Once you get onboard and connect to the ship's wifi, it will ask you if you want to just use the app. If you are in My Time Dining for dinner, your best strategy is to make reservations either before the cruise, or during the cruise. But if you opt to drag your suitcases all through the terminal and onto the ship youre just slowing down the entire process. While buying stock in any company should be based on solid financial planning, if you happen to own at least 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Group stock, you can qualify for bonus credit to spend on your cruise. Can anyone who has recently been on the Serenade rec. Read More Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbeans Junior SuitesContinue, Read More Honest Review of Perfect Day at CocoCayContinue, Read More Free Printable Cruise Packing List (with Tips)Continue, Read More Guide to Royal Caribbean Ship Classes (2023)Continue, Read More Easy Guide to Royal Caribbean Online Check InContinue, Read More Honest Review of Oasis of the SeasContinue, Your email address will not be published. So which food is included and which cost extra? The open house is when you can go to meet the staff, register your kids, and ask any questions. Royal Caribbean's app is a must-have for your cruise, so make sure to download it before your cruise. 2023 Mom's Plan-it Vacation Blog - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbeans Junior Suites, Free Printable Cruise Packing List (with Tips), Guide to Royal Caribbean Ship Classes (2023), Easy Guide to Royal Caribbean Online Check In. If you want to have a hassle-free boarding process, its important to stay organized and keep all your important documents organized and easily accessible. Aurea is the most expensive options and could cost anywhere from $150 to $600 more than the lowest cost experience. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Related: Photography on Cruise Ships: What to Expect. Here are some basic considerations. Royal Caribbean offers a wide variety of things to do, services, and benefits to all guests that it can be easy to, We love a little intrigue as much as the next person, but nothing beats finding out about a secret, right? Would rather get to port early and board than hang out in a hotel room. Click on the person icon, and it should fire up the camera again. I've been seeing some comments about show reservations being sold out by the time people boarded, that is the main reason why I was wondering if Royal Caribbean is really that strict or if it's likely they might let us on earlier. Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays. A Royal Caribbean cruise is hands down my favorite type of vacation, and with so many years of going cruising, I have come across a lot of tricks and tips that really enhance my cruise. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. Answer (1 of 9): It is becoming more common to have a check-in time on your boarding pass. Believe me, searching for documents in your luggage is not only time-consuming but also frustrating. Arrive early. The reason is Royal Caribbean cruise fares are very erratic, and can change at a moment's notice. Some families prefer to arrive in the afternoon, so they dont have to navigate crowds at the terminal. Packing your cruise day bag is important so that you have everything you need for your first day. They offer guests the option to drink as much as they want on their cruise for a fixed price. Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to 12 bottles/cans of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroomwith them on embarkation day. We know youre eager to arrive at the cruise port for your Royal Caribbean cruise. The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean. If you ask seasoned travelers how they get around these obstacles, the answer is often to give yourself more time. Tasks such as repricing, making special requests, dealing with weather events and more are why I use a travel agent every single I book a cruise. Please note:All guests must be checked-in and onboard the ship no later than 90 minutes prior to the published sailing time or you will not be permitted to sail. The exact benefits you get depend on which tier of Crown and Anchor Society you belong to. These are not the times you actually board the ship. The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. Sure, you can book a Royal Caribbean cruise on your own, directly through the line's website. Depending on the length of your sailing, you can get up to $250 onboard credit. Cruise ships have to receive clearance from port authorities in order to be able to allow passengers from the previous cruise off the ship. Dress codes look imposing, and you might feel like you need to have more outfit changes in a single day than most celebrities at an awards ceremony, but the reality is it's not nearly that stringent. 10 tips to help you improve your cruise vacation. (Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas). And the price you paid for the cruise is the same whether you get onboard at 11am or 2pm, so may as well get the most time possible. We enjoy being on the ship early to take advantage of as much time on board as possible. In that case, keep in mind the luggage tags you will be provided with can be swapped out at Guest Services for a luggage tag with an earlier disembarkation time. