Cruising back to back - Have questions!

[kared]

Hi everyone! My fiancee and I are going on back to back cruises on RCCL's 'Independence of the Seas' in 01/2009 (Cruise #1 is Eastern Caribbean wedding cruise w/ family and friends, and Cruise #2 is Western Caribbean for our honeymoon).

 

I have a few questions and am hoping people know the answers who have experience doing back to back cruises on the same ship:

 

1). We were able to get the same balcony stateroom for both cruises, does this mean we can just leave all our bags in the stateroom on the last day of cruise #1, or are we required to take everything off and bring it back on again for the second cruise?

 

2). Are we required to leave the ship at all, or can we just stay on the ship and wait for the 2nd cruise to sail (it arrives and leaves just hours apart on the same day)?

 

Info would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!

 

Cheers,

Derek

[Essiesmom]

I can't speak for RDDL, but from my experience on Carnival, you leave everything in the cabin, reinforce several times with the cabin attendant that you are staying on for another cruise...AFTER all other passengers have left the ship, they will escort you off the ship and through customs and immigration, then to the check in counter for your new ships card, back on for the new ID picture, and the rest of the day is yours. You might post your question over on the Royan Caribbean board for more specific answers. EM

[SheilaNC]

We just did this on Celebrity and did not need to leave the ship at all...just got new SeaPass cards and new pictures taken. Quite easy except that we had so many B2B passengers that it was quite disorganized.... But the B2B luggage part was easy

[sail7seas]

There is no b-to-b luggage part if you are staying in the same cabin.

Everything stays as you placed it in your closets/drawers etc

 

Whether you do through Immigration depends upon the officials at the port where your second cruise disembarks/embarks. Cruise line/ship is told what 'in transits' will do and that is what they tell you. In transits means those who are not permanently disembarking at that port but are continuing on for the next cruise.

 

In FLL, all b-to-b'ers are required to clear Immigration and are then free to reboard the ship or stay ashore as they choose. Wait until all the disembarking guests have left the ship (you will know by the number/color they are calling) and if you plan to stay on the ship for the day, go through Immigration at the end of disembarkation so you will be permitted immediately back aboard. If you go through early, you may have to wait a while to be allowed back aboard.

 

On HAL, they send us a letter the last night of our first cruise containing our new ID's for the next cruise, dining hours and Immigration Instructions.

 

Have a great time. B-to-b's are great!

[YoPhilly]

Hi everyone! My fiancee and I are going on back to back cruises on RCCL's 'Independence of the Seas' in 01/2009 (Cruise #1 is Eastern Caribbean wedding cruise w/ family and friends, and Cruise #2 is Western Caribbean for our honeymoon).

 

I have a few questions and am hoping people know the answers who have experience doing back to back cruises on the same ship:

 

1). We were able to get the same balcony stateroom for both cruises, does this mean we can just leave all our bags in the stateroom on the last day of cruise #1, or are we required to take everything off and bring it back on again for the second cruise?

 

2). Are we required to leave the ship at all, or can we just stay on the ship and wait for the 2nd cruise to sail (it arrives and leaves just hours apart on the same day)?

 

Thanks for asking this question. I don't have plans for a B2B, but it's good to know just in case.;)

[wannasail4ever]

Derek - we did this on Liberty of the Seas in Oct.'07 and are doing this on Freedom of the Seas in Oct. '08. It's a breeze. As Sail said, your luggage contents will stay in your cabin drawers and closets. A night or two before the second cruise, you will receive a letter in your cabin outlining the procedure to follow. Generally, at an apprx. given time, after everyone else has departed, an announcement will be made for all B2B'ers or in-transits to come to a certain lounge area where you will be escorted off and back onto the ship. You will give the immigration people your 1st week "spending declaration" and turn around and come back onto the ship. We were given our new seapass cards the night before in our cabins. So, it's very easy and a great way to go.

 

Enjoy your trips and congratulations!

 

Macy

[martinimadam]

I think you may have to clear your bill before the end of your first leg??? I know you should make sure and do all your tipping before the end of your first leg. Why? Because the crew (waiter/stewardess, etc.) from the first leg may be reassigned to a different area or even be leaving the ship if their contracts are up, so you may have a completely new group for the second leg.

[wannasail4ever]

The first leg of your B2B will be cleared automatically if you have a charge card signed for. You will receive the final bill under your door the last night before debarkation. During the week, you can review your charges on your in-cabin t.v. Unless you have a problem with your bill or you are planning to settle up in cash with the purser, you will need to do nothing. The 2 cruises are seperate and will show up that way on your credit card. The tips are also handled by individual weeks. You can elect to put the charges on your seapass weekly or you may pay cash in envelopes the last night of each cruise. It is unlikely that you will have the same waitstaff the second week, unless you specifically ask for the same table. If you put the charges on your seapass, you will be given "tip coupons" to extend to the individuals you are tipping each week.

 

Macy

[sail7seas]

On HAL, our bil carries forward and we do all our tipping at the end of the first segment and then again at the end of the second segment.

 

It really could not be easier to do b-to-b's. They are GREAT!

[wannasail4ever]

Sail - I didn't know that HAL would carry forward the bill. Is this new or perhaps do you have to ask for this? On the Zuiderdam about 3 years ago, we got seperate bills for the 2 weeks. On RCI Liberty of the Seas last fall, I'm sure about the 2 bills. Thanks for the info......good to know!

 

Macy

[sail7seas]

We have always had our bills carried forward and we have done a great many b-to-b's, including several times on Zuiderdam. Maybe it's an "S" Suite/Neptune Lounge accomodation? Don't know.