NCL back to back info?

[Bkelso]

Hi Experienced Cruisers!

 

My husband and I are booked for the September 4 NCL Encore sailing out of Seattle.  We were brainstorming and think we want to do a B2B and go a week early for the August 28 sailing. We have a call in to our TA but curious how pricing on B2Bs work. Is there a discount? Is it substantial? Let me know your experience! TIA!

[kevin&randall]

We booked B2B from Athens in 2022.  We paid for two cruises, no discounts.  The agent did keep us in the same room both sailings so we don't have to pack everything up.  I'm more interested in what happens the B2B day... will we be allowed back on early?  What meal options are there?  Is it better to just tour Athens for the day and not worry about it.

[delaware32]

You are given a letter in your stateroom explaining what you do . In the past we met in a designated spot and were given a transfer tag to wear . In Europe we did not have to disembark and embark. Once immigration checked us off we were free to move about . Pretty much a normal day aboard . In the US we were disembarked one time and then turned around were escorted back onto the ship . This was done on the Sun out of Cape Canaveral. In San Juan we stayed on the ship . All in all an easy process.

[MichiganBound]

18 minutes ago, kevin&randall said:

We booked B2B from Athens in 2022.  We paid for two cruises, no discounts.  The agent did keep us in the same room both sailings so we don't have to pack everything up.  I'm more interested in what happens the B2B day... will we be allowed back on early?  What meal options are there?  Is it better to just tour Athens for the day and not worry about it.

I've done three B2B cruises with NCL from three different ports:  Houston, Civitavecchia(Rome), and Singapore.  The day one transitions from the first to the second cruise has been different each time.  This is partially due to local laws and regulations.  All three times I have changed cabins from the first to the second cruise.  The good news is that NCL will automatically transfer your bags from the first to the second cabin.  You don't need to lug them around...although you will want to keep your valuables with you.

 

The transition day was the most straight forward in Civitavecchia.  I did not even have to exit the ship (although I could have if I wanted to).  I left my first cabin around 9:00am and waited in the public areas onboard until the 2nd cruise passengers started boarding and access to the staterooms was opened up.  It was really easy.  In Houston I had to exit the ship between cruises along with about 25 other B2B cruisers.  We waited in a transit area at the port of Houston and were then let back onboard after about 45 minutes.  It was well-organized and painless.  The process in Singapore, however, was a mess.  No-one seemed to know how this was going to work.  NCL staff were clueless on the ship as was the ground staff in Singapore.  There were about 40 of us and it was like we had to figure it out by ourselves.  Very disappointing.  We were off the ship for about 3 hours before being let back on.

 

About midway through the first cruise, you will get notice of a meeting to attend onboard where NCL will explain the whole B2B process for your transition port.   Make sure you attend this meeting to familiarize yourself with how it is supposed to work.  B2B cruisers are the first to be let on-board for embarkation.

 

Have fun!! 

[Middleager]

Delaware and Michigan gave good info on what they experienced, especially Michigan sharing that each of the 3 ports had different experience.

 

Earlier when I put a hold on a b2b Panama cruise in Jan/2022, a NCL PCC called me.  I asked him about b2b day.  He said it makes no difference that you book the same cabin because due to new cleaning protocol, we have to have everything out of the room, so they can do a thorough cleaning.  So yes, we still have to pack everything up the night before.  As to whether we can leave the ship, he thinks we can, but didn't sound like he knows for certain.

 

We did book the Panama b2b, but NCL cancelled the 1st leg recently.  So we started to search for other cruises including one of the several TransAtlantic sailings at the end of this year.  I called NCL about the b2b, wanted to know how early we can get off the ship in Rome (Cit).  This time she said that cleaning protocol was till end of Oct., and after that things can change and she believes we can leave most of our stuff in the room.  Well, I'm not sure if she really knows, or if anyone in NCL really knows, because so many things with cruising are fluid.

[Bkelso]

Thanks tor all the input , what I’m really curious about is the price.  Is it the price of two cruises? Or is there some sort of break in price?

