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 Key program by Royal Caribbean offers priority access at the terminal, baggage delivery to stateroom, welcome lunch from Chops Grille, VIP show access, and priority departure. How to Complete Check-In. 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. Rope dropping is also a great strategy for the sort of activities that quickly generate a line. Royal Caribbean asks its guests to arrive within their check-in window to avoid crowding in the terminal. On a cruise, your vacation starts as soon as you set foot on your cruise ship. Modified Date: Jan 6, 2023. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. The open house is when you can go to meet the staff, register your kids, and ask any questions. 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. If it is, you should feel confident that the proper gratuity is being given to that crew member. A Royal Caribbean cruise is hands down my favorite type of vacation, and with so many years of going cruising, I have come across a lot of tricks and tips that really enhance my cruise. Call (225) 687-7590 or what can i bring on a cruise royal caribbean today! Not only are the dress codes quite liberal, you can also re-use the same clothes on the same sailing. (This post may contain affiliate links. Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. So, how do you secure an early arrival time so that you can board the ship as soon as possible? Find answers to your questions about all the requirements to board a Royal Caribbean Cruise. I didnt even have a chance to sit down in the Port Everglades terminal before I was welcomed onto the ship. Each cruiser scanned his/her SetSail Pass (from the Royal Caribbean app) and was permitted to board the ship. Kids get special pricing at a specialty restaurant, so buy dining packages only for the adults. For obvious reasons the early times are taken first. Suite guests still need to get a check-in time for their sailing, butusuallythey will be give more flexibility in their times. And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. The Online Check-in Process is a 4 step process and Royal Caribbean will walk you through it step by step. . Several years ago, I decided to start this blog to document our family trips. You're probably wondering what to expect on the day you board the ship. But I have a helpful suggestion. Talk to a few agents and feel them out for their knowledge of the product and when you find one that you are comfortable with, leverage their knowledge and expertiseand book with them. Her whole family, including the oceanview cabin guests, were permitted to stand in the suite line. Another tip for securing an early arrival time is to book a suite. This is not only a great opportunity for your kids to become familiar with the kids club, but also save time later so all you have to do when the club opens up is drop them off and be done. 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. But it wasn't a nightmare either. The "3-1-1" rule is ubiquitous in airports. If you are in My Time Dining for dinner, your best strategy is to make reservations either before the cruise, or during the cruise. It's important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. So, continue reading below to find out everything you need to know about how to get an early boarding time on Royal Caribbean, so you can get started on your vacation as soon as possible! The person didnt even ask for the ship name or location and gave monosyllabic responses. Our $2,179.98 cruise has an insurance cost of $138 if bought through Royal Caribbean. There arediscounts, vouchers, and even freebies anyone can take advantage of once onboard. If getting onto your cruise ship as early as possible is important to you these tips above should help. What you want to do is log onto the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's website and purchase the drink package of your choice online. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows for you to choose from. 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. This is basically a forum for discussing your exact sailing with other people booked on it too. Thanked the person politely and hung-up. 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. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. One of the best parts? 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. My kids wear their bathing suits onto the ship underneath their clothes. 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. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. While you may want to save the added expense,regular medical insurance will not usually cover medical services onboard or in port. Royal Caribbean does not post or publish Cruise Compasses for upcoming sailings in advance. Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. If you encounter problems using Online Check-in, please contact Carnival. Its important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. All rights reserved. Instead of arriving to your departure city on the day of your cruise, get in early! If you are on a Radiance or Quantum Class ship, be sure to enjoy your meals outside while at the Windjammer. 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. Our hotel (Intercontinental Miami) was a short 15-minute drive to the Port of Miami. 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. 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. We didnt even have to get off the couch. Readers share: Whats the best piece of cruise advice you have ever received? Here are 7 proven ways to board your cruise ship faster on embarkation day. And in that case theres nothing you can do but sit back and make the best of it. Did you know Royal Caribbean offers extra onboard credit if you own at least a certain amount of Royal Caribbean Group stock? The common thread among these times is it is when others are unable or unwilling to go to the spa, so prices tend to be better. Royal Caribbean shore excursions guarantee your return to the ship, even if the excursion is delayed. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. By pre-purchasing certain items, you can pay off parts of the cruise months or years in advance, allowing you to reduce the cruise bill at the conclusion of your cruise. 19 things you should do on embarkation day, 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise, loyalty programs on 8 different cruise lines, 10 biggest tipping mistakes cruisers make, 13 Biggest Mistakes Made by Carnival Cruise Passengers [Carnival Tips], Royal Caribbean Updates Perks in Loyalty Program, Carnival to Send Newly Upgraded Ship on 14-Day Transatlantic Cruise, 7 Reasons You Should Never Fly on Cruise Day, 19 Things You Should Do on Cruise Embarkation Day in 2023, Ultimate List of Shuttles From Orlando Airport (MCO) to Port Canaveral, Best Galveston Cruise Parking Tips, Rates & Locations [Read Before Cruise], Carnival Bringing a Fourth Cruise Ship to Galveston, Texas, Carry-on bag drop off in the main dining room. