Can you tell me about your back to back trip?

[gagirl789]

My Dh and I are considering doing a back to back cruise. Sadly not a 14 day cruise but a 3 then a 4 to the Bahamas on the same ship. Due to a pesky work schedule someone in our party can only go for a 4 day but the rest of us could stay on for one more trip. Per NCL if we have the same cabin we would not have to physically get off the ship. We would need to settle our onboard account and get new sign and sail cards. We would go to 2 of the same ports but as long as someone else is cooking and cleaning it is fine with me! I would be grateful for any info that you all could pass along.

[retired rascal]

we did a 5/9 total 14 in february. it was wonderful. on the changeover day we had alot of quiet ship time. everyone on the B2B met at one time, was walked off the ship by staff and then back on. we kept same cards and settled the account on the 14th day. if you booked your cruise as 7 nights, it should work the same. if you separately booked 2 separate cruises, it may differ. worked well for us.

[Addictedtwo]

we did a 5/9 total 14 in february. it was wonderful. on the changeover day we had alot of quiet ship time. everyone on the B2B met at one time, was walked off the ship by staff and then back on. we kept same cards and settled the account on the 14th day. if you booked your cruise as 7 nights, it should work the same. if you separately booked 2 separate cruises, it may differ. worked well for us.

 

 

Back to back whether booked as a single reservation or two reservations it will be the same procedure.

The only time it will differ is if you have to change cabins.

[terrymtex01]

If I could throw my own question on with this one...

 

We are thinking of either late next year or in 2010 taking the NCL Star out of Seattle again for the Alaskan cruise. This would get back, lets just say, August 7th. Then hopping over to Canada to board the Pearl the next day, Aug 8th and then going on its path through Alaska.. Has anyone done this? How did you like it as opposed to taking a true b2b cruise? Do you get any kind of a discount or price break when you book two cruises at the same time or book a b2b?

[Cosmopolitan]

we did a 5/9 total 14 in february. it was wonderful. on the changeover day we had alot of quiet ship time. everyone on the B2B met at one time, was walked off the ship by staff and then back on. we kept same cards and settled the account on the 14th day.

 

My dream cruise:)

[CastawayCruiser]

We did a 14 day back to back on the Spirit a couple of months ago and I think there weren't very many others doing it so we didn't have to meet as a group and go to customs. They delivered a letter to our cabin with instructions on what to do. We had to get a new sign and sail card and then walked off through customs and got right back on with the first guests boarding.

[terrymtex01]

We did a 14 day back to back on the Spirit a couple of months ago and I think there weren't very many others doing it so we didn't have to meet as a group and go to customs. They delivered a letter to our cabin with instructions on what to do. We had to get a new sign and sail card and then walked off through customs and got right back on with the first guests boarding.

 

Did you get any kind of a price break by booking a b2b? Which itinerary did you cruise?

 

thanks for your help.

[msescada]

If I could throw my own question on with this one...

 

We are thinking of either late next year or in 2010 taking the NCL Star out of Seattle again for the Alaskan cruise. This would get back, lets just say, August 7th. Then hopping over to Canada to board the Pearl the next day, Aug 8th and then going on its path through Alaska.. Has anyone done this? How did you like it as opposed to taking a true b2b cruise? Do you get any kind of a discount or price break when you book two cruises at the same time or book a b2b?

 

We've done a bunch of B2B's and never once caught a discount on the second week. nada. zilch. nothing.

[garycarla]

We did one b2b. No price break. I highly doubt they will give one.

[VoyageVirgin]

Nope no price break for doing the B2B

[Sally Forth]

Me, too. I've gone on a couple of 14 day cruises, but I think that psychologically, a B2B would almost be more gratifying because you could see everyone else winding down and know you were staying on for another one. We did a B2B on the last Pride of Hawaii cruise, but many people stayed on for the Hawaii-LA leg because it was such a good deal.

 

Viv

[foursum]

Did you get any kind of a price break by booking a b2b? Which itinerary did you cruise?

 

thanks for your help.

 

We did 9+5 B2B on Pearl last Oct and got such a low price adding on the 5 it was a no-brainer. Something like $200 each for 5 more days. The 9 days was Southern Carib-Samana, Antigua, Tortola, Barbados, St. Lucia followed by Cozumel and Caymans. It was great.

 

On the Miami turnaround day, we met with 100 others in Asian restaurant, were escorted off thru customs with passport in hand and back on ship a few minutes later. Enjoyed several hours alone by the pool.

