Back to Back Cruise

[2prettygirls]

Talk to me about a back to back cruise, what are the pros and cons of 14 days on the ship, sailing South and West Caribbean? We are considering doing a back to back cruise on the Carnival Horizon next year with our 2 girls who will be 12 and 15 at the time of sailing, celebrating our 20 year wedding anniversary. We have sailed with Carnival 3 times and have always enjoyed ourselves but each cruise was a 7 day sailing. We are always sad to leave when our 7 days are up, we think that an additional 7 days would be amazing but just curious if anyone who has sailed back to back has more insight to share.

[rukkian]

1 minute ago, 2prettygirls said:

Talk to me about a back to back cruise, what are the pros and cons of 14 days on the ship, sailing South and West Caribbean? We are considering doing a back to back cruise on the Carnival Horizon next year with our 2 girls who will be 12 and 15 at the time of sailing, celebrating our 20 year wedding anniversary. We have sailed with Carnival 3 times and have always enjoyed ourselves but each cruise was a 7 day sailing. We are always sad to leave when our 7 days are up, we think that an additional 7 days would be amazing but just curious if anyone who has sailed back to back has more insight to share.

Obviously the benefit is more time, and more ports, but you will also see the same shows and same menus each week.  People that like shows will sometimes to a ship to ship - one week on one ship, then just switch to another ship for the second week, but it is more hassle.

[ChristianDamon]

What are the actual logistics of a back to back? How does debarkation and embarkation work?

[DKane]

We did a b2b on the Splendor a few years ago.  Different itinerary each week and we were able to stay in our cabin at the end of the first week, which was great.

 

The benefits are when you reach the end of your first week, boy does it feel good to not have to pack to go home.  Another thing is seeing different ports.  We don't travel for the shows, so seeing the same shows is no biggie to us.  And as for the menus, there is more than enough selections for two weeks.  The staff get to know you so it feels like old home week on the second leg.

 

At the end of the first week, those of us who were cruising again met in one of the lounges for a cocktail and appetizer party.  

I'm looking for another cruise to do this again.   Do it!  Do it!  And do it on a ship that appeals to everyone.

[2prettygirls]

1 hour ago, ChristianDamon said:

What are the actual logistics of a back to back? How does debarkation and embarkation work?

From what I understand, you are taken to a special area of the ship on debarkation day from the first leg of the trip and once everyone has disembarked, you will disembark last, go through customs and then will directly go back on the ship, with the option to debark and enjoy the port before embarking on the 2nd leg of the trip or you have the luxury of enjoying the ship before everyone else starts embarking.

[live2cruise2011]

Normally after disembarkation you are taken off and then walked back on they do a special embarkation lunch for just the b2b if you don’t choose to enjoy the port you will also continue to have access to your cabin if you don’t switch staterooms.  It is a great time to take ship pictures as for that hour or so it is just you guys and the crew turning the ship around.  

[Eliot Ness]

We've done two B2B cruises and I can't think of any disadvantages.  You probably want to book it so you stay in the same cabin and it's a great feeling when the first cruise ends for most and you still have another week.  Like the cruise you're considering both of ours went to different ports so that was nice.

 

As others have mentioned you and the others doing a B2B will meet in a designated area and make a quick trip off the ship and be escorted right back on. Enjoy!

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, 2prettygirls said:

Talk to me about a back to back cruise, what are the pros and cons of 14 days on the ship, sailing South and West Caribbean? We are considering doing a back to back cruise on the Carnival Horizon next year with our 2 girls who will be 12 and 15 at the time of sailing, celebrating our 20 year wedding anniversary. We have sailed with Carnival 3 times and have always enjoyed ourselves but each cruise was a 7 day sailing. We are always sad to leave when our 7 days are up, we think that an additional 7 days would be amazing but just curious if anyone who has sailed back to back has more insight to share.

