For everyone's sanity, this rule does not apply to cruise ships. 2) Take a security photo. 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. I dont think I need to mention how this would slow down your boarding process, but its a key element to remember when cruising. Did you know that Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis Class ships? Ideally, you'll book a cruise at NextCruise while on a sailing when struck with the inspiration to book another cruise. After having paused this program during the cruise re-openings , Carnival is now offering Faster to the Fun again. If you're reading this at home, you're still better off booking a cruise now, rather than waiting to book onboard your ship. This online check-in is when you choose your port arrival time. This means you can get extra value from your drink package purchase while anywhere in these private destinations. Quick tip: You should always keep one bag with you. Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean'sshore excursions if they book onboard. Youll also find that the water slides dont have long lines at this time on embarkation day. Most cruise ships will . The concept is simple: pay a few bucks and skip the lines. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows . Any money saved is always welcome! 19. 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. (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) You are staying in a suite. This is by far the least crowded time to swim on the cruise ship. I am a stay-at-home mom with an amazing husband and two little girls who keep me busy with gymnastics, soccer, and swimming. Known. My kids wear their bathing suits onto the ship underneath their clothes. If you dont have extra room in the budget, the first point in this article will help the most. Guests who pay for this upgraded status typically receive priority access upon arrival on embarkation day. One of the best mantras for cruise planning is book as early as you can in order to get the lowest price. 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. Royal Caribbean shore excursions guarantee your return to the ship, even if the excursion is delayed. So many aspects of the cruise experience, from saving money to saving time, can be greatly improved if you embrace the idea of doing it all early. Due to government regulations requiring cruise lines to submit final departure . 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. 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. This includes accepting the cruise contract, answering the health questions, and choosing your boarding time. Then, the dads in our group took the kids to the pool so that they could swim in virtually empty swimming areas. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. That means if a couple buys The Key for a 7 day cruise it will cost at least $350. This fish feature is prominently present on many late 19th- to early 20th-century French April Fools' Day postcards. These are the times of year when demand is less for cruises to certain regions. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. Our hotel (Intercontinental Miami) was a short 15-minute drive to the Port of Miami. You dont want to find yourself stuck in a foreign land without your passport in a worst-case scenario. If you ever wanted to see what the suite life was all about I recommend booking a short 3 day cruise. We completed our Muster Drill requirements immediately after boarding. Call (225) 687-7590 or what can i bring on a cruise royal caribbean today! Video: Royal Caribbean food secrets Discounts, tips and more! Royal Caribbean International has notified guests booked aboard several Allure of the Seas cruises to adjust their boarding times . You should always check with the cruise line to see what is not allowed on their ships. 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. All sent to your inbox. 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 result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. In that post, we provide tips for staying organized and packing for your trip. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. However, I highly recommend traveling with a passport. 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. As long as the cruise line doesnt make a drastic change to their program you will keep reaping the rewards for every cruise. . 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. 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. Employees come over to make you show that you are in a suite. Moreover, the onboard credit is stackable with other discounts Royal Caribbean is offering at the time! If your stateroom shower is occupied by a family member, you could go to the gym and shower there instead. Corkscrews will be provided for guests to enjoy their drinks in their stateroom. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. So, make sure you keep everything within reach and enjoy a smooth boarding process. We also use the hairbrush for the kids hair after swimming. If you have a cruise booked with Royal Caribbean, you can typically check-in around 45 days before your sail date. Theirservices are complimentary, although a tip is expected for their trouble. One of the best parts? But I have a helpful suggestion. What you want to do is look at what the ship you're considering has to do onboard, and ensure it has the most important options that you want to experience. When you make purchases onboard your cruise, at the end of the cruise you get a final bill with all of the charges tallied up. Royal Caribbean is quite understanding about schedules, and if you need to get off the ship sooner, they are usually very accommodating. Tipping hard working crew members is a must-do, but double check the bill that it's not already included. All rights reserved. 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. This allows us to keep our things organized and within easy access. But it wasn't a nightmare either. 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. Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. We found our SeaPass cards in the room, which are used during the cruise as your room key, identification, credit card, etc. By planning to arrive to your departure port at least one day early, you assure yourself that a travel delay will not impact your ability to get on your cruise. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. 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. 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 moms in our group then ran errands to take care of some items. 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. Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to. 