Royal Caribbean offers a lot of shore excursions in every port and on top of that, you can also consider shore excursions through third party groups to further expand your options. 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.". 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. In short, to save time and money, use a good travel agent. You will then go straight to the section on choosing your arrival time and pick the one you want. (+1 345) 244 2431. In addition to the drink package, a wifi package also works while at CocoCay. Ideally, you want other staterooms on either deck and not public venues like pools, restaurants or other public venues. 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. Lets look at what some of these early-access programs offer. Each cruiser scanned his/her SetSail Pass (from the Royal Caribbean app) and was permitted to board the ship. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! 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. 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. First, we recommend choosing your port arrival time before completing anything else during online check in. 2) Take a security photo. Cruise lines offer several boarding times and can only allow for so many in each slot. Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. The helipad onis located on the bow (front)of the ship and during sailaway, Royal Caribbean permits guests access to the helipad. Instead of arriving to your departure city on the day of your cruise, get in early! The moms in our group then ran errands to take care of some items. The result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise. Be the first to write a review! Been a while since I've been on Royal Caribbean and we are sailing tomorrow out of Miami. 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. Another tip for securing an early arrival time is to book a suite. You can use it to check-into your cruise (more on that in the next tip), book entertainment, shore excursions and packages. The plan offered is called the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, and it provides the following coverage: $25k Emergency Travel Medical Insurance. We enjoy being on the ship early to take advantage of as much time on board as possible. $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. If you encounter problems using Online Check-in, please contact Carnival. View All Cruises 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. It is wholly owned by parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Venue: The Artground Date: 4 - 12 Mar 2023 Fee: $18 per pax (Weekday), $20 per pax (Weekend). The key is to understand what the ship you're booking has and doesn't have so there's no disappointment later. 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. One of the best parts? Your stateroom walls are made of metal, and that means you can stick a magnet on any of them (even the ceiling). If not, just leave blank. There are a few tricks to scoring early arrival times if you are eager to be one of the first passengers on the ship. To save time and money, you really should pre-book beverage packages, dining packages, internet packages and more. 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. Answer (1 of 9): It is becoming more common to have a check-in time on your boarding pass. These are not the times you actually board the ship. Yes, a suite is more expensive. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. For example, a 7 day cruise with the Bella experience will earn you 500 points, while that same cruise with the Aurea experience will net you 1,000 points. These are the times of year when demand is less for cruises to certain regions. Embark's office is located in an industrial chic building in Boston's Seaport District. 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. Most cruise ships will . This means the terminal will open up . Here are some basic considerations. Cruise fares tend to be lower the sooner you book. Royal Caribbean. . It was 6 years ago and I still remember my waiters name. Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options. That is a question for Royal Caribbean. I will absolutely think twice about taking a cruise from San Juan again, and RCCL as well for that matter. Unlimited food and posh amenities await you, and its only feet away when youre in the cruise terminal. That being said, my sister had a junior suite AND an oceanview room booked. 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. 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. The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean. DON'T assume your cabin is pristine and in working order, if you tend to worry about such things. Keep in mind the differences between Royal Caribbean's shore excursions and third party shore excursions. This includes accepting the cruise contract, answering the health questions, and choosing your boarding time. 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. Entertainment is typically included in your cruise fare but on the largest ships, you are required to make reservations. Like what you see? 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. Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open forlunch (and breakfast) too? 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. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. Some days it's sunny, some days it's stormy, some days it's just . Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean'sshore excursions if they book onboard. This was a really fast process that took less than five minutes. 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. If you are in My Time Dining for dinner, your best strategy is to make reservations either before the cruise, or during the cruise. If you're in a suite, you don't need to pay extra for this package too. Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom. Instant Real Time Pricing But if you're at home, it's still a good idea to book as early as you can to lock in the lowest price. This means you can get extra value from your drink package purchase while anywhere in these private destinations. We were technically allowed to arrive an hour before this 10:30 slot since we were suite guests. 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. Royal Caribbean has The Key, Carnival has Faster to the Fun, and Norwegian has the Priority Access Pass. You'll need to buy The Key for every guest in the cabin (age 6 and above) for every night of the cruise. If your stateroom shower is occupied by a family member, you could go to the gym and shower there instead. Looking for the Best Cruise Deals? Bermuda supreme court legalised same-sex marriage last year. In most cases, you should be able to save at least $10 per person compared to dinner (if not more). And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. Sure, you can book a Royal Caribbean cruise on your own, directly through the line's website. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. What time to arrive at the port. Employees come over to make you show that you are in a suite. For Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, check-in registration begins at 11:00 am and embarkation begins at 1:00 pm. By the way, there are still delays in the passport renewal process. By going on embarkation day, not only will you likely have a short wait but you may be able to re-ride a number of times! Check-in opens up 45 days before your cruise begins. 