Back to Back Cruising Questions

[GmaPajama]

Well ... I know there was a recent thread with b2b questions and answers, but I can't seem to find it. The search isn't working, and I've read back through the titles on 12 pages. I give up, and will just ask my two questions here.

1. Tipping. Is it appropriate to give the "extra tips" at the end of each segment, or at the end of the entire trip?

2. Dining. Since the dining room steward from the first segment will already know your preferrences, is it difficult to arrange to be seated at the same table for that second segment?

Thanks for any help you more-experienced cruisers can offer!

[kakalina]

Hi Donna: We have done tons of b2b's. If we keep the same cabin we tip the room steward at the end of the entire cruise.
I have always just spoken to the Maitre' D about the second leg and I have always been accomadated with efficient ease.

[GmaPajama]

Thanks, kakalina - I knew you would be one with some answers, and am glad you spotted the thread. :) I understand how transition day works, so that's not a problem - but do you have any other hints for me?

[sail7seas]

Hi Donna......

Every time we do a back-to-back, we always give our 'over and above' tips at the end of each segment. That's just the way we like to do it. We feel as though one cruise has ended and the stewards should get whatever we would have given were we going home. Just because we're staying, we like to thank them for the cruise we just enjoyed.

We always have the same table and the same stewards for dining. Once in a great while, it has been 'rotation time' and steward was supposed to move to another section but a simple request to Maitre d' (now Dining Room Manager) and we were able to have him continue to take care of us.

You're going to love b-to-b. They're Great!

[kakalina]

Thanks, kakalina - I knew you would be one with some answers, and am glad you spotted the thread. :) I understand how transition day works, so that's not a problem - but do you have any other hints for me?


Only one, make it a b2b2b! :D

[martinimadam]

I'm sure I haven't done as many b2b's as the other responders, but, one thing I have learned...crew sometimes rotate off the ship (contract over), so, unless you're sure that your room steward and table staff will be continuing on, it's better to tip at the end of each segment. I, unfortunately, learned this the hard way, and an excellent room steward I had didn't get the extra tip he deserved! I did mention the name of the steward in my comment card, but, still felt very guilty:o .

[sail7seas]

Very good point. We would know if they are leaving as we always chat with them at least enough to know how long they've been aboard, when they think they are leaving etc THEY know if YOU are doing a b-to-b so the chances are that excellent steward of yours understands what happened. He would have known you were staying and if he hadn't told you he was leaving, he knows that is why you didn't give him a 'thank you'.

[GmaPajama]

Thanks for the input here. I hadn't thought about crew that may be rotating off, so will absolutely plan to do our extra tipping for each week individually. And, it sounds like a breeze to arrange for the same table at dinner, so we'll expect to do that as well.

You guys ALWAYS have the answers! Our b2b is a ways off yet, it's just fun to think it through and dream about being there. Cruise Critic is a great place to do that!

Thanks again,
Donna

[marle7]

Here's a question. We have a 14 day cruise booked on the Westerdam for March/April of next year. This cruise can be booked as a B2B, a single 14 day or you can book one leg or the other. For our purposes, we booked it as a 14 day which means we only have one booking number. How does one book excursions for both legs then? I'm confused.

[Spoely]

Hi, Folks

Holy Moly! This thread is most helpful and points out that while I think I am often too organized,.....well, I'm not. I completely overlooked this issue. Our cruise in September on the Zuiderdam is booked as a 24 day one with one booking number, one stateroom, etc. However, folks can and do book either 12 day segment or have a 24 day cruise which starts 12 days before or after ours begins. (Is this making sense? I am looking at my computer screen lop-sided. One eye had cataract removal and Crystalens implanted 11 days ago, but the other one is not scheduled until next Tuesday. Meanwhile, I am wearing my regular glasses with one lens missing. Cute. :rolleyes:) We will certainly do our "over and above" tipping at the end of each segment even though the stewards, bartenders, and servers might remain the same. After our last cruise I resolved to bring thank-you notes to use with the "over and above". (money is great but a personal word of thanks is priceless.)

Donna, thanks for starting this thread!

Cheers,
Karen

[RuthC]

Here's a question. We have a 14 day cruise booked on the Westerdam for March/April of next year. This cruise can be booked as a B2B, a single 14 day or you can book one leg or the other. For our purposes, we booked it as a 14 day which means we only have one booking number. How does one book excursions for both legs then? I'm confused.
I have the same situation going on right now as I have booked the first two 10-day cruises of the E-dam as one cruise.

When I sign on to the "book shore excursions" section of the HAL website all the ports for the entire 20 days show. I am able to book for everything I want.
I'm going to bet it's the same for you.

[sail7seas]

Whenever we book back-to-backs, we always request two confirmation numbers. We don't book that many excursions so it hasn't happened to us but I have read here of people with two confirmations who cannot book on line for their second segment. They had to call Shore Excursions and do it by telephone.

[RuthC]

I think the difference is in how HAL sells the cruise(s). If it's truly two cruises booked as b2b, then there may be a problem.
But if HAL has also packaged it as one cruise then booking shore excursions is easy.