Back to Back Cruising

[msjazzymiss]

I’ve booked a cruise to France & Spain leaving out of Southampton, England on May 28, 2021on the Anthem of the Seas.  I’m seriously considering booking the same ship leaving on June 4th which would make my trip a 14 day back to back.  I figured I might as well see a little more of Europe while I’m there since I don’t know if or when I’ll have the opportunity to ever visit Europe again.  The June 4 cruise includes stops in Belgium and The Netherlands.  Okay, back to my question, when doing a back to back cruise are you able to stay in the same cabin for both cruises.  Do you have to disembark at the end of the first cruise, go through the screening process again, then embark for the 2nd part of my journey?

[Iamcruzin]

11 minutes ago, msjazzymiss said:

I’ve booked a cruise to France & Spain leaving out of Southampton, England on May 28, 2021on the Anthem of the Seas.  I’m seriously considering booking the same ship leaving on June 4th which would make my trip a 14 day back to back.  I figured I might as well see a little more of Europe while I’m there since I don’t know if or when I’ll have the opportunity to ever visit Europe again.  The June 4 cruise includes stops in Belgium and The Netherlands.  Okay, back to my question, when doing a back to back cruise are you able to stay in the same cabin for both cruises.  Do you have to disembark at the end of the first cruise, go through the screening process again, then embark for the 2nd part of my journey?

As long as the same cabin is available for the second week you can book both in the same room. You do have to disembark but you don't have to go through the screening process. I would try to book this through a travel agent or at least through someone at Royal Caribbean and not via the website.  It will be easier for them to find an available room for both weeks.

[firefly333]

They probably have a list of b2b, but just in case I tell them at customer service and they leave a letter in my cabin for b2b ers what the process is. Like it might say at 9:30 or 10 when everyone else is off the ship, meet near customer service desk and they will escort you off to a desk to check in, then escort you back on and issue you a new card for the next leg.

 

You will have the ship to yourselves for a little bit which is always a nice treat.

Edited May 28, 2020 by firefly333

[Ourusualbeach]

Every country has different procedures for turnaround day.  In Europe you may not even be required to disembark the ship.  
 

check with guest services early in the first cruise to make sure that you are on the B2B list.  You will get a letter in your stateroom detailing exactly what will happen on turnaround day 

[firefly333]

Even in the usa it differs. I've gotten a new card issued in the lobby near guest services once and not gotten off, the other times was escorted to a desk to recheck my passport and issue new card. 

[Sunshine3601]

If unable to get same cabin for both cruises you pack up anything in drawers and bathroom and leave all clothes hung up and leave luggage in your cabin that morning and they will move everything to your new cabin including everything you had hung up will now be in new closet.  My Dh joked with our cabin steward on one of  b2bs that he was going to hang up his socks and underwear so he didnt have to pack.  They thought he was serious and left a pile of hangars in our cabin the night before moving day.  

They make the whole process as easy as possible.

Doing a b2b in europe is a great plan and you will really be happy you did it!!

[Sunshine3601]

Depending on how many b2b cruisers there are on your trip they usually do a special lunch either in one of the speciality restaurants or the Mdr.  Sometimes they even give you a free glass of wine with the special lunch. 

[bonsai3s]

Additional info:

On our b2b out of Southampton, we received our new seapass cards the day before the turn-aound day. We were also given an "In-Transit" card after we told guest services we were doing a DIY trip to Winchester.

The train station was walking distance from the cruise terminal ( or an inexpensive taxi ride)...and approximately a 25 minute train ride. We were blessed with a beautiful day highlighted by a visit to the historic Wincester Cathedral.

When we got back to Southampton, we walked to the massive Westquay Mall and 😄 IKEA 😄.

At the cruise terminal, we were able to bypass all the lines using our new seapass and "In-Transit" cards. (You will still have to go through the security line of course.)

 

* If you decide to stay onboard, you will have access to your cabin. Happy sailing!

[Cruise a holic]

We are scheduled to do a back to back on the Oasis in Jan to the Caribbean, assuming all is well.  We will be in a suite.  Is the process for a b/2/b different for suite guests?  Do we meet in the suite lounge?  Thanks.

[Sunshine3601]

My past experiences with b2bs everyone met in same location no matter what type of cabin. 

[LeeW]

5 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

We are scheduled to do a back to back on the Oasis in Jan to the Caribbean, assuming all is well.  We will be in a suite.  Is the process for a b/2/b different for suite guests?  Do we meet in the suite lounge?  Thanks.

 

In US ports they have to "zero" the ship, so generally anyone who wants to get off and right back on meets in a central location until all departing passengers leave and then you are escorted off the ship, through security, and back on.  Sometimes they bring the Immigration folks on the ship and the process is done there.  You can also leave on your own (with suite escort) but can't get back on until general boarding starts.  Usually you get your new cruise cards during this process but you may want to print your second cruise boarding passes out, especially if you have a drink package.

