tell me about B2Bs

[summercruisin']

First, how lucky am I? My dad is talking about taking the whole family on a cruise next summer! The last time he did that was 7.5 years ago after my mom passed away :(, and he thinks he is ready to do it again (we're a bit worried he might be planning to propose to his GF :eek::cool:). Anyway!

 

DH and I always take the kids on a 7-10 day vacation over the summer, nearly always to the Caribbean and usually on a cruise, but the rest of the fam only wants to do a 5 day or so. We tend to take advantage of every vacation day DH can get (he works so hard - in retail - the rest of the time!). Sooooooo.....we are thinking about adding on a 4 day just for our little family (DH, me, 2 kids who cruise :D) before the rest of the family joins us.

 

I honestly never thought that I'd have the opportunity or desire to do a B2B. We usually plan a 7 day cruise with a few days pre or post for preparing or getting over the depression of returning, but since dad is paying for the bigger part, we are considering it. We could (and still might) just do a few days in Florida before and/or after, but if we did the B2B, it would be DH's 9th and 10th (my 10th and 11th) before the big deadline to still get platinum status.

 

I know nothing about B2Bs. Please, fill me in. How does it work? Can we get the same cabin? Will we have to tote all our stuff off and back on? Will we HAVE to get off the ship? Can we treat the midway Miami stop as a "port"? Are there any significant negatives to doing this?

 

TIA! Very excited (mostly because I am VERY family-oriented and think the cruise with dad, siblings, nephew, my own kids, and even the girlfriend, is pretty awesome!).

[Chigirlcruzin]

Sounds fun! I did a 4-5 B2B a few years ago, and it was great. I recommend having the same cabin for both legs. This way you don't have to pack and move. If you do move cabins, you have to pack up, but the room steward will move your stuff. You don't have to take it off and then bring it back on.

 

You will get a letter in your cabin towards the end of the first cruise telling you where and when to meet on dear day. You will be escorted off the ship to go through customs and immigration, and them get escorted back on where you will get your new sail and sign cards. Once this is done, you're free to do whatever...stay on the ship, explore Miami, whatever.

 

The entertainment and menus so repeat themselves. I can't really think of a down side though.

[what to go here and there]

Hi we are doing a back to back :D, I have a question also..

Our son is coming with us on the first leg and will be flying home . We would like to make sure he gets to the airport between cruises. how will this work with us clearing customs and our son also having to clear customs .... together seperately....

 

we have to change rooms between each cruise as we are on the Alaskan cruise and this is what Carnival has told us :(

[mondello]

Hi we are doing a back to back :D, I have a question also..

Our son is coming with us on the first leg and will be flying home . We would like to make sure he gets to the airport between cruises. how will this work with us clearing customs and our son also having to clear customs .... together seperately....

 

we have to change rooms between each cruise as we are on the Alaskan cruise and this is what Carnival has told us :(

I'm assuming your son is an adult, shouldn't have any trouble clearing customs. On your B2B, you won't exit the ship with the other PAX, you'll meet with other B2Bers and be escorted down to get your new S&S card and right back on up to the ship. Its usually a pretty quick process.

[summercruisin']

Thanks for the info! That was helpful!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

We love doing them ....

[jimgo140]

First' date=' how lucky am I? My dad is talking about taking the whole family on a cruise next summer! The last time he did that was 7.5 years ago after my mom passed away :(, and he thinks he is ready to do it again (we're a bit worried he might be planning to propose to his GF :eek::cool:). Anyway!

 

DH and I always take the kids on a 7-10 day vacation over the summer, nearly always to the Caribbean and usually on a cruise, but the rest of the fam only wants to do a 5 day or so. We tend to take advantage of every vacation day DH can get (he works so hard - in retail - the rest of the time!). Sooooooo.....we are thinking about adding on a 4 day just for our little family (DH, me, 2 kids who cruise :D) before the rest of the family joins us.

