Please help with back-to-back cruise question

[Sun Lover]

We are thinking about doing a back-to-back maybe next Jan. We've never done one before and I'm wondering do people usually stay on the same ship and just go a different route for the second week or do they usually get off the ship and sail on a different ship the second week? Do they make you disembark even if you're staying on the same ship? Are there any discounts with a back-to-back? Any information and advice would be great. Thanks.

[Merion_Mom]

We are thinking about doing a back-to-back maybe next Jan. We've never done one before and I'm wondering do people usually stay on the same ship and just go a different route for the second week or do they usually get off the ship and sail on a different ship the second week? Do they make you disembark even if you're staying on the same ship? Are there any discounts with a back-to-back? Any information and advice would be great. Thanks.

 

There is no discount for consecutive cruises.

 

I think that it's a good idea for your first one to pick a ship that alternates itineraries. (Most of them do).

 

You leave the ship but only to clear customs & immigration. Then you can get right back on. You also have the option of spending the day off the ship, returning by the appointed time.

[Sun Lover]

Thanks. Do you think we'd be better off just staying on the same ship and going a different route the second week or picking a different ship that sails from the same port?

[sross6019]

Stay on the same ship. Easier. From what I understand if you get off to get on another ship it is like getting on the second one for the first time; no priority boarding, no free run of ship, have to go through security, wait for luggage, etc.

 

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[silentbob007]

I've done 2 B2B cruises and RCI has done a good job of taking care of us both times. We switched rooms between cruises and the room stewards were great at arranging for our things to be moved to our next cabin (they would even move thing on hangers so you didn't have to repack everything). We simply left everything we needed moved in a closet and it appeared in our next cabin.

[Clarea]

Thanks. Do you think we'd be better off just staying on the same ship and going a different route the second week or picking a different ship that sails from the same port?

I'd try hard to stay in the same stateroom on the same ship. Much less hassle.

[cb at sea]

Agreed! If you're in the same cabin for both "legs", it's ever so much easier! They will escort you off the ship, then you get your new Seapass card...and back on the ship!

[Merion_Mom]

Thanks. Do you think we'd be better off just staying on the same ship and going a different route the second week or picking a different ship that sails from the same port?

 

*We* call it a Side by Side cruise when you change ships. ;)

 

And while they will move your stuff for you, you still have to put everything except hanging stuff back into your suitcases and then re-unpack. Much nicer when you keep the same cabin.

[danp]

We have done many B2B cruises.The one thing to do is look to see if it does two different iteneries as the Adventure does out of San Juan,we will be doing two B2B[three weeks].The other ver important thing is to TRY and book the same room,if you cant don't worry if you have to get two different rooms,not to worry,the room steward will be doing the move for you.As for the in between day,all ships are different some you can stay on board for customs and others you are the last ones off and come right back on befor the other passengers get on.There will be a B2B meeting where they go over everything you have to do.Usually the last day.

[Sun Lover]

Do you know if the entertainment would be the same for the second week on the same ship or does it change weekly? I'm talking about mainly the comedy show and the headliner. I'm guessing the rest would remain the same. Thanks so much for your help.

[Merion_Mom]

Agreed! If you're in the same cabin for both "legs", it's ever so much easier! They will escort you off the ship, then you get your new Seapass card...and back on the ship!

 

How many B2B cruises have you done, cb? Which ship do you think handled the turnaround day best?

[Merion_Mom]

Do you know if the entertainment would be the same for the second week on the same ship or does it change weekly? I'm talking about mainly the comedy show and the headliner. I'm guessing the rest would remain the same. Thanks so much for your help.

 

So you are talking about an Oasis class ship?

 

Comedians stay on for multiple sailings. It all depends on where you hit on their schedules.

 

Headliners sometimes stay on for several cruises, but sometimes not.

[socialworker]

This past January we did b2b2b - 2 different ports and 3 different cruise lines/ships. It went as smooth as glass and it gave us the biggest bang for our buck and it was a great basis for immediate comparison. But I will say I was a little nervous because had there been any little hiccup getting from one ship to another we would of been in deep trouble.

 

We have also done "regular" back to back sailings previously keeping the same cabin. I think this works great for Alaska - northbound then southbound. But it's good for almost any itinerary that changes from one sailing to the next. Sometimes you can find a line that alternates between three itineraries.

 

Have fun!

[Sun Lover]

Yeah, we want to go on an Oasis class.

[gagirl7143]

How many B2B cruises have you done, cb? Which ship do you think handled the turnaround day best?

