This includes accepting the cruise contract, answering the health questions, and choosing your boarding time. Tipping hard working crew members is a must-do, but double check the bill that it's not already included. Previously, Royal Caribbean permitted a maximum of two 750-milliliter bottles per room. Plus, the agents at the port wont have to take the extra time to verify your birth certificate. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0f9c8c1261d574f1224454f4fa00eeb" );document.getElementById("d5aa0859c9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. Whether it is a show, a ride on North Star or the tenders to CocoCay, the absolute key to avoiding waiting in any semblance of a line is to arrive before these activities are scheduled to open/operate/perform. Guests may be able to check in earlier but will usually not be able to embark until this time. Our next RCL isn't until December 2016. 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. The Online Check-in Process is a 4 step process and Royal Caribbean will walk you through it step by step. Kids get special pricing at a specialty restaurant, so buy dining packages only for the adults. Your email address will not be published. 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. Powered by Cruiseline.com. Keep in mind that other factors may effect your boarding time. {{alert.title}} {{notification.title}} {{notification . The only trouble is you may get hooked on it, and then you will have to come up with the cash for the next cruise. Knowing this, we decided to reserve a shuttle service to pick us up at our Miami hotel at 9:30 on embarkation day. my last NCL cruise was out of tamp. Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean'sshore excursions if they book onboard. When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open forlunch (and breakfast) too? . Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. And from there the perks just kept coming. In our experience, most guests see the times for an activity and begin arrivingafterthe scheduled start time. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail. If getting onto your cruise ship as early as possible is important to you these tips above should help. So, make sure you keep everything within reach and enjoy a smooth boarding process. Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. For instance, with Royal Caribbeans app you can simply pick your check-in time, add some basic information and come back later to complete the rest. 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). But did you know if you wait to book your drink package onboard the ship you will be overpaying for it? The earliest that guests can board a cruise is between 4-5 hours before the ship is scheduled to sail away. Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. When I tried on my Android / Pixel 6 Pro, I had to hit the button a bunch of times to take a picture . Embarkation day is often full of a lot of chaos and stress, especially if you are a first time cruiser. Once you get onboard and connect to the ship's wifi, it will ask you if you want to just use the app. There are two problems with buying The Key for an early 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. You can login to your account on the Royal Caribbean website or via the Royal Caribbean App. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. In the morning, there is an omelet station available. It'll guide you to aim and take the picture. The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. I will absolutely think twice about taking a cruise from San Juan again, and RCCL as well for that matter. So which food is included and which cost extra? And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. There is no way to know in absolute terms what your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise will or will not offer, but Royal Caribbean insiders will consult past Cruise Compass' to see what was available on those similar sailings to get an idea of what to expect. However, once you finally arrive at the port and board the ship, all your worries are washed away. And the earlier check-in time you have, the sooner you get to get onboard the ship and start vacation. All rights reserved. Royal Caribbean International allows cruisers to choose a port arrival time during online check-in. Instead of arriving to your departure city on the day of your cruise, get in early! Search Multiple Sites at Once It's the rule that you can only bring liquids three ounces or less in a one quart plastic bag, with one bag per passenger. 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. Cruise lines offer several boarding times and can only allow for so many in each slot. It has grown into a website full of information on family vacation tips, kid friendly activities, homeschooling organization hacks, and so much more! The "3-1-1" rule is ubiquitous in airports. One of the best parts? If your schedule allows, the best time to cruise when prices are the lowest are in the off-season and shoulder seasons. #4 Check into your cruise as soon as you can Royal Caribbean now enforces its check-in times, so be sure to check-in for your cruise as soon as check-in opens. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. Sure, you can book a Royal Caribbean cruise on your own, directly through the line's website. You don't plan to take advantage of its . The common thread among these times is it is when others are unable or unwilling to go to the spa, so prices tend to be better. Unsubscribe whenever you want. Have you heard about Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages? By the way, there are still delays in the passport renewal process. Unvaccinated travellers age 5 and Porters are available to assist with your luggage. Depending on the length of your sailing, you can get up to $250 onboard credit. Be sure to look up all your benefits, and ensure you use the most lucrative Crown and Anchor Society perks during your sailing so you can reap the best rewards! You're probably wondering what to expect on the day you board the ship. You can then save this information and complete the rest of the check-in process at a later date. 