 

I honestly never thought that I'd have the opportunity or desire to do a B2B. We usually plan a 7 day cruise with a few days pre or post for preparing or getting over the depression of returning, but since dad is paying for the bigger part, we are considering it. We could (and still might) just do a few days in Florida before and/or after, but if we did the B2B, it would be DH's 9th and 10th (my 10th and 11th) before the big deadline to still get platinum status.

 

I know nothing about B2Bs. Please, fill me in. How does it work? Can we get the same cabin? Will we have to tote all our stuff off and back on? Will we HAVE to get off the ship? Can we treat the midway Miami stop as a "port"? Are there any significant negatives to doing this?

 

TIA! Very excited (mostly because I am VERY family-oriented and think the cruise with dad, siblings, nephew, my own kids, and even the girlfriend, is pretty awesome!).[/quote']

 

 

Yes, you are lucky. So's your father. My kids don't want to cruise. What do you mean - "worried he might propose?" You mean hope he does, don't you? He's only got so much time to make the most out of his life.

[wrigley80]

I am in the process of planning a back-to-back right now for December. We are doing a 5 day on the Carnival Ecstasy first then we have a night in between each cruise. Then the second cruise is a 4 day on the Sensation.

This is our first back-to-back and so far I have had fun planning everything

[movingimages]

We did a b2b on Carnival, Mediterranean and Transatlantic - 26 glorious days! We weren't able to secure the same cabin, but moving rooms was not a big deal. The stewards shifted everything for us. The things that were on hangars and shelves in the closet didn't have to be packed; they just moved them. We took a tour of Rome that day, so it was just like a regular port day. We did receive new cards, but I feel like that was done the night before (per instructions left in our cabin). It might be handled differently since you'll be in the U.S. I would recommend confirming the procedure with Carnival in advance.

 

I really enjoyed it because it started to feel like we lived on the ship. Got to know all the nooks and crannies, best times to do things, etc. The menus do repeat, but then you have a chance to try more than one thing or have something again you really enjoyed (same thing with shows, activities, etc.). Have a wonderful time!

[summercruisin']

Yes, you are lucky. So's your father. My kids don't want to cruise. What do you mean - "worried he might propose?" You mean hope he does, don't you? He's only got so much time to make the most out of his life.

 

I guess that was mostly tongue-in-cheek. We are very glad that Dad has found a new love and enjoys his time with her. They've been together for several years, and she is really good to him and to his kids and grandkids...can't ask for more :). I think the only "concern" is that (in the back of our minds), we treasure that last cruise together "in memory of mom" and I guess we don't want the next one to be a clear indicator that he has (and therefore we must) move on. He was married to my mom almost 40 years before she passed away, and we kids, all grown, treasure that relationship.

 

I know that doesn't make sense to some people, and that's okay. I also know that it is his life and he can do as he wishes. We will continue to love and support him (and the GF) no matter when/where/how he decides to propose, should he make that decision :).

[cv322]

First' date=' how lucky am I? My dad is talking about taking the whole family on a cruise next summer! The last time he did that was 7.5 years ago after my mom passed away :(, and he thinks he is ready to do it again (we're a bit worried he might be planning to propose to his GF :eek::cool:). Anyway!

 

DH and I always take the kids on a 7-10 day vacation over the summer, nearly always to the Caribbean and usually on a cruise, but the rest of the fam only wants to do a 5 day or so. We tend to take advantage of every vacation day DH can get (he works so hard - in retail - the rest of the time!). Sooooooo.....we are thinking about adding on a 4 day just for our little family (DH, me, 2 kids who cruise :D) before the rest of the family joins us.

 

I honestly never thought that I'd have the opportunity or desire to do a B2B. We usually plan a 7 day cruise with a few days pre or post for preparing or getting over the depression of returning, but since dad is paying for the bigger part, we are considering it. We could (and still might) just do a few days in Florida before and/or after, but if we did the B2B, it would be DH's 9th and 10th (my 10th and 11th) before the big deadline to still get platinum status.