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. The rule is a thorn in the side of many travelers. Our $2,179.98 cruise has an insurance cost of $138 if bought through Royal Caribbean. 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.". You may also want to pack a dinner outfit, especially if you . For your return home, you have the ability to select the flight that best suits your schedule. If you selected my-time dining you will want to select your preferred time as the most popular times book up fast. 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. 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. Be sure to check it. For Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, check-in registration begins at 11:00 am and embarkation begins at 1:00 pm. The Online Check-in Process is a 4 step process and Royal Caribbean will walk you through it step by step. Yes, a suite is more expensive. Rope dropping is also a great strategy for the sort of activities that quickly generate a line. Jon can be reached at. Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise. The cost is $129 for a 3-5 day cruise and $199 for a 6-9 day cruise with higher rates for longer voyages. Your stateroom walls are made of metal, and that means you can stick a magnet on any of them (even the ceiling). Your vacation time is limited, so do not waste it waiting to buy a drink package. Many people here, I think, . A second way to grab an early port arrival time is by purchasing The Key. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will . For instance, although medical marijuana may be legal in parts of the United States, it is not allowed in most part of the Caribbean, and therefore will not be permitted on the ship. NATURI A sound installation and performance for young audiences from 18 months up to physical or psychomotor skills of 4 years!. One of my favorite benefits was having access to an amazing restaurant that was reserved for suite guests only. 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. Lots of passengers arrive early, standing in line for the opportunity to board early and be among the first on the ship. 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. 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. 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. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. If you can cruise during these times, there are some truly low prices to enjoy. In addition to the non-alcoholic beverages, you can also bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom. It is the fourth-largest cruise line in the world by passengers, controlling about 8.6% of the total worldwide share of the cruise market by passengers as of 2021. After all, if you want to jump in that pool as soon as you get on the ship you might as well be prepared. Did you know Royal Caribbean offers extra onboard credit if you own at least a certain amount of Royal Caribbean Group stock? However, once you finally arrive at the port and board the ship, all your worries are washed away. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. Click on the person icon, and it should fire up the camera again. We have an entire forum dedicated to Royal Caribbean roll calls on our message boards that is totally free to use! Don't worry, you don't need to buy an internet package to use the Royal Caribbean app. 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. Questions are often worded like, "How do I get a deal? (The porters also have luggage tags in case you forget to print yours.). They also re-wear their embarkation clothes since this first day is typically not dressy at all. 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. 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. If you want a ship with a Broadway show, book Oasis or Harmony of the Seas, but skip Wonder of the Seas. In addition to that you get to the best locations on the ship, personalized service, exclusive amenities, and other complimentary perks. From a bag getting lost in transit to flight cancellations, its always better to be protected than to not have insurance when you need it most. 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. 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. How to Complete Check-In. Once you get onboard and connect to the ship's wifi, it will ask you if you want to just use the app. 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. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. The menu can vary from lunch to dinner, but the experience is still the same. Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays. Using a travel agent simplifies this entire process. We have found in the US on a standard turn around that you can board a RCL ship starting around 11:30 but . When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have a choice of places to eat throughout the day. There's no way to know that's happened without checking manually. The biggest key is being prepared and knowing when you should or shouldnt pay extra to get on board faster. If you are wondering what time constitutes, "early", we are talking about sometime between 10am and 11:30am. Be sure to pack these items in your carry-on luggage, and not your checked luggage. Be the first to write a review! 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. About a week before the cruise, the Suite Concierge will email suite guests with an introduction and outline basic suite policies, including a flexible arrival policy, where suite guests can arrive one hour before or after their check-in time. An an example, if you have kids and water slides are a must-do, then skip the Vision Class ships and Explorer of the Seas. Getting on the ship for us is also the point when the cruise 'starts'. The earliest that guests can board a cruise is between 4-5 hours before the ship is scheduled to sail away. 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. 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. I'm Shari. Once you are ready to begin, completing the Royal Caribbean online check in takes very little time. 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 . Kids get special pricing at a specialty restaurant, so buy dining packages only for the adults. If you encounter problems using Online Check-in, please contact Carnival. If you're flying to your cruise, take heed of what happened today as an important reminder of what not to do, We have a quick tip to share on how you can save money on your next Royal Caribbean cruise before you ever set foot on, The Royal Caribbean Blog staff collectively spent over 270 nights on Royal Caribbean ships in 2022. Hi there! 