Nor do they publish their entertainment schedules prior to a cruise. Also, since your cruise will likely take you to foreign countries, its crucial to have a passport with you. But once youre approved you will get a 5% discount on any future MSC sailing along with some other discounts on ship amenities. 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. 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). The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. 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? That seems like a lot to save an hour or two on embarkation day. 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. Rope dropping is also a great strategy for the sort of activities that quickly generate a line. The earlier you arrive on embarkation day, the earlier you will board the ship. It can, however, still use its WiFi and Bluetooth connections to stay connected, if you so choose. Want to know one of the best tips for avoiding the worst cruise ship cabins? 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. Third party shore excursions can offer more personalized tours at a lower price. Note: You dont have to complete the entire check-in process in most cases. Guests may be able to check in earlier but will usually not be able to embark until this time. Many guests are curious how early they can board a Royal Caribbean ship on embarkation day, so here is a guide for what to expect. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Each excursion will list the price, details of the activity and any physical or age restrictions. In fact, Day One has the makings to be as memorable as every other day of your getaway. Your fellow guests won't notice you wore that pair of jeans or dress from night two. In many ports, porters have a special line for Customs that allows you to get through it all faster. Getting on the ship for us is also the point when the cruise 'starts'. Book entertainment and dining as soon as possible. Related: A look inside Regent's most expensive cruise ship. But if you're at home, it's still a good idea to book as early as you can to lock in the lowest price. I wrote about this in the post on 19 things you should do on embarkation day. But it wasn't a nightmare either. Royal Caribbean cruises that depart from the United States will often open the cruise terminal for check-in sometime between 9am and 10am. Its not a lengthy process but should you need to stop along the way to gather a piece of information, do not worry. 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. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. You can use it to check-into your cruise (more on that in the next tip), book entertainment, shore excursions and packages. 90% refund of cruise credits if you Cancel for Any Reason. What time to arrive at the port. We enjoy being on the ship early to take advantage of as much time on board as possible. 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. Many people here, I think, . And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Most cruise ships will . 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. Most guests pack their bathing suits in the checked luggage, which means they will not have access to it until later that day. 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? 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. The plan offered is called the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, and it provides the following coverage: $25k Emergency Travel Medical Insurance. 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . 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. Norwegians priority access program includes: Other cruise lines have some sort of priority-access program as well. If you're in a suite, you don't need to pay extra for this package too. Lets look at what some of these early-access programs offer. The "3-1-1" rule is ubiquitous in airports. After we completed this check-in procedure, our family sat in the waiting area until it was our turn to board the ship. As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner! You will not have to start over! 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. One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing. Every cruise line has its own procedure for when they open up the check-in process. The faster you get on the cruise ship on embarkation day, the sooner you can start enjoying your vacation. 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. The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean. Photo Credit: NAN728 / Shutterstock. There are plenty of ways to improve one's cruise, but if you remember a single mantra for your cruise, it should be simply to be early. Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. 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. I use the Ziploc bag to hold wet swimsuits until our room is ready, so you wont need this item if you dont have a wet bathing suit to store. Remember, if your suitcase will not fit through the x-rays at the security check-point you will have to employ the services of the porter anyway. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will . Readers share: Whats the best piece of cruise advice you have ever received? Read more: 10 biggest tipping mistakes cruisers make. So the earlier you book your cruise, the more stateroom inventory you will have and if freshman year high school economics taught me anything, it is that supply and demand plays a big part in pricing. The cost is $129 for a 3-5 day cruise and $199 for a 6-9 day cruise with higher rates for longer voyages. Ideally, you'll book a cruise at NextCruise while on a sailing when struck with the inspiration to book another cruise. Here are 7 proven ways to board your cruise ship faster on embarkation day. 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. Sounds great, right? Our next RCL isn't until December 2016. A passenger can't sail from one U.S. port and get off at another U.S. port (even for the day) without the trip including a foreign port of call in the itinerary. Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to 12 bottles/cans of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroomwith them on embarkation day. 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. Royal Caribbean is inviting select guests to try out a new way to board the ship that aims to improve the embarkation, The first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise should be the start of an amazing vacation, so be sure to avoid these, The first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise is areallyfun moment in any cruise fan's vacation, because it is when, The first day of your cruise is such an awesome feeling, and I have some great tips for making it as super smooth as, Embarkation day on any Royal Caribbean cruise is an exciting and busy day, and it appears Royal Caribbean is trying to, When your Royal Caribbean cruise ship begins to sail away from port and your cruise actually begins, you will probably. These programs often offer other perks as well that are usually only reserved for suite passengers. Related: Photography on Cruise Ships: What to Expect. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Powered by Cruiseline.com. 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. Exclusive a la carte breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on . (Sponsored). 