benefits of back to back cruises?

[drew0tonna]

On the B2B cruises that we have taken, your alcohol wasn't delivered till the last night of your second leg. However, if you have friends leaving at the end of the first week, not too hard to arrange a delivery to their cabin so that you have something to drink the second week.

 

Kinda figured they'd be wise to my devious plan. Does anybody know if you can still get bottled liquor delivered to the Royal Suite on Enchantment? Surprising my little sweetie with the cabin for her 50th and we've got about 20 people coming - I'd like to have a nice sailaway party for everyone.

[bullydogsmama]

Great idea! I would love b2b2b cruises. May I ask what your impression was between Carnival and NCL? I have not been on either line.

 

-Cruising Greek

We have cruised with NCL before and have loved the freestyle experience. This was our first carnival cruise. NO CRUISE IS A BAD CRUISE! Each are just different. We are morning people, My husband likes to get up about 5am leave the cabin and me and go for coffee, he usually makes some early riser friends and meets them most mornings, then goes for a 2 mile walk around the deck, then comes back to our cabin, about 6:30 get his swimsuit on and then hit the hottub for about 45 minutes then comes back to the cabin and 7:30 I'm up and ready for breakfast. This works great on the NCL Ships but not so well on the Carnival Ships, Hot tubs don't open until about 8:30 when most everything seems to start to "wake up" on a Carnival Ship. Did this spoil his cruise? HECK NO! Just different. We were on the Valors last trip before her drydock facelift in January and some of her interior was looking a little tired, but was it horrible? NO. We seem to see more staff on the NCL Jewel, I liked the bedding better on the Valor than on the Jewel, I think I'm going to order some of their pillows, they were wonderful. Food as most will say is very subjective. I liked the fact on the Valor that they had some 'Fixed choices" on the dining room menu along with the different choices each night, Wish NCL would do that. But overall food was good on both ships.

I like the shower better on NCL, you get a sliding door no shower curtin.

Oh Yeah, my husband likes, no loves the bucket of beer on the NCL line, buy 5 beers get 1 free! Don't go with the expectation that everything will be perfect and you will have a great time no matter what ship you chose. Don't sweat the little stuff, lifes too short. Oh Yeah, the warm melting cake on Carnival and the flourless chocolate cake on NCL are to die for!

[kris4842]

thank you all so much, this was so helpful, i am deft booking a b2b now thanks

[megr1125]

getting into the cabin depends...on the "guards" they place at the doorways (not actually security, just random crew), your cabin attendant (if you have the same one) and the manager who escorts you...

 

we moved cabins due to excessive noise from a lounge (had an AFT JS on Enchantment) so our 1st attendant moved our stuff. The Guest relations manager said we could go to the cabin, but the nasty lady guarding the doorways near the stairs said no.....i had fought enough with RC that week so we went to eat.....

 

it's fun to watch the new people get on, and watch all the preparations....it's cool to know everyone...and we got our same table for 2 and staff in the DR (knowning the maitre d from a prior cruise may have helped...but they were so nice..had we NOT gotten them, we would have canceled the second leg...long story...go over to the review page and read my review)

 

i would do a b2b again-we are doing a 12 nighter on Explorer next year...ideally i will win the lottery so i can stay on for whatever is after us!

[bluenosers]

We are doing B2B on the JOS Mar.16th and 22nd western and eastern Caribbean. We did this cruise a couple of years ago with a few port changes this time. We usually pick a couple of cabin choices and give them to our agent to get one available for both sailings. Our main reason for doing a B2B is as stated earlier longer itineraries with Royal Caribbean are few and far between and being from Nova Scotia we don't want to trudge through airports and snow storms to board a ship for 7 days. We generally do 10 to 14 days with some time at the home port prior to or after the cruise. Lots of good things about B2B as stated above but the arrival/ departure day between cruises is no bargain, the same day is considered the last day of your first booking and the first day of your second booking. After re-boarding there is limited things to do and usually the cabins are closed for cleaning until 1pm. This system is not perfect but until Royal Caribbean/ Celebrity offer something longer in the Caribbean you have little choice without going to another brand. Hopefully with the number of ships coming into service some itineraries may be created for longer vacations. Until then we will be quite happy on the beautiful Jewel of the Seas

