We have found in the US on a standard turn around that you can board a RCL ship starting around 11:30 but . But once youre approved you will get a 5% discount on any future MSC sailing along with some other discounts on ship amenities. Cruise lines offer several boarding times and can only allow for so many in each slot. The FCC . First, we recommend choosing your port arrival time before completing anything else during online check in. As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner! But if you opt to drag your suitcases all through the terminal and onto the ship youre just slowing down the entire process. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. If you encounter problems using Online Check-in, please contact Carnival. A Royal Caribbean employee came over to our large group and checked in each party using her tablet. If you choose to fly ChoiceAir, Royal Caribbean automatically displays only the airline schedules that will enable you to meet your cruise. Simply check in on the very day availability opens. Most cruise ships will . 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. 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! Even if you have an international cell phone plan, cruise ship cellular coverage is rarely included. If you want a ship with a Broadway show, book Oasis or Harmony of the Seas, but skip Wonder of the Seas. 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. Sure, you can book a Royal Caribbean cruise on your own, directly through the line's website. 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! Some specialty restaurants will cost less if you eat there for lunch. These programs often offer other perks as well that are usually only reserved for suite passengers. 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. The plan offered is called the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, and it provides the following coverage: $25k Emergency Travel Medical Insurance. Unsubscribe whenever you want. 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. We fly in early enough to explore the port city if we want to prior to embarkation day. This fish feature is prominently present on many late 19th- to early 20th-century French April Fools' Day postcards. 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. But did you know if you wait to book your drink package onboard the ship you will be overpaying for it? 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. Have you heard about Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages? Be sure to check it. 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 . ", "When is the best time to book a cruise?" 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. This allows us to keep our things organized and within easy access. The online check-in process is super simple and consists of filling out personal information among other tasks. The person didnt even ask for the ship name or location and gave monosyllabic responses. 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. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. 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. And loyalty perks usually involve priority access to the ship. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. Often this comes down to the ports of call being visited by the cruise line. I'm Shari. A second way to grab an early port arrival time is by purchasing The Key. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 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. Depending on your disembarkation time and port, the time needed to arrive at the airport will vary. 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. 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. Believe me, searching for documents in your luggage is not only time-consuming but also frustrating. Possible pranks include attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays. In the morning, there is an omelet station available. If your cruise leaves at a different time than this, check with your cruise line to see what time embarkation begins. 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. Booking a suite has more advantages than you may think. 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. This buffet wasnt crowded at all during these early hours, and it offered a large variety of food for our big travel group. If you have a cruise booked with Royal Caribbean, you can typically check-in around 45 days before your sail date. 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. 10 tips to help you improve your cruise vacation. And it may seem way out of your budget. 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? . Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. 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. No reservations needed, just walk on in and be seated. Powered by Cruiseline.com. 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. 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. Some families prefer to arrive in the afternoon, so they dont have to navigate crowds at the terminal. Priority line at ship attractions and water slides during regular hours. Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays. Its also important to note that theres no best time to board the Royal Caribbean ship. When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have a choice of places to eat throughout the day. They offer guests the option to drink as much as they want on their cruise for a fixed price. 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. At 11:00, crew members instructed all of the suite guests to form a line. Through our past experiences, on many different lines, we have boarded closer to 11:00. Just one of the perks of being a suite guest on a cruise ship is having priority access. You'll want to include all of your valuables, medications, and documentation. 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. This online check-in is when you choose your port arrival time. 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. That being said, my sister had a junior suite AND an oceanview room booked. Youll also find a free printable cruise packing list! Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will . 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. 12. long pause. 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. 