 

I know nothing about B2Bs. Please, fill me in. How does it work? Can we get the same cabin? Will we have to tote all our stuff off and back on? Will we HAVE to get off the ship? Can we treat the midway Miami stop as a "port"? Are there any significant negatives to doing this?

 

TIA! Very excited (mostly because I am VERY family-oriented and think the cruise with dad, siblings, nephew, my own kids, and even the girlfriend, is pretty awesome!).[/quote']

 

Good for you! (and your Dad ;)!). I did my first B2B this past April...2 8-day cruises on the Miracle, same itinerary, same entertainment, same food lol...but they were truly like 2 different cruises entirely because the 1st leg was with family & the 2nd leg was with friends.

 

I booked the same cabin for both cruises, so that was easy peasy. The night before we got back from the 1st cruise there was a letter in my cabin with instructions on what to do the following morning when we got back to NYC. I had the option of being escorted off & escorted back on again....or...utilize the "in transit" card they enclosed with the letter. With the "in transit" card you can get off whenever you choose & then come back whenever you choose, (obviously coming back in time to board within the parameters of Homeland Security regulations).

 

I decided to do the latter...this way I could disembark with one suitcase full of dirty clothes & put that suitcase into the trunk of my car which was parked at the pier...this was one less piece of luggage I had to deal with the following week lol. Then I waited briefly in the VIP lounge to get back on.

 

Additionally, when I got back to the casino the 2nd leg, they immediately gave me a "drinks on us" card for that cruise....very generous I thought. Also it was really funny how the crew would look at me & say "weren't you just here?!!!"

 

Now I'm planning a B2B on the Splendor for spring 2014.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[dvdkndy]

I will tell you in about 8 days because that is when we are doing our first B2B!!!

[Ykgorbie]

We LOVE B2B cruises, mainly because:

 

- They save us enormous airfare since we live in Canada's Arctic and have

approx 10 hrs flying time (3 flights total) to get to either the Fort Lauderdale or Miami ports

 

- There is no better feeling than knowing you get to stay on the ship when everyone else's holiday is over :)

 

On our first B2B, we weren't able to book the same cabin for both cruises, but all we had to do was alert our room steward and he moved our luggage to the "new" cabin for the 2nd cruise. Fortunately, we were only moving a few cabins down, so had the same steward. Only pain was having to pack everything up on the last night of the first cruise......this time we have booked an aft wrap and are staying there for the entire 14 days, so if you are able to book the same cabin, it is nice to be able to relax on that last night and know you are staying put for another week !

 

Whatever you do, enjoy yourselves !!

[Pom Lover]

We actually have two B2Bs booked. Our first on the new Breeze for her first full sailing out of Miami and then on the Liberty. We were fortunate enough to get the same cabin on both B2Bs. This will be our first B2Bs and it just makes sense with the cost of airfare.

[TheBrowns]

First' date=' how lucky am I? My dad is talking about taking the whole family on a cruise next summer! The last time he did that was 7.5 years ago after my mom passed away :(, and he thinks he is ready to do it again (we're a bit worried he might be planning to propose to his GF :eek::cool:). Anyway!

 

DH and I always take the kids on a 7-10 day vacation over the summer, nearly always to the Caribbean and usually on a cruise, but the rest of the fam only wants to do a 5 day or so. We tend to take advantage of every vacation day DH can get (he works so hard - in retail - the rest of the time!). Sooooooo.....we are thinking about adding on a 4 day just for our little family (DH, me, 2 kids who cruise :D) before the rest of the family joins us.

 

I honestly never thought that I'd have the opportunity or desire to do a B2B. We usually plan a 7 day cruise with a few days pre or post for preparing or getting over the depression of returning, but since dad is paying for the bigger part, we are considering it. We could (and still might) just do a few days in Florida before and/or after, but if we did the B2B, it would be DH's 9th and 10th (my 10th and 11th) before the big deadline to still get platinum status.