[All-ready2cruise]

4 minutes ago, Bkelso said:

Thanks tor all the input , what I’m really curious about is the price.  Is it the price of two cruises? Or is there some sort of break in price?

There is no discount, you are charged for 2 cruises separately. 

[KeithJenner]

31 minutes ago, Bkelso said:

Thanks tor all the input , what I’m really curious about is the price.  Is it the price of two cruises? Or is there some sort of break in price?

The only way that I have ever seen a price break for B2B on NCL is where sometimes they combine cruises and sell them as a longer cruise option. For example, they often have alternate itineraries in the Eastern Med which can be booked as individual 7 day cruises or combined 14 day ones.

 

If that isn't offered (and I'm not sure that there are any offered as such at the moment) then you just have to pay the price of the individual cruises.

 

Maybe a TA would offer a discount for booking multiple legs, but that would be outside of what NCL offer.

Edited June 6, 2021 by KeithJenner

[Harratine]

8 hours ago, Bkelso said:

Thanks tor all the input , what I’m really curious about is the price.  Is it the price of two cruises? Or is there some sort of break in price?

For our Barcelona b2b the airfare was half the first cruise getting there and half the second.  Of course DC to Barcelona Spain is a pretty good chunk of change for the airfare for 3 adults.  
 

I had a NCL person help book it so the airfare worked correctly.

[casofilia]

Hello

Whether you are debarking or B2B you will get a "You'll be Leaving Soon" which is basically for those debarking but it will give you an idea of what goes on.  If you are B2B you will almost certainly get an "Important Information" leaflet and "In Transit" stickers.

 

I have both of the above from a B2B we had in Miami.   I can scan and email a copy to anyone that wants them.   Just email me at the address below.

 

Mike

[cruiservictor]

We've done several back to backs, all in NYC.  My recollection is that for our first 1 or 2, they were booked as 1 14-day cruise, so we did get a financial break.  Since then, they have all been separate cruises.  

 

We stayed in the same cabin each time.  The ones on the Breakaway, we had to meet in the Bliss Lounge and were escorted off the ship, and waited in a special area in the terminal building.  When the "zero count" was achieved (meaning all passengers were off the ship), we were the first ones back on, even before the new Haven guests.

 

The process changed for the B2Bs we did on the Escape.  For those, we met a CBP officer in Modernos at 7AM (would have liked it to be a little later) and were, in effect, cleared off the ship.  At least administratively.  We were allowed to stay onboard, and it was really fun listening to all the color codes being called, and then "last and final" call around 10 or 10:30.  Shortly after that, embarkation for the next cruise began, but for a little while, the ship was ours. 

[mpdog42]

16 hours ago, Middleager said:

Delaware and Michigan gave good info on what they experienced, especially Michigan sharing that each of the 3 ports had different experience.

 

Earlier when I put a hold on a b2b Panama cruise in Jan/2022, a NCL PCC called me.  I asked him about b2b day.  He said it makes no difference that you book the same cabin because due to new cleaning protocol, we have to have everything out of the room, so they can do a thorough cleaning.  So yes, we still have to pack everything up the night before.  As to whether we can leave the ship, he thinks we can, but didn't sound like he knows for certain.

 

We did book the Panama b2b, but NCL cancelled the 1st leg recently.  So we started to search for other cruises including one of the several TransAtlantic sailings at the end of this year.  I called NCL about the b2b, wanted to know how early we can get off the ship in Rome (Cit).  This time she said that cleaning protocol was till end of Oct., and after that things can change and she believes we can leave most of our stuff in the room.  Well, I'm not sure if she really knows, or if anyone in NCL really knows, because so many things with cruising are fluid.

Was booked B2B on the Gem, Was never told I would have to take everything out of the room!! Why would I, as i am the only person in the room on both sailings!!

[Middleager]

7 hours ago, mpdog42 said:

Was booked B2B on the Gem, Was never told I would have to take everything out of the room!! Why would I, as i am the only person in the room on both sailings!!

I was only relaying what NCL told me.  Things are still fluid and cleaning procedures can change.  You can update people on what actually happen.