 

For me, the longer the cruise, the better so we're doing 12 day repo on the Jewel in Oct from NYC to Miami and next year Pearl repo from LA, thru Panama Canal to Miami. Both have many ports we haven't visited. Looked at adding 5 day western to this year's repo but no discount.

[gagirl789]

Thank you all for the tips! We are still mulling the options. Some of your trips sound wonderful.

 

On our 1st cruise we met a wonderful retired couple who got off a Princess ship after 10 days then took the 7 day on NCL. During the winter months they said they pretty much lived on ships. They were in a suite! WOW My DH said that was his dream retirement!

[terrymtex01]

Thank you all for the tips! We are still mulling the options. Some of your trips sound wonderful.

 

On our 1st cruise we met a wonderful retired couple who got off a Princess ship after 10 days then took the 7 day on NCL. During the winter months they said they pretty much lived on ships. They were in a suite! WOW My DH said that was his dream retirement!

 

LOL.. I don't know why but this reminded me of my Aunt and Uncle. Worth millions and millions.. take 30 and 45 day world cruises without blinking an eye.. Yet.. when they go to a casino, my Aunt will only play on nickel machins.. ONE NICKEL at a time.. LOL.. You gotta love her.

[kdg51]

We did back to back on the Spirit last month and I agree it was a relief to no be packing with the others at the end of Cruise #1. I booked online w/TA and it automatically gave us the same cabins for both. Not a problem because I only booked online to save $$ and the person there that I always do business with was holding the cabins we wanted just waiting for us to call w/booking numbers so he could switch them. :D

 

No discount for the second booking but I guess the previous year when I followed someone's thread from the ship it was offered as a 14 day cruise. :eek:

 

After doing 5 repo cruises, we weren't as happy with the b2b. One thing we hadn't realized was that the shows would be the same both weeks and we enjoy the shows at night. On a repositioning cruise they are bringing on and dropping off entertainers along the way so there is a better variety.

 

If some of your group can only go for the 4 days this does sound like a good option for you. Our key cards were already set up for the 2 weeks. Our letter said that we needed to go to the desk early in the AM to get new cards so I sent DH and they tried them and said they were fine. We did have to leave the ship so they could clear the ship but we were the last off and escorted right back on with the 1st group of VIP's in time for lunch. If you want anything from your cabin make sure you bring it with you because they will not let anyone back to the cabins until 2PM. :(

[NoPiratesPlease]

There are two great things about B2B cruises:

1) When you go the port the second time, you get to do the things or the tour you couldn't do the first time, so it's always something new. So...at Livorno the first week we went to Florence, the second to Pisa (which we enjoyed far more than we expected). At Naples the first week we went to Pompei, the second to a cameo factory and Herculaneum (A BIG surprise--it's as fabulous as Pompei but completely different).

 

2) There's a completely different crowd. So if you didn't care for your fellows the first time, they'll be gone the second.

[petesweet]

After doing 5 repo cruises, we weren't as happy with the b2b. One thing we hadn't realized was that the shows would be the same both weeks and we enjoy the shows at night. On a repositioning cruise they are bringing on and dropping off entertainers along the way so there is a better variety.

 

We're doing our first B2B in September/October. Since it is with Royal Caribbean, there are some differences--e.g., we get two separate sets of perks--OBC for being shareholders, OBC for booking on previous cruise, etc. But I imagine otherwise they are the same. Here's a link I have saved and read from time to time to refresh my memory and renew my excitement (like I need THAT). ttp://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=12844301#post12844301

 

This, by the way, is a repositioning (Alaska and then Hawaii--beginning in Vancouver and ending in L.A.). So does that mean it's not a true B2B? We are SO EXCITED.

[traveling g'ma]

Have been trying to figure out where this ? will fit. Hope it is ok here. Last week I tried to book 2 consecutive cruises + 1 nt, on NCL Star. The itinerary would be roundtrip Seattle to Alaska on 9/12/09, 1 nt Seattle to Vancouver on 9/19, and then Vancouver to LA on 9/20/09.

NCL cruise specialist said it was not possible due to "Jones Act" 9-11 restrictions and that Vancouver is not a foreign port. This surprised me--if ship does this how come passengers cannot?

I wonder if any of you have any info on this, or should I just try another NCL rep?

Thanks for any input. You are all so informative & I've acquired great info from these Boards