Why book a B2B?

[Dagny]

Okay, Don Quixote, good luck in your quest. :)

 

I am confused...what possible advancement of the thread does this comment serve? Oh i got it, none.

[CC Help Michell]

Sorry, that still isn't a good enough reason to do a B2B - better luck next time smart guy :)

 

Oops, sorry, I realized that sounded too flip so I came back and added something to indicate I really was being sincere in my good wishes, but I missed your reply in the meantime.

[Dagny]

Okay, Don Quixote, good luck in your quest. :) We loved our b2b and will definitely do that again, hopefully more than once prior to retirement, when we'll be looking at the even longer "world cruise" segments offered by some lines. My SO thinks "the more time on a ship, the better," and thankfully I agree with him.

 

haha, crossed edits - how about we agree that we are pretty much done here...*smile*

[Terpnut]

Actually, you made the false assumption, as did most of the other respondents. I fully understand cruises with different itineraries, but that wasn't what I was curious about. I think I was pretty clear in specifying B2B's with the SAME itineraries :)

Actually if you reread your original post carefully, you were not very clear at all that you understood that there were B2Bs with different itineraries. You asked a very broad question about B2Bs and repetitive itineraries so most people will read your post and assume you think all or most B2Bs have repetitive itineraries. Now back to your original programming...

[critterchick]

Actually, you made the false assumption, as did most of the other respondents. I fully understand cruises with different itineraries, but that wasn't what I was curious about. I think I was pretty clear in specifying B2B's with the SAME itineraries :)

 

Actually, you said:

 

"I don't understand the appeal of B2B cruises. If you have the time to indulge in another cruise, to the same places with the same time constraints (usually), as the first one, why would you bother? There are always land-based options to agree with any budget, so economics isn't an issue. You still get only 4 or 8 or 12 hours in a port, so you aren't going to add that much to your previous experience of a place, and your overall shipboard situation is going to be more or less a replica of the one you just finished.

 

So why book a B2B when you can spend that time on land or book a different cruise to new destinations"

 

Those two comments in red could reasonably cause us to conclude that your definition of a B2B is limited to a cruise that repeats the itinerary. Those of us who posted our experiences to the contrary wanted to point out that this definition is, indeed, too narrow. I'm glad you get that, but you really weren't clear in your initial post.

 

And it's not "your" thread, BTW - we all have the privilege to shoot each other down, but we like to try to keep it nonviolent:).

 

Now, as to your original question as clarified: I don't know.:D Like you, I prefer to add on a few days pre- or post-cruise to visit at least one place in depth.

[Essiesmom]

And you missed my point completely. No air is involved...I chose a port I could drive to. My first choice would have been a b2b on Celebration out of JAX, but my TA got a fantastic deal on the b2b from Port Canaveral. And I chose to do a b2b because I wanted to be on the ship for more than five days. I love the motion of the ocean, and watching the sea go by. I like sea days. We totally enjoyed out nine days in a row at sea crossing the Pacific. Great enrichment programs. Short cruises, or port intensive cruises don't give you a chance to sample all the offerings of the large ships, a b2b will give you more time to do that. EM

[Dagny]

Actually if you reread your original post carefully, you were not very clear at all that you understood that there were B2Bs with different itineraries. You asked a very broad question about B2Bs and repetitive itineraries so most people will read your post and assume you think all or most B2Bs have repetitive itineraries. Now back to your original programming...

 

BZZZZ - wrong - heres my quote from my original post:

 

"If you have the time to indulge in another cruise, to the same places with the same time constraints (usually), as the first one, why would you bother?"

 

Next.

[Dagny]

And you missed my point completely. No air is involved...I chose a port I could drive to. My first choice would have been a b2b on Celebration out of JAX, but my TA got a fantastic deal on the b2b from Port Canaveral. And I chose to do a b2b because I wanted to be on the ship for more than five days. I love the motion of the ocean, and watching the sea go by. I like sea days. We totally enjoyed out nine days in a row at sea crossing the Pacific. Great enrichment programs. Short cruises, or port intensive cruises don't give you a chance to sample all the offerings of the large ships, a b2b will give you more time to do that. EM

 

here is your post in full:

 

I did a b2b on Elation, repeating the same five day cruise twice...because I wanted to cruise from a port that I could drive to, and I wanted to cruise longer than five days. Some people will fly from the west coast and do a three and a four day b2b from Miami or FLL or Port Canaveral, visiting some of the same ports, for the same reason: longer cruise and only one r/t airfare. EM

__________________

 

 

Nowhere did you mention wanting to be on the same ship as a reason.

 

I repeat: if someone is dealing with one return airfare already, (west coast ppl in YOYR words), then it doesnt matter where they fly back from.