[Inshape]

Why did you have to wait until 1 pm for your cabin if you had the same cabin? SHould have been just cleaned in the morning as a regular day for you. Also, we did b2b and changed cabins. We introduced ourselves to the new attendant the day before the last night and told him we wanted the 2 beds put together, and asked if we could get into the cabin earlier than 1 pm. He said no problem. Our luggage was packed by us(they would have done it but I said no, thanks), and moved by them. By the time we got back on the ship at 10:30 the stuff was in our cabin. Although the door was closed and said not avail until 1 pm since we were there before it did not apply to b2bers.

[Merion_Mom]

Why did you have to wait until 1 pm for your cabin if you had the same cabin? SHould have been just cleaned in the morning as a regular day for you. Also, we did b2b and changed cabins. We introduced ourselves to the new attendant the day before the last night and told him we wanted the 2 beds put together, and asked if we could get into the cabin earlier than 1 pm. He said no problem. Our luggage was packed by us(they would have done it but I said no, thanks), and moved by them. By the time we got back on the ship at 10:30 the stuff was in our cabin. Although the door was closed and said not avail until 1 pm since we were there before it did not apply to b2bers.

 

Sometimes they post someone at the firedoors to prevent ANYONE from going down the cabin corridors.

[mamabear79]

Thanks for all the great info. I get to go on my first b2b this September. I'm so excited! This post just answered a lot of questions I had about the process. I can't wait...Whoohoo! :D

[Alexis]

Good information. Do you have access to your cabin right away, or do you have to wait until 1:p.m. on the second leg?

 

You have to leave the cabin early so the attendant can get it ready the same as the others. Then, with their permission to enter those closed fire doors, you can go in and out of your cabin. You do not have to wait if they give you that permission.

When you leave the cabin early, you go to breakfast and then wait in the specified area with the other B2B people until the officer meets you and takes you off and on the ship again. It only takes a matter of minutes and we have been back on by 9:30 AM - 10:30AM and had the ship to just the B2B people. (If that is the way it will be done in that port.)

It depends on the port, the size of the ship, the smoothness of the disembarkation and etc.

[mlleach]

We are doing our 1st b2b in April. Looking forward to not getting off on the last day of the 1st leg.

ML

[jobob]

We are doing a B2B in Nov. Australia/Great Barrier Reef then New Caledonia/South Pacific. 21 days, same cabin. Only place we see twice is Sydney, Australia where the cruises originate. :)

[bluenosers]

Why did you have to wait until 1 pm for your cabin if you had the same cabin? SHould have been just cleaned in the morning as a regular day for you. Also, we did b2b and changed cabins. We introduced ourselves to the new attendant the day before the last night and told him we wanted the 2 beds put together, and asked if we could get into the cabin earlier than 1 pm. He said no problem. Our luggage was packed by us(they would have done it but I said no, thanks), and moved by them. By the time we got back on the ship at 10:30 the stuff was in our cabin. Although the door was closed and said not avail until 1 pm since we were there before it did not apply to b2bers.

 

Depending on the amount of work being carried out certain attendants may let you pass but they only have a couple of hours to make the changes and in our case on the Jewel they were cleaning the corridor carpets that particular day on our deck. I don't recall at the meeting in the Schooner Bar for the change being told of any added privileges for B2B cruisers

[SECWRIT]

We were just on the Mariner of the Seas Feb 17-23rd and loved it! We wanted to stay again it was such an amazing ship n the director was so halerious (Graham Seymour) and while On-Board our Head Waiter told us that in the past he's known RCCL to give a PRETTY GOOD Discount to Customers who decide to stay on-board the same ship if they have cabins available... It makes sense, since by then RCCL knows that cabin isnt going to be sold and they can make a extra sale and a customer very happy all at once.

