Difference Between a S2S and B2B?

[Rick&Jeannie]

OK...I just read another post that talked about a S2S (side to side) booking.  I'm going to have to show my ignorance here!  That's a new one on me.  From the posts in what I was reading, it sounded just like a B2B...but apparently there is a difference.

 

Can someone please educate me?

[Thrak]

9 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

OK...I just read another post that talked about a S2S (side to side) booking.  I'm going to have to show my ignorance here!  That's a new one on me.  From the posts in what I was reading, it sounded just like a B2B...but apparently there is a difference.

 

Can someone please educate me?

 

When we book a "B2B" we generally mean we are staying on the same ship for multiple sailings. It seems that the "S2S" means they are changing ships. Even if one has to change staterooms it would be much easier than disembarking, schlepping luggage to another terminal, and then going through another embarkation process. Anyway, that was my take on the post in question.

[Rick&Jeannie]

1 minute ago, Thrak said:

 

When we book a "B2B" we generally mean we are staying on the same ship for multiple sailings. It seems that the "S2S" means they are changing ships. Even if one has to change staterooms it would be much easier than disembarking, schlepping luggage to another terminal, and then going through another embarkation process. Anyway, that was my take on the post in question.

Doh! That makes sense!  I really didn't think it through while I was reading the other thread.  Thanks!  You sir, are a wealth of knowledge!

[PacnGoNow]

12 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Doh! That makes sense!  I really didn't think it through while I was reading the other thread.  Thanks!  You sir, are a wealth of knowledge!

Yes @Thrak is right.  It is a different ship, usually meaning jump off one and onto another same day.  
 

We really like the b2b’s…much easier! 😁

[trinitygirl]

I am doing this S2S thing in November.  I arrive in Fort Lauderdale on the Star Princess after a transatlantic, and move straight over to Celebrity Reflection for a B2B 14 night around the Caribbean.  Now I have the lingo!  I figure it will be a schlep, but I will have two weeks on either side to relax.

[Coral]

It would seem that S2S would mean "Ship to Ship" as opposed to "Side to Side". Though I had not heard of the terminology before.

[neverbeenhere]

B2B and S2S defined

[Mary loves to travel]

related terminology question:   if we have 2 cruises, on different ships, same port for embarkation/debarkation, but 2 days in between the 2 cruises.... is this an S2S or something else?

maybe an S2H2S?   🙂

 

Mary

[PacnGoNow]

4 minutes ago, Mary loves to travel said:

related terminology question:   if we have 2 cruises, on different ships, same port for embarkation/debarkation, but 2 days in between the 2 cruises.... is this an S2S or something else?

maybe an S2H2S?   🙂

 

Mary

😆 Technically, a S2S is with no more than 1 day between the ships. 
But, you can call it whatever you want.  There are no real rules on this. 😃

[cr8tiv1]

Most importantly, on a back to back (b2b), your ship board account carries over to the next cruise (except for casino account/which you would have to close out).  You may also receive additional perks such as another elite mini bar/CCL shareholder OBC/Military OBC, etc...dependent on a few factors.

 

On a Ship to Ship (S2S), you will have to close out your shipboard account.  If staying with the same company, you may receive OBC for the second voyage, dependent on your perks.

[Cruise Raider]

We recently booked a S2S sailing because we wanted to extend our 7 night cruise on Celebrity with a 4 night cruise on the Discovery.  While a B2B might be easier, we get to experience completely different menus, entertainment, ports of call, etc this way.  We’ve done it before and loved it.  To us, the variety makes it well worth the change over day.  
 

 

[memoak]

Another difference is that on a B2B you do not have to go through check in procedure again. You have a transit card and it is just like a port call

[Snow cat]

On 1/4/2023 at 4:59 PM, trinitygirl said:

I am doing this S2S thing in November.  I arrive in Fort Lauderdale on the Star Princess after a transatlantic, and move straight over to Celebrity Reflection for a B2B 14 night around the Caribbean.  Now I have the lingo!  I figure it will be a schlep, but I will have two weeks on either side to relax.

Trinitygirl, we are planning similar in Dec (Princess, then Celebrity) at Fort Lauderdale. What is your strategy for getting from Princess pier to Celebrity? Walking seems difficult (industrial port, timing etc.). Too short for a taxi?  Just wondering what you are planning. Thanks!

[PescadoAmarillo]

We have done back to back and ship to ship cruises several times. I book ship to ship thinking it will be nice to have a new ship, perhaps even a new cruise line, with different menus and shows. And it is. But I can’t remember a single instance where we were on the new ship and I didn’t wish, at least momentarily, that we were back on the old, familiar ship. I find that B2B is remarkably easier more than S2S is more interesting. 

