Advantages of Back to Back Cruising?

[arzz]

Other than the obvious (14 days on board rather than 7) and the mundane (possible invite to the VIP party) -- what are some of the other advantages of back to back cruises? Are there price breaks for doing this? Upgrades? Other perks? Those of you out there who have done this, looking for any and all encouragement. Thanks for your help in advance.

[Joanne G.]

We haven't gotten price breaks or upgrades, but the feeling at the end of the first week, when everyone else is depressed about the end of the cruise and we have another week to look forward to - that is priceless! Long cruises are soooo much more relaxing; we feel less pressure to do and see everything and feel free to spend time reading, or napping, or doing nothing at all. And we get less stressed about bad weather - one or two rainy days out of 14 days is not as bad as one or two out of 7. Getting to try menu choices that we passed on the first week - or having a special favorite again - and catching shows we missed the first week is a bonus.

Lastly, at the end of 14 days, I feel ready to head home. It's a much better feeling than having to get off before I'm ready!

[Hape]

We took back to backs on the Maasdam two years ago. We didn't get any breaks on fares, etc. but were able to get the same stateroom for both weeks, thoroughly enjoyed watching other people leave while we relaxed onboard and also were able to go to our car in the parking deck and take some of our purchases from the first week there. The only disadvantage was that we like to go to the movies in the evening and they repeated the same exact schedule the second week. Dislike 7 day cruises so the 14 days was ideal especially since we did both the Western and Eastern Caribbean and got to go to Half Moon Cay twice. It was a fun cruise.

[localady]

A Back to Back offers no price breaks or upgrades, but it is a vacation of 14 days vs. 7. We so loved our B2B in Alaska this July! One additional perk are all the smiling faces of the staff that recognizes you the 2nd week, right up to greeting you by name! That and the beautiful scenery of Alaska was all I needed!:cool:

[elmorejj]

Have done many BtoBs and the best advantage for us is only having to fly down once. HAL used to give a two cat. upgrade for booking BtoBs, I guess that has gone the way of a lot of other perks.....jean :cool:

[sail7seas]

Having done a great many b-to-b's, we have never gotten any special discount but we have loved not having to leave the ship after our first segment. We get to cruise longer and only fly one for two cruises.

We have the chance to really get to know folks on board and make real friends given the opportunity to spend more time with them.

[TedC]

In July the Maasdam is sailing to Rotterdam from Boston and in August sailing back to Boston.

HAL is marketing the voyage as one 35-day cruise or a 17-dayer to Rotterdam and an 18-dayer from Rotterdam to Boston.

There is a slight, very slight, price break if you book the RT.

On the RT you save considerably on airfare. If you do only one of the legs most airlines will price it as a one way flight to or from Boston and the same with Rotterdam.

Unfortunately, the airfare savings, while considerable, are minuscule compared to the price of the 35 day RT.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done many back-to-back cruises and only once - a long time ago - did we get a price break.

We don't feel it is worth the trouble to back and fly for just 7 days. That's one of the reasons we book back-to-backs. Some of the back-to-backs we have done have been 10 days in each segment.

And the back-to-backs we book have different ports on the second segment.

[RuthC]

Twice as many pillow chocolates, of course! :D

Plus, you gain less weight on a longer cruise than a typical one-week. Really! You don't have the "hurry up and try everything quick before the cruise is over" feeling.

[tomc]

I think you would have a superior attitude -- at least, I probably will. As in: "Fools; you only have three days left and I have ten. While you are scurrying like ants toward the buses, I will be waving to you from the back deck, tea mug in hand. Enjoy your trip home, bwaaaaahahahahaha!!!"

[ANSalberg]

The obvious advantage to a B2B on an Atlantic crossing for us -is shorter flights. No matter what- its going to be a long travel day. Denver to ANYplace on the east coast is approx 4 hours plus airport security delays. A typical London to Denver flight will be 10+ hours -assuming it is direct. Therefore booking a B2B to Europe gives us a longer cruise with shorter travel days. Last June we did B2B on Rotterdam =34 days in and out of NYC [We're retired] THAT is pure BLISS; 34 days on board a ship........ahhhhhh
Anne

[FlamingoT]

We are doing B to B's on the Westerdam in Nov. and got 10% off each segment.

[sail7seas]

We always get a discount off of every cruise we book. We never pay brochure rate....ever!


When you say ten percent 10% off each segment, do you mean that amount off of the brochure rate?

Or do you mean an additional 10% off each segment (Over and above a discount off the brochure rate) because it is a back-to-back?

[bobpatj]

We tried a b-to-b on 2 ships, last Jan. 7 days eastern Caribbean on the Oosterdam and 10 days western Caribbean on the Volendam. Great fun - 17 days! A big bonus was 2 days at Half Moon Cay.