The biggest disadvantage will be all future 7 days cruises will seem too short

[bjd2]

We did a back to back a couple of years ago. It was great! We had our same cabin and so the last night of the first leg when everyone else was packing was really cool to just be having fun. We let our Steward know he didn't need to service our room on turn around morning and we stayed in there until it was time to go down and get our new cards. We were escorted through customs and right back on for a group picture with some of the staff and complimentary beverage.

 

We were recognized by many of the crew on the 2nd leg and they kind of made us feel like stars. It was great to get the extra cruise days for the cost of one flight there and back. We come from Wisconsin so that was a plus for us. We had different itineraries and loved the Sunshine.

 

The only con I can think of is having to do muster again. But as always, it was relatively quick and painless.

[Garth2]

And if you're platinum or diamond you get a gift each week.  You can never be too rich, too thin or have too many lanyards/luggage tags. : )

[cloudninecat]

What we like about it is having the ship to yourself for awhile before the next group starts to board. It was the only time we could get in the pool or hot tubs when they weren't jam packed with kids. 

[VentureMan_2000]

We just booked a B2B on Carnival this morning... 

Never did one -- I like what I'm reading here.

[bjd2]

25 minutes ago, Garth2 said:

And if you're platinum or diamond you get a gift each week.  You can never be too rich, too thin or have too many lanyards/luggage tags. : )

Lol, yes, we got 4 of the headphones that cruise 🤣

[coevan]

2 hours ago, live2cruise2011 said:

they do a special embarkation lunch for just the b2b

 

 

Not they we have experienced, everything on the ship is closed for about an hour. you can chill on the deck and wait for the bars and restaurants to open, and the hordes of people arrive

[cloudninecat]

7 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

Not they we have experienced, everything on the ship is closed for about an hour. you can chill on the deck and wait for the bars and restaurants to open, and the hordes of people arrive

We didn't experience this either but to be fair we were the only back to backers on ours. They did keep bringing us mimosas to the hot tub though and never asked for our sign and sail cards. It was a couple of hours before we saw a soul other than the staff. We were in heaven. I'm interested to see how this next one differs from our first. 

[soonernstlouis]

If you are going to do a B2B with Carrnival, this is the ship to do it on.  Not only different ports on each leg but different areas of the Caribbean on 1 trip.  Would love to try it after I retire.

[Elaine5715]

There is no guarantee of a special lunch, free mimosas and even having the ship to yourselves for more than a few minutes.  Everything depends on the individual Hotel Director.  They clear B2Bs and then clear departing crew and then start boarding.

[grandmarnnurse]

I, too, am doing a B2B (my first) in April for our 50th Anniversary. We were lucky to keep our same cabin, so no moving. Anything I can read in this thread will be beneficial. And as someone said, after a B2B, a 7 day cruise will seem too short! 

[biomedbob]

We've only done about 10 B2B and they were all different.  Some were easy peasy and some a pia.  Depends on the port and the number of folks involved.  Once walked down the gangplank and back up.  Another waited in a holding area for 4 hours because some of us were never issued sail & sign for the 2nd half.  YMMV!

[coevan]

1 hour ago, Elaine5715 said:

Everything depends on the individual Hotel Director.

 

 

Where do you get this stuff, the Hotel director, if there even is such a position, has nothing to do with C&I clearing a ship. The wait for new guests is rarely an hour as they have the ship cleared by 10 and start boarding at 11. 

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, coevan said:

 

 

Where do you get this stuff, the Hotel director, if there even is such a position, has nothing to do with C&I clearing a ship. The wait for new guests is rarely an hour as they have the ship cleared by 10 and start boarding at 11. 

 The wait for new guests can be 5 minutes or ? depends in departing crew clearing the ship. Every ship has a Hotel Director The Hotel Director determines if there are free drinks, a special lunch or a group photo for B2Bs.  

[coevan]

nothing about C&I

[biomedbob]

All of our B2B's have been coordinated by the LA!