90% refund of cruise credits if you Cancel for Any Reason. Oasis Class ships offer outside dining is also available onCentral Park and Boardwalk neighborhoods. 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. 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. When we say "early", we mean booking your cruise 12, 18 or even 24 months before the sail date. 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). While this isnt necessarily the time in which you will board the ship, it is a good indicator of when you will be allowed to embark. The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Just turn airplane mode once you get onboard the ship. 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. The same is true for beer . Peak dinner time is between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, so if you plan to dine during these times, reservations are so important. As long as the cruise line doesnt make a drastic change to their program you will keep reaping the rewards for every cruise. If you're reading this at home, you're still better off booking a cruise now, rather than waiting to book onboard your ship. The open house is when you can go to meet the staff, register your kids, and ask any questions. 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. Over the course of a 7-night cruise, those savings add up quickly! The last day of your cruise is never fun, and regardless of how many times you cruise, it never gets any less depressing. Unlike Traditional Dining, you will not be seated at the same table . 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. This means the terminal will open up . If you subscribe to the theory that time is money, then you definitely want to arrive to your embarkation port early. (Sponsored). Things I've tried on Royal Caribbean that I won't do again, The worst cruise mistakes our readers have made on a ship. The first time I booked a suite was on Celebrity Silhouette. Note: MSC Cruises has a status match program, so you can carry over some of the perks you have with another cruise line. The NextCruise office offers incentives to book another cruise while you're still onboard. When we say "early", it essentially means as early as you can. 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. 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. Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. Yes, a suite is more expensive. Read a past Cruise Compass! We will also provide tips for scoring the earliest boarding time on Royal Caribbean based on our recent experience on the Oasis of the Seas at the cruise terminal in Port of Miami. And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. 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. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Welcome aboard! This makes it easy to undress them poolside, and they can hop right in. Kids get special pricing at a specialty restaurant, so buy dining packages only for the adults. 1. An unusual exit wound as a result of a shotgun suicide to the head. Royal Caribbean's suite accommodations include a variety of VIP perks, some of which overlap with The Key. If you ever wanted to see what the suite life was all about I recommend booking a short 3 day cruise. All rights reserved. The right slugs can turn a 12 gauge shotgun into a. In general, on a cruise with RCI, you can change 1 bane, no problem, as long as at least one original guest stays . Prior to sailing, guests may change or cancel their show reservations online up to 4 days prior to their cruise start date. $250 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 14 or more nights, $100 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 to 13 nights, $50 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 5 nights or less. Comment below to share your tips with us! 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. For just a few dollars, you can make the embarkation and disembarkation process significantly easier. 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. In many cases, Royal Caribbean promises a discount on select pre-cruise purchases compared to the price onboard. 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. As for Royal Caribbean opening up additional earlier times, it's not usually the case. There are a few tricks to scoring early arrival times if you are eager to be one of the first passengers on the ship. We didnt even have to get off the couch. Royal Caribbean. So, how do you secure an early arrival time so that you can board the ship as soon as possible? Once at the Muster Station, you just scan your SetSail Pass. The simplest and easiest way to get on the ship faster is taking care of the check-in process early. Priority access off the ship to the shore in port. And from there the perks just kept coming. 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 . 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. Here is a list of several cruise lines that offer priority boarding when you gain loyalty status and what it takes to get there: Most of the time if you have priority boarding you will also have priority disembarkation included as well. Don't book a cabin one deck above or below a public space, such as a pool, dining room, or bar. Each excursion will list the price, details of the activity and any physical or age restrictions. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows for you to choose from. Most guests pack their bathing suits in the checked luggage, which means they will not have access to it until later that 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. To redeem this benefit, you just need to email[emailprotected]withyour name, address, confirmation number, ship and sailing date along with a copy of your shareholder proxy card or a current brokerage statement showing proof of share ownership. At 10:00, the doors to the terminal opened, and the suite guests were escorted to an elevator that took us to a separate security line. 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. Previously, Royal Caribbean permitted a maximum of two 750-milliliter bottles per room. Your loyalty status doesnt reset at the end of the year. 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. If you ask seasoned travelers how they get around these obstacles, the answer is often to give yourself more time. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? {{alert.title}} {{notification.title}} {{notification . Many people here, I think, . Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. On all ships, check for entertainment reservations once onboard the ship via the Royal Caribbean app. For everyone's sanity, this rule does not apply to cruise ships. The result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise. Sounds great, right? Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. Not only are the dress codes quite liberal, you can also re-use the same clothes on the same sailing. Commonly it is expected to tip somewhere around $1-$2 per bag. Once onboard, cancellations must be made at least 4 hours prior to show time. 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. TX Royal Caribbean Directions to . 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. We like to carry a backpack onboard the ship on embarkation day. When I tried on my Android / Pixel 6 Pro, I had to hit the button a bunch of times to take a picture . Been a while since I've been on Royal Caribbean and we are sailing tomorrow out of Miami. 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. Related: Photography on Cruise Ships: What to Expect. You may also want to pack a dinner outfit, especially if you . In fact, Day One has the makings to be as memorable as every other day of your getaway. [Subscribe fo. Once you are ready to begin, completing the Royal Caribbean online check in takes very little time. 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. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. Hi there! 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. The rule is a thorn in the side of many travelers. Royal Caribbean's fitness center has separate showers for men and women that is complimentary to use. 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. My kids wear their bathing suits onto the ship underneath their clothes. For your return home, you have the ability to select the flight that best suits your schedule. The moms in our group then ran errands to take care of some items. In addition to the drink package, a wifi package also works while at CocoCay. Not only can a porter help take a load off of you, they can greatly assist with disembarkation and getting you through the terminal faster. 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. Called RCL this morning and got a weird / rude response when asking about what time I can board the ship. 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. Its just easier and faster. 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. Royal Caribbean does not post or publish Cruise Compasses for upcoming sailings in advance. All rights reserved. Call (225) 687-7590 or what can i bring on a cruise royal caribbean today! 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. Share them in our comments on this post. If you buy heavy duty magnets with hooks, you can use these magnets to store certain items. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0f9c8c1261d574f1224454f4fa00eeb" );document.getElementById("d5aa0859c9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. We will be flying out . . Packing your cruise day bag is important so that you have everything you need for your first day. Instant Real Time Pricing Some days it's sunny, some days it's stormy, some days it's just . Search Now Jon can be reached at. It can feel like torture if you have to wait a long time to board your ship. Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. Royal Caribbean now enforces its check-in times, so be sure to check-in for your cruise as soon as check-in opens. Each cruiser scanned his/her SetSail Pass (from the Royal Caribbean app) and was permitted to board the ship. Re: Changing one guest name - Royal Caribbean. 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. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. 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? By arriving early, you will beat the big crowds that descend upon the cruise terminal later in the day, and you also get the added benefit of having some extra time onboard 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. All rights reserved. Too many parents are unaware of the open house and waste time signing their kids up as the evening session is set to begin. The helipad onis located on the bow (front)of the ship and during sailaway, Royal Caribbean permits guests access to the helipad. If you can cruise during these times, there are some truly low prices to enjoy. . Royal Caribbean International has notified guests booked aboard several Allure of the Seas cruises to adjust their boarding times . 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. 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). 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. So the best way to learn about what is offered on your cruise is to check out a past Cruise Compass. All sent to your inbox. 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. 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. You dont want to find yourself stuck in a foreign land without your passport in a worst-case scenario. 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. 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. (Make sure you watched and marked off the Safety video in the app the morning of your cruise.). No one wants to think worst case scenario, but you're probably better off buying a travel insurance plan for your cruise than risking not having it. Royal Caribbean does not charge for its shows, nor does it charge for advanced reservations. 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. (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) You are staying in a suite. Plus, the agents at the port wont have to take the extra time to verify your birth certificate. The price for The Key varies by sailing, but prices start at $25 per guest for each day of the 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. These are the times of year when demand is less for cruises to certain regions. We arrived on time (1pm) and waited over three hours to board. By the way, there are still delays in the passport renewal process. We were technically allowed to arrive an hour before this 10:30 slot since we were suite guests.