 

 

We have done many and find that the turnaround experience depends on port and the number of b2b guests. Best by for for us was Brilliance in Boston. There were only 4 of us, a comedian, the CD'S wife ( Dru's wife) and we 2. Went out on deck, pinged off and then pinged on. Took 3 minutes!!!! Have found all round that European turnarounds are in general much less complicated than us but even those have exceptions.

Agree that the easiest is same room, opposite itinerary cruises.

 

 

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[JudyjudyjudyS]

Curious, if you book B2B and buy liquor, is it delivered to your cabin the last night of the first cruise? Have done B2B but never tested this.

[audome78]

Yeah, we want to go on an Oasis class.

 

We just did our 7th B2B...this time on Oasis. First week was the western route, second week was the Eastern route. We had the same cabin for both weeks. We had to take friends to the airport between the cruises, so I can'r comment on the procedure for this particular B2B, However, we have done MANY in Port Canaveral, and once everyone else it off the ship, you ping out of the ship, literally walk thru customs with your paperwork and then get right back on.

 

you WILL have access to your cabin before the 1 PM deadline.

 

We wouldn't do it any other way.

[Merion_Mom]

Curious, if you book B2B and buy liquor, is it delivered to your cabin the last night of the first cruise? Have done B2B but never tested this.

They usually "catch" the fact that you are a consecutive cruiser and don't deliver until your real last night.

 

Just make friends with someone on the first cruise. Give them cash to buy your bottle. Get it from their cabin their last night. :D:halo:

[rodenboy]

Relatively easy process, you scan off the ship and can get back on the second they have confirmation the ship has cleared of all guests. We had to wait about 20 minutes as there was a cruiser who refused to leave. Embarkation for the second half of the B2B was delayed for everyone on that sailing. We got back on immediately, enjoyed our complimentary B2B lunch at Giovanni's and spent a few hours in the pool as the ship got busier and busier.

 

 

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[Mykitteh]

They usually "catch" the fact that you are a consecutive cruiser and don't deliver until your real last night.

 

Just make friends with someone on the first cruise. Give them cash to buy your bottle. Get it from their cabin their last night. :D:halo:

 

We just came off a B2B on Freedom-they dropped his alcohol (My Brothers) off the last night of the first leg. He just packed it away.

 

 

Back to back cruises are def the way to go. I usually skip the lunch they offer for the B2B people and find myself a nice chair pool side and enjoy the hot tubs while they're empty. :D Take some pictures that it'd be harder to get of the ship, etc.

[meadowlander]

Do you know if the entertainment would be the same for the second week on the same ship or does it change weekly? I'm talking about mainly the comedy show and the headliner. I'm guessing the rest would remain the same. Thanks so much for your help.

 

I did a b2b last summer on Adventure. Two of the acts performed during the first week also performed the second week. One was a comedian, the other a musical act.

 

There was one other comic headliner and at least one other musical act during the second week. Overall the entertainment during the second week was far superior despite the two repeat performers.

[JudyjudyjudyS]

They usually "catch" the fact that you are a consecutive cruiser and don't deliver until your real last night.

 

Just make friends with someone on the first cruise. Give them cash to buy your bottle. Get it from their cabin their last night. :D:halo:

 

DUH! Brilliant idea! Thanks!!!!!

[Numer3]

I have not done B2B but just did a 1 week cruise, went home for a week then went on exact same cruise the next week. (Would much rather have spread them out but it just worked out that way). I just wanted to add that on Liberty, of course the 3 main shows were the same (In the Air, Saturday Night Fever & the ice skating show, although there was a new act within the ice skating show bc of a visiting performer, so that was a nice surprise) but the comedians and entertainers on the other 4 nights were all different than the ones two weeks before. Not sure if I just got lucky or what. But for me at least, two weeks of the same food was a little much, although I'm sure making use of the specialty restaurants would have helped with that.

 

 

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[Sun Lover]

They give you a free lunch at Giovanni's if you're doing a B2B? Do you know if that's the policy on Harmony?

 

Relatively easy process, you scan off the ship and can get back on the second they have confirmation the ship has cleared of all guests. We had to wait about 20 minutes as there was a cruiser who refused to leave. Embarkation for the second half of the B2B was delayed for everyone on that sailing. We got back on immediately, enjoyed our complimentary B2B lunch at Giovanni's and spent a few hours in the pool as the ship got busier and busier.

 

 

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[rodenboy]

They give you a free lunch at Giovanni's if you're doing a B2B? Do you know if that's the policy on Harmony?

 

 

Not sure about Harmony, this was on Allure in 2014 so quite a while ago now. Policy may have changed....

 

 

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