redtogo Posted September 5, 2013 #1 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I have the opportunity to book a back to back cruise, or to book the trips as one cruise that includes both itineraries. Although I have cruised a lot, I have never booked a back to back cruise. What are the advantages (or disadvantages) of booking a back to back as opposed to booking the longer cruise as one cruise. One is 12 days, the other is 14 days. Or, I can book one cruise for 26 days. Advice and hints are greatly appreciated. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan_Sea Posted September 5, 2013 #2 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I guess if you are trying to accumulate enough cruises to go up a level In the Captains Circle program b2b might make sense. I suggest you look at how doing it each way impacts OBC. We recently changed a booking from b2b to one 20 day cruise because it made a significant difference in OBC. Also check to see if the cruise is less expensive one way or the other. The insurance is also based on the price and that went down for us as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtogo Posted September 5, 2013 Author #3 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Thanks for the reponse, Nan. The price is fairly equal whether we book it as one cruise or two separate cruises. We are Elite members already, just have never booked a back to back cruise. I had read that there were some advantages to doing two cruises, but wasn't able to locate the thread with the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinkacruiser Posted September 5, 2013 #4 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Thanks for the reponse, Nan. The price is fairly equal whether we book it as one cruise or two separate cruises. We are Elite members already, just have never booked a back to back cruise. I had read that there were some advantages to doing two cruises, but wasn't able to locate the thread with the information. You'll get 2 mini bar set ups ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtogo Posted September 5, 2013 Author #5 Share Posted September 5, 2013 You'll get 2 mini bar set ups ;) Ah ha, That's definitely an incentive! Thanks Kinkacruiser!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtogo Posted September 5, 2013 Author #6 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Any idea how the disembarkation/re-embarkation works, or do I just stay on the ship? It's the same ship, btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coiran Posted September 5, 2013 #7 Share Posted September 5, 2013 If you have over 21 cruises a b2b will get you double loyalty OBC. Also if you have Carnival stock you might get more OBC on a b2b. If you book with FCC's you might also get more OBC as a b2b. You really have to make a spreadsheet to figure out the best way. I have seen it go either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan_Sea Posted September 5, 2013 #8 Share Posted September 5, 2013 If you have over 21 cruises a b2b will get you double loyalty OBC. Also if you have Carnival stock you might get more OBC on a b2b. If you book with FCC's you might also get more OBC as a b2b. You really have to make a spreadsheet to figure out the best way. We found it to be opposite as far as obc. We are getting more booked as one cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coiran Posted September 5, 2013 #9 Share Posted September 5, 2013 We found it to be opposite as far as obc. We are getting more booked as one cruise. I guess it worked out for you - but I have had experiences both ways - I think the OP should get a pencil and paper out and work out the numbers rather than to just jump on opinion or even others actual experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtogo Posted September 5, 2013 Author #10 Share Posted September 5, 2013 At least by reading others experiences, I get an idea of what I need to consider. So far, Onboard Credits and the Mini Bar set up. Thanks, everyone. You are the best! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coiran Posted September 5, 2013 #11 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Any idea how the disembarkation/re-embarkation works, or do I just stay on the ship? It's the same ship, btw. This depends on the country of embarkation and the country at the end of the first leg. You may have to get off the ship for a short time and do a quick customs check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseryyc Posted September 5, 2013 #12 Share Posted September 5, 2013 You get to laugh at all the poor folks getting off after just one week!!! As far as your turnaround day; in the past you just stayed onboard. A couple of days prior you receive information and your new cruise card. However, it's been a few years since I've done a B2B so this might have changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinnorth Posted September 5, 2013 #13 Share Posted September 5, 2013 You get to laugh at all the poor folks getting off after just one week!!! OR, have a good time watching the passengers coming aboard for the second segment. Watch their faces and see how they react to seeing the sites when they first come aboard. We're doing a B2B on the Royal... We just wanted to spend time on this ship. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crzn-Life Posted September 5, 2013 #14 Share Posted September 5, 2013 At least by reading others experiences, I get an idea of what I need to consider. So far, Onboard Credits and the Mini Bar set up. Thanks, everyone. You are the best! Consider OBC, especially shareholder benefits, but the mini-bar set up is available each segment whether you book as a single cruise or separate b2b's so shouldn't enter into the decision making process. For a 12 day and a 14 day cruise booked as separate b2b's, shareholder benefits would be $250 if you booked it as a single cruise. For separate b2b's, it would be $100 for the 12 day & $250 for the 14 day which would be $350. If you used the AmEx platinum card, it would be 1 free Sabatini's for the 26 day cruise, but 2 for the separate b2b's. Also if you are using a TA, it might also mean additional TA OBCs. As a previous poster mentioned, if you have more than 21 cruises, you would also get loyalty benefits for each cruise if you booked 2 separate b2s's and only one if the cruises are combined. It's all in the math. We typically book b2bs and whether they are booked as a single or separate b2b's is determined after I input all of the figures into a spreadsheet and determine which works