half later. Reboarded with other Diamond/Platnium guest at 10:50....Very easy...

[AmBear]

On 5/18/2019 at 6:42 PM, Oldgoat61 said:

We are booked on a back2back on the Magic.  We have never cruised b2b on Carnival, and I want to get an idea of what to expect once the first cruise ends.  Can we stay onboard, or do we have to get off, just to get back on?  In short, what is the process. Any info is greatly appreciated.😀

Near the end of your first cruise, you'll receive instructions in your cabin,,,,

That morning when everyone else gets off, you'll have your breakfast, etc..., then meet in a area described on the instructions with others who are also B2B, 

Then you'll wait til the ship is cleared of everyone else,

then all together walk off the ship to border control, where they will look at everyone's passport,

then you'll go back to the ship, usually to gather for a photo, that you'll get later in the cruise for free, and a glass of champagne.

Then you are free to roam the ship, usually you got about 1/2 hour before the next weeks passengers start boarding!

Have fun! B2B is the only way to go, unless its a B2B2B or more!-))

Edited May 21, 2019 by AmBear

[EngineCo52]

On 5/19/2019 at 6:03 AM, grima625 said:

I've only done one b2b, but we had a package that was in our stateroom on the first cruise.  I took everything that was in the package with me to the meeting time at the end of the first cruise where we were given our new S&S cards.  They took us off the ship, and just partially down the gangway where we met with the customs officer.  The customs officer wanted to see everyone's port clearance document which would allow you to debark, and leave the port if you desired to do so.  Not everyone brought their packages since they weren't planning to leave the ship, but they couldn't get back onboard until the customs officer saw that form.  The ship's officer who was overseeing everyone had to send someone to get extra copies of these documents for the people who didn't bring theirs. 

 

After everyone was back onboard, we had a group photograph taken with the CD and all of the b2b cruisers.  There were also snacks and drinks served at the atrium bar.

 

Thanks for the insight and tips Grima! yeah we booked the same room for both cruises, figured it would be much easier that way. 

[BrezQ]

we're on a B2B in 2020, same cabin. same ship.  Can't wait!!