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. Downloading the app before you get on your ship means you'll be able to easily and quickly download it and set it up before you step aboard. Club Orange by Holland America Line offers passengers priority access to exclusive perks and amenities, including priority check-in, stateroom upgrades, and an intimate dining venue on select ships. When you make a reservation for a restaurant onboard, let your server know the adults have dining packages, but kids don't and you will get a better price than if you bought the dining package for everyone. Read a past Cruise Compass! (This post may contain affiliate links. Priority access off the ship to the shore in port. Even if you have an international cell phone plan, cruise ship cellular coverage is rarely included. This was a huge relief from the typical check-in desk with long check-in lines we have experienced in the past. You simply keep your luggage in your room (instead of placing it in the hallway on the last evening of the cruise) and then when the ship is cleared by Customs agents, you take your own luggage and disembark the ship. How to Get on Your Cruise Ship As Early as Possible: 7 We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. The majority of cruises leave port at 4 or 5:00 pm. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. I didnt even have a chance to sit down in the Port Everglades terminal before I was welcomed onto the ship. We found our SeaPass cards in the room, which are used during the cruise as your room key, identification, credit card, etc. [Subscribe fo. 5 rounds of Hornady SST Lite 12 Gauge 2 3/4" Shotgun Slugs. Cruise lines want you to be loyal to them, so ranking up your loyalty tier is a great way to get faster boarding times in addition to a ton of other perks. If you dont want to spend all morning waiting in lines, or if you just wish you could speed things up, this post is for you. Using a travel agent simplifies this entire process. When I tried on my Android / Pixel 6 Pro, I had to hit the button a bunch of times to take a picture . Any money saved is always welcome! Either way, you should have plenty of time to enjoy all the entertainment and activities onboard the ship. What you want to do is log onto the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's website and purchase the drink package of your choice online. In fact, most people don't use these showers, so there's a good chance they are unoccupied when you would need it, especially in the evening. Now, if youre planning to embark on a closed-loop itinerary that starts and ends in the United States, you can use your birth certificate and legal name change documentation to board. Check-in opens up 45 days before your cruise begins. This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the ship. This makes it easy to undress them poolside, and they can hop right in. The FCC . my last NCL cruise was out of tamp. The rule is a thorn in the side of many travelers. If you choose to fly ChoiceAir, Royal Caribbean automatically displays only the airline schedules that will enable you to meet your cruise. When I tried to check in for my May 2022 cruise, this step was the only glitchy part of the whole process. Try to get on the ship as soon as you can (in other words, get inline at the port early or get to the airport to the Royal Caribbean desk early to get the first transfer to the pier). Talk to a few agents and feel them out for their knowledge of the product and when you find one that you are comfortable with, leverage their knowledge and expertiseand book with them. Have you heard about Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages? Did you know if one adult elects to buy the unlimited alcohol package, all other adults in the same room have to get it too? Porters are available to assist with your luggage. Adventure Ocean will be open on the first evening of your cruise, but they have an open house on embarkation day in the afternoon too. If you do not complete check-in online, you will be required to complete this process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing time. Royal Caribbean puts its itineraries on sale as much as two years in advance of the sailing, and while that may be too far in advance for many to plan vacations, the earlier you can book the cruise, the better for that bottom line price. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. Did you know that Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis Class ships? Check with the Windjammer wait staff for a schedule of options. Some specialty restaurants will cost less if you eat there for lunch. You can change in a public restroom, and towels are available at the pool area to use. Book entertainment and dining as soon as possible. Things like medications, documents, passports, and even a bathing suit and some sunscreen can be kept in this bag. Just one of the perks of being a suite guest on a cruise ship is having priority access. However, I highly recommend traveling with a passport. A second way to grab an early port arrival time is by purchasing The Key. Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom. So, anyone in the wrong line was asked to move. Royal Caribbean does not post or publish Cruise Compasses for upcoming sailings in advance. I pack sunscreen to apply before swimming, and we carry on other essentials that we need before dinner. Keep in mind the differences between Royal Caribbean's shore excursions and third party shore excursions. If you selected my-time dining you will want to select your preferred time as the most popular times book up fast. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) You are staying in a suite. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will . Your fellow guests won't notice you wore that pair of jeans or dress from night two. The last day of your cruise is never fun, and regardless of how many times you cruise, it never gets any less depressing. While making a mistake is bound to happen, we can learn from, The proverb, "experience is the best teacher" is a famous proverb ofJulius Caesar, and it applies to so many aspects, While I can't come up with a formula for the perfect cruise for every single person, I can suggest some easy ways to. As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner! The online check-in process is super simple and consists of filling out personal information among other tasks. On sea days, the main dining room is open for lunch and it serves up a different menu of options than what is offered during dinner. Unlimited food and posh amenities await you, and its only feet away when youre in the cruise terminal. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? . Ideally, you want other staterooms on either deck and not public venues like pools, restaurants or other public venues. Yes, a suite is more expensive. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. Quick tip: You should always keep one bag with you. The difference is booking onboard will get you extra onboard credit and reduced deposit. There is no question that if you want to get the lowest price on a cruise, book it as early as you can. Most guests pack their bathing suits in the checked luggage, which means they will not have access to it until later that day. The simplest and easiest way to get on the ship faster is taking care of the check-in process early. Not only will buying your drink packages online save you money, it will also save you time because typically there can be lines to purchase the drink packages onboard the ship. Not only can a porter help take a load off of you, they can greatly assist with disembarkation and getting you through the terminal faster. But I have a helpful suggestion. Known. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. This didnt take long at all, and our whole group was onboard the ship shortly after 11:00. It wasn't nearly as easy as usual. This way youre paying about half the price of a week-long cruise and you can test the waters. This provides the ability to break up the total cost of the cruise. The price you pay for the cruise is the same whether you board at noon or 2pm, so you may as well get the extra two hours of fun! Passengers who booked by March 31, 2022, for cruises departing on or before Sept. 30, 2022, are protected by Royal Caribbean's Cruise With Confidence policy, which entitles them to 100% of the cruise fare paid in the form of FCC if they cancel for any reason. How soon can you board a cruise ship before departure? Royal Caribbean's fitness center has separate showers for men and women that is complimentary to use. Exclusive a la carte breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on . Royal Caribbean International allows cruisers to choose a port arrival time during online check-in. There arediscounts, vouchers, and even freebies anyone can take advantage of once onboard. In addition to being able to use your drink package benefits nearly anywhere onboard your ship, Royal Caribbean also extends the benefit to Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti. This fish feature is prominently present on many late 19th- to early 20th-century French April Fools' Day postcards. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. One of the best parts? I see some people skip this step because they want to save a few bucks on tipping. If you have an adult in your room that does not drink (much) alcohol, you can get around this rule by calling Royal Caribbean and requesting that person get the Royal Refreshment package. If you do not complete Check-in 3 days prior, you will be required to complete this process at the pier at leasttwohoursprior to the published sailing time. 19 things you should do on embarkation day, 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise, loyalty programs on 8 different cruise lines, 10 biggest tipping mistakes cruisers make, 13 Biggest Mistakes Made by Carnival Cruise Passengers [Carnival Tips], Royal Caribbean Updates Perks in Loyalty Program, Carnival to Send Newly Upgraded Ship on 14-Day Transatlantic Cruise, 7 Reasons You Should Never Fly on Cruise Day, 19 Things You Should Do on Cruise Embarkation Day in 2023, Ultimate List of Shuttles From Orlando Airport (MCO) to Port Canaveral, Best Galveston Cruise Parking Tips, Rates & Locations [Read Before Cruise], Carnival Bringing a Fourth Cruise Ship to Galveston, Texas, Carry-on bag drop off in the main dining room. Your loyalty status doesnt reset at the end of the year. This was a really fast process that took less than five minutes. Note: You dont have to complete the entire check-in process in most cases. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. If you encounter problems using Online Check-in, please contact Carnival. The larger the group, the more important having a reservation is to limiting the wait times. And after hopping aboard I was invited to a special lounge for suite guests with all kinds of complimentary foods and beverages. Ships embarking on cruises from Amsterdam are docked in one of two places: Felison Terminal, where smaller ships dock, or the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam , where a 10-minute walk will take you to a popular station. In most cases, you should be able to save at least $10 per person compared to dinner (if not more). Ideally, you'll book a cruise at NextCruise while on a sailing when struck with the inspiration to book another cruise. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. Other families, like mine, like to get the process started as soon as possible. However, the cruise terminal in Miami did not open its doors until 10:00 am. and the answer to them all is simple: book your cruise as early as you can. The earlier you arrive on embarkation day, the earlier you will board the ship. Prior to sailing, guests may change or cancel their show reservations online up to 4 days prior to their cruise start date. In addition to the non-alcoholic beverages, you can also bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom. We'll walk you through a typical cruise embarkation day and the cruise ship boarding process, and give you some cruise embarkation tips to make sure your first day on the ship goes as smooth as butter. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. By arriving early, you will beat the big crowds that descend upon the cruise terminal later in the day, and you also get the added benefit of having some extra time onboard the ship. Printed Set Sail Pass this morning for April 2nd Sailing of the Serenade of the Seas, out of San Juan. Be sure to check it. 2) Take a security photo. Lunch and drink package 3. The Online Check-in Process is a 4 step process and Royal Caribbean will walk you through it step by step. The tours and excursions available to book in the ports your cruise will visit are many, so take advantage of the resources online to find the perfect tour before your cruise begins. Try your best to adhere to the check-in time, but they will still admit you for check-in if you were to arrive later. This is basically a forum for discussing your exact sailing with other people booked on it too. Usually, guests who book The Key are allowed to check-in with the first group (an exact time will be emailed later). If your schedule allows, the best time to cruise when prices are the lowest are in the off-season and shoulder seasons. Read more: 10 biggest tipping mistakes cruisers make. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. By pre-purchasing certain items, you can pay off parts of the cruise months or years in advance, allowing you to reduce the cruise bill at the conclusion of your cruise. After having paused this program during the cruise re-openings , Carnival is now offering Faster to the Fun again. Royal Caribbean may send you an email about boarding times, but those are mostly suggestions and not enforced at all. The cost is $129 for a 3-5 day cruise and $199 for a 6-9 day cruise with higher rates for longer voyages. Want to get an idea of what entertainment, activities and things to do (along with times) will be offered on your cruise? Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will need to wait until we are able to work them into another group. You should always let the cruise terminal porters take your large bags for you. Your vacation time is limited, so do not waste it waiting to buy a drink package. 19. If you subscribe to the theory that time is money, then you definitely want to arrive to your embarkation port early. And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. The person didnt even ask for the ship name or location and gave monosyllabic responses. If you'd like to arrive at that time, go right ahead! 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. If someone cancels their cruise, their check-in time goes back into the system for someone else to grab. When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have a choice of places to eat throughout the day. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Take advantage of the opportunity to get tickets and not be stuck in a line waiting to enter the theater or worse, miss out on the show completely. There's an impressive amount of discounts and benefits included in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program that you should absolutely know about in advance. All rights reserved. After we completed this check-in procedure, our family sat in the waiting area until it was our turn to board the ship. Once logged in, navigate toOnboard Activitiesand select the show you wish to reserve. Today, we, While I absolutely love cruising and traveling, we all know that sometimes things dont go exactly as we planned., We all make mistakes, including when on a cruise ship. Video: Royal Caribbean food secrets Discounts, tips and more! You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open forlunch (and breakfast) too? Arrived to the port at 10:30. Be the first to write a review! Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options. We were technically allowed to arrive an hour before this 10:30 slot since we were suite guests. Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. So the best way to learn about what is offered on your cruise is to check out a past Cruise Compass. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Tipping hard working crew members is a must-do, but double check the bill that it's not already included. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. Often this comes down to the ports of call being visited by the cruise line. The total cost of my cruise for two guests, including gratuities, taxes, and fees, was $1656. Two restaurants that always offer a cheaper lunch price than dinner are Chops Grille and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. Unvaccinated travellers age 5 and Looking for the Best Cruise Deals? The Key program by Royal Caribbean offers priority access at the terminal, baggage delivery to stateroom, welcome lunch from Chops Grille, VIP show access, and priority departure. Just know that with some of the tips above you will still be able to get on the ship before most of the other passengers. Jon got hooked on cruising after his first cruise on his honeymoon, and today he is always looking for cruise deals and reading information about the cruise industry. If that statement does not make a whole lot of sense yet, check out the five steps we outlined in this post to demonstrate why being early will help you have a great cruise. Set Sail pass states that boarding begins at 2:00 PM. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines.

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