best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coiran Posted September 5, 2013 #15 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Consider OBC, especially shareholder benefits, but the mini-bar set up is available each segment whether you book as a single cruise or separate b2b's so shouldn't enter into the decision making process. For a 12 day and a 14 day cruise booked as separate b2b's, shareholder benefits would be $250 if you booked it as a single cruise. For separate b2b's, it would be $100 for the 12 day & $250 for the 14 day which would be $350. If you used the AmEx platinum card, it would be 1 free Sabatini's for the 26 day cruise, but 2 for the separate b2b's. Also if you are using a TA, it might also mean additional TA OBCs. As a previous poster mentioned, if you have more than 21 cruises, you would also get loyalty benefits for each cruise if you booked 2 separate b2s's and only one if the cruises are combined. It's all in the math. We typically book b2bs and whether they are booked as a single or separate b2b's is determined after I input all of the figures into a spreadsheet and determine which works best. Thanks for the support - you have to do the math! I have found that it can work either way - after 36 Princess cruises I have learned a lot more - and - I rely on my personal experience as opposed to the things I see on this forum - You can get some clues here but you can also get a hundred different answers for a question and none of them might be correct on your particular cruise. I think that CC should attempt to get a direct line to Princess for the moderators so they can quash misinformative posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julia’s Journey’s Posted September 5, 2013 #16 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I guess it worked out for you - but I have had experiences both ways - I think the OP should get a pencil and paper out and work out the numbers rather than to just jump on opinion or even others actual experiences. I agree as the length of each cruise can change the OBC for FCC, CCL etc. Booking as 2 can also allow for refareing is prices drop on one or either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beg3yrs Posted September 5, 2013 #17 Share Posted September 5, 2013 You can get 2 cruise credits regardless of whether you book as B2B or as a single cruise. The only difference is if you book as a single cruise, to get the extra credit you need to talk to the Captain's Circle representative on the cruise or call after the cruise is over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p010ne Posted September 5, 2013 #18 Share Posted September 5, 2013 :confused: During the required walk-off/walk-on following completion of the first cruise portion out of Galveston in January, the US Customs agent said "We have a problem!"! The Princess boarding personnel had entered my wife twice on the manifest and I was not listed! (I was worried that they would have take a blood sample or something?) We were escorted into their examination room and after much verbal conversations it was determined that some sort of mistake had occurred and I was permitted to re-board after the Princess Representative who was escorting our group was emphatically advised to ensure that I was listed on the new manifest. :p As and aside, we cruised from India to Egypt in April/May and I applied for our Oman/Qatar joint tourist visas online from their Hukoomi governmental website and we were denied because of age over 60 (the cruise company was able to get the visas on-board; however, I have never found why age was a problem online?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sept10dsm Posted September 6, 2013 #19 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I have the opportunity to book a back to back cruise, or to book the trips as one cruise that includes both itineraries. Although I have cruised a lot, I have never booked a back to back cruise. What are the advantages (or disadvantages) of booking a back to back as opposed to booking the longer cruise as one cruise. One is 12 days, the other is 14 days. Or, I can book one cruise for 26 days. Advice and hints are greatly appreciated. Thank you. The military OBC as well if you qualify. Make sure you price the whole cruise both ways. Also, if Platinum or higher your internet minutes will be more. Assured the same cabin if that matters to you as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted September 6, 2013 #20 Share Posted September 6, 2013 We found it to be opposite as far as obc. We are getting more booked as one cruise. That is why you need to figure the cost of the cruises and the OBC for the various ways to book the cruises you will take. Sometimes it is better to book it as one cruise and other times multiple cruises are better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PescadoAmarillo Posted September 6, 2013 #21 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Here's my take on just this subject: http://pescadoamarillo.blogspot.com/2013/07/understanding-princess-obcs-with-b2b.html?m=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted September 6, 2013 #22 Share Posted September 6, 2013 You'll get 2 mini bar set ups ;) That will happen no matter which way it is booked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted September 6, 2013 #23 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Also, if Platinum or higher your internet minutes will be more. Not the way it works. Each segment will get the number of minutes due for the length of the segment no matter which way the cruise was booked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted September 6, 2013 #24 Share Posted September 6, 2013 If you use Princess shore excursions: Booking as one cruise no excursions will be available until they are available for both segments. Booking as two cruises they will be available as each segment becomes available. Booking as one cruise allows you to book an excursion on turnaround day if you wish. Booking as two cruises will not allow you to book an excursion for that day until onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coiran Posted September 6, 2013 #25 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Another thing to consider is getting the same room. I have booked b2b where I could not get the same room if I booked as a single cruise but I could when booking as two cruises - Now, I know this does not make any sense but it has happened to me two or three times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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