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. And in that case theres nothing you can do but sit back and make the best of it. The benefits wont always be the same, and you have to fill out a form and wait for approval. The Windjammer is the go-to spot for most when they get onboard their Royal Caribbean ship for lunch, but there are good alternatives that are less crowded. #4 Check into your cruise as soon as you can Royal Caribbean now enforces its check-in times, so be sure to check-in for your cruise as soon as check-in opens. While frustrating to not have the rules enforced across the board, we still recommend adhering to the check-in time window to avoid any possible denial of boarding until later. 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. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. One of the best cruise ship cabin hacks is to bring magnets with you on your cruise. This online check-in is when you choose your port arrival time. 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. Its recommended to have travel insurance. 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. My kids wear their bathing suits onto the ship underneath their clothes. 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. 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. 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. 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. Things I've tried on Royal Caribbean that I won't do again, The worst cruise mistakes our readers have made on a ship. Either way, you should have plenty of time to enjoy all the entertainment and activities onboard the ship. When we say "early", it essentially means as early as you can. Would rather get to port early and board than hang out in a hotel room. Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Our rooms then opened up at around 1:00 that afternoon. Royal Caribbean's app is a must-have for your cruise, so make sure to download it before your cruise. For instance, with Royal Caribbeans app you can simply pick your check-in time, add some basic information and come back later to complete the rest. Exclusive a la carte breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on . 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 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. Suite guests still need to get a check-in time for their sailing, butusuallythey will be give more flexibility in their times. I pack sunscreen to apply before swimming, and we carry on other essentials that we need before dinner. Comment below to share your tips with us! Related: A look inside Regent's most expensive cruise ship. When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. 1. And if this gets delayed it will also impact when you can embark. Be sure to check it. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. (Sponsored). Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. You'll want to include all of your valuables, medications, and documentation. 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. (This post may contain affiliate links. Our hotel (Intercontinental Miami) was a short 15-minute drive to the Port of Miami. You can even start using your drink packages right away to help you get into vacation mode even faster! Depending on the length of your sailing, you can get up to $250 onboard credit. 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. 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. For just a few dollars, you can make the embarkation and disembarkation process significantly easier. Things like hats, coverups, important paperwork and more would be ideal. 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. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. These programs often offer other perks as well that are usually only reserved for suite passengers. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. All rights reserved. Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise. Its not a lengthy process but should you need to stop along the way to gather a piece of information, do not worry. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0f9c8c1261d574f1224454f4fa00eeb" );document.getElementById("d5aa0859c9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. If you buy heavy duty magnets with hooks, you can use these magnets to store certain items. Many people here, I think, . Posted January 23, 2012. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. Embarkation day is often full of a lot of chaos and stress, especially if you are a first time cruiser. Whether its a backpack or carry-on, always keep a few things with you that you may need in the event your large bags are delayed in getting to your cabin. 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. 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. In addition to that you get to the best locations on the ship, personalized service, exclusive amenities, and other complimentary perks. This was a huge relief from the typical check-in desk with long check-in lines we have experienced in the past. If you plan on visiting the pool deck, you'll want a bathing suit, sunscreen, and other pool essentials. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. I'm not sure RCL has started that. To be honest, your embarkation day usually starts . Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. Booked my cruise early. Then, we walked right into the suite waiting area. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. We didnt even have to get off the couch. Due to government regulations requiring cruise lines to submit final departure . Plus, the agents at the port wont have to take the extra time to verify your birth certificate. Royal Caribbean does not post or publish Cruise Compasses for upcoming sailings in advance. Peak dinner time is between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, so if you plan to dine during these times, reservations are so important. The last day of your cruise is never fun, and regardless of how many times you cruise, it never gets any less depressing. Unsubscribe whenever you want. At 11:00, crew members instructed all of the suite guests to form a line. Believe me, searching for documents in your luggage is not only time-consuming but also frustrating. Jon can be reached at. 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. Our $2,179.98 cruise has an insurance cost of $138 if bought through Royal Caribbean. In many cases, Royal Caribbean promises a discount on select pre-cruise purchases compared to the price onboard. And loyalty perks usually involve priority access to the ship. I use the Ziploc bag to hold wet swimsuits until our room is ready, so you wont need this item if you dont have a wet bathing suit to store. For lunch and dinner, you can find a rotating set of options that include pasta, stir-fry, crepes and more. Readers share: Whats the best piece of cruise advice you have ever received? How to Get on Your Cruise Ship As Early as Possible: 7 We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. 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. 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. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! [Subscribe fo. Youll also find a free printable cruise packing list! Quick tip: You should always keep one bag with you. You start getting benefits after just one cruise, and you never lose your status. All rights reserved. When it comes