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. Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. The Key is an optional add-on you can purchase to get VIP benefits, including an early check-in time. 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. 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. If you want to try Sky Pad, FlowRider, rock climbing wall or zipline, take advantage of lower waits on the first day of the cruise. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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. How soon can you board a cruise ship before departure? Our rooms then opened up at around 1:00 that afternoon. 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. What time to arrive at the port. DON'T assume your cabin is pristine and in working order, if you tend to worry about such things. Once onboard, cancellations must be made at least 4 hours prior to show time. This didnt take long at all, and our whole group was onboard the ship shortly after 11:00. Youll also find that the water slides dont have long lines at this time on embarkation day. By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. In many cases, Royal Caribbean promises a discount on select pre-cruise purchases compared to the price onboard. The first time I booked a suite was on Celebrity Silhouette. Entertainment is typically included in your cruise fare but on the largest ships, you are required to make reservations. 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. By having a reservation, you will be seated faster. Most guests pack their bathing suits in the checked luggage, which means they will not have access to it until later that day. Whether this is your first cruise or youre a seasoned pro, we hope you have a great trip! One of the best mantras for cruise planning is book as early as you can in order to get the lowest price. An unusual exit wound as a result of a shotgun suicide to the head. VIP access to shows in Main theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B, and Two70, Surf & Stream high-speed internet package, Special breakfast on debarkation day and choice of departure time, Dedicated phone number for guest services, Expedited water shuttle from ship to shore, Daily Complimentary Standard Room Service Breakfast, $50 Spa Discount per person (Port Days Only). Bermuda supreme court legalised same-sex marriage last year. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows for you to choose from. If you are on a Radiance or Quantum Class ship, be sure to enjoy your meals outside while at the Windjammer. If you encounter problems using Online Check-in, please contact Carnival. You should always check with the cruise line to see what is not allowed on their ships. While Royal Caribbean maintains a core experience across all ships, each vessel has its own list of amenities and activities, and even ships within the same Royal Caribbean ship class can vary. . Arrive early. The menu can vary from lunch to dinner, but the experience is still the same. 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? So if youve been delaying getting your passport renewed and dont have a trip planned any time soon, Id recommend getting that taken care of. Lunch and drink package 3. You'll need to buy The Key for every guest in the cabin (age 6 and above) for every night of the cruise. Taking the time to purchase anything onboard does not take very much time, but every little bit helps, and some purchases on the first day of the cruise can require waiting in a line, such as drink packages. In general, on a cruise with RCI, you can change 1 bane, no problem, as long as at least one original guest stays . However, if you show up just 10-15 minutes before these events, you will likely find few, if any, other guests waiting and first shot at even the most popular activities. Royal Caribbean offers a lot of shore excursions in every port and on top of that, you can also consider shore excursions through third party groups to further expand your options. Often this comes down to the ports of call being visited by the cruise line. Related: A look inside Regent's most expensive cruise ship. Yes, a suite is more expensive. The price of the cruise is the same whether you book at home or onboard. Royal Caribbean. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? However, the cruise terminal in Miami did not open its doors until 10:00 am. Once you're cleared to board, you will follow a gangway (elevated ramps) up to the ship. Your loyalty status doesnt reset at the end of the year. You will then go straight to the section on choosing your arrival time and pick the one you want. Theirservices are complimentary, although a tip is expected for their trouble. Too many parents are unaware of the open house and waste time signing their kids up as the evening session is set to begin. In addition, these roll calls are helpful because someone might spot a change or announcement before you, which can greatly benefit you by getting ahead of the pack. If you dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. Search Now Do you have Cruise Fever too? This large room consisted of plenty of seating options, refreshments, and restrooms. I wont go into every perk these loyalty programs offer, but you can check out our comparison of the loyalty programs on 8 different cruise lines. You start getting benefits after just one cruise, and you never lose your status.