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B2B Cruises?


FManke

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The #1 problem solved is the fact that most cruises are too short.  

For someone who has to fly to a cruise a B2B saves airfare compared to taking two distinct cruises.

B2B allows you to unpack and unwind.  You don't need to take in every show because you can catch one on the next cruise.  

Cruises are great but if you try to do everything offered in one cruise you may end up exhausted and need a vacation from your vacation.  

Take Oasis class.  It's hard to participate in everything offered during a 7 night cruise.  More often than not you have to pick something but miss out on something else.  When you go a B2B you can do some things on one cruise and different things on the next.  Really enjoyed one show?  See it again!

B2B also lets you try different things in repeated ports while exposing you to new ports that are not common to both itineraries.  One visit you can go to a beach and relax, the repeat visit you can go on an ATV or tubing in a cave or you can stay on the ship and enjoy the ship empty of most guests.  

B2B solves the FOMO issue while leaving even more time to relax.

B2B also means one more week of not doing the dishes, cooking or cleaning.  

I have a B3B booked.  Three cruises in a row on the same ship.  B2B is cool, B3B is the next level.  

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1 hour ago, twangster said:

I have a B3B booked.  Three cruises in a row on the same ship.  B2B is cool, B3B is the next level.  

B3B....now I cannot wait to hear all about this!  Do you mind sharing your ship/itinerary for a B3B?  Do you try to do same ship, different ports/itinerary typically on a B2B or B3B?

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14 minutes ago, CruisinUpinLife said:

B3B....now I cannot wait to hear all about this!  Do you mind sharing your ship/itinerary for a B3B?  Do you try to do same ship, different ports/itinerary typically on a B2B or B3B?

With a booked B2B on Empress my ports don't repeat.

With a booked B2B on Navigator my ports repeat, a double dip to CocoCay and Nassau. 

With a booked Oasis class B3B I'll do Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean and then Eastern Caribbean again.  This includes three visits to their private destination. I've been to all the ports before so it doesn't matter.  Pricing was good, reduced solo supplement so 21 days on a ship.  Why not?

I also have a side-to-side or S2S booked.  Take a cruise, debark and move to another ship the same day.  

If I'm spending money on an airplane ticket I might as well do two cruises.

The best part of a B2B is seeing this...

4vmQR7t.jpg

...and knowing you don't have to pack.  

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@twangster Aren't you one that is also able to work from a ship?  If I recall, then I totally understand why you do B2-3B.  I'd love to but unfortunately, I must be present on site when working.  Insert very sad face.  However, I do have a B2B on my bucket list for sometime.  I think I also need to get my husband to be a little more open to cruising.  He likes covering a wide variety of vacation types and not going somewhere or doing something over and over again.

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13 hours ago, twangster said:

The #1 problem solved is the fact that most cruises are too short.  

For someone who has to fly to a cruise a B2B saves airfare compared to taking two distinct cruises.

B2B allows you to unpack and unwind.  You don't need to take in every show because you can catch one on the next cruise.  

Cruises are great but if you try to do everything offered in one cruise you may end up exhausted and need a vacation from your vacation.  

Take Oasis class.  It's hard to participate in everything offered during a 7 night cruise.  More often than not you have to pick something but miss out on something else.  When you go a B2B you can do some things on one cruise and different things on the next.  Really enjoyed one show?  See it again!

B2B also lets you try different things in repeated ports while exposing you to new ports that are not common to both itineraries.  One visit you can go to a beach and relax, the repeat visit you can go on an ATV or tubing in a cave or you can stay on the ship and enjoy the ship empty of most guests.  

B2B solves the FOMO issue while leaving even more time to relax.

B2B also means one more week of not doing the dishes, cooking or cleaning.  

I have a B3B booked.  Three cruises in a row on the same ship.  B2B is cool, B3B is the next level.  

Is that on majesty?  I thought I remembered something about that.  It would be amazing to have the same bae staff and room attendant... Are you in the same room? Jane

NEVERMIND...I asked before I kept reading!!!

