B2B or one cruise?

[dorts]

I am booked on a 14 night MSC Seaside sailing next March 2020 departing Miami. I booked this cruise via my TA and it is advertised as such on the MSC Website (one cruise). However, it appears that you can also do either of the 7 nights rather than the full 14 nights. The cruise does return to Miami in the middle so I am confused as to whether I will be classed as a B2B passenger and have to do all that it involves or can I simply treat this day as another port day and relax/sightsee? Also, the app is offering passes to the thermal spa for the entire cruise at £147 GBP - will this likely be for my whole cruise or just the first 7 days and will I need to get a new guest card? This may also apply when it comes to other things like the trio dinner package and fun pass - my planner outlines the full 14 nights without any mention of B2B so are these extras for use during the full 14 nights? Anyone have any experience of this situation? Thanks!

[free from work]

16 minutes ago, dorts said:

I am booked on a 14 night MSC Seaside sailing next March 2020 departing Miami. I booked this cruise via my TA and it is advertised as such on the MSC Website (one cruise). However, it appears that you can also do either of the 7 nights rather than the full 14 nights. The cruise does return to Miami in the middle so I am confused as to whether I will be classed as a B2B passenger and have to do all that it involves or can I simply treat this day as another port day and relax/sightsee? Also, the app is offering passes to the thermal spa for the entire cruise at £147 GBP - will this likely be for my whole cruise or just the first 7 days and will I need to get a new guest card? This may also apply when it comes to other things like the trio dinner package and fun pass - my planner outlines the full 14 nights without any mention of B2B so are these extras for use during the full 14 nights? Anyone have any experience of this situation? Thanks!

We did 14 night on Seaside and this was one cruise. You will have to exit the ship after the first week, we spent the day in Miami but if you would rather they can arrange for you to get straight back on but there can be a bit of a wait. You get a special pass to avoid the new passenger queues if you go out for the day. Assuming you are keeping the same cabin for both weeks there is nothing to do there you keep the same keycard. Just treat it as another POC and enjoy the day. Sorry but no experience of the other issues. 

[Formula280SS]

We've done the B2B on Divina and Seaside three times.  It's easy.

 

First, they will (or should) notify you as a B2B cruiser with a letter to your stateroom mid-week one.  If they don't go to customer service.

 

Second, you will need to get your "week 2 card a/o wristband" well before the last day as customer service 'lights up at the end of the cruise with passengers with issues (usually with their bill). 😮

 

NOTE, once you do that (at least our experience) your old card a/o wristband "won't work anywhere" (bar, fee dining, etc., but the wristband might still work for your room).  We found out at breakfast trying to get mimosa's right off that my card with the beverage package "had been re-carded" and they thought it was stolen.  A manager assisted as I told her we were B2B and we just re-carded the prior night.  She OK'd the mimosa's and we used our new cards thereafter.  The concierge in the Yacht Club re-digitized our wristbands also in a minute.

 

If you want to stay on the ship, all the B2B's meet in one of the lounges/bars near the gangway.  You are escorted down the gangway and directly to US Customs, where they facial recognize you (you'll need your passport and ship pass).  You basically wait  for the USC to certify the 'ship is empty, and you are the 1st group to re-board.  You'll note even the new ship crew in line getting ready to follow you.

 

If you want to leave for a tour, you simply exit and do your tour.  We've never done that (enjoy the ship to ourselves before the new passengers mass in), however, we've been told by other passengers that they had an easy priority re-boarding.

 

Another NOTE: We now do primarily B2B's, same stateroom.  However, we've found that the COST of booking each 7-day week separately is LESS that booking the 14-day.  I don't know why, but it's been that way from our B2B experiences the past 2-years.  With MSC, once we found the stateroom we wanted that was available for both weeks, we'd call MSC and have them quote two 7-day and one 14-day alternatives.  Again, we don't know why, but the two 7-day options has COST LESS.

 

 

Edited April 17, 2019 by Formula280SS

[CruisingFox27]

If you've booked a 14 night sailing you are not on a B2B booking. Anything you purchase will be valid for a 14 night sailing. For example, if you purchase a wifi or drinks package it's valid for the duration of your trip. 

 

As you return to Miami on day 7 you will either disembark and go on an excursion/trip and return to the ship as you would in any other port. If you do not wish to explore Miami and just enjoy a day on board, you will be required to meet in a lounge, probably around 10am, disembark and return through US immigration clearance. The ship has to have a zero count of passengers before anyone returns onboard. 

How long this process takes is entirely dependent on how quickly the departing passengers leave. It took us around 1 1/2 hours as we had people who were missing! 

 

We'd planned our sailing as one 14 night trip but as above, two 7 night sailings, a B2b was considerably cheaper. Plus we'd then receive double perks and points. 

 

 

[dorts]

Thanks everyone - especially the tip on doing a B2B rather than one cruise!

[edsareg]

1 hour ago, dorts said:

Thanks everyone - especially the tip on doing a B2B rather than one cruise!

Hi, I have a cruise booked in the April 2020, In total 30 days. We booked a 7 day from Miami, Returning to Miami, Then on the same ship Miami to KEIL in Germany. It worked out better to book the first 7days thru a TA in the USA, Where we where given a Free Drinks package plus free WIFI. Then book the second part o the cruise with a TA in the UK. The second part is with a Balcony, which was cheaper than a Sea view cabin?
If I had booked the 7 day with the UK TA, It would have cost around £700/800 each, With no freebie's. Booking with a American TA  the cost is $700 each, With the freebie's. We are dealing with MSC , So any thing can happen.
I was also wondering what happens after we return to Miami after the first 7 days.Im sure some one on here will be able to help us.