[ONECRUISER]

16 hours ago, firefly333 said:

They probably have a list of b2b, but just in case I tell them at customer service and they leave a letter in my cabin for b2b ers what the process is. Like it might say at 9:30 or 10 when everyone else is off the ship, meet near customer service desk and they will escort you off to a desk to check in, then escort you back on and issue you a new card for the next leg.

 

You will have the ship to yourselves for a little bit which is always a nice treat.

Agree,  All I do is B2B, several a yr and 50% time they didnt have me on the List so I always go to Customer Service now.

[Ashland]

9 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

We are scheduled to do a back to back on the Oasis in Jan to the Caribbean, assuming all is well.  We will be in a suite.  Is the process for a b/2/b different for suite guests?  Do we meet in the suite lounge?  Thanks.

No...regardless of your category...you're a consecutive cruiser and will meet with all the other's at the location designated. A detailed information sheet will be left in your cabin near or at the end of your first leg.

[Cruise a holic]

2 hours ago, Ashland said:

No...regardless of your category...you're a consecutive cruiser and will meet with all the other's at the location designated. A detailed information sheet will be left in your cabin near or at the end of your first leg.

Hope we will be able to cruise    Txs

[Ashland]

1 hour ago, Cruise a holic said:

Hope we will be able to cruise    Txs

I hope you are and we are able to also. We're doing another B2B on Freedom out of San Juan.

[2chiefs]

22 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Depending on how many b2b cruisers there are on your trip they usually do a special lunch either in one of the speciality restaurants or the Mdr.  Sometimes they even give you a free glass of wine with the special lunch. 

Sometimes even free-flowing wine.

We have not seen this lately however 🙁

T

[Ashland]

1 hour ago, 2chiefs said:

Sometimes even free-flowing wine.

We have not seen this lately however 🙁

T

They also use to have Mimosa's at the consecutive cruiser's meeting .. not on they last few we've been on.

[Cruise a holic]

9 hours ago, Ashland said:

They also use to have Mimosa's at the consecutive cruiser's meeting .. not on they last few we've been on.

we have the drink package for both legs of the cruise.  

[cublet]

On 5/28/2020 at 2:36 AM, Ourusualbeach said:

Every country has different procedures for turnaround day.  In Europe you may not even be required to disembark the ship.  
 

check with guest services early in the first cruise to make sure that you are on the B2B list.  You will get a letter in your stateroom detailing exactly what will happen on turnaround day 

Hello,

 

You don't disembark (at Southampton at least).

 

You will assemble in, say, MDR, be given your new room card and led to the deck with the machines with the card readers. You just 'depart' the ship with your old card and 'embark' the ship with your new card and you are done.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[cruisegirl1]

Haven’t seen ANY refreshments at the B2B meetings  we’ve attended. Honestly, while we’ve done many B2B, there have only been a handful of pre meetings.   The last meeting, in Fall 2019 was to make us aware of a coast  guard inspection and to expect a long wait in  the terminal. 
 

We’ve NEVER been offered any type of wine beverage with the B2B luncheon. We’ve enjoyed B2B since  early in 2000. 
 

m

[Sunshine3601]

8 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Haven’t seen ANY refreshments at the B2B meetings  we’ve attended. Honestly, while we’ve done many B2B, there have only been a handful of pre meetings.   The last meeting, in Fall 2019 was to make us aware of a coast  guard inspection and to expect a long wait in  the terminal. 
 

We’ve NEVER been offered any type of wine beverage with the B2B luncheon. We’ve enjoyed B2B since  early in 2000. 
 

m

I have never attended the consecutive cruisers meeting but every single b2b I have done has typically had a choice of one glass of wine or "free flowing" wine as other poster mentioned.     My last b2b was in January on serenade and we had wine served with our lunch in the MDR.

[cruisegirl1]

2 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I have never attended the consecutive cruisers meeting but every single b2b I have done has typically had a choice of one glass of wine or "free flowing" wine as other poster mentioned.     My last b2b was in January on serenade and we had wine served with our lunch in the MDR.

Interesting how my experience regarding wine/B2B luncheons was completely different.   
 

Hope you enjoyed the luncheon and your other B2B  cruises. 
 

m

[karena1]

Doing a B2B on Freedom out of San Juan in Oct.  If it is like the last time (been a while), we went to a meeting, got our keys for the next week, and could get off the ship with a transit ticket so did not have to go through customs.  When we came back, we skipped the check-in and walked right on the ship

 

On Navigator last year, we stayed on the ship rather than going out for the day.  They had us meet in the lounge at a certain time, walked us off the ship, through customs and walked us right back on.

 

 

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Interesting how my experience regarding wine/B2B luncheons was completely different.   
 

Hope you enjoyed the luncheon and your other B2B  cruises. 
 

m

 

We've also had wine served on most B2B lunches. I just assumed it was the norm

[springaussie]

Just saying.

That when the ships get going again I would not be surprised if Back to Back cruising is stopped in the interim.

Yes I realize the crew are on for up to 9 months.