Any Recent Fantasy Back to Back Cruisers?

[delo4]

So, we have done a few back to backs on the Wonder, and the Dream, but next month we are doing one on the Fantasy. Anyone done this recently? What time did you leave the ship and how long did you have to wait in the terminal to re-board? Did you have to meet as a group to leave, or did they just tell you what time to exit the ship? How many others were doing a back to back? (I realize the number of others would vary from cruise to cruise, just getting an idea from those who have done this recently)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So, we have done a few back to backs on the Wonder, but next month we are doing one on the Fantasy. Anyone done this recently? What time did you leave the ship and how long did you have to wait in the terminal to re-board? Did you have to meet as a group to leave, or did they just tell you what time to exit the ship? How many others were doing a back to back? (I realize the number of others would vary from cruise to cruise, just getting an idea from those who have done this recently)

Define "recently".

The process has been pretty standard for a while. We did it in 2014. Had to be off the ship by 9:00. Didn't meet onboard the ship with others doing B2B. Once off the ship, we went through immigration and directly back up the escalator to the check in lobby. We waited there until around 10:00 for one of the check in counters to open. Then we waited (in the Concierge waiting area) until 11:10 to be directed back on the ship (5 minutes before the Concierge guests).


I'd say there were about 10-15 of us doing that B2B.

 

[delo4]

Recently - I was thinking more in the last year or so, we did a couple on the wonder and the Dream, and were not off the ship more than an hour. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to sit in the terminal any longer than that. It seems like 2 hours is quite a wait.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Recently - I was thinking more in the last year or so, we did a couple on the wonder and the Dream, and were not off the ship more than an hour. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to sit in the terminal any longer than that. It seems like 2 hours is quite a wait.

It's my understanding that you're off the ship shorter for the Dream B2Bs. But not the Fantasy.

 

[Dug720]

Recently - I was thinking more in the last year or so, we did a couple on the wonder and the Dream, and were not off the ship more than an hour. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to sit in the terminal any longer than that. It seems like 2 hours is quite a wait.

It could vary for any number of factors. If people do not get off the ship in a timely fashion and must be escorted off, that delays the ship being cleared for passengers to embark. If there is a periodic mandatory (and usually surprise) inspection for any of the numerous things that can be inspected, that can delay boarding. Some days turnaround is quicker than others.

 

[delo4]

It could vary for any number of factors. If people do not get off the ship in a timely fashion and must be escorted off, that delays the ship being cleared for passengers to embark. If there is a periodic mandatory (and usually surprise) inspection for any of the numerous things that can be inspected, that can delay boarding. Some days turnaround is quicker than others.

Those surprise inspections really make things interesting.

 

[ThatCOprep]

We did it in September, we were off the ship for about an hour and half total. I don’t remember times when we got off or got back on but it wasn’t that long and we had about 30 mins on the ship to ourselves.

 

[Quellman]

We did it in May and it was a terrible experience. Though to be fair the ship was really late getting to port after the first cruise and late leaving for the second one. We did not meet at a location on the ship. However, we stayed on the ship as long as we felt welcomed to allow for those people who needed to try and catch a flight etc, first opportunity to scram. The terminal was already starting to get full. We did manage to scrape into the concierge waiting area, though I know many others who either didn't know or were not allowed in. We had some lovely conversations, but my 3 year old was getting darn hungry as we were off for almost 3 hours. We were allowed back on first, but not much more than concierge and group 1.

That said, it was an outlier but shows how it can go.

We also did a back to back on the Dream. We got off the ship with the masses and quickly checked in to the second cruise. We did not get to use the conceirge lounge this cruise because there was a VIP from south america who was concierge and filming a spot for back home. We still got to board prior to most people even getting in the terminal. We were able to visit our room and also enjoy the coffee back on deck 11 (FREE!) until guests started arriving. It was a smooth and enjoyable experience.

But best part of back to back cruising? You only pay parking for the first voyage!

 

[Trera]

We just did back to back on the Wonder last week and they put printed directions in our stateroom to meet at the Cadillac Lounge at 9:15 with all the other B2B guests. They checked up all of a list and walked us out to customs around 9:45ish. We checked back in and were allowed back on the ship around 10:55ish.

I know it wasnt the Fantasy but maybe it helps anyway.

 

[delo4]

We did it in May and it was a terrible experience. Though to be fair the ship was really late getting to port after the first cruise and late leaving for the second one. We did not meet at a location on the ship. However, we stayed on the ship as long as we felt welcomed to allow for those people who needed to try and catch a flight etc, first opportunity to scram. The terminal was already starting to get full. We did manage to scrape into the concierge waiting area, though I know many others who either didn't know or were not allowed in. We had some lovely conversations, but my 3 year old was getting darn hungry as we were off for almost 3 hours. We were allowed back on first, but not much more than concierge and group 1.

That said, it was an outlier but shows how it can go.

We also did a back to back on the Dream. We got off the ship with the masses and quickly checked in to the second cruise. We did not get to use the conceirge lounge this cruise because there was a VIP from south america who was concierge and filming a spot for back home. We still got to board prior to most people even getting in the terminal. We were able to visit our room and also enjoy the coffee back on deck 11 (FREE!) until guests started arriving. It was a smooth and enjoyable experience.

But best part of back to back cruising? You only pay parking for the first voyage!

