What are Back to Back Cruises? – Everything You Need to Know

We’ll start off by admitting that we have yet to do a back to back cruise, but we have made lots of friends during our amazing trips who have. So, we’ve gathered some useful information and conducted research, to provide a guide on what the term back to back means. Now as a pre-warning, each cruise line will have differing regulations and terms and conditions, so we’ll provide you with everything we know, but for any questions it’s always worth checking with the cruise line.

Back to Back cruise vacations are becoming more and more popular, especially for the retired generation, so what exactly does it mean?

What is a Back to Back Cruise?

If you’re anything like us, you love your cruises and sometimes one itinerary isn’t enough, especially if you have the freedom to travel as much as you want. The concept of back to back isn’t exactly new, but it has become more popular over recent years, with many cruisers labelling it B2B in the forums.

The term back to back basically means booking and experiencing two or more consecutive cruises on the same ship, without disembarking in between. This concept is a gamechanger for those looking for longer itineraries, without having to go through transfers in between and the check in process. Because most ships will follow a different itinerary from the last one, it provides the lucky passengers with a seamless transition and more time to enjoy the incredible food and entertainment that the cruise ships provide.

We have friends who took an extended period of time away from their jobs and chose to enjoy four back to back cruises around the Mediterranean and Northern Europe on the Carnival Pride. It would normally be incredibly difficult to see the number of towns and cities that they managed in one trip. But that’s the great thing about cruising in general, you have the opportunity to see and experience more than the usual city break or beach holidays.

Related Guide – Panama Canal Partial Transit Cruise on the Carnival Pride

This means that our friends were on the cruise ship before we arrived, they were there when we arrived and we cruised together, but they remained on the ship as we left for another two itineraries.

For some the idea of so much time on a cruise ship is too much, and having to dress up and head to a dining room to eat can get boring. But there are ways to make the experience more homely, and the key is to ensure that you stay in the same cabin, because that isn’t always a given. Most of the time the itinerary changes from the previous route, but even if it doesn’t, doing back to back cruises is a great way to enjoy more time on the ship and see more things in the amazing destinations you’ve already visited. Of course you can always stay on the ship and take advantage of a quiet pool area, as the rest of the passengers are onshore.

There are of course things to consider and procedures to follow if you do a back to back, but cruise lines are getting more and more experienced and as such streamlining the process.

How To Book a Back to Back Cruise

There’s no real difficulty in booking your back to back cruise, you simply book the first and then look at the next one on the calendar and book the next. Another friend of ours was a member of Carnivals VIFP scheme and because of that had incredible offers given to them. As such they booked three consecutive cruises purely because the price they were given for the cabin, was too incredible to miss. They booked each cruise individually and surprisingly on one of the itineraries they were upgraded to a suite cabin. This meant that they had to move cabins on each new itinerary which can be a pain and something you will need to consider; but for an upgraded suite we’d happily take the inconvenience.

You could when you arrive on your first cruise, speak to customer relations and see if you can remain in your cabin for the full duration of your back to backs. Just bear in mind that you may want to change cabins based on the itinerary. Most major ports in Europe will simply be a working dock and as such they’re not the most beautiful locations to see and an inside cabin will suffice. But if your cruise heads to somewhere such as Norway, then you’re often seeing the most beautiful ports in the world, and you may want to sit in a balcony room as you sail down a fjord.

You will have two or more booking numbers, but our advice is to contact the cruise line who may be able to amend the booking, so you only have one.

Is There a Discount for Back to Back Cruises?

This is a tough one to answer, because it depends on the individual cruise line, but generally no you won’t get a discount for booking multiple cruises in a row. Even our friends who booked, only did so because the individual cruise was a great price. They didn’t receive anything extra because they booked more than one itinerary. Some cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean do not acknowledge back to back bookings, and view them as two separate reservations.

You may of course be a member of the cruise lines VIP or loyalty scheme, and by doing multiple cruises you may find that you are entitled to more rewards as part of the scheme.

How to Pack for a Back to Back Cruise

The reality of it is, a back to back cruise is exactly the same as booking one cruise, just a bit longer. So, you’ll take exactly the same things as you normally would, just maybe a little more.

For those of you who have never cruised, then check out our ‘What to Pack for a Cruise – List of Cruise Essentials’. It provides a generalised packing guide and the extra items you need, to make the cruise more enjoyable.

If you don’t have room for more items in your suitcase, then the better option is making use of the laundry facilities on the ship. Most cruise ships have impressive laundry facilities, but also a laundry service where staff will take away, launder and return your clothes nice and clean. The difficulty with the first option is that on the cruise ships we have been on, we haven’t seen laundry detergents for sale anywhere, so you would need to bring it with you. But also, you’re spending time on your vacation doing laundry instead of enjoying yourself, which isn’t exactly fun. If you used the ships laundry service then you can simply bag it up and leave it for the cleaner to take away, but this usually comes at a cost. Some loyalty schemes offer free laundry service for specific tiers of their programme.

What Do I Do When I Board the First Cruise on The Itinerary?