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! Questions are often worded like, "How do I get a deal? For some folks, that may sound like lunacy to plan a vacation up to two years in advance, but the fact of the matter is employing this strategy is the key to getting a really great price. You should always check with the cruise line to see what is not allowed on their ships. Entertainment is typically included in your cruise fare but on the largest ships, you are required to make reservations. You really do not want to bethat personin the airport losing their mind because the latest delay means the entire vacation is in jeopardy. On my most recent cruise on Oasis of the Seas, my family and I had junior suites booked with a 10:30 am port arrival time. Share them in our comments on this post. Two restaurants that always offer a cheaper lunch price than dinner are Chops Grille and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. If you ever wanted to see what the suite life was all about I recommend booking a short 3 day cruise. 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. By having them get the non-alcoholic drink package, you will save a lot of money compared to buying them the Deluxe Beverage package that costs much more. The rule is a thorn in the side of many travelers. The benefits wont always be the same, and you have to fill out a form and wait for approval. All Guests must board the ship no later than 4:00 pm. Depending on the arrival time you chose during online check-in, you can show up at the cruise terminal as early as 10:00 am for your cruise vacation. No reservations needed, just walk on in and be seated. In the morning, there is an omelet station available. Like what you see? This didnt take long at all, and our whole group was onboard the ship shortly after 11:00. In most cases, you should be able to save at least $10 per person compared to dinner (if not more). TX Royal Caribbean Directions to . DON'T MISS: One Key Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Tip Cruisers Need to know Royal Caribbean does not allow passengers to bring hard liquor on board its ships. The NextCruise office offers incentives to book another cruise while you're still onboard. Once you are ready to begin, completing the Royal Caribbean online check in takes very little time. On cruise day, everyone is excited to board. Our family chose to eat lunch at Windjammer Marketplace after boarding. You have a lot more going on there than a basic name change for the cruise, and thus really need to talk to whomever it is you booked through. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0f9c8c1261d574f1224454f4fa00eeb" );document.getElementById("d5aa0859c9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. In short, the app is tied to so much of the cruise experience now. Commonly it is expected to tip somewhere around $1-$2 per bag. As long as the cruise line doesnt make a drastic change to their program you will keep reaping the rewards for every cruise. There's an impressive amount of discounts and benefits included in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program that you should absolutely know about in advance. The last day of your cruise is never fun, and regardless of how many times you cruise, it never gets any less depressing. If you encounter problems using Online Check-in, please contact Carnival. By going on embarkation day, not only will you likely have a short wait but you may be able to re-ride a number of times! Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. But if you opt to drag your suitcases all through the terminal and onto the ship youre just slowing down the entire process. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Royal Caribbean does not charge for its shows, nor does it charge for advanced reservations. Guests who pay for this upgraded status typically receive priority access upon arrival on embarkation day. 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. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Employees come over to make you show that you are in a suite. How early can I board my Royal Caribbean cruise? 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. Posted January 23, 2012. 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. Sure, you can book a Royal Caribbean cruise on your own, directly through the line's website. This makes it easy to undress them poolside, and they can hop right in. Its just easier and faster. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. Printed Set Sail Pass this morning for April 2nd Sailing of the Serenade of the Seas, out of San Juan. All Oasis-class ships offer this option, but many guests are unaware that breakfast is served here, nor that it is included with your cruise fare (Johnny Rockets has a cover charge for lunch and dinner). Royal Caribbean International has notified guests booked aboard several Allure of the Seas cruises to adjust their boarding times . Due to government regulations requiring cruise lines to submit final departure . You can login to your account on the Royal Caribbean website or via the Royal Caribbean App. We also use the hairbrush for the kids hair after swimming. You should always let the cruise terminal porters take your large bags for you. If a ship sails a journey to a "nearby" foreign port, a passenger still can't leave the ship permanently at a different U.S. port than the embarkation point (nearby foreign . A number of factors affect when you can embark a cruise ship. The simplest and easiest way to get on the ship faster is taking care of the check-in process early. 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. (The porters also have luggage tags in case you forget to print yours.). Royal Caribbean may send you an email about boarding times, but those are mostly suggestions and not enforced at all. These are not the times you actually board the ship. Read more: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise. Once we walked to the entrance of Terminal Building A, we saw two separate lines: a LONG line on the left and a short line on the right. This provides the ability to break up the total cost of the cruise. While you can book shore excursions onboard your ship, the lines at the shore excursion desk can often be quite long and doing your research from home gives you plenty of time to compare different options and learn what each port offers. Jon can be reached at. These nifty little secrets can save money, time or both, and so I wanted to whittle them down to thebestRoyal Caribbean tips and tricks in hopes of savingyoutime and money! Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to. However, once you finally arrive at the port and board the ship, all your worries are washed away. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. For everyone's sanity, this rule does not apply to cruise ships. If you dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. In general, Royal Caribbean's cruise fares are priced the least the further out you go, and as the sail date approaches, prices start to creep up as the supply of staterooms on a sailing begin to get booked up. Just turn airplane mode once you get onboard the ship. However, the earlier your arrival time, the sooner you are usually able to embark on the ship. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have a choice of places to eat throughout the day. There are also two different times to consider: what time can you board your ship and what time can you arrive at the port to check-in. 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. 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. And if this gets delayed it will also impact when you can embark. Many newspapers also spread a false story on April Fish Day, and a subtle reference to a fish is sometimes given as a clue to . Read a past Cruise Compass! 