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. Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing. Each cruise line has their own list of prohibited items, so just make sure you follow those instructions and avoid being pulled to the side by security at the cruise terminal. The cruise line can have an impact as some lines have different embarkation . Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options. 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. Aurea is the most expensive options and could cost anywhere from $150 to $600 more than the lowest cost experience. Things like weapons, candles, and irons are on the list of things NOT to bring. Want to know one of the best tips for avoiding the worst cruise ship cabins? Our family chose to eat lunch at Windjammer Marketplace after boarding. 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. 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. Nor do they publish their entertainment schedules prior to a cruise. If you're in a suite, you don't need to pay extra for this package too. I'm not sure RCL has started that. HOW EARLY CAN I BOARD THE SHIP? We know youre eager to arrive at the cruise port for your Royal Caribbean cruise. When you purchase anything before your cruise via the Cruise Planner site, you will be required to pay for it at the time of purchase. Unless you've really got money to blow, don't know how people make the decision to go to Caribbean/offshore schools anymore.Foundation year 1 (FY1) doctors told The BMJ that they had asked the trust to consider increasing medical locum shift pay rates from 24 an hour for social hours and 29 for unsocial hours to match those provided for . Sure, you can book a Royal Caribbean cruise on your own, directly through the line's website. The faster you get on the cruise ship on embarkation day, the sooner you can start enjoying your vacation. Things like medications, documents, passports, and even a bathing suit and some sunscreen can be kept in this bag. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Instead of arriving to your departure city on the day of your cruise, get in early! If you dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. Once onboard, cancellations must be made at least 4 hours prior to show time. (Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas). From sunny Aruba to, If you are at least a Diamond member or above in Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society, here is a great way to, Taking a Royal Caribbean cruise is a great family vacation because of all the great things to see and do onboard. And loyalty perks usually involve priority access to the ship. 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. When I tried to check in for my May 2022 cruise, this step was the only glitchy part of the whole process. Youll also find a free printable cruise packing list! If your schedule allows, the best time to cruise when prices are the lowest are in the off-season and shoulder seasons. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), also known in short as Norwegian, is an American cruise line founded in 1966, incorporated in Bermuda and headquartered in Miami. Do you have Cruise Fever too? Lets look at what some of these early-access programs offer. Just one of the perks of being a suite guest on a cruise ship is having priority access. However, the earlier your arrival time, the sooner you are usually able to embark on the ship. Depending on your disembarkation time and port, the time needed to arrive at the airport will vary. The price of the cruise is the same whether you book at home or onboard. We fly in early enough to explore the port city if we want to prior to embarkation day. And it may seem way out of your budget. In addition to the drink package, a wifi package also works while at CocoCay. For assistance in navigating Online Check-in or questions on how to fill out the information - contact your travel agent or if booked directly, contact our Service Specialists at 800 327-5782, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-10:00pm ET and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-6:00pm . As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner! It's important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. 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. Embark's office is located in an industrial chic building in Boston's Seaport District. Over the course of a 7-night cruise, those savings add up quickly! Once you board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, youll want to take care of a few chores. In general, on a cruise with RCI, you can change 1 bane, no problem, as long as at least one original guest stays . Since your luggage isnt guaranteed to arrive in your room before dinner, youll want to make sure you have everything you need ahead of time. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? In addition, Royal Caribbean has onboard laundry services you can use to make wearing the same clothes later in the cruise more practical. The majority of cruises leave port at 4 or 5:00 pm. Several years ago, I decided to start this blog to document our family trips. What time to arrive at the port. In many ports, porters have a special line for Customs that allows you to get through it all faster. Holland American Line: Mariner Society . You will then go straight to the section on choosing your arrival time and pick the one you want. Complimentary Canaps (a French hors doeuvre) on second day. 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. 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. By having a reservation, you will be seated faster. How early can I board my Royal Caribbean cruise? If you subscribe to the theory that time is money, then you definitely want to arrive to your embarkation port early. Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom. The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. There are two problems with buying The Key for an early check-in. 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. You can login to your account on the Royal Caribbean website or via the Royal Caribbean App. The exact benefits you get depend on which tier of Crown and Anchor Society you belong to. MSC Cruises has three experiences to choose from: Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea. Here are 7 proven ways to board your cruise ship faster on embarkation day. 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. 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. . ", "When is the best time to book a cruise?" By the way, there are still delays in the passport renewal process. 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