Back 2 Back Questions?????

[wizard-of-roz]

We'll be on the Golden (first time) in November, with a Back 2 Back cruise to the Mexican Riviera.

After the first cruise and upon debarkation do we have to leave the ship? What is the protocol?

Do we remain at the same dining table? (We always ask for traditional dining.)

Can our clothes etc. remain, as is? Luggage?

Any and all suggestions for traveling on a Back 2 Back cruise are welcome!

Thanks

[Berliner]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=480435

 

enjoy your cruise,when we're back i'll report my expirience.

[toescat]

We did a back to back cruise a couple of years ago. No you do not have to disembark. As a matter of fact you don't even have to leave your cabin if you booked your cruises together as you will stay in the same room, therefore luggage stays in your cabin too. As far as dining is concerned, we had the same table per a special request. There is nothing to do while they are getting the ship ready except watch the workers work. At that time we did not have a balcony cabin so we just went up to pool side and sat around relaxing until it was time for the new passengers to board the ship. At that time we sat in the reception area watching everyone's faces as they boarded the ship. Actually my cousins from Minnesota when surprising us by joining us the second leg of our cruise, but when were making our special request for our favorite waiter, the matre di told us my mistake that we had company comming. So we surprised them by waiting for them by the door.

[haggis]

Hello Wizard,

This is quite an easy experience. We Brits do b2b on most of your 7 day cruises in these waters. Its quite striaght forward as I believe you are staying in the same cabin.

 

1. When debarking passengers have left the ship, you will be allowed to get off and carry on as if its another day in port.

 

2. Your in a nice position to arrange whatever table you want. If you like the waiters and table on your first week or if you dont like either, approach the maitre d' towards the end of your last week and he will be more in a position to assist you then. We have in the past, informed the waiter if we want to stay with him and it has always been arranged to our satisfaction.

 

3. Everything stays in the cabin. If you are moving cabins, its all moved for you apart from any items you wish to remove yourself. Clothes from the wardrobe, drawers, the lot are interchangeable.

 

Its quite a straightforward operation and in our case has always been hassle free.

Have a great cruise,

Jimmy

[Luvsnorkeling]

We've done back 2 backs on another cruise line twice. This will be our third time around--first time with Princess. We've always shopped around, booked early and gotten great deals. We've never had to leave the ship between the two weeks. Clothes and everything stayed just where they were as we booked ourselves in the same cabin on both legs. We love the day in port. You can sleep late and have lunch early with an UNCROWDED buffet. We actually got to meet some of the ship's officers while having lunch. Before lunch, we explored the ship, taking great pictures of venues devoid of people and having a look at every kind of cabin aboard (to help in planning future cruises). Doors to all cabins are opened because they're being cleaned. We also got a good look at any areas of the ship we missed the first week. It's a great day to do laundry as no one is in the laundry rooms. Being aboard two weeks, you don't have to be so pressured to make reservations for specialty restaurants or spa treatments because if you miss them the first week, you can always book ahead for the second week before the second week's passengers even arrive.

 

Just one or two drawbacks...if they even are drawbacks. If you are taking an east/west Caribbean cruise, all the menus, movies and shows will probably be identical to the first week. But this can be good because it gives you a chance to try menu items you were tempted to try the first week but passed up for something else. Or you can have your favorite dishes from the first week all over again! You can see shows/movies you were too tired or too busy to see the first week. Most of all...we LOVE that feeling as everyone else is setting their luggage outside their cabin doors the night before disembarkation...and lying in bed the next morning half asleep, thinking about all of them getting off the ship while you still have ONE MORE WEEK aboard! Just try not to giggle too much. Everyone will wonder what you've been drinking!! :-)

[PescadoAmarillo]

Whether or not you have to leave the ship between cruises depends on the port...in San Diego, Buenos Aires and Galveston we did not; in Fort Lauderdale last month we did. Princess handles B2B cruises very well...typically, we get a letter in our cabin the final night of the first cruise advising us of any immigration requirements and containing our new ship cards. We did have to go down and present our credit card for the second cruise at Passenger Services. On the final morning of the first cruise, we were met in the atrium by someone from Passenger Services at 9:20am, who escorted us off the ship, through immigration, and right back on the ship. we could have left the ship earlier in the morning as passengers were disembarking, but we would have been unable to reboard until 11:30am. We opted to do the 9:20 immigration meeting, reboard, and then left the ship from about 10:30 till 3:30 or so (for a 5 pm departure). The other nice thing about Princess...you don't have to go through the muster drill a second time if you are staying in the same cabin.

[paul929207]

Glad to hear that the transition is so smoothe. We just booked a b2b2b on the Star for March, 2008. Booked early to make sure we have the same cabin the whole time.

 

Paul

[Tallcruiser]

Hi Roz, Hi Morey!

I just had to stop and say Hi. Is Brenda going this time? You all made our fall cruise so fun!

Wishing you smooth seas and sunny skies!!

Robin

[silvercruiser]

On the Star Princess in November 2007 we all had a horrible experience on changeover day. Meeting in the casino as requested, we signed in and were told to wait for further instructions. An hour later, most of the people had just walked off the ship with their old boarding passes, turned around and used their new boarding cards to reenter the ship. There were four of us left and my husband went to the purser's desk to ask what the holdup was. The gal in charge finally showed up and told us we had to leave the ship and come back. We were almost off when we asked, "What about the others still waiting in the casino?" She didn't know any of us were there! And didn't remember telling us to wait for her to come back. Talk about a fouled up mess. We've done many B2Bs and have never encountered anything that was organized so badly.

[wizard-of-roz]

Berlilner: I forgot about your post.....thanks for again for the info.

Toescat: How Fun! Surprises can be such a delight! People watch; it's one of my most favorite things to do!

Haggis: Thanks Jimmy! I love "straight forward!"

Luvsnorkeling: "Uncrowded buffet", what a concept! I thought about the luggage in the hall, the night before. I've always hated that part....now, I can just giggle (loudly) when I don't have to do it!

PescadoAmarillo: Great advice....the timing is crucial and you've really given me something to think about!

TallCruiser: Hi Robin! How good to hear from you. You are such a wonderful gal......you helped to make our cruise a delight! We didn't get to see you enough! I look forward to running into you again. And, of course Miss. Brenny will be onboard.....we're also doing the Oosterdam in April and she will be right beside me. Be well! And, thank you so much for coming on board!

Silvercruiser: You mean 2006? Sorry about your experience! Hope it doesn't happen to us! Now that you've made me aware of this, I'll be looking out for that "left behind" feeling!

Thank you to all of you who gave such great feedback to my question. That's why I love these boards!;)