If someone cancels their cruise, their check-in time goes back into the system for someone else to grab. 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). Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail. There are a few tricks to scoring early arrival times if you are eager to be one of the first passengers on the ship. But it wasn't a nightmare either. Our $2,179.98 cruise has an insurance cost of $138 if bought through Royal Caribbean. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. Your loyalty status doesnt reset at the end of the year. Whether this is your first cruise or youre a seasoned pro, we hope you have a great trip! 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. If you're on the fence about buying a Royal Caribbean drink package, keep in mind you can use them at Royal Caribbean's private islands. 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. The embarkation process is stressful enough without adding in the guy behind you asking you to hurry things up in the most colorful of ways. When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. Like what you see? . 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. On Voyager, Freedom or Radiance class ships, be sure to visit the helipad for my favorite sailaway spot. Related: Photography on Cruise Ships: What to Expect. The right slugs can turn a 12 gauge shotgun into a. It can feel like torture if you have to wait a long time to board your ship. We make sure to pack several items in our backpack, which I will include below: Youll notice that many of the items listed above are needed because our kids swim on embarkation day. The Windjammer on Radiance and Quantum class ships offers an area at the rear of the ship to enjoy any meal with a fantastic view of the ship's wake. The exact benefits you get depend on which tier of Crown and Anchor Society you belong to. Follow along on this incredible voyage! I'm not sure RCL has started that. Called RCL this morning and got a weird / rude response when asking about what time I can board the ship. Our driver dropped us off with the porters at the terminal who checked that all of our bags held luggage tags, which we had printed from our online account. Royal Caribbean's fitness center has separate showers for men and women that is complimentary to use. By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. Most cruise terminals enforce the boarding times, but occasionally you find situations where a particular pier agent doesn't pay attention to the check-in time or say anything about it. Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise. Known. HOW EARLY CAN I BOARD THE SHIP? Its just easier and faster. Depending on the length of your sailing, you can get up to $250 onboard credit. You can then save this information and complete the rest of the check-in process at a later date. For just a few dollars, you can make the embarkation and disembarkation process significantly easier. The key is to understand what the ship you're booking has and doesn't have so there's no disappointment later. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. And it may seem way out of your budget. If you ask seasoned travelers how they get around these obstacles, the answer is often to give yourself more time. If you selected my-time dining you will want to select your preferred time as the most popular times book up fast. The Aurea experience provides much more than just priority access and luggage drop off, also including access to the Top Exclusive Solarium, access to the thermal suite, discounted drink package rates, free delivery of room service and more. This is the perfect time to make dining changes/requests, book activities and specialty restaurants, secure shore excursions, etc. Before the cruise, guests may change the show/ti. , Cruising in 2023 is mostly back to normal following the pandemic-induced changes implemented across the industry in. I wrote about this in the post on 19 things you should do on embarkation day. Even if you have an international cell phone plan, cruise ship cellular coverage is rarely included. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will . 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. Sounds great, right? One of the best cruise ship cabin hacks is to bring magnets with you on your cruise. In that post, we provide tips for staying organized and packing for your trip. 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 dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. Save time on your cruise by getting your kids signed up for Royal Caribbean's complimentary kids programming on the first day of the cruise. When we say "early", we mean booking your cruise 12, 18 or even 24 months before the sail date. Love Cruise Fever?Sign Up to Our FREE Newsletter! We have spent years sharing tips, secrets and strategies on this blog about taking a better and more fun Royal Caribbean cruise, and we discovered there is one common thread among so many of our best tips: being early. When we say "early", it essentially means as early as you can. Due to government regulations requiring cruise lines to submit final departure . The benefit of doing this is you get to "meet" other people on your sailing, which may result in new friendships, or saving money on a shore excursion or other activity that has a group discount. You can bring soda, water, energy drinks and any other non-alcoholic beverages. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. It wasn't nearly as easy as usual. Getting an early arrival slot means that you can board the ship earlier than . While showing up early can be a problem, coming in later is not as much of a concern. First, if you miss The Key check-in window, you have to fall back to whatever time you had before. It has grown into a website full of information on family vacation tips, kid friendly activities, homeschooling organization hacks, and so much more! Priority access off the ship to the shore in port. 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. If you wait weeks or months to book a cruise onboard, the price of the cruise may increase and negate any savings you'd receive from the extra onboard credit. This means the terminal will open up . 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. Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to. You will then go straight to the section on choosing your arrival time and pick the one you want. In short, to save time and money, use a good travel agent. One of the Royal Caribbean suite perks is that suite guests are permitted to enter the terminal one hour before their official port arrival time. In fact, Day One has the makings to be as memorable as every other day of your getaway. All rights reserved. For lunch and dinner, you can find a rotating set of options that include pasta, stir-fry, crepes and more. Jon can be reached at. In addition, Royal Caribbean has onboard laundry services you can use to make wearing the same clothes later in the cruise more practical. I didnt even have a chance to sit down in the Port Everglades terminal before I was welcomed onto the ship. All Guests must board the ship no later than 4:00 pm. Check-in opens up 45 days before your cruise begins. On all ships, check for entertainment reservations once onboard the ship via the Royal Caribbean app. 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! Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to 12 bottles/cans of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroomwith them on embarkation day. You can actually get hundreds of dollars of onboard credit by simply booking onboard, but the exact amount depends on how long a sailing you book and in which stateroom category. 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. 1. The porter told us our luggage should be in our cabin fairly early since we were some of the first to arrive at the ship. We will be flying out . All rights reserved. The earlier you arrive on embarkation day, the earlier you will board the ship. Printed Set Sail Pass this morning for April 2nd Sailing of the Serenade of the Seas, out of San Juan. When you purchase a drink at a bar, a service at the spa, or almost anything else onboard, there's likely an automatic gratuity included with your bill. We didnt even have to get off the couch. Please see my disclosure policy at the bottom of this page for more details.). Since these are Royal Caribbean cruise tips that apply primarily to just this cruise line, it's meant to provide advice that almost anyone sailing with Royal Caribbean can use right away. Because so many guests are just getting onboard and acclimated to the new ship, many guests are unaware of where the headline attractions are or that they are open on embarkation day. Questions are often worded like, "How do I get a deal? (+1 345) 244 2431. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. This was a huge relief from the typical check-in desk with long check-in lines we have experienced in the past. The price of the cruise is the same whether you book at home or onboard. 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. 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. Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! 1. (Sponsored). The price of the September 13, 2024 cruise on the Serenade of the Seas ranges from $690 for an inside cabin to $1,963 for a suite. Some families prefer to arrive in the afternoon, so they dont have to navigate crowds at the terminal. my last NCL cruise was out of tamp. The boarding process for the 1/8 Adventure of the Seas cruise to the S. Caribbean was horrible. While frustrating to not have the rules enforced across the board, we still recommend adhering to the check-in time window to avoid any possible denial of boarding until later. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. Look up your specific cruise line to see exactly how early you can check in and then set an alarm or reminder on your phone for that date. 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. Second, you're spending extra money for a benefit that is not cheap. 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. Royal Caribbean shore excursions guarantee your return to the ship, even if the excursion is delayed. Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. {{alert.title}} {{notification.title}} {{notification . When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have a choice of places to eat throughout the day. And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. We fly in early enough to explore the port city if we want to prior to embarkation day. A Royal Caribbean employee came over to our large group and checked in each party using her tablet. In order to avoid having your phone try to use its cellular connection, all modern phones have an ability to turn off its cellular signal by enabling something called, "airplane mode.". Venue: The Artground Date: 4 - 12 Mar 2023 Fee: $18 per pax (Weekday), $20 per pax (Weekend). Inside a tree trunk, a forest nymph spends its day. The faster you get on the cruise ship on embarkation day, the sooner you can start enjoying your vacation. That's my quick take on the new boarding process for Adventure of the Seas -- the first Royal Caribbean ship to restart operations in North America.. From the moment I began the process on Saturday in Nassau, Bahamas, in advance of the vessel's first sailing in 15 months to the time I stepped into my cabin, almost exactly one . You're probably wondering what to expect on the day you board the ship. Once you're cleared to board, you will follow a gangway (elevated ramps) up to the ship. 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. Hi there! Believe me, searching for documents in your luggage is not only time-consuming but also frustrating. 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. I'm Shari. Cruise fares tend to be lower the sooner you book. If you believe in the, "rip the Band-Aid off quickly" theory of life, than disembarking your ship early will likely result in a shorter wait. Things like medications, documents, passports, and even a bathing suit and some sunscreen can be kept in this bag. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. Royal Caribbean offers all guests the option to bring their own luggage (rather than have their luggage delivered to the terminal) and leave the ship anytime once customs officials clear the ship. Guests who pay for this upgraded status typically receive priority access upon arrival on embarkation day. . Find answers to your questions about all the requirements to board a Royal Caribbean Cruise. 12. long pause. Royal Caribbean. Things I've tried on Royal Caribbean that I won't do again, The worst cruise mistakes our readers have made on a ship. On embarkation day, the pools are open so be sure to pack a bathing suit in your carry-on luggage so that you can enjoy them with less crowds! The result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise. This option may not beviable for everyone because families and large groups may find lugging all their stuff from the stateroom to the terminal is not practical. One of the best mantras for cruise planning is book as early as you can in order to get the lowest price. It was 6 years ago and I still remember my waiters name. (He was right!) Carnival allows you to check-in 14 days before the cruise date, for Royal Caribbean its 45 days, and for Norwegian Cruise Line you can check in 21 days before a sailing. Royal Caribbean's suite accommodations include a variety of VIP perks, some of which overlap with The Key. Some days it's sunny, some days it's stormy, some days it's just . We have found in the US on a standard turn around that you can board a RCL ship starting around 11:30 but . Don't worry, you don't need to buy an internet package to use the Royal Caribbean app. The helipad onis located on the bow (front)of the ship and during sailaway, Royal Caribbean permits guests access to the helipad. Nor do they publish their entertainment schedules prior to a cruise. The open house is when you can go to meet the staff, register your kids, and ask any questions. Can anyone who has recently been on the Serenade rec. A really common mistake is for passengers to leave their phone on like normal, and come home to a monster bill because of hefty roaming charges. You can login to your account on the Royal Caribbean website or via the Royal Caribbean App. One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing. If you can check in using the cruise lines app or website the very first day you have a better chance of having an early boarding time. These programs often offer other perks as well that are usually only reserved for suite passengers. If not, just leave blank, How being early is the secret to the best Royal Caribbean cruise, from start to finish, purchase the drink package of your choice online, 5 Royal Caribbean things you had no idea existed. When a sailing is first offered, supply is at its highest because no one has purchase a cruise ship cabin yet. If you are on a Radiance or Quantum Class ship, be sure to enjoy your meals outside while at the Windjammer. In most cases, you should be able to save at least $10 per person compared to dinner (if not more). We know youre eager to arrive at the cruise port for your Royal Caribbean cruise. You dont want to find yourself stuck in a foreign land without your passport in a worst-case scenario. This includes your passport, boarding pass, and any other necessary paperwork. 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? Plus, the agents at the port wont have to take the extra time to verify your birth certificate. By having a reservation, you will be seated faster. This buffet wasnt crowded at all during these early hours, and it offered a large variety of food for our big travel group. Your email address will not be published. If you have a cruise booked with Royal Caribbean, you can typically check-in around 45 days before your sail date. Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. How early can I board my Royal Caribbean cruise? Click on the person icon, and it should fire up the camera again. On cruise day, everyone is excited to board. Laundry costs extra, but it may save you money compared to paying to check an extra bag at the airport. When I tried on my Android / Pixel 6 Pro, I had to hit the button a bunch of times to take a picture . Suite guests still need to get a check-in time for their sailing, butusuallythey will be give more flexibility in their times. A number of factors affect when you can embark a cruise ship. If you'd like to arrive at that time, go right ahead! 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. We have an entire forum dedicated to Royal Caribbean roll calls on our message boards that is totally free to use! The cost is $129 for a 3-5 day cruise and $199 for a 6-9 day cruise with higher rates for longer voyages. If you are flying to your cruise port, be sure to fly in at least one day before the cruise is scheduled to depart to protect against a travel delay. Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. If your schedule allows, the best time to cruise when prices are the lowest are in the off-season and shoulder seasons. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Exclusive a la carte breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on . Be sure to pack these items in your carry-on luggage, and not your checked luggage. Since 2021, Royal Caribbean has mostly been enforcing check-in times, so it's important to get a good time as early as you can. If you are sailing on an Oasis or Quantum Class ship, you can pre-book shows in advance, such as the Broadway musicals or ice shows. Perhaps one of the most common questions we receive on Royal Caribbean Blog is about how to save money and get the best possible price for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows . Rope dropping is also a great strategy for the sort of activities that quickly generate a line. Once you board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, youll want to take care of a few chores. Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays. 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. 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. Employees come over to make you show that you are in a suite. Arrived to the port at 10:30. Quick tip: You should always keep one bag with you. There, crewmembers will typically check you in via . You can change in a public restroom, and towels are available at the pool area to use. Johnny Rockets tends to be not very crowded for breakfast, because many guests are unaware of this option, and it also has a large seating capacity (indoor and outdoor seating options). The Windjammer is the go-to spot for most when they get onboard their Royal Caribbean ship for lunch, but there are good alternatives that are less crowded. You can even start using your drink packages right away to help you get into vacation mode even faster! So which food is included and which cost extra? Fax: +1 345 946 8825. The difference is booking onboard will get you extra onboard credit and reduced deposit. The rule is a thorn in the side of many travelers. 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. Guests who were sailing in Star Class and had access to a Royal Genie were permitted to move to the front of the line in order to receive the priority boarding that was included in their suite perks. However, the earlier your arrival time, the sooner you are usually able to embark on the ship. Here is a list of a few prohibited things Royal Caribbean has on their website: If you try to bring any of these things onto your cruise ship you will not only get the items confiscated, you could also be in some trouble with the law. I see some people skip this step because they want to save a few bucks on tipping. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0f9c8c1261d574f1224454f4fa00eeb" );document.getElementById("d5aa0859c9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. Moreover, the onboard credit is stackable with other discounts Royal Caribbean is offering at the time! The exact amount of the discount will vary from sailing to sailing, but in general, the savings of booking a drink package online before a cruise can be as much as over $10 per person, per day compared to booking it onboard. DON'T assume your cabin is pristine and in working order, if you tend to worry about such things. If not, just leave blank, 40 BEST Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets, what is the cheapest month to go on a cruise, Royal Caribbean offers extra onboard credit if you own at least a certain amount of Royal Caribbean Group stock, entire forum dedicated to Royal Caribbean roll calls, Royal Caribbean has onboard laundry services, ensure you use the most lucrative Crown and Anchor Society perks, booking a cruise now, rather than waiting to book onboard your ship, The FAA system outage reminded us why you shouldn't violate 1 of the biggest unwritten rules about cruise planning, How to save at least $22 (and likely a lot more) off your next Royal Caribbean cruise right now, 10 cruise ship tips that worked for our Royal Caribbean Blog staffers in 2022, Cruise hack: Maximize Voom internet discount for Diamond members or above, 20 Royal Caribbean tips for a better cruise, 23 Do's and Don'ts for your Royal Caribbean cruise in 2023.
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