[LACruiser88]

36 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

I find that B2B is remarkably easier more than S2S is more interesting. 

We feel the same...

[trinitygirl]

1 hour ago, Snow cat said:

Trinitygirl, we are planning similar in Dec (Princess, then Celebrity) at Fort Lauderdale. What is your strategy for getting from Princess pier to Celebrity? Walking seems difficult (industrial port, timing etc.). Too short for a taxi?  Just wondering what you are planning. Thanks!

I am hoping that there will be a crew member who will tell me what to do!  Also that there will be a taxi I can catch.  The path between terminal 2 and 25 looks tricky but If necessary I can walk it with my case, and there may be a shuttle bus going to a parking lot that closes the gap.

[chrysalis]

2 minutes ago, trinitygirl said:

I am hoping that there will be a crew member who will tell me what to do!  Also that there will be a taxi I can catch.  The path between terminal 2 and 25 looks tricky but If necessary I can walk it with my case, and there may be a shuttle bus going to a parking lot that closes the gap.

Take a taxi.....and to do so has a minimum charge of $10...some cabs might refuse to take you but the Deputy Sheriffs  on duty there at the taxi area will ensure that one takes you. Unsafe to walk and too far with luggage.

[trinitygirl]

6 minutes ago, chrysalis said:

Take a taxi.....and to do so has a minimum charge of $10...some cabs might refuse to take you but the Deputy Sheriffs  on duty there at the taxi area will ensure that one takes you. Unsafe to walk and too far with luggage.

Deputy Sheriff?  That sounds ominous?  But great to hear there will be personnel on hand to ask for help.

[chrysalis]

Just now, trinitygirl said:

Deputy Sheriff?  That sounds ominous?  But great to hear there will be personnel on hand to ask for help.

Yes....they ensure orderly access to taxis.

[jwattle]

One of my favorite "ahhh" moments of a B2B is turnaround day: sitting on our balcony with a mimosa or BAILEYS and coffee watching the chaos and not participating in it. 💕

[Buckeye10640]

16 hours ago, jwattle said:

One of my favorite "ahhh" moments of a B2B is turnaround day: sitting on our balcony with a mimosa or BAILEYS and coffee watching the chaos and not participating in it. 💕

lol...that would be sooo fun.

[d9704011]

Has anybody done a S2S with Princess in Fort Lauderdale recently?  If so, what was the procedure and/or what did you do?

[rich_cathybrock]

On 1/3/2023 at 6:16 PM, Thrak said:

 

When we book a "B2B" we generally mean we are staying on the same ship for multiple sailings. It seems that the "S2S" means they are changing ships. Even if one has to change staterooms it would be much easier than disembarking, schlepping luggage to another terminal, and then going through another embarkation process. Anyway, that was my take on the post in question.

Correct - I believe S2S is deliberately opted in for either to travel two desirable itineraries during one vacation, or to overcome the arcane US Jones act that will not allow you to remain onboard a ship that starts in one US port and ends in another, as might be the case with two "B2Bs" on the same ship.  I have seen several postings from people who were allowed to deposit two cruises that ran afoul of this law, and then have one cancelled later on by the cruise line because it is not allowed.  One poor honeymooning couple literally ended up with flights and a weeklong gap in their once-in-a-lifetime trip.  So "S2S" it is! 🙂

 

[beg3yrs]

31 minutes ago, rich_cathybrock said:

Correct - I believe S2S is deliberately opted in for either to travel two desirable itineraries during one vacation, or to overcome the arcane US Jones act that will not allow you to remain onboard a ship that starts in one US port and ends in another, as might be the case with two "B2Bs" on the same ship.  I have seen several postings from people who were allowed to deposit two cruises that ran afoul of this law, and then have one cancelled later on by the cruise line because it is not allowed.  One poor honeymooning couple literally ended up with flights and a weeklong gap in their once-in-a-lifetime trip.  So "S2S" it is! 🙂

 

It's not the Jones Act. It's the PVSA or Passenger Vessel Services Act. The Jones Act has to do with merchandise / cargo, not people. I suppose after indulging on the ship for too many days some passengers could be considered cargo.

[rich_cathybrock]

10 minutes ago, beg3yrs said:

It's not the Jones Act. It's the PVSA or Passenger Vessel Services Act. The Jones Act has to do with merchandise / cargo, not people. I suppose after indulging on the ship for too many days some passengers could be considered cargo.

Daggone it!  I knew I had the wrong law. 🙂

Definitely time for another cruise, I am getting rusty! TY for clarifying!