 

[grandgeezer]

We have a 14 day cruise booked on the Seaside this October. In our case, the single cruise was a couple of hundred dollars, per person,  cheaper than the B2B.

[Beachin2]

Also have the 14 day booked on Seaside in October and it was cheaper than booking as a B2B.

 

Read somewhere that MSC does not require you to attend the second muster drill if you are booked as a 14 night sail (since it is one cruise), but does if you are booked as a B2B.  Anyone have direct experience? 

 

No biggie either way.

[JAGR]

4 hours ago, dorts said:

Thanks everyone - especially the tip on doing a B2B rather than one cruise!

It may pay you to look at it both way.  We are the equivalent of B2B on 2/22 to 3/7 next year, and I did mock bookings for 14 night cruise versus two 7 night cruises as a true B2B.  We do Yacht Club, and it ended up being $420 cheaper to do it as one 14 night cruise.

 

The downside is we get slightly less points on Voyager Club, but we don't really need points.

 

On your spa pass, my sense is that on the shoreside, no one will know what the answer is.  I would save my documentation (booking confirmation) that the cruise is in fact one cruise.  When you get your tickets by e-mail before sailing, it should show that you purchased the pass for your cruise.  You can use that information to ask that they honor it on board.  My experience is that  you will get three answers from three different employees: yes, no, or I don't know.  Just politely ask until you get the answer you want.  On a side note, I would encourage you to sign up for the Meet and Mingle through the CC.  The ships senior officers show up there (usually on the first sea day).  There, you can talk to the hotel director and ask him or her.  I have found that they are good at proactively working to eliminate problems before they occur. If you are on the first week of March, maybe we can meet you on board.  Have a great trip.

[CruisingFox27]

All of your purchases will relate to one cruise, as you've only booked one cruise. On a B2B you have 2 lots of booking documents as you have booked 2 separate cruises. 

We had to attend the muster drill twice and attend the concierge desk to check in for the second week.  A couple sailing with us who had booked a 14 night cruise did not. 

[reedprincess]

9 hours ago, Beachin2 said:

Also have the 14 day booked on Seaside in October and it was cheaper than booking as a B2B.

 

Read somewhere that MSC does not require you to attend the second muster drill if you are booked as a 14 night sail (since it is one cruise), but does if you are booked as a B2B.  Anyone have direct experience? 

 

No biggie either way.

On our Seaside cruise, we had to attend the second muster drill - because we'd changed cabins, and thus muster station .

Those who'd booked into same cabin, whether as a 14 nighter or as two 7 night in sane cabin did not have ti attend the drill.

The drill is remarkably short, so not a big deal either way, IMO.  

[ready2cruzagain]

16 hours ago, Beachin2 said:

Also have the 14 day booked on Seaside in October and it was cheaper than booking as a B2B.

 

Read somewhere that MSC does not require you to attend the second muster drill if you are booked as a 14 night sail (since it is one cruise), but does if you are booked as a B2B.  Anyone have direct experience? 

 

No biggie either way.

 

We did a b2b2b (3 cruises) on the Divina this past Dec. and they were booked as 3 cruises and only had to attend the first muster drill.

[ready2cruzagain]

We have a b2b2b2b booked on the Seaside starting this November.  We booked each cruise individually since it was a LOT less expensive than booking 2 (14 day) cruises)

[Formula280SS]

3 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

We have a b2b2b2b booked on the Seaside starting this November.  We booked each cruise individually since it was a LOT less expensive than booking 2 (14 day) cruises)

 

Although others have found otherwise, we've had the same experience as you.

 

Our Yacht Club B2B on Meraviglia in December 2019 and March 2020, the price differential set us up for three extra nights (two pre-cruise and one post-cruise) at the Intercontinental in Miami and Harbor Beach Marriott in Fort Lauderdale for each cruise set.

 

We've switched up and over to Meraviglia because we done Yacht Club Seaside 2 B2B's and pre-popular 2019 pricing (book long time ago, we met passengers that paid 2-almost 3X; incredible) and the RCCL and NCL upper tiers and Haven passengers are tipping the $cale$.  😮

 

 

[ready2cruzagain]

51 minutes ago, Formula280SS said:

 

Although others have found otherwise, we've had the same experience as you.

 

Our Yacht Club B2B on Meraviglia in December 2019 and March 2020, the price differential set us up for three extra nights (two pre-cruise and one post-cruise) at the Intercontinental in Miami and Harbor Beach Marriott in Fort Lauderdale for each cruise set.

 

We've switched up and over to Meraviglia because we done Yacht Club Seaside 2 B2B's and pre-popular 2019 pricing (book long time ago, we met passengers that paid 2-almost 3X; incredible) and the RCCL and NCL upper tiers and Haven passengers are tipping the $cale$.  😮

 

 

 

Definitely not able to find the deals that we did a little over a year ago.  We booked a balcony for the price of an inside last year with the Memorial Day sale.  Would love a sale again this year but so far not seeing anything too promising.  I want to book the Meraviglia for 2021 but they have not added the drink package to it so waiting.  Hoping they will soon.  We use to sail NCL but their prices are ridiculous. Sitting on 3 cruise next certificates that I might have to unload.

[shukapaw]

As mentioned earlier, loyalty points awarded to you are slightly less with the 14 day option.

 

However, with two 7-day bookings, you get two meals for two at a specialty restaurant (one for each week) and double the number of chocolate ships! Also, if there is a price drop for a single week, you can take advantage of that even if the 14-day rate remains unchanged.

 

NO single strategy is better 100% of the time. It is wise to look at all the options.

 

~Brian