Hopefully, that doesn’t happen to us. 3 hours would not be fun. I know fewer people do the 7 day back to back vs. the 3-4 days. I hope we do not have to be off the ship for a long period of time, but you never know.. Thanks for the info. I’m sure it will be interesting.

 

[Billinaz]

Define "recently".

The process has been pretty standard for a while. We did it in 2014. Had to be off the ship by 9:00. Didn't meet onboard the ship with others doing B2B. Once off the ship, we went through immigration and directly back up the escalator to the check in lobby. We waited there until around 10:00 for one of the check in counters to open. Then we waited (in the Concierge waiting area) until 11:10 to be directed back on the ship (5 minutes before the Concierge guests).


I'd say there were about 10-15 of us doing that B2B.

They do need to come up with another way of doing this. That concierge seating area get really full depending on how many BTB guests there are....

 

[BCV23]

I wonder why the process is so much slower on the Fantasy. Quellman's experience was obviously not the norm even for the Fantasy but I've never seen a good report for the B2B process on her. We've only done B2B three times.....twice on the Magic and once on the Wonder all of which were out of Miami but all were smoother and faster than the above reports.

 

[n2mm]

Guess the bigger ships take longer to get “ship-shape” for the next group.

We’ve done b2b for the last 3 February’s. 2016/magic; 2017/wonder; 2018/Wonder. So have only done my b2b on the smaller ships. Sometimes we meet at a lounge, sometimes we don’t. Generally we are off by 9:30am and always back on between 10:30-10:45am. We are booked again on the Wonder for feb 2019 (7th & 10th).

 

[delo4]

Guess the bigger ships take longer to get “ship-shape” for the next group.

We’ve done b2b for the last 3 February’s. 2016/magic; 2017/wonder; 2018/Wonder. So have only done my b2b on the smaller ships. Sometimes we meet at a lounge, sometimes we don’t. Generally we are off by 9:30am and always back on between 10:30-10:45am. We are booked again on the Wonder for feb 2019 (7th & 10th).

We only have done them on the Wonder and the Dream. Both experiences were about the same. We were off the ship for about an hour and we were back on before they opened the terminal to the new guests. I was just curious if the Fantasy was any different. It sounds like it is more complicated, although with the Dream being the same size, it doesn’t make sense to me. Well, in a few weeks I will find out. Fingers crossed its a good experience.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We only have done them on the Wonder and the Dream. Both experiences were about the same. We were off the ship for about an hour and we were back on before they opened the terminal to the new guests. I was just curious if the Fantasy was any different. It sounds like it is more complicated, although with the Dream being the same size, it doesn’t make sense to me. Well, in a few weeks I will find out. Fingers crossed its a good experience.

It doesn't really have to do with the size of the ship. More about loading the supplies necessary for a 7 night cruise vs those required for a shorter cruise.

 

[gotomu212]

We’ve started to use our B2B day as a port day and head to the beach for a few hours ever since we were stuck with a 2 hour delay and it doesn’t seem like you get the whole ship to yourself thing anymore.

We just walk off like a normal cruiser taking our IDs and a few day bag things. Grab a cab for a 5 minute ride to the beach, have fun, then head back to port around 2. We’ve been able to walk right up to check in and then walk right onto the ship skipping the crowds and waiting.

 

[moremouse]

We did it in May and it was a terrible experience. Though to be fair the ship was really late getting to port after the first cruise and late leaving for the second one. We did not meet at a location on the ship. However, we stayed on the ship as long as we felt welcomed to allow for those people who needed to try and catch a flight etc, first opportunity to scram. The terminal was already starting to get full. We did manage to scrape into the concierge waiting area, though I know many others who either didn't know or were not allowed in. We had some lovely conversations, but my 3 year old was getting darn hungry as we were off for almost 3 hours. We were allowed back on first, but not much more than concierge and group 1.

That said, it was an outlier but shows how it can go.

We also did a back to back on the Dream. We got off the ship with the masses and quickly checked in to the second cruise. We did not get to use the conceirge lounge this cruise because there was a VIP from south america who was concierge and filming a spot for back home. We still got to board prior to most people even getting in the terminal. We were able to visit our room and also enjoy the coffee back on deck 11 (FREE!) until guests started arriving. It was a smooth and enjoyable experience.

But best part of back to back cruising? You only pay parking for the first voyage!

Only paying for the parking on the first cruise would be great! How does that work though? Don't you have to have the parking tickets in the window for both cruises or something? This will be our first B2B and we WILL be driving.

TIA

 

[Quellman]

Only paying for the parking on the first cruise would be great! How does that work though? Don't you have to have the parking tickets in the window for both cruises or something? This will be our first B2B and we WILL be driving.

When you go to the ticket booth, you only have the option to select the length of the cruise in port. So you select that and drive on through. There are multiple cruises departing the port, so I've never heard of anyone having their car towed. I have done a B2B from Port Canaveral twice (where we drove). Once was a 3+4 and the other a 3+7. Our car was fine both times. In fact, I don't think anywhere does it say you have to display that you paid to park, its more of a receipt for you. The only way you can park is by paying.

 

[phinz]

Those surprise inspections really make things interesting.

Yeah. Like when you're forced to stand on the bridge leading to security for 2.5 hours because the terminal is full, even though the Concierge and B2B guests are doing laps on the AquaDuck.