5 rounds of Hornady SST Lite 12 Gauge 2 3/4" Shotgun Slugs. Priority access off the ship to the shore in port. Many cruise lines allow you to pay a little extra for priority access to the ship. If you are on a Radiance or Quantum Class ship, be sure to enjoy your meals outside while at the Windjammer. Youll also find a free printable cruise packing list! If you want to find the best prices for the spa on your cruise, consider booking things on port days, or early in the morning or late at night for the best prices. You dont want to find yourself stuck in a foreign land without your passport in a worst-case scenario. This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the ship. When a sailing is first offered, supply is at its highest because no one has purchase a cruise ship cabin yet. You'll want to do this as early as you can in order to get an early check-in time and avoid wasting time in the cruise terminal. Set . Norwegians priority program offers everything from faster embarkation to quicker tendering, and even a faster debarkation process. 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. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows . 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. The online check-in process is super simple and consists of filling out personal information among other tasks. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. I dont think I need to mention how this would slow down your boarding process, but its a key element to remember when cruising. Do you have Cruise Fever too? Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays. You can enjoy a lineup of adventures on a Royal Caribbean cruise from Day One, like the North Star observation capsule, ice skating and more. Aurea is the most expensive options and could cost anywhere from $150 to $600 more than the lowest cost experience. Search Now Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open forlunch (and breakfast) too? You can bring soda, water, energy drinks and any other non-alcoholic beverages. I am a stay-at-home mom with an amazing husband and two little girls who keep me busy with gymnastics, soccer, and swimming. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. The key is to understand what the ship you're booking has and doesn't have so there's no disappointment later. Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean'sshore excursions if they book onboard. . When you get the receipt to sign, look for the line item that indicates if an automatic 18% gratuity is already included. Prior to sailing, guests may change or cancel their show reservations online up to 4 days prior to their cruise start date. Children between the ages of 0-5 are complimentary and ages 6-12 are $10 per child at any specialty restaurant. Here are some of the benefits included with this program: Carnival Cruise Line: Faster to the Fun (FTTF). Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. The majority of cruises leave port at 4 or 5:00 pm. It is wholly owned by parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. [Subscribe fo. 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. 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. So, anyone in the wrong line was asked to move. 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. and the answer to them all is simple: book your cruise as early as you can. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. Its important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. In our experience, most guests see the times for an activity and begin arrivingafterthe scheduled start 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. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. 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. Since the online check-in time usually opens up at midnight (EST) 45 days before your cruise, youll want to login at this time. This is a great spot to see the port as you leave, especially for those that do not have a balcony stateroom or simply want something a little different. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Royal Caribbean's app is a must-have for your cruise, so make sure to download it before your cruise. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. 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. The biggest key is being prepared and knowing when you should or shouldnt pay extra to get on board faster. The day your cruise begins is full of excitement, and naturally, you may be wondering what time you can board the ship. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. 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. Things like medications, documents, passports, and even a bathing suit and some sunscreen can be kept in this bag. Unlike Traditional Dining, you will not be seated at the same table . 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. Cruise ships have to receive clearance from port authorities in order to be able to allow passengers from the previous cruise off the ship. Some days it's sunny, some days it's stormy, some days it's just . Royal Caribbean. For Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, check-in registration begins at 11:00 am and embarkation begins at 1:00 pm. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. Called RCL this morning and got a weird / rude response when asking about what time I can board the ship. Be among the first to check in and it will feel like youre getting priority access at the terminal. Embarkation day is often full of a lot of chaos and stress, especially if you are a first time cruiser. 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. You can change in a public restroom, and towels are available at the pool area to use. It can feel like torture if you have to wait a long time to board your ship. Complimentary Canaps (a French hors doeuvre) on second day. 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. 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. Once you get onboard and connect to the ship's wifi, it will ask you if you want to just use the app. Follow along on this incredible voyage! There, crewmembers will typically check you in via . Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise. You'll want to include all of your valuables, medications, and documentation. Royal Caribbean sales promotions will come and go, but if you talk to folks who book their cruises very early, they will tell you that booking super-early beats most sales offers. This means the terminal will open up . You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Depending on the length of your sailing, you can get up to $250 onboard credit. 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. Royal Caribbean shore excursions guarantee your return to the ship, even if the excursion is delayed. Things I've tried on Royal Caribbean that I won't do again, The worst cruise mistakes our readers have made on a ship. 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. We have found in the US on a standard turn around that you can board a RCL ship starting around 11:30 but . 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. The drink packages have become quite popular with guests, but Royal Caribbean rewards guests that purchase their drink package early with a discount. Her whole family, including the oceanview cabin guests, were permitted to stand in the suite line. The Online Check-in Process is a 4 step process and Royal Caribbean will walk you through it step by step.
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