Back To Back Question

[MrPatches]

I have a cruise booked for fall 2021 thru a TA.  I'm thinking of making a back-to-back, but directly thru Carnival, so it will actually be 2 separate cruises, but the same cabin.

If I book this, will I have to disembark and embark again, or can I stay on the ship?

Would this change if I booked the 2nd leg thru the TA?

[sternfanla]

no matter who you book with, they are always separate cruises. you will have to disembark. 

[MrPatches]

3 minutes ago, sternfanla said:

no matter who you book with, they are always separate cruises. you will have to disembark. 

So you have to go thru customs and then the whole "embarkation process" again?  Or is it simplified in any way?

[DANCING GRANDMOMMY]

You may leave all your things in your room. If you have to disembark, you will be escorted off and then escorted back on.

 

[skrufy]

3 minutes ago, MrPatches said:

I have a cruise booked for fall 2021 thru a TA.  I'm thinking of making a back-to-back, but directly thru Carnival, so it will actually be 2 separate cruises, but the same cabin.

If I book this, will I have to disembark and embark again, or can I stay on the ship?

Would this change if I booked the 2nd leg thru the TA?

  You can find the B2B instructions on line. 
The first cruise you will check in the normal way.

The second cruise you will gather in a designated area the morning of your second cruise. A guest services rep will take you down to customs. Leave luggage in cabin.

You will the be escorted back on board by the guest services rep and will check in at the Guest Services desk.New S&S cards will be issued, and if you wish to go ashore, you can do so. That’s all there is to it. Don’t forget your Identification  for customs and guest services.

[MrPatches]

Thank you.  The "simplified method" makes the decision much easier.

[xDisconnections]

20 minutes ago, sternfanla said:

no matter who you book with, they are always separate cruises. you will have to disembark. 

Not necessarily. If the turnaround port is outside of the US, you do not have to disembark. In addition, because you’re considered an in transit passenger, most upper midscale cruise lines (Carnival is not included in this category) will not require you to attend the muster drill a second time unless it has been 30 days since your last one.

[sternfanla]

A few years ago on my B2B out of San Juan Puerto Rico. We were escorted off the ship and said we had to wait to get back on with the other passengers. we were not escorted back on. but what I have read, Most get escorted back on the ship.

[coevan]

also remember your first cruise account closes. Nothing carries over to the next cruise and you have a new folio number

[coevan]

1 minute ago, sternfanla said:

A few years ago on my B2B out of San Juan Puerto Rico. We were escorted off the ship and said we had to wait to get back on with the other passengers. we were not escorted back on. but what I have read, Most get escorted back on the ship.

 

 

I have done several B2B and never heard anyone ever talk about boarding with the new passengers. 

[sternfanla]

1 minute ago, coevan said:

 

 

I have done several B2B and never heard anyone ever talk about boarding with the new passengers. 

I even asked them about escorting us back onto the ship and they said No. I was disappointed since that was my 1st and only B2B. 

[coevan]

what about all the other B2B pax?

[HaveWeMetYet]

I would not book a back to back. They are likely not going to be allowed as part of the return to cruising requirements. I believe AIDA is not allowing it. They are a Carnival subsidiary. Maybe one day but not for awhile.

[TNcruising02]

If back to backs aren't allowed, you could schedule week 2 on a different ship.  I would love to book a back to back someday.

 

 

[cocoaloco]

I have 4 cruises B2B  on the Valor beginning Oct.1   ...we'll see what happens....

 

[drsel]

back to back cruises are great, but side to side Cruises (on 2 or 3 different ships sailing from the same port) are better, because you have different shows activities and entertainment and different food menus. So plenty of variety.

And variety is the spice of life!

 

 

[firefly333]

38 minutes ago, HaveWeMetYet said:

I would not book a back to back. They are likely not going to be allowed as part of the return to cruising requirements. I believe AIDA is not allowing it. They are a Carnival subsidiary. Maybe one day but not for awhile.

I got 2 b2b booked, feb 2021 which I know is iffy and march 2022. 

 

News to me it's not being allowed 

[SDPadreFan]

We have a B2B scheduled for mid October on Carnival Magic. We have the same Spa Balcony cabin for both sailings. First sailing is Eastern Caribbean, 2nd sailing is Western Caribbean. Biggest concerns right now are - will the cruises even happen, and will the Spa privileges even exist (thalassotherpy pool, etc). If the cruises get canceled - we'll survive. I'm fine with the $600 OBC they will offer (per cruise). We would push those cruises to 2022 as our 4 weeks of vacation in 2021 are already spoken for (15 night Carnival Hawaii cruise in the Spring and 2 weeks at our timeshare in Cabo San Lucas in Oct/Nov 2021). We can use that cabin credit for Cheers, etc. If the Spa is closed (or severely restricted), then we will argue for some benefit (or ideally a refund) to make up for it.

 

Not so much worried about repeat activities/shows/menus over the 2 weeks because there are always options. Comedy Club, Showroom, movies at sea, quiet night stargazing. Optional restaurants to try. Carnival always has something going on.

 

If the cruises don't happen - we'll figure out something else for this year. Trip to Sedona and the Grand Canyon later in the fall. Drive the West Coast from San Diego to Vancouver, B.C. A week or two in Washington D.C. (if the museums open up). We have a very good friend who lives in Alexandria, VA so we wouldn't need a hotel.

[MrPatches]

Thanks for all the responses.

 

I agree that it isn't ideal to do the same ship but the dates work for us.  One sailing is 6 days and the other one 4 days.  Six days is "just too short" and 10 is "just right".  It's a spa cabin, so if the entertainment is redundant, I can always go to the spa!

 

Final payment for Leg 2 isn't until July 2021 (booking refundable) but I want to book now because the same cabin is available.

[PhillyFan33579]

5 hours ago, MrPatches said:

Thank you.  The "simplified method" makes the decision much easier.

Keep in mind feedback you are reading is all based on pre COVID-19 cruises. It’s possible, although I haven’t heard anything specifically, that the process for B2B cruises could be significantly different in the future. 

[Bgcruising]

5 hours ago, coevan said:

 

 

I have done several B2B and never heard anyone ever talk about boarding with the new passengers. 

Me either 

[drsel]

First the room steward shifted our bags to the new cabin. then we obtained the new sea pass from guest relations.

the kind lady at guest relations escorted us to the exit.

 

Then we just scanned the old sea passes at the exit for check out, then scanned the new sea passes to check in, and went to our new cabin.

It's all so easy and very convenient

 

 

 

[xDisconnections]

On 7/18/2020 at 1:50 PM, coevan said:

 

 

I have done several B2B and never heard anyone ever talk about boarding with the new passengers. 

If you exit the cruise terminal on your own to explore the turnaround port, you'll certainly be waiting until general boarding begins to get back on the ship.