[zlato]

Given the amount of time to prepare for cruising, traveling to embarkation ports, etc., my wife and I often elect to take back to back cruises. However, we always choose the longer segments (for example, we will be cruising on the Amsterdam for 39 days (2 back to back segments). I agree that it is a satisfying experience not having to pack, etc. after only one shorter segment! The downside of back to back cruising is that of repetition of some of the menus and shows. However, we enjoy "sea days" and we pick segments that shedule numerous days at sea. At best, price discounts, (based upon back to back cruising) is minimal with HAL.

[localady]

Zlato- Have a fabulous time on the Amsterdam. I couldn't slip into your suitcase could I??? ;) 39 days....sounds great!:D :cool:

[Ziggy7]

For our b2b we got the Mariners discount on the second week, the first week was our first with HAL, also we got a $50.00 per person shipboard credit, and second week was already cheaper than first too! Not counting airfair we

We also saved $700.00 airfair by not having to fly twice.

[irishmom]

I guess we got lucky -- we cashed in on an email promotion that fit our b2b cruise on the Oosterdam for 11/21 & 11/28 - saved us over $500 for the trip. I just got another email for a b2b promo for Canada/NE for 9/11 & 9/18, so everyone's already paid - can you get a credit after final payment? Ask for promo #187 if you're so inclined.

This is our first b2b, and I'm afraid a monster will be created - but it ended up cheaper than the 10 or 11 day cruises we found. Maybe we just picked the right weeks!

[Candy]

The only problem we found on our perfect 9-day Enchantment B2B was that RCI chartered one of the cruises and we had to cancel the whole thing.

The upside is that we were able to book Zuidy in a wake cabin. Only 7 days, but since we already know the ship, all we have to do is move in (and got a wake cabin to boot).

[Charliesmom]

We did b2b on the Dawn Princess last year in Alaska. By looking at available cabins as they came up, we were able to book the same cabin both ways. It was more relaxing, but my DH got antsy after about 9 days. He likes to be home - never sleeps as well when he's away.

We booked the b2b so we wouldn't have too long a flight home. Boston to Vancouver and back is bad enough.

We got a surprise $75.00 shipboard credit on the second cruise. We also got invited to the VIP party both ways, since we have many days on Princess.

Roberta

[Stevesan]

You can get a terrific discount on a B2B by advance buying only the first segment and then being offered the second during the first week. This is fairly common for Caribbean cruises. Usual offer for a seven day is $199 inside/$299 outside. Of course, you may have to change cabins, but that's easy. The stewards transport the luggage. Sometimes they even just switch the storage drawers.A good deal if you don't have to reschedule flights or work.

[OCruisers]

The passengers normally tend to be a bit younger and more active on 7-Day cruises than they are on the 14-Day cruises! B2B's still give you your 14-Days!

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[FlamingoT]

The 10% off each segment came after we responded to an e-mail from HAL concerning the Farewell to Europe (second) segment and after our Mariner's Discounts. I'm pretty sure it was stated in the HAL European brochure that there was a 10% discount but we were pleasantly surprised when we were told that it was 10% on EACH trip.

[olderpilot]

We received a 10% discount off the discounted fare for our b2b European cruises next summer.

[kryos]

You can get a terrific discount on a B2B by advance buying only the first segment and then being offered the second during the first week. This is fairly common for Caribbean cruises. Usual offer for a seven day is $199 inside/$299 outside. Of course, you may have to change cabins, but that's easy. The stewards transport the luggage. Sometimes they even just switch the storage drawers.A good deal if you don't have to reschedule flights or work.
If you book air through HAL, they eat the change fee for revising the flights. At least that's what they were telling us last March aboard the Rotterdam.

It's funny ... originally this is exactly what I was planning to do. Take the 8-28 Eastern Caribbean cruise and hope for a deal like this for the following week Western itinerary. I knew that last March when I sailed on the Rotterdam's Panama Canal Sunfarer itinerary, they made a dynamite offer like this if people wanted to just stay on the ship and do the ten-day trip again. I was heartsick that I couldn't take advantage of it. I had too many commitments the following week.

However, when I thought about my chances of having the same thing happen with this Zuiderdam sailing, I realized that it was unlikely. It's prime season and even though the schools technically go back after Labor Day, many parents will probably send their kids back a few days late in order to make that 9-4 sailing. I doubted very much such a deal would be offered this time around, so on that assumption I just went ahead and booked the second half of the b2b in advance.

Now, I'm gonna hang myself off the Lido deck if such an offer is made, and I spent three times what I could have gotten the cruise for. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[zlato]

DEAR "LOCAL LADY":

You are more than welcome; however, I am not sure that my wife would approve!