 

I know nothing about B2Bs. Please, fill me in. How does it work? Can we get the same cabin? Will we have to tote all our stuff off and back on? Will we HAVE to get off the ship? Can we treat the midway Miami stop as a "port"? Are there any significant negatives to doing this?

 

TIA! Very excited (mostly because I am VERY family-oriented and think the cruise with dad, siblings, nephew, my own kids, and even the girlfriend, is pretty awesome!).[/quote']

 

 

GRATS. :) yoru very lucky

 

We are about to do B2B with our 4 kids and even though my boys are very excited my 16 yo daughter is a diffrent story LOL hopefully she will be bitten by the cruise bug as this is her first ever cruise.

 

Have a awesoem time

[what to go here and there]

I'm assuming your son is an adult, shouldn't have any trouble clearing customs. On your B2B, you won't exit the ship with the other PAX, you'll meet with other B2Bers and be escorted down to get your new S&S card and right back on up to the ship. Its usually a pretty quick process.

 

 

Our son is a young man :D (has some special concerns but can take care of himself if he really puts his mind to it) and does not have a lot of travel experience... any travelling has been through Canadan and always direct flights with mom and dad leading the way.. Coming home he will have to change planes at much bigger airport than he has ever seen. Canadian airports are a lot different than the USA airports he has been too..Arrivals have thier own area that they leave through as do departures.. not like some USA airports when you get off the plane and mixing in with the group trying to get on the plane.

 

As we can not get direct flights he has to change planes at a much bigger airport than he has ever been too.. It is that change i am really concerned about. i will survive it and he will get home... But i can tell you my heart may be racing just a bit :eek:

[jules815]

Lucky you! I would love to do a B2B someday!

 

For the past couple of years my parents have done a B2B on HAL the first two weeks of December, in an aft suite and they love it! (I've posted about them before...cruising since the late 1970's have have never once ordered room service! :eek: )

 

Enjoy your B2B!

[mondello]

Our son is a young man :D (has some special concerns but can take care of himself if he really puts his mind to it) and does not have a lot of travel experience... any travelling has been through Canadan and always direct flights with mom and dad leading the way.. Coming home he will have to change planes at much bigger airport than he has ever seen. Canadian airports are a lot different than the USA airports he has been too..Arrivals have thier own area that they leave through as do departures.. not like some USA airports when you get off the plane and mixing in with the group trying to get on the plane.

 

As we can not get direct flights he has to change planes at a much bigger airport than he has ever been too.. It is that change i am really concerned about. i will survive it and he will get home... But i can tell you my heart may be racing just a bit :eek:

Thank you for clarifying that. Best of luck to your family and hope everything goes smoothly. Guess you could get off the ship to see him off to the airport, although he'll be on his own to change planes. Perhaps you can call the airline to request a little oversight and assistance, similiar to minors flying alone.

[LICRUISEAHOLICS]

I am in the process of planning a back-to-back right now for December. We are doing a 5 day on the Carnival Ecstasy first then we have a night in between each cruise. Then the second cruise is a 4 day on the Sensation.

This is our first back-to-back and so far I have had fun planning everything

 

Hi there. I would love to know your ports of call for both cruises. I am dying to do a b2b but I can't take off for too long. Your 5 and 4 day may fit our time line pretty well. Thanks!! Laurie

[PatrickZJD]

As you might see from my signature, in summer 2013, my wife and I are doing a different kind of B2B this time out, too, going from a CTN on the Glory to a longer cruise on the Splendor. This will not only get us a little "us time" before meeting up with her family, it will also get me to the requisite days for Platinum status, plus we can get to see the full Funship 2.0 effect that the Splendor isn't getting. :D We were told by our PVP that, as this was out of the same port in Manhattan, there would be the same easy-breezy kind of check-in prior to embarkation that we had on our B2B honeymoon cruise. Actually really looking forward to the whole experience!