If you’ve ever wrapped up a cruise and thought, “I wish I didn’t have to get off the ship just yet,” then you’ve already stumbled upon the idea behind a back-to-back (B2B) cruise. That’s when you stay on the same ship for another sailing right after the first one ends. On the other hand, if you’ve ever noticed that several cruise ships often sail from the same port around the same time, you might have considered a side-to-side cruise—where you disembark one ship and hop onto a different one, sometimes even with a different cruise line. Both options are smart ways to stretch out your vacation, but they work in different ways. Let’s break it down.
What Is a Back-to-Back (B2B) Cruise?
A back-to-back cruise is when you book two (or more!) cruises on the same ship, one right after the other. For example, you might do a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary and, instead of flying home, stay onboard for the following week’s Western Caribbean sailing.
The beauty of a B2B is that you don’t have to pack up and switch ships—you just keep the same stateroom (if you planned it that way), the same crew takes care of you, and you basically double your vacation without any extra hassle. For frequent cruisers, this is also a fantastic way to stack loyalty points with the cruise line.
What Is a Side-to-Side Cruise?
A side-to-side is a little different. Instead of staying on the same ship, you hop off one cruise and board a different ship—usually the same day or within a day or two. This often happens when you’re sailing from a port with multiple cruise terminals, or ones within close proximity of each other, like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Port Canaveral in Florida.
Here’s how it might look: You sail a 4-night cruise on Carnival, disembark, then grab your suitcase and roll it over to the Royal Caribbean terminal for a 3-night trip on one of their ships. Same vacation, new ship, new experience.
Side-to-sides are popular with cruisers who love trying out different ships or who want to combine shorter cruises into one longer vacation. They’re a little more work logistically since you’ll have to disembark completely, collect luggage, and go through the check in process all over again. But if you don’t mind a bit of travel-day hustle, you can experience two totally different vibes in one trip.
What’s the Big Difference?
At the core, the difference is simple:
- Back-to-Back (B2B): Same ship, same crew, possibly even the same cabin.
- Side-to-Side: Different ships, possibly different cruise lines, but usually sailing from the same port (or two nearby ports).
B2Bs feel seamless—you almost trick yourself into thinking you’re on one extra-long voyage. Side-to-sides feel more like two mini-vacations wrapped into one.
What Happens on Turnaround Day During a B2B?
Here’s where people get curious: if you’re staying on the ship, do you just lounge by the pool while everyone else has to drag their suitcases off? Not quite.
On turnaround day—the morning your first cruise ends—you still have to go through a bit of a process:
- Disembarkation: Everyone has to get off the ship, even back-to-back passengers. The cruise line will usually give you special instructions and a meeting time, often in one of the lounges. You’ll leave the ship as a group, usually before the new wave of passengers starts boarding.
- Customs & Immigration: Since a cruise is considered international travel, you have to officially “re-enter” the country before you can get back on. This step is usually quick for B2B cruisers since you’re grouped together and processed efficiently.
- Reboarding: After clearing customs and the ship has confirmed that all passengers are off (referred to as reaching a “zero count”) you’re escorted back on—often before the new passengers. Some cruise lines even make it a fun moment, taking a “B2B group photo” or handing out certificates recognizing your consecutive cruises.
- Settling In: If you’re in the same stateroom, congratulations—you don’t have to move a muscle. If you’re switching cabins, the crew makes it painless. You pack up your things, and your steward will help transfer everything to your new room.
The best part? Once you’re back on, the ship feels like it’s all yours for a little while. Bars and pools are open, but there are no lines yet. It’s like a secret bonus day before the next round of cruisers arrives.
If you’d rather not head straight back on board, you’re not locked in! Cruise lines have a process for what they call “passengers in transit.” After you clear customs and immigration, you can simply let the staff know you’re planning to spend some time ashore. They’ll mark you as an in-transit guest and usually provide instructions for reboarding later in the day. That means you can use turnaround day as a chance to do a little shopping, grab lunch, or explore the port area before returning to the ship—just like you would on a regular port stop.
For example, in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, many B2B cruisers take advantage of the extra few hours to hit a nearby mall, grab a Cuban sandwich, or stroll along the beach before heading back to the ship for round two of vacation mode.
Where Are B2Bs and Side-to-Sides Most Popular?
- B2Bs: You’ll see lots of them here in Florida, especially on lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and MSC, where ships do alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Alaska is also a big B2B hub in the summer—many cruisers combine two 7-night sailings into a 14-night adventure.
- Side-to-Sides: These thrive in multi-ship ports like Miami, Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), and Port Canaveral. With so many cruise lines sailing out of the same city, it’s easy to hop from one ship to another. Some adventurous cruisers even do a “tri-fecta,” hitting three different ships in one extended vacation.
Sample Itineraries
- B2B Example: Book a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas (stopping at St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Perfect Day at CocoCay), then immediately follow it with a 7-night Western Caribbean on the same ship (visiting Cozumel, Roatán, and Costa Maya). Boom—two weeks of cruising without ever unpacking twice.
- Side-to-Side Example: Start with a 4-night sailing on Carnival Conquest from Miami to Key West and Cozumel, then hop over to MSC Seascape the very next day for a 3-night Bahamas getaway to Nassau and Ocean Cay. You’ll get two ships, two very different vibes, and one epic vacation story.
Pros and Cons: B2B vs. Side-to-Side
| Back-to-Back (B2B) | Side-to-Side | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | • Seamless experience • Can keep same cabin • Loyalty points stack • Minimal logistics |
• Try multiple ships/lines • Mix short cruises into longer vacay • Fresh dining & entertainment • Perfect for multi-ship ports |
| Cons | • Same ship vibe two weeks • Still must disembark briefly • Cabin change may be needed |
• Full disembark/re-check-in • More luggage handling • No loyalty stacking across lines • Potential gap between cruises |
Whether you’re team B2B or team side-to-side, both options let you squeeze a little more magic out of your vacation. A back-to-back keeps things easy and familiar, while a side-to-side mixes things up with a whole new ship experience. And if you really want bragging rights? Do a combo of both. Just imagine telling your friends, “Yeah, I did a B2B on Carnival and then hopped over to Royal for a side-to-side.” That’s next-level cruising.
Frequently Asked Questions About Back-to-Back and Side-to-Side Cruises
Do I have to leave the ship on a back-to-back cruise?
Yes—at least briefly. Even though you’re staying on, you have to go through customs and immigration before reboarding. Luckily, it’s usually fast and painless.
Can I stay in the same cabin for both back-to-back cruises?
Absolutely, if you book it that way! Many seasoned cruisers make sure to lock in the same stateroom so they don’t have to move. If you do have to change cabins, the crew makes it easy.
Do I need to unpack and repack for a side-to-side cruise?
Yes, because you’re switching ships. You’ll need to fully disembark with your luggage, check in at the next cruise ship, and go through security all over again.
Which is cheaper—a back-to-back or side-to-side cruise?
It depends. Sometimes two short side-to-side cruises can cost less than one long itinerary, but back-to-backs often come with perks like bonous loyalty points and less hassle.
Which one’s better - a back-to-back or side-to-side cruise?
That’s up to you! Back-to-backs are more seamless and relaxing. Side-to-sides give you variety and the fun of exploring multiple ships. Some diehard cruisers even do a mix of both.