 

Now then, the argument of choosing ship over ports, (as you have just now mentioned specifically) has been suggested and I I say, again, - fair enough :)

 

But no, I dont think i missed your point at all :)

[Dagny]

Actually, you said:

 

"I don't understand the appeal of B2B cruises. If you have the time to indulge in another cruise, to the same places with the same time constraints (usually), as the first one, why would you bother? There are always land-based options to agree with any budget, so economics isn't an issue. You still get only 4 or 8 or 12 hours in a port, so you aren't going to add that much to your previous experience of a place, and your overall shipboard situation is going to be more or less a replica of the one you just finished.

 

So why book a B2B when you can spend that time on land or book a different cruise to new destinations"

 

Those two comments in red could reasonably cause us to conclude that your definition of a B2B is limited to a cruise that repeats the itinerary. Those of us who posted our experiences to the contrary wanted to point out that this definition is, indeed, too narrow. I'm glad you get that, but you really weren't clear in your initial post.

 

And it's not "your" thread, BTW - we all have the privilege to shoot each other down, but we like to try to keep it nonviolent:).

 

Now, as to your original question as clarified: I don't know.:D Like you, I prefer to add on a few days pre- or post-cruise to visit at least one place in depth.

 

Sure, if I hadnt explicitly limited my question to itineraries involving the SAME ports, a fact which was hidden approximately one sentence after you applied your red marker ;)

 

Definitely we all have the privilege to shoot each other down, which is why I am indulging in it, but I have no time for ppl who get upset about it - they chose to get involved :)

[Essiesmom]

The reason I did a b2b on the same ship was that choices are limited at Port Canaveral...Only other ship I could have connected with was Disney, and I have not interest in them or their prices. In fact, the idea was to do a b2b because I wanted a cruise longer than five days, from a port I could drive to, and the price on this one was so good. It never occurred to me to do two different ships. EM

[juggles]

I've booked B2B because I live in the UK and flights are expensive, so a return flight to Miami for two weeks is cheaper than buying further return flights to connect with another ship. It's too far to travel for one week too.

[okgirl]

We travell B2b many times on the same ship and exact same ports. we sometimes don't get off the ship because we like cruising and we enjoy the ship, especially when most pax leave and we have a mostly empty ship. We take advantage of the spa and gym. We relax and read or nap. We like cruising and we have the time and money too. So why not stay on? I would not mind if the ship just made a big circle, when we sailed to Hawaii I enjoyed teh sea days better. So It's not the destination but the journey.:cool:

 

I agree with you completely DD. Sister and I have only done one B2B so far, and it was alternating itineraries, but sister frequently doesn't get off the ship ever, and I only get off the ship if there is something specific I want to shop for or if we're in a new port that I've never seen. Which is rare.

We cruise for the relaxing ship board experience itself and love the port days for the relative emptiness of the ship. We've made some very good friends among several crew members because we've had time to really relax and have good and long conversations with them. We correspond with them regularly and look forward to seeing them on future voyages.........If anyone from the Glory crew is reading this, say hello to Jai at the casino bar from Beverly and Donna, and likewise anyone on the Valor, say hello to Catherine at the wine bar or the casino bar.

There is a 17 year gap in my cruise history because we were doing family beach vacations, but even splitting expenses with family for the beach house, cruising is still $ for $ the better value.

[GlendaleCruiser]

Actually, you made the false assumption, as did most of the other respondents. I fully understand cruises with different itineraries, but that wasn't what I was curious about. I think I was pretty clear in specifying B2B's with the SAME itineraries :)

 

 

Even with the same itinerary, there are multiple options for excursions in each port. I went on the Conquest last year and one entire day was taken with a trip to the ruins in Tulum. We got on the ferry as soon as we got off the ship. I could easily go there again and this time I might actually see Cozumel! I loved the Caymans and would love to do other excursions there, so that itin might go back on my "to do" list. Some cruise destinations I really did have a "been there and done that" feeling. But for MOST destinations, I have only scratched the surface of all the available activities.

 

Alaska destinations sometimes have 50-70 excursions to choose from. How could you say that is repetitive when there are so many options to choose from to make that trip unique?

[ItsAllAboutTheSass]

We are doing a 4/5 day b2b. The airfare didn't make sense to just do one or the other...

[Canadianhey!]

One of the things I like best is spending time in a place on the front and/or back ends of a cruise so I can get some land-based time on an otherwise cruise-centred vacation. Although I love my time on any given cruise, I am always glad to disembark and have the opportunity to really explore places, at a slower and more immersive pace. Alternatively, cruising to new destinations is always a compelling motivation for booking vacations.

 

I don't understand the appeal of B2B cruises. If you have the time to indulge in another cruise, to the same places with the same time constraints (usually), as the first one, why would you bother? There are always land-based options to agree with any budget, so economics isn't an issue. You still get only 4 or 8 or 12 hours in a port, so you aren't going to add that much to your previous experience of a place, and your overall shipboard situation is going to be more or less a replica of the one you just finished.

 

So why book a B2B when you can spend that time on land or book a different cruise to new destinations?

