Did you know Royal Caribbean offers extra onboard credit if you own at least a certain amount of Royal Caribbean Group stock? ", "When is the best time to book a cruise?" Royal Caribbean warns there could be a delay in beginning the check-in procedure if you're late, but you will still be able to get to the cruise. Two restaurants that always offer a cheaper lunch price than dinner are Chops Grille and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? The earlier you arrive on embarkation day, the earlier you will board the ship. Cruise fares tend to be lower the sooner you book. If you are on a Radiance or Quantum Class ship, be sure to enjoy your meals outside while at the Windjammer. Firearms and ammunition, including plastic replicas and toys, Sharp objects like knives and scissors(scissors with a blade length of less than 4 inches are allowed), Coffee makers, clothes irons, travel steamers and hot plates, Alcoholic beverages like beer, selter, or hard liquor. The last day of your cruise is never fun, and regardless of how many times you cruise, it never gets any less depressing. 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. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. This provides the ability to break up the total cost of the cruise. Easier said than done, but you probably won't need all the clothes, shoes, and outfits you think you might need on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 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 . Want to get an idea of what entertainment, activities and things to do (along with times) will be offered on your cruise? The boarding process for the 1/8 Adventure of the Seas cruise to the S. Caribbean was horrible. Whether this is your first cruise or youre a seasoned pro, we hope you have a great trip! HOW EARLY CAN I BOARD THE SHIP? Things like weapons, candles, and irons are on the list of things NOT to bring. 10 tips to help you improve your cruise vacation. When we say "early", it essentially means as early as you can. 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.". Some specialty restaurants will cost less if you eat there for lunch. When you get the receipt to sign, look for the line item that indicates if an automatic 18% gratuity is already included. 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. So the best way to learn about what is offered on your cruise is to check out a past Cruise Compass. 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. Not only are the dress codes quite liberal, you can also re-use the same clothes on the same sailing. 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. Lunch and drink package 3. Once you board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, youll want to take care of a few chores. You can login to your account on the Royal Caribbean website or via the Royal Caribbean App. In addition, Royal Caribbean has onboard laundry services you can use to make wearing the same clothes later in the cruise more practical. As for Royal Caribbean opening up additional earlier times, it's not usually the case. In our experience, most guests see the times for an activity and begin arrivingafterthe scheduled start time. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. If you get on the ship early you will find this is one of the best times to enjoy the cruise ship pools without any crowds. On a cruise, your vacation starts as soon as you set foot on your cruise ship. (This post may contain affiliate links. A number of factors affect when you can embark a cruise ship. Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. Answer (1 of 9): It is becoming more common to have a check-in time on your boarding pass. Related: A look inside Regent's most expensive cruise ship. Bermuda supreme court legalised same-sex marriage last year. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. If you want a ship with a Broadway show, book Oasis or Harmony of the Seas, but skip Wonder of the Seas. Here are my tips for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner. Read more: 10 biggest tipping mistakes cruisers make. (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) You are staying in a suite. For a full list of items that my family and I pack on a cruise vacation, you can check out my Cruise Packing List article. 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. [Subscribe fo. Arrive early. The Key is an optional add-on you can purchase to get VIP benefits, including an early check-in time. Just like dining, you can reserve shows in advance by going to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. If guests wish to enjoy their wine or champagne in our dining or bar venues, there will be a corkage fee applied. Norwegians priority program offers everything from faster embarkation to quicker tendering, and even a faster debarkation process. 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. In many cases, Royal Caribbean promises a discount on select pre-cruise purchases compared to the price onboard. The price for The Key varies by sailing, but prices start at $25 per guest for each day of the cruise. Members also get invitations to special events, like behind-the-scenes tours of the ship. A Royal Caribbean employee came over to our large group and checked in each party using her tablet. There's no way to know that's happened without checking manually. 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. When you get the terminal, be sure to tell the pier agent you are staying in a suite so you can be directed to the right place. By the way, there are still delays in the passport renewal process. 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. Your vacation time is limited, so do not waste it waiting to buy a drink package. Peak dinner time is between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, so if you plan to dine during these times, reservations are so important. Laundry costs extra, but it may save you money compared to paying to check an extra bag at the airport. All sent to your inbox. This way youre paying about half the price of a week-long cruise and you can test the waters. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. 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. While I do enjoy sailing on many different cruise lines and seeing how they compare, sticking with one line can get you those loyalty perks. Packing your cruise day bag is important so that you have everything you need for your first day. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! If you dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. So if you have an early flight and can carry all your bags, then you can be among the first to get off the ship. Here are some basic considerations. First, we recommend choosing your port arrival time before completing anything else during online check in. Each ship is packed with adventures . It can feel like torture if you have to wait a long time to board your ship. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. If you choose to fly ChoiceAir, Royal Caribbean automatically displays only the airline schedules that will enable you to meet your cruise. Comment below to share your tips with us! 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. Hi there! Like what you see? 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. Whether the first day or the last day of your cruise, be sure to grab a porter to make things easier on yourself. Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean'sshore excursions if they book onboard. The key is to understand what the ship you're booking has and doesn't have so there's no disappointment later. (The porters also have luggage tags in case you forget to print yours.). The right slugs can turn a 12 gauge shotgun into a. 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. 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. Photo Credit: NAN728 / Shutterstock. Royal Caribbean International has notified guests booked aboard several Allure of the Seas cruises to adjust their boarding times . Holland American Line: Mariner Society . I booked my Symphony of the Seas cruise five months in advance of my February sail date. There is a lot that goes into a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation, from your cruise fare (and the slew of discounts available), to dining, shore excursions, air travel and more. 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. 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. Weird. DON'T assume your cabin is pristine and in working order, if you tend to worry about such things. Knowing this, we decided to reserve a shuttle service to pick us up at our Miami hotel at 9:30 on embarkation day. 2) Take a security photo. 12. long pause. (+1 345) 244 2431. Find answers to your questions about all the requirements to board a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! 2. It's important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. 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. This means you can still be on Royal Caribbean's wifi and use the app, but avoid a huge bill. The online check-in process is super simple and consists of filling out personal information among other tasks. Things I've tried on Royal Caribbean that I won't do again, The worst cruise mistakes our readers have made on a ship. I pack my kids undergarments for them to put on after they swim. Priority line at ship attractions and water slides during regular hours. Nor do they publish their entertainment schedules prior to a cruise. But did you know if you wait to book your drink package onboard the ship you will be overpaying for it? The plan offered is called the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, and it provides the following coverage: $25k Emergency Travel Medical Insurance. 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? You start getting benefits after just one cruise, and you never lose your status. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in.