A back to back cruise means you have booked two consecutive sailings on the same ship. While it feels like one long vacation, there is still a turnaround process between the two cruises that all back to back passengers must follow.
When the first cruise ends, back to back guests are usually asked to gather in a designated area, often the theater or a large lounge. From there, the process depends on the ship and the port. On some sailings, crew members scan documents and complete customs procedures right in that space. On other ships, passengers are required to briefly disembark, go through customs, and then return to the ship.
If you have booked the same stateroom for both cruises, the process is very simple. Your luggage stays in your room, and once you are cleared to reboard, you can go right back to your stateroom. If you are changing staterooms, the crew will give you specific instructions. On many ships, they will move your bags for you, though this can vary.
One important detail to remember is that onboard credit does not usually carry over. Any onboard credit from the first cruise typically expires at the end of that sailing and resets to the onboard credit associated with the second cruise.
While there is a bit of formality involved, the process is usually smooth and well organized, allowing you to continue your vacation with minimal disruption.