 

So Im not sure if Id suggest going from one line to another but if u find a cruise you like that has alternating intineraries then at least ask for a price quote cuz you might end up gettin a pretty crazy deal

[Alexis]

We were just on the Mariner of the Seas Feb 17-23rd and loved it! We wanted to stay again it was such an amazing ship n the director was so halerious (Graham Seymour) and while On-Board our Head Waiter told us that in the past he's known RCCL to give a PRETTY GOOD Discount to Customers who decide to stay on-board the same ship if they have cabins available... It makes sense, since by then RCCL knows that cabin isnt going to be sold and they can make a extra sale and a customer very happy all at once.

 

So Im not sure if Id suggest going from one line to another but if u find a cruise you like that has alternating intineraries then at least ask for a price quote cuz you might end up gettin a pretty crazy deal

 

How is the Carousel Mall doing? One of my favorite places, besides the Spaghetti Warehouse in Syracuse. (I lived in Waterloo, NY until last May)

They do offer that at times on the ships that have some empty cabins available.

It is great if the people live within driving distance to the ports. People like many us who have to fly can't stay on because it is too costly to try and change the airline tickets. :(

Wish we could. :)

[aqhacruiser]

I've done several B to B's on the Explorer out of NJ and I add a 5 night Bermuda to a 9 night Caribbean for 14 great nights at sea. We've always had the same cabin except once and we were two doors away so it was easy to move. If you come back from San Juan or another U.S. port like most 9 nights do out of Bayonne you stay on the ship. In our case the concierge handles the custom form for us a couple days before or you can fill it out at Guest Relations also. We've always left our cabin in the morning so they can clean and its a beehive of activity in between cruises on the cabin decks so its easier to get out of their way. You can wait anywhere on the ship you want. We've never been assigned a designated area so if its nice we go to the pool and if not we usually head up to Dizzys to relax and read on the couches. They do shut firedoors on the Ex. and you could get to cabin if you had to but I never felt it neccassary to interfer with the stewards work as there is nothing we really need to get and they are busy doing their jobs. We get our new Seapasses delivered the night before we dock so we have them for the next day. We enjoy the 2 weeks straight onboard and it never really matters where we are going as long as we are on the ship and not working:D The process can vary from ship to ship and RCCL does have a B to B dept. that handles them also. There is no discount for B to B's on fares and they do not let people stay on the ship unless booked in advance due to homeland security rules now about manifests being submitted in advance. Planning on doing another one in a few weeks! :D

[aqhacruiser]

[quote name='Merion_Mom']Sometimes they post someone at the firedoors to prevent ANYONE from going down the cabin corridors.[/quote]

[SIZE=3]This is true on the Explorer as well and they have crew posted at the doors. Cabins are not available until 1pm.[/SIZE]

[Alexis]

[quote name='aqhacruiser'][SIZE=3]I've done several B to B's on the Explorer out of NJ and I add a 5 night Bermuda to a 9 night Caribbean for 14 great nights at sea. We've always had the same cabin except once and we were two doors away so it was easy to move. If you come back from San Juan or another U.S. port like most 9 nights do out of Bayonne you stay on the ship. In our case the concierge handles the custom form for us a couple days before or you can fill it out at Guest Relations also. We've always left our cabin in the morning so they can clean and its a beehive of activity in between cruises on the cabin decks so its easier to get out of their way. You can wait anywhere on the ship you want. We've never been assigned a designated area so if its nice we go to the pool and if not we usually head up to Dizzys to relax and read on the couches. They do shut firedoors on the Ex. and you could get to cabin if you had to but I never felt it neccassary to interfer with the stewards work as there is nothing we really need to get and they are busy doing their jobs. We get our new Seapasses delivered the night before we dock so we have them for the next day. We enjoy the 2 weeks straight onboard and it never really matters where we are going as long as we are on the ship and not working:D The process can vary from ship to ship and RCCL does have a B to B dept. that handles them also. [B]There is no discount for B to B's on fares and they do not let people stay on the ship unless booked in advance due to homeland security rules now about manifests being submitted in advance. Planning on doing another one in a few weeks![/B] :D [/SIZE][/quote]