I don't know if what we are doing is a true b2b. We are booked on the Ruby then one day off and then we are going on the Soltice. Different cruise lines and different ports. We do this because of plane costs saving us a whole flight doing it this way.:cool:

[retiredonthesea]

We would love to do a b2b, but not the same itinerary. Maybe do a 7 and then a 10 day. Just don't know how I would even go about searching. Do most of you do the research yourself or have a TA. We love cruising and find a 7 day is just too short any more!:D

[sammamishcruiser]

We were on the last Alaska cruise - Celebrity Millennium 09/22/08. The cruise was 14 days from Vancouver to San Diego. After San Diego the ship was headed to Hawaii and then on the New Zealand WOW I believe that took a little over 1 month! There were quite a few that were going on to Hawaii and several that I met that were going all the way on to New Zealand!

 

Now THAT is a b2b2b! What a FANTASTIC trip! I ONLY WISH!

 

And I don't think that there were any repeat ports of call.

 

You just need to look for repo cruises in spring or the fall when the ships are moving around.

 

Melody:D

[gizmo]

One of the things I like best is spending time in a place on the front and/or back ends of a cruise so I can get some land-based time on an otherwise cruise-centred vacation. Although I love my time on any given cruise, I am always glad to disembark and have the opportunity to really explore places, at a slower and more immersive pace. Alternatively, cruising to new destinations is always a compelling motivation for booking vacations.

 

I don't understand the appeal of B2B cruises. If you have the time to indulge in another cruise, to the same places with the same time constraints (usually), as the first one, why would you bother? There are always land-based options to agree with any budget, so economics isn't an issue. You still get only 4 or 8 or 12 hours in a port, so you aren't going to add that much to your previous experience of a place, and your overall shipboard situation is going to be more or less a replica of the one you just finished.

 

So why book a B2B when you can spend that time on land or book a different cruise to new destinations?

 

Read your first paragraph. This is easily one answer to your question.

 

You want to explore at a slower pace so by taking a B2B that goes to the same ports you can do different things each time and "explore at a slower pace" instead of running around trying to do everything in a limited time frame.

 

Different strokes for different folks. On a Caribbean cruise, I much rather do a B2B with the same ports than spend time in Florida. The beaches are much better in the Caribbean, the water is nicer, I don't have to rent a car, or try to figure out where to eat.

 

I think other posters gave some good reasons:

• air fare
  
• the ship is the destination, not the port
  

[mlb087]

Usually you can get the most for your money by cruising back to back. Half the time a plane ticket home costs as much or more than the actual cruise itself, of course depending on where you're at. And some ppl look at the cruise as a vacation on its own. I do tend to agree with you though, i prefer to mix it up a bit at least...:cool:

[John&LaLa]

Our last B2B was a 13 nite New England Cruise on the Constellation, followed by a 10 night Caribbean cruise via Bermuda. The only repeat port was Bayonne. Our next cruise in the Spring will be a 16 nite Transatlantic cruise on the Noordam, followed by a 10 nite Mediterranean cruise. The only repeat port will be Civitivecchia. Lower air fare; going thru the lifeboat drill once, instead of twice. packing and unpacking once. More familiarity with the ship.

What's not to like?

 

all our B2B's involved weekly lifeboat drills :confused:

[paul929207]

Princess provides info to b2b passengers a few days before the end of the first cruise. It specificly says b2b passnegers only have to participate in the muster drill at the begining of the first cruise.

[lovemylab]

If I had more vacation time at my workplace I would LOVE to book a B2B. I'd love to pay for airfare once and get 14 days on a cruise.

 

Not all B2B's visit the same ports (most ships in the Caribbean have alternating itineraries).

[Cruise Junky]

Princess provides info to b2b passengers a few days before the end of the first cruise. It specificly says b2b passnegers only have to participate in the muster drill at the begining of the first cruise.

 

NICE!!! looking forward to that :)

[Cuizer2]

I don't understand the appeal of B2B cruises. If you have the time to indulge in another cruise, to the same places with the same time constraints (usually), as the first one, why would you bother? There are always land-based options to agree with any budget, so economics isn't an issue. You still get only 4 or 8 or 12 hours in a port, so you aren't going to add that much to your previous experience of a place, and your overall shipboard situation is going to be more or less a replica of the one you just finished.

 

So why book a B2B when you can spend that time on land or book a different cruise to new destinations?

 

Most B2B cruises do not repeat ports. For example, many book a B2B to go to the Eastern Caribbean one week and the Western Caribbean the next week. The only port that gets repeated is the home port.

 

I was on the NCL Jade in February 2008. It went from Los Angeles to Miami. Then it went to Europe. There were many who booked those two cruises back to back. In this case no ports were repeated.

 

Some people don't care where the ship is going, and don't get off in any of the ports. All they want to do is cruise. These people don't care if all the ports are repeated.

[paul929207]

We are on a b2b next month. NYC to Dover and back on the Tahitian Princess. Only one port (Qaqortoq, Greenland) is repeated in 36 days.