Back To Back (or as they say here B2B) Cruising: Thoughts, Methods, Concerns

[Pianoman6582]

So I've mentioned that my girlfriend and I are becoming cruise junkies. As my signature shows, our fourth and fifth cruises are booked. I'm trying to talk her into more cruises this year including the Dawn's Repositioning in Sept '09 which curiously leaves out of the Brooklyn Dock? :confused: I have no explanation.... Anyway, today I was perusing these hallowed boards when she calls me into the other room and asks me if I've read anything about B2B? About what? I reply. Back to back cruises! :D And the angels sang the Halleluiah Chorus. :D I am the junkie. I am the one who's been egging HER on with this cruise stuff. I am the reason we booked this cruise in Jan and the next one in Dec before we'd even GONE to Bermuda (NCL Dawn Oct '08). All that being said, what's involved in going "B2B?" Do you have to pack up all your stuff and get off to get back on? If you do have to leave the boat, can you put your stuff in your new stateroom? How do you get the same stateroom making moving unnecessary? Are you able to assimilate back into normal society after being on two cruises? What's the record for most number of cruises in a row? :p All these things are going to keep me up tonight.....:cool:

[travel_lover]

Good questions, we're doing b2b next month on the Sky a 3 night then 4 night...i'm not even sure what to expect.

[terrymtex01]

You do not have to pack your stuff.. you just leave it in the room. When it is time for everyone to be off the ship, they will have had a pre-arranged meeting place for every one that is doing a b2b and they will escort you off the shp to a "waiting area". On our last cruise it was the VIP lounge. Once the all clear is given for people to be able to board, you are the first people they bring back onboard.

 

When you book the B2B you just need to tell them you want the same stateroom and they should be able to get that for you if the ship is not too sold out.

 

We had looked at doing a B2B next year, but decided on the Dawn's repo Nov 1st. It's a 14 day cruise, so it will be the same as if we had done some of the B2B's we had been looking at. In 2010 or 2011 I am hoping we will do a B2B Alaskan cruise.

[Host Kewlguy]

We did a "back to back to back" last December. We were sure to have the same stateroom for all three legs. After each cruise we were escorted off the ship for a few minutes by a ships employee and we had to get our new cards and picture taken again. Then walked back onto the ship. We even had the entire ship to ourselves for a couple of hours. Besides the ships employees of course.

[travel_lover]

You do not have to pack your stuff.. you just leave it in the room. When it is time for everyone to be off the ship, they will have had a pre-arranged meeting place for every one that is doing a b2b and they will escort you off the shp to a "waiting area". On our last cruise it was the VIP lounge. Once the all clear is given for people to be able to board, you are the first people they bring back onboard.

 

When you book the B2B you just need to tell them you want the same stateroom and they should be able to get that for you if the ship is not too sold out.

 

We had looked at doing a B2B next year, but decided on the Dawn's repo Nov 1st. It's a 14 day cruise, so it will be the same as if we had done some of the B2B's we had been looking at. In 2010 or 2011 I am hoping we will do a B2B Alaskan cruise.

 

We weren't able to get the same cabin, it's only a few down though 9349 on one and 9343 on another, will just have to move our crap over I guess...aleast it's not decks away just a few doors.

[Cruise_More_Often]

Terry's advice (or is it Doug's?) is good. Be sure to book the same cabin, because it sure makes everything easy. We did our B2B on the Jewel out of Miami - first to the Western Caribbean, then to the Southern. We wanted to go on one of the little harbor cruises while the ship was docked in Miami, so we just got off the ship early, went on the little cruise, and walked right back on when we were done. If you can't get the same cabin, I'm not sure what they do about your cruise cards, as you'll have to get new ones for the new cabin door. Maybe someone here will be able to give you info on that.

 

Welcome to Cruise Junkie World!

[Host Kewlguy]

We weren't able to get the same cabin, it's only a few down though 9349 on one and 9343 on another, will just have to move our crap over I guess...aleast it's not decks away just a few doors.

 

Your stateroom attendant will do it for you. Just throw him a few dollars. :)

[Host Kewlguy]

Terry's advice (or is it Doug's?) is good. Be sure to book the same cabin, because it sure makes everything easy. We did our B2B on the Jewel out of Miami - first to the Western Caribbean, then to the Southern. We wanted to go on one of the little harbor cruises while the ship was docked in Miami, so we just got off the ship early, went on the little cruise, and walked right back on when we were done. If you can't get the same cabin, I'm not sure what they do about your cruise cards, as you'll have to get new ones for the new cabin door. Maybe someone here will be able to give you info on that.

 

Welcome to Cruise Junkie World!

 

You have to get new cards whether you have the same stateroom or not. New pictures need to be taken also.

[travel_lover]

Your stateroom attendant will do it for you. Just throw him a few dollars. :)

 

Are we going to have to wait til everyones off the ship? So we can move our stuff over and wait til they do the cabins?

[Host Kewlguy]

Are we going to have to wait til everyones off the ship? So we can move our stuff over and wait til they do the cabins?

 

Well, you will have to wait until the stateroom you are moving to is vacant and cleaned. Then you get to have the pool and hot tubs to yourself for a couple of hours. That's always nice. :)

[travel_lover]

Well, you will have to wait until the stateroom you are moving to is vacant and cleaned. Then you get to have the pool and hot tubs to yourself for a couple of hours. That's always nice. :)

 

Well that sounds good to me, thanks again. :cool:

[cruzcntrl]

I just mentioned the idea of a 2 weeks cruise to by BF. He asked me if I was crazy.

 

I guess I won't be doing this anytime soon...

[ImADaneFan]

I just mentioned the idea of a 2 weeks cruise to by BF. He asked me if I was crazy.