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 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? Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. The drink packages have become quite popular with guests, but Royal Caribbean rewards guests that purchase their drink package early with a discount. Before the cruise, guests may change the show/ti. However, the cruise terminal in Miami did not open its doors until 10:00 am. 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. Once at the Muster Station, you just scan your SetSail Pass. The larger the group, the more important having a reservation is to limiting the wait times. Nor do they publish their entertainment schedules prior to a cruise. Inside a tree trunk, a forest nymph spends its day. We have found in the US on a standard turn around that you can board a RCL ship starting around 11:30 but . Royal Caribbean shore excursions are fully refundable if your ship cannot dock at a scheduled port. 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. NATURI - A Sound Installation & Performance. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. In the morning, there is an omelet station available. Royal Caribbean puts its itineraries on sale as much as two years in advance of the sailing, and while that may be too far in advance for many to plan vacations, the earlier you can book the cruise, the better for that bottom line price. 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. 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? Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. It can feel like torture if you have to wait a long time to board your ship. Things like hats, coverups, important paperwork and more would be ideal. 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. 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. or "How do I get the lowest price?" It May be Time for Some Royal Caribbean Elites to Reconsider Paying for Drink Packages frequentfloaters.com - Marshall Jackson Cruise line drink packages and whether or not you should buy one are a subject of sometimes intense debate among frequent floaters. The NextCruise office offers incentives to book another cruise while you're still onboard. If you have an adult in your room that does not drink (much) alcohol, you can get around this rule by calling Royal Caribbean and requesting that person get the Royal Refreshment package. Weird. You can view all the shore excursions available by logging into Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner and browsing the shore excursions by port. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. You don't plan to take advantage of its . Lots of passengers arrive early, standing in line for the opportunity to board early and be among the first on the ship. This allows us to keep our things organized and within easy access. Read more: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise. Keep in mind that travel agents are paid by Royal Caribbean, so there is no additional cost to you to use their services. . Just one of the perks of being a suite guest on a cruise ship is having priority access. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. 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. He also directed us on exactly where to go and made certain we understood we needed passports/identification documents. Due to government regulations requiring cruise lines to submit final departure manifests at least 60 minutes prior to sailing, guests are requested to complete Check-in no later than 3 days prior to their cruise. 1. Royal Caribbean now enforces its check-in times, so be sure to check-in for your cruise as soon as check-in opens. 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. Royal Caribbean does not charge for its shows, nor does it charge for advanced reservations. Instant Real Time Pricing If you are concerned about the drink package price dropping, take solace in the fact you can always cancel and rebook with no penalty! Just turn airplane mode once you get onboard the ship. 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. The rule is a thorn in the side of many travelers. Answer (1 of 9): It is becoming more common to have a check-in time on your boarding pass. 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. So the best way to learn about what is offered on your cruise is to check out a past Cruise Compass. This means the terminal will open up . 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. If you can cruise during these times, there are some truly low prices to enjoy. Here are my tips for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner. And from there the perks just kept coming. If not, just leave blank. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 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. and the answer to them all is simple: book your cruise as early as you can. 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. Once you board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, youll want to take care of a few chores. 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. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. It is wholly owned by parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Once you are ready to begin, completing the Royal Caribbean online check in takes very little time. 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. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. 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. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We were technically allowed to arrive an hour before this 10:30 slot since we were suite guests. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail. 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. They offer guests the option to drink as much as they want on their cruise for a fixed price. 12. long pause. This fish feature is prominently present on many late 19th- to early 20th-century French April Fools' Day postcards. Priority access off the ship to the shore in port. 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. Cruise ships have to receive clearance from port authorities in order to be able to allow passengers from the previous cruise off the ship. Your vacation time is limited, so do not waste it waiting to buy a drink package. The cruise line can have an impact as some lines have different embarkation . Tasks such as repricing, making special requests, dealing with weather events and more are why I use a travel agent every single I book a cruise. Previously, Royal Caribbean permitted a maximum of two 750-milliliter bottles per room. Try to get on the ship as soon as you can (in other words, get inline at the port early or get to the airport to the Royal Caribbean desk early to get the first transfer to the pier). Would rather get to port early and board than hang out in a hotel room. As long as the cruise line doesnt make a drastic change to their program you will keep reaping the rewards for every cruise. Royal Caribbean cruises that depart from the United States will often open the cruise terminal for check-in sometime between 9am and 10am. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. 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. 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. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. Search Multiple Sites at Once It wasn't nearly as easy as usual. An unusual exit wound as a result of a shotgun suicide to the head. Complimentary Canaps (a French hors doeuvre) on second day. Royal Caribbean is quite understanding about schedules, and if you need to get off the ship sooner, they are usually very accommodating. Second, you're spending extra money for a benefit that is not cheap. Most cruise ships will . 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. Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to 12 bottles/cans of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroomwith them on embarkation day. As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner! On embarkation day, the pools are open so be sure to pack a bathing suit in your carry-on luggage so that you can enjoy them with less crowds! The exact benefits you get depend on which tier of Crown and Anchor Society you belong to. But did you know if you wait to book your drink package onboard the ship you will be overpaying for it? You should always let the cruise terminal porters take your large bags for you. The plan offered is called the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, and it provides the following coverage: $25k Emergency Travel Medical Insurance. If you have a cruise booked with Royal Caribbean, you can typically check-in around 45 days before your sail date. Today, we, While I absolutely love cruising and traveling, we all know that sometimes things dont go exactly as we planned., We all make mistakes, including when on a cruise ship. Perhaps one of the most common questions we receive on Royal Caribbean Blog is about how to save money and get the best possible price for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Read more:Heres what The Key is (and why some cruisers like it). 1. 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. The first time I booked a suite was on Celebrity Silhouette. A Royal Caribbean employee came over to our large group and checked in each party using her tablet. 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. Love Cruise Fever?Sign Up to Our FREE Newsletter! Simply check in on the very day availability opens. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. 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. Things like medications, documents, passports, and even a bathing suit and some sunscreen can be kept in this bag. I booked my Symphony of the Seas cruise five months in advance of my February sail date. 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. 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. 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. And the earlier check-in time you have, the sooner you get to get onboard the ship and start vacation. The day your cruise begins is full of excitement, and naturally, you may be wondering what time you can board the ship. Then, we walked right into the suite waiting area. Cayman Islands: Who's Who & Business Guide. Since we were in a suite, we were able to stand in the super short line on the right. An intangible benefit to pre-purchasing anything is it saves you time onboard from doing the exact same thing, which means more vacation time back to you. 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. Unfortunately, there's no wifi coverage in Labadee. This frees up storage space in your closets and drawers for other things. One mistake a lot of new cruisers make is to book the cheapest cruise they can find because they assume the ships are more less all the same. There, crewmembers will typically check you in via . 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. 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. Venue: The Artground Date: 4 - 12 Mar 2023 Fee: $18 per pax (Weekday), $20 per pax (Weekend). Often this comes down to the ports of call being visited by the cruise line. Through our past experiences, on many different lines, we have boarded closer to 11:00. After having paused this program during the cruise re-openings , Carnival is now offering Faster to the Fun again. If you do not complete Check-in 3 days prior, you will be required to complete this process at the pier at leasttwohoursprior to the published sailing time. 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 result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise. Guests who pay for this upgraded status typically receive priority access upon arrival on embarkation day. Known. Whether this is your first cruise or youre a seasoned pro, we hope you have a great trip! Many cruise lines allow you to pay a little extra for priority access to the ship. It has grown into a website full of information on family vacation tips, kid friendly activities, homeschooling organization hacks, and so much more! A number of factors affect when you can embark a cruise ship. 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. 2) Take a security photo. Royal Caribbean International allows cruisers to choose a port arrival time during online check-in. One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will . 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. 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. What time to arrive at the port. 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. You dont want to find yourself stuck in a foreign land without your passport in a worst-case scenario. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 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. When we say "early", it essentially means as early as you can. Cruise fares tend to be lower the sooner you book. The biggest key is being prepared and knowing when you should or shouldnt pay extra to get on board faster. In addition, Royal Caribbean has onboard laundry services you can use to make wearing the same clothes later in the cruise more practical. Some families prefer to arrive in the afternoon, so they dont have to navigate crowds at the terminal. Depending on your disembarkation time and port, the time needed to arrive at the airport will vary.

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