The last full day of a cruise is always bittersweet. The cruise has been amazing, but there’s always a bit of sadness as we wish we could extend the vacation. If only we could have another week to relax by the pool, eat unlimited food, and enjoy a cold cocktail.
Let’s face it, the thought of saying goodbye and disembarking the cruise is the worst part of a cruise vacation! However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
A back-to-back cruise is the perfect way to prolong your cruise vacation and have the ultimate travel experience.
A few years ago I did a back to back cruise and it was everything I hoped for. Finally, I got the privilege of not packing up at the end of the cruise!
Whether you have a back-to-back cruise booked or you’re in the middle of planning one, you probably have questions about this unique vacation.
In this post I share the pros and cons of back-to-back cruising, what to expect, as well as answer some frequently asked questions you may have about this type of cruise vacation.
What Are Back-to-Back Cruises?
Back-to-back cruises are two or more cruises booked sequentially. Cruisers can book the same or different cruise ship depending on their vacation style. This is a great way for cruisers to experience different cruise ships and itineraries and have a more relaxed cruise vacation.
Is it Cheaper to Book a Back-to-Back Cruise?
Although you won’t receive any discounts for booking a back-to-back cruise, it can be a way to save money. Since you’re doing two cruises in one trip, you save on flights, pre-cruise hotels, and other pre-cruise expenses compared to if you plan two separate cruise vacations.
Can I Stay in the Same Cabin on Back-to-Back Cruises?
As long as there is availability, cruisers can stay in the same cabin on back-to-back cruises. Furthermore, as long as the sailings are consecutive, cruise passengers can leave their belongings in their cruise cabins between sailings. This is one of the benefits of booking a back-to-back cruise, as cruise guests get more time to settle into their cruise stateroom.
Do I Have to Disembark on a Back-to-Back Cruise?
On a back-to-back cruise, all passengers must briefly disembark the vessel so the cruise line can zero the ship. You will be in the last group to disembark when you’re on a back-to-back cruise. Once everyone is off the ship, you will head through customs and board again. This process takes around 30 minutes.
Do I Have to Complete the Muster Drill on My Second Sailing?
During a back-to-back cruise, all cruise guests must complete the muster drill on both sailings. The muster drill is a mandatory process that must be completed on every cruise, and since back-to-backs are still considered separate sailings, cruise passengers are required to complete the safety drill.
Pros of a Back-to-Back Cruise
Familiar Crew
One of the benefits of booking a back-to-back cruise is that you will get to know the crew members better throughout your voyage. Whether it’s your stateroom attendant, dining staff, or the bartenders at your favorite bar, getting to know the crew enhances the onboard experience.
By the second week of your cruise, you will often see many familiar faces around the cruise, which is always a nice feeling.
When I took a back-to-back cruise on Regal Princess in 2019, I really appreciated getting to know the crew. By the second week of my cruise, many crew members knew me by name, and the dining staff knew many of my dining preferences.
Related: Regal Princess Cruise Review – A Back to Back Holiday Sailing
Relaxing and Comfortable Way to Cruise
A back-to-back cruise is a relaxing and comfortable way to cruise. Since you’ll be the cruise for back-to-back sailings, you don’t have to worry about fitting every experience into one week.
Whether it’s the onboard attractions, specialty restaurants, bars, or casual dining venues, you can move at your own pace and you’ll never feel rushed on a back-to-back cruise.
On a back-to-back cruise there is plenty of time for relaxing, unwinding and rejuvenating. This is one of the reasons why so many cruise passengers love taking a back-to-back cruise.
Furthermore, on the first debarkation day during your sailing the feeling onboard is really unique. Many cruise passengers will be sad because their cruise vacation is coming to an end. However, you’ll be happy because the second half of your back-to-back cruise is just beginning.
Economical Way to Travel
Booking back-to-back cruises can actually be a more economical way to travel than taking two separate cruise vacations. This is a great way to fit two cruise experiences while only paying the cost of flights and pre-cruise expenses for one trip.
