Question about back to back cruises

GottaCruz · December 27, 2011

Met someone on our recent cruise who was doing a Back to back. I was surprised to hear that he had to pack up all his stuff as if he was leaving , and then just board again like everyone else and he was being put in a different cabin. I understand that if he didn't book early enough the cabin might have been taken for the second week but he told us he would have taken any cabin to avoid packing and then boarding again. Does anyone know anything about this???

cruisetarp · December 27, 2011

I've never heard of that Cheryl We have done 2 back to backs - both in the same cabin but we were told if we wanted to change cabins for cruise #2 the room steward would move all of our stuff and in fact on our second B2B we did see a steward pushing a cart down the hall with hanging clothes on the rack and the drawers from the dresser on it as well.

AndiD · December 27, 2011

I wonder if different cruise lines have different policies about that? It would be worth knowing beforehand!

zebra · December 27, 2011

Cheryl which cruise line was that? I haven't heard that either.

sailingrose · December 28, 2011

It depends on the port.......in Tampa we did customs on the ship. Handed in our customs form and as we looped around picked up our new cruise cards, then headed back to our room. We had the same room on both legs of the trip but like Marylou said they would pick up your stuff and move it for you to the other room. We saw that as well.

I know in Port Canaveral you have to physically get off the ship but you don't have to pack your stuff. They do keep you off for a little while but not too long.

Maybe it's a Ft. Lauderdale thing?

GottaCruz · December 28, 2011

This was at Port Everglades in Ft Lauderdale and it was Royal Carib. on the Liberty of the Seas.

cruisetarp · December 28, 2011

In Cape Liberty we received a note to go to Guest Relations at 10AM and they would escort us off the ship. We went, no one showed up so we went back to our room. The delivered our new sea pass cards that night but the first time we tried to use them they wouldn't work because we didn't have our photo on them. They sent us down to deck 2 and they fixed everything.

DebbieandJerry · December 28, 2011

I've done back to backs twice. Same room, same room steward. Never had to pack.

First one, we got off the ship and went through customs and then went right back on. This was FLL.

Second time was last year. Carnival and Miami. We sat in a lounge. Customs forms picked up in the lounge. New sail and sign cards issued in the lounge. We were asked if we wanted to leave (for "an excursion") or stay on the ship. When we indicated that we wanted to stay, customs met us at the bottom of the debarking area. We handed in our paper and went right back up to the ship (as did about 50 other guests). Those who left the ship went through customs a little further down the "luggage" area.

I'm guessing this guest changed rooms during the first cruise or booked the second leg after and not at the same time. I'm also guessing that this guest didn't want to "tip/pay" the room steward so he did it all by himself.

I'm still trying to coordinate a back to back with a different ship/itinerary. Then I realize we pack, unload, reload. Not sure Jerry will take to this. He likes staying on board!!