Edited by mom2mybugs
Should have kept scrolling!
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18 hours ago, twangster said:

The #1 problem solved is the fact that most cruises are too short.  

For someone who has to fly to a cruise a B2B saves airfare compared to taking two distinct cruises.

B2B allows you to unpack and unwind.  You don't need to take in every show because you can catch one on the next cruise.  

Cruises are great but if you try to do everything offered in one cruise you may end up exhausted and need a vacation from your vacation.  

Take Oasis class.  It's hard to participate in everything offered during a 7 night cruise.  More often than not you have to pick something but miss out on something else.  When you go a B2B you can do some things on one cruise and different things on the next.  Really enjoyed one show?  See it again!

B2B also lets you try different things in repeated ports while exposing you to new ports that are not common to both itineraries.  One visit you can go to a beach and relax, the repeat visit you can go on an ATV or tubing in a cave or you can stay on the ship and enjoy the ship empty of most guests.  

B2B solves the FOMO issue while leaving even more time to relax.

B2B also means one more week of not doing the dishes, cooking or cleaning.  

I have a B3B booked.  Three cruises in a row on the same ship.  B2B is cool, B3B is the next level.  

I am doing a B3B next month. I have another one next year. I think @Matt did one this year.

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4 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

I am torn btw b2b which I know I would love and which would save the awful Chicago to Florida airfare vs the "get out of the crappy Chicago weather 2x in a year instead of 1 vacation!!!".  Jane

Do it fellow teacher! It was great at the end of the year I had a B3B in August, before we return to life.

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2 hours ago, Sweety said:

Do it fellow teacher! It was great at the end of the year I had a B3B in August, before we return to life.

We have 3 weeks btw summer school for Jeff and when we go back.  We could......  

We decided on Europe we were doing the long trip... The 12 day was cheaper than doing the 7 day twice on the bigger ship.  I think I'd rather do a b2b on a bigger ship though....   Jane

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One plus is that any liquor you purchase in port or onboard during the first cruise will be delivered to your stateroom the last night of the first leg.  Can help out a bit with the final bill if you're a drinker.

One drawback is sometimes they will hassle if you're trying to take your allowed bottles of wine and soda/water on board for both cruises at the same time.  Of course they may be willing to hold it and give that to you at the end of the first cruise as well.

 

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2 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

We have 3 weeks btw summer school for Jeff and when we go back.  We could......  

We decided on Europe we were doing the long trip... The 12 day was cheaper than doing the 7 day twice on the bigger ship.  I think I'd rather do a b2b on a bigger ship though....   Jane

Our 12 night Med cruise was our most memorable, and for me a close rival was the Canary cruise out of Southampton.  So many historical sites in Europe we read about in school....

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  • 3 weeks later...

I’m doing a B2B on the Anthem. Sept 26 to Canada/New England, then Oct 5 to Bermuda...dual season packing?.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get the same cabin. Does anyone have any experience with moving from one cabin to another on a B2B. I’m interested in what’s the best way to make the move. I guess I’ll have to pack everything and then leave the bags in my room for the steward to deliver them to the new room...any tips? Plus, I assume I’ll have to go the guest services on embarkation day to check in and get my new room card...thanks for any info!

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Yes, you will pack up all of your “loose” items but leave whatever is hanging in the closet, in the closet. Your attendant(s) will move everything. As far as new sea passes is concerned, the process will vary from ship-to-ship and will depend on the number of B2B cruisers that are on your sailing.  On our last B2B (NAV last month); we picked up our new sea passes at a Guest Services along with an “In Transit” Pass b/c we were leaving the ship for a while.  The advice I will offer is to make SURE that Guest Services is aware that you will be a B2B cruiser so that they can give you all of the intel you will need.  If you are traveling in a full suite, the Suite Concierge will help you.

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I've done a B2B on Anthem and changed cabins. 