Maybe with this brand new homeland security that is now in effect with the 90 minutes may have changed that policy, but it was allowed.
Our waiter told us that they were asking people to stay on the cruise before our last one. We were already doing a B2B so we were not interested.
They would be asking the people in their first week. So people already on board the ship could have their info sent over in plenty of time to stay on for the next sailing. Cut off time is 3 days to book a cruise I believe. ;)
I have never gotten a discount on a B2B either in probably 13 years. But, this is not a normal B2B booking. It is a company trying to sell an empty cabin to a passenger already on board a ship for maybe a cheaper price just to fill it. ;)

[Merion_Mom]

On a B2B in 12/05, we got up and they took us off and back on, and my kids, still bleary-eyed, just stumbled back to the cabin and dove back into bed.

I had warned our cabin attendant, and she had no problem with this. I told her to not even bother making up the cabin that day.

:)

[mamabear79]

[quote name='kris4842']thank you all so much, this was so helpful, i am deft booking a b2b now thanks[/quote]

I just noticed that you posted this thread!:o How have you been? Yael and I have decided to go on a b2b on the Enchantment in September. What b2b are you thinking of going on. It would be great if we could cruise together again.:D I hope all is well....

Aisha

[TigerLady]

[quote name='kris4842']what are the benefits of taking a back to back cruise?[/quote]
You don't have to go home!! No cooking, cleaning, or pets to clean up after..:D

[masterbaker]

Turn around day on our Mariner BTB was easy. :) BTBers were asked to report to a lounge and we were all escorted through customs and right back aboard. We also had no trouble going back to our cabin anytime, we did not have to wait until 1pm. We kept the same cabin for both weeks and asked our attendant for extra towels the final evening of the first week and told him to take the turnaround day off from our cabin. He LOVED us for that and treated us extra special on our second week. ;) We are doing another BTB in April on Grandeur when it repositions from Tampa to Baltimore. The second week was hardly any more $ than flying home from San Juan if we had chosen to only sail one week. I'd rather spend a week onboard ship than hours at an airport and on a plane home for almost the same money.

[BoyntonBeth]

[quote name='rkmw']we are thinking of doing a 37 day b2b on the Rhapsody of the Seas around australia and then across to new zealand in feb 09[/quote]

I am booked on these cruises but it seems that my previous roommates are unable to go, so I would like to find a roommate to share the expenses. If you are considering these, perhaps you know somebody else who would be interested as well. If so, please post serious info on the Rhapsody Sydney/Perth Feb 24 09 thread.

Thanks.

[jules815]

[quote name='piercetc4']gixer- the b2b ppl are escorted off the ship to recheck in and get a new seapass then escorted back on before the other new pax get to check in- piece of cake-[/quote]


I remember on our last cruise the morning we were all sad about it ending, they made an announcement for the people who would be staying on to all meet in the Champagne Bar. I looked at my husband and said "I could easily do another week, how about you?!" That's my dream vacation.

[sandmor1]

Terri,
Where/when in Sept are you doing the B2B.? OK I have just noticed you are on the Mariner
We are also on a B2B from 28th Sept. Freedom of the Seas..Eastern/Western Caribbean out of Miami for the same reason. It is not worth the airfare for one week. We are going 3 days beforehand and staying in Marriott Biscayne Bay then for a further day after leaving the ship.
I hope you have a terrific time as I'm sure we will also.
Sandra

[Alexis]

[quote name='masterbaker']Turn around day on our Mariner BTB was easy. :) BTBers were asked to report to a lounge and we were all escorted through customs and right back aboard. We also had no trouble going back to our cabin anytime, we did not have to wait until 1pm. [B]We kept the same cabin for both weeks and asked our attendant for extra towels the final evening of the first week and told him to take the turnaround day off from our cabin. He LOVED us for that and treated us extra special on our second week.[/B] ;) We are doing another BTB in April on Grandeur when it repositions from Tampa to Baltimore. The second week was hardly any more $ than flying home from San Juan if we had chosen to only sail one week. I'd rather spend a week onboard ship than hours at an airport and on a plane home for almost the same money.[/quote]

I keep my cabin very clean so I will see if he/she wants to skip ours also. ;)
Thanks for posting that.