Although the cruise is pricier upfront, it is a great value, especially if you’re an avid cruiser.
More Time to Explore
With cruise ships getting bigger and bigger, it can be hard to fully experience the vessel in one sailing. However, when you stay on a cruise ship for back-to-back sailings, you’ll have more time to explore the ship.
This is ideal for those who want to try the popular onboard attractions or experience several different venues onboard the cruise ship.
Cons of a Back-to-Back Cruise
Repeating Ports
One of the cons of booking a back-to-back cruise is that your itinerary might repeat the same ports. During my back-to-back cruise, we visited Princess Cays twice.
Although Princess Cays is a beautiful cruise port of call, I would’ve preferred to visit another cruise port to experience something different. However, it was the perfect opportunity to stay onboard the cruise ship while everyone got off in port to enjoy an empty ship.
To avoid repeating the same ports, research your cruise itinerary. Cruisers who value visiting new destinations will carefully look at the itinerary before booking the back-to-back cruise.
Related: Best Way to Book a Cruise: Travel Agent or Direct with the Cruise Line?
Transition Day
A small downside of doing a back-to-back cruise sailing is transition day. For most cruisers, this is debarkation day. However, those doing a back-to-back sailing will have to briefly disembark the cruise ship and go through customs before sailing away again.
Furthermore, this is a day that is spent in the original embarkation port, which can be a bit boring.
When I took my back-to-back cruise, our embarkation port was in Fort Lauderdale, and there wasn’t much to do directly near the port. Instead of exploring Fort Lauderdale, I spent most of the day onboard, relaxing on the lido deck.
Lack of Change in Onboard Experience
Something many people don’t think about when booking a back-to-back cruise is the lack of change in onboard experience. From the sailaway party to meals in the main dining room and onboard entertainment, there are not many changes between sailings on a back-to-back cruise.
So, if you’re going on a back-to-back cruise, it’s important to understand that the onboard experience will be very similar from one week to the next.
Travel Fatigue
Although it’s a first-world problem, taking a long cruise vacation can result in travel fatigue. When visiting multiple destinations and doing shore excursions, you may look forward to your cruise vacation being over towards the end of your trip.
Sure, cruise life is amazing! However, there is something nice about being home and having a normal routine.
Different Types of Back-to-Back Cruises:
Closed-Loop Back-to-Back Cruise
A closed-loop back-to-back cruise starts and ends at the same home port for both itineraries. This type of cruise vacation often combines two different itineraries, like an Eastern Caribbean cruise followed by a Western Caribbean cruise. However, in some cases, the same route may be repeated twice.
Closed-loop cruises appeal to cruisers because they eliminate the need for additional flights or complex travel logistics. Cruise passengers can enjoy a variety of destinations without ever needing to change ships or worry about transportation between embarkation points.
One-Way Back-to-Back Cruise
A one-way back-to-back cruise is when cruise travelers pair two consecutive cruises where each leg starts and ends in different ports. For instance, you might sail from Barcelona to Rome on the first cruise and then from Rome to Venice on the second.
This type of cruise is ideal for cruisers looking to explore multiple destinations and ports in one trip.
Open-Jaw Back-to-Back Cruise
Open-jaw back-to-back cruises are when cruise passengers combine two itineraries starting at one port and ending at another. For example, they may plan a cruise that sails from Barcelona to Venice, then from Venice, they will take a cruise back to Barcelona.
This type of cruise is a great choice for cruisers who want to explore multiple embarkation ports. While this is a great way to spend time in the embarkation ports, it requires more planning to explore the embarkation ports between sailings.
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What’s your favorite thing to do in a cruise port of call? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
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Ethan Schattauer, a seasoned cruiser since the age of four, has gone on over 40 cruises with his family. Drawing from his extensive travel experiences, Ethan offers a fresh and youthful perspective on the world of cruising. He also writes about cruise cuisine, onboard experiences, and practical tips, providing valuable insights for cruise travelers worldwide.