The procedure for boarding the cruise ship is the same as everyone else, in terms of checking in, showing your boarding pass and passport. Then once you’re on board you need to head to your muster station for the safety briefing.

We would suggest that you then go to guest services and inform them that you’re on a back to back cruise. But also check if you’re in the same cabin for the duration of your time on the ship. They will be able to advise you on any procedures you need to be aware of, but for most cruise lines, that will come towards the end of the first cruise itinerary.

Can I Book the Same Cabin for Every Cruise Itinerary?

Technically yes you can, but this will be influenced by what you opt for when you book your cruise. Some people like to know where their cabin is, especially if they’re paying a lot for it. So, they choose a booking option where they can select their cabin location. We tend to opt for cheaper prices and make do with where our cabin is located, because essentially, we only need it for sleeping.

If you’ve booked back to back and chosen the cheaper option, then there’s a chance you may be in a different cabin each time. Of course, if you pay more and pick the cabin, then you can ensure that you choose the same one; as long as it’s not already been prebooked. When you book a cruise closer to the sail date, it can be incredibly difficult to book the same cabin for both cruises.

Whether moving cabins is a pain, is ultimately dependent on you. Many people we know wouldn’t find it too much of a problem, whereas others would prefer not to have to pack up and then unpack. Staying in the same cabin means that on change over day you simply leave your belongings where they are and head out to enjoy the port as if it was another location on your itinerary. For example, we met our friends in Dover and as we boarded the ship, they were out walking along the White Cliffs of Dover.

Related Guide – White Cliffs of Dover Guide

If you stay in the same cabin then you may be able to access it on turn around day, even as others can’t. This is another wonderful benefit to staying in the same room.

What Happens When Your First Cruise Ends and The Next One Begins?

Again, this is going to vary depending on the cruise line, but what should happen with all cruises is that you will receive an information sheet from guest services to your cabin, explaining the process and what you need to do on the day others disembark. This letter should be received a couple of days before your turnaround day, but if you’re concerned then make sure you speak to guest services and ask about the process.

For most cruise lines you will be given a designated area on the ship to meet such as the theatre, at a specific time. Only back to back cruisers will be present, and it is here you will be given a new cabin key card specifically for the next cruise itinerary and go through any customs formalities. This will depend on the country you leave from, but it may include customs and Border Patrol officers being on the ship and you may need to go to the cruise terminal. If this is the case, then it’s normally a quick process and nothing like what you had to do when you originally embarked. From our friends experiences it was a very simple process and they had plenty of time to head out and explore the port.

If I Change Cabin During My Back to Back, What Happens To My Luggage?

This is another area which is cruise line dependent, so it’s wise to check with guest services if you are unsure. Normally you will be expected to pack up your belongings and leave your cases in the cabin, as you head to complete the customs process and get your new cabin key. During this time a stateroom attendant will move your luggage from your first cabin to the new one. We would recommend ensuring that any valuables and important items such as documents and medications, are taken with you in your hand luggage.

Do I Need to Go Through Another Safety Briefing?

Yes, mainly because you need to be aware of where your muster station will be, especially if you have moved cabins. Maritime law requires all passengers are taken through a mandatory safety drill within the first twenty-four hours of their cruise. Even though you have already sailed on that cruise ship, the law classes it as a new itinerary. But it’s never a bad thing to refresh what to do in cases of an emergency.

Should I Try Back to Back Cruising?

So, there you have it, everything you need to know about back to back cruising. Of course, if you have specific questions then we’d recommend asking the cruise line you’re booking with. But hopefully this is a general guide to explain what it is and how it works.

Cruising has become increasingly popular over recent years, and we’re not surprised because there are some great value options out there if you look on sites such as SeaScanner. If you have reasonable pricing and the opportunity to cruise for an extended period of time, then opting for back to back is a no brainer.

We will admit that cruising in this way is a big one on our bucket list, we’d love to have the ability to really relax on a cruise ship and see as many incredible locations as possible.

The only negative which our friends found being on the ship for so long, is the entertainment tends to be very repetitive. This will completely depend on what cruise line you’re with, because many smaller acts such as comedians and performers can change over weekly. But the big theatre shows tend to be seasonal and as such you can get easily bored. In reality, they are like us and cruise mainly for the ports, so they didn’t mind heading to bed early and getting off the ship as soon as it docked, to make the most of the new exciting place they were visiting.

As to whether this is a great option for you, will depend on a number of factors which only you can answer, but at least you now know what it involves.

Because cruising is such a big bucket list option, we want to bring you as much information as we can to make your experience an enjoyable one. We have written many guides on cruising including.

• What Compensation Will I Get for Missed Cruise Ports
• What You Need to Think About When Planning Your First Cruise – Tips for First Time Cruisers
• Cruise Ship Bucket List – The Ultimate List for Cruisers
• How to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise: Effective Remedies to Banish that Nausea

Make sure you tag us on Instagram if you end up taking a back to back cruise, we love to see what you’re up to as you tick off your bucket lists.