They ask you to pack everything except items hanging up in the closet.  You leave that in your cabin.  You'll be given a meeting time and place.  For me it was Boleros.  Other consecutive cruisers will all meet there and once the ship is getting close to zero count with all other guests leaving you are escorted to meet CBP in the terminal.  At that point we were given our new cards and we waited secluded by ourselves away from the new cruisers boarding that day.  Once the federal authorities cleared the ship we walked back on first.  Right after that it was Suites, Pinnacles and the regular boarding process commenced.  If changing cabins they ask you stay out until cabins are ready for the whole ship as they need to clean and sanitize your new cabin.  Your stuff will be there waiting for you in the new cabin.  

Consecutive cruisers were offered a special lunch.

You can read about my experience on Anthem and the B2B process here:

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/5068-anthem-112517-712-b2b/&do=findComment&comment=50324

If you are leaving to explore the area that day there is a different process to get new SeaPass cards early.

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On 7/14/2019 at 12:44 PM, twangster said:

With a booked B2B on Empress my ports don't repeat.

With a booked B2B on Navigator my ports repeat, a double dip to CocoCay and Nassau. 

With a booked Oasis class B3B I'll do Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean and then Eastern Caribbean again.  This includes three visits to their private destination. I've been to all the ports before so it doesn't matter.  Pricing was good, reduced solo supplement so 21 days on a ship.  Why not?

I also have a side-to-side or S2S booked.  Take a cruise, debark and move to another ship the same day.  

If I'm spending money on an airplane ticket I might as well do two cruises.

The best part of a B2B is seeing this...

4vmQR7t.jpg

...and knowing you don't have to pack.  

I love my b2b cruises for all the reasons you stated. Especially love this ^^^^^ view too. I stay up late the last night of the first cruise and just smile to myself knowing I don’t have to get up early or leave. I am sad for the people having to leave but so happy I have another week. 

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On 7/15/2019 at 11:15 AM, ChessE4 said:

Our 12 night Med cruise was our most memorable, and for me a close rival was the Canary cruise out of Southampton.  So many historical sites in Europe we read about in school....

Sounds fabulous. What ship or ships did you cruise for both cruises? We are scheduled todo Greek Isles September 2020 on explorer. We looked at Canary Islands also. Would be interested to hear about the highlights you enjoyed. Also looking at a Norway/ Iceland cruise. Thanks for your input.

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1 hour ago, Kathleen said:

Sounds fabulous. What ship or ships did you cruise for both cruises? We are scheduled todo Greek Isles September 2020 on explorer. We looked at Canary Islands also. Would be interested to hear about the highlights you enjoyed. Also looking at a Norway/ Iceland cruise. Thanks for your input.

Our 12 night Med cruise out of Barcelona was on the Brilliance.  We enjoyed every port although Athens wasn't as good because the crowds at the Parthenon combined with a slow, verbose tour guide and the summer heat took their toll.  Repairs were being made, so the scaffolding got in the way of many camera shots.  When we repeat the cruise in the future, we will try Florence instead of Pisa out of Livorno, and likely Capri instead of Mt. Vesuvius when we go to Naples.  I can't say anything bad about Vesuvius or Pompeii,, just remember the summer is very hot.  (We were constantly buying bottled water.) Ephesus was really special, but Turkey isn't too safe right now.  Santorini was a delight.  The ship was great, but our dinner companions were pick-pocketed in Barcelona the day before the cruise, so I keep my valuables in a safe or under my clothes.

For the Canaries trip out of Southampton, we sailed on the Explorer.  The food was tilted towards British tastes -- more meats and curries and bacon that is really a moist ham.  Funchal and the Canaries were great.  Spain, which I've seen before, was OK.  Morocco (Agadir) is a good day to stay on the ship unless you really want to see the extensive poverty and poor sanitary conditions that abound.  It was educational (good for our son to see), but I wouldn't really go ashore again.  Each island of the Canaries has a unique climate, geography, and geology. Our best excursion was a visit to a "finca", a family-run orchard/vineyard, which included snacks and wine-tasting.  (I believe that was Gran Canaria but I know it wasn't Lanzarote.)

I find the cruises out of Southampton a bit pricey relative to other European ports, so you'll want to get a good price when there's a sale or a newly announced schedule. Enjoy whatever you choose!

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