 

I guess I won't be doing this anytime soon...

IMHO.....14 day cruises are the best!!! It always takes me 2-3 days to unwind and begin to enjoy my vacation and then the last 2-3 days you are getting ready to return to work. So that doesn't give you very many days to totally relax in 7 days. But in 14 days, you get a FULL WEEK to relax and not think about anything. :p And it seems, if you figure the cost per day it's much cheaper per day to do a 14 day cruise, especially if you look at repo cruises. :D

[travel_lover]

I just mentioned the idea of a 2 weeks cruise to by BF. He asked me if I was crazy.

 

I guess I won't be doing this anytime soon...

 

Well it doesn't have to be two weeks, you can do 4 or 5 days b2b.

[cruzcntrl]

Yes I actually just looked into the Repo cruise for the Dawn 11/1/09 and its the same price as what I am paying for my 7 day cruise on the Dawn 11/28!

 

Seems like a very good deal.

[Greymeowsr]

We're doing the Jewel in January, but though it's a B2B, it was advertised as a single cruise, so we have the same cabin. We'll still have to get off in between the 2 cruises and get pics and new cabin cards.

 

If you have to change cabins, I think what happens is you pack your stuff, get the steward to move it, and give him a tip for doing so. You will still have to leave the ship, get pics and a new key card, but your old key card won't be any good. That's why you'll need the steward's help.

[kruzin']

:)try pricing the 020509 and 021609 out of barcelona for a great price..book them separately but request the same cabin..prices are great..r/t Barcelona on both

[Host Kewlguy]

Yes I actually just looked into the Repo cruise for the Dawn 11/1/09 and its the same price as what I am paying for my 7 day cruise on the Dawn 11/28!

 

Seems like a very good deal.

 

We're looking at that same cruise for next year. But plan on waiting until we get closer to book it last minute.

[Cruise_More_Often]

You have to get new cards whether you have the same stateroom or not. New pictures need to be taken also.

Didn't happen to us. We walked right back into the Suites lounge, and one of the butlers took us right through and up to the ship. Our cards had the whole cruise on it. We did purchase the cruise as one14-day cruise, however, and not two single cruises, so perhaps that's the difference. Unfortunately, only one cruise was added to our Latitudes status.

[Host Kewlguy]

We did purchase the cruise as one14-day cruise, however, and not two single cruises, so perhaps that's the difference. Unfortunately, only one cruise was added to our Latitudes status.

 

Yep, that's the difference. We purchased our cruises as three separate cruises.

[Pianoman6582]

I just mentioned the idea of a 2 weeks cruise to by BF. He asked me if I was crazy.

 

I guess I won't be doing this anytime soon...

 

:D

Hell with him! Read my Motto on my signature, and go with your Girlfriends!:cool:

[iheartbda]

"Purists" have told me I didn't do a true B2B.;)

 

I did 2 weeks to Bermuda on the same ship. Since one of the weeks was a spur of the moment thing with a friend, we were not able to get the same cabin that DH and I would have the next week. However, moving was no problem. I talked to the cabin steward and he said he would take care of everything. I packed up my suitcase but left all the hanging things. He coordinated everything with the cabin steward on the other end.:)

 

On the other hand, getting off and back on was another story. No one seemed to know what to do with me. I was told to get a new key card BEFORE I got off which I did. Won't go into details of everything that happened as it all worked out in the end....all's well that ends well.:)

 

I do advise going to the front desk and asking the procedure just to make sure. Also, check a couple of times as you may get different answers.;)

[Dolphins]

If you are going to do a back to back, the best way is to do it on two different ships. When you do it on the same ship, you get the same menu and entertainment on the second cruise. Last year, we did a 7 day NY to Bermuda cruise on Celebrity's Azamara Journey. When we returned we boarded the Norwegian Crown to return to Bermuda. We got to compare the two ships as they docked back to back in Hamilton.

We hope to repeat that experience in October 2010 by combining NY/Bermuda cruises on HAL's Veendam and Norwegian Dawn. Again, the ideal back to back with two different cruises to the same wonderful destination.

[hazeleyes]

Didn't happen to us. We walked right back into the Suites lounge, and one of the butlers took us right through and up to the ship. Our cards had the whole cruise on it. We did purchase the cruise as one14-day cruise, however, and not two single cruises, so perhaps that's the difference. Unfortunately, only one cruise was added to our Latitudes status.

 

As far as only getting one cruise credit for the b2b thats why we were concerned and made them book it seperatly. Sometimes when they link the sailings that tends to happen.

[hazeleyes]

"Purists" have told me I didn't do a true B2B.;)

 

I did 2 weeks to Bermuda on the same ship. Since one of the weeks was a spur of the moment thing with a friend, we were not able to get the same cabin that DH and I would have the next week. However, moving was no problem. I talked to the cabin steward and he said he would take care of everything. I packed up my suitcase but left all the hanging things. He coordinated everything with the cabin steward on the other end.:)

 

On the other hand, getting off and back on was another story. No one seemed to know what to do with me. I was told to get a new key card BEFORE I got off which I did. Won't go into details of everything that happened as it all worked out in the end....all's well that ends well.:)

 

I do advise going to the front desk and asking the procedure just to make sure. Also, check a couple of times as you may get different answers.;)

 

I agree with you about getting different answers from different people. Thats when some people get upset and make a scene if it doesnt go the right way.

 

Since it will be only me and my daughter Travel Lover on the B2B it shouldnt be too crazy, now if my husband was comming and they told him one thing and it didnt go that way, he would make a scene. We will just hope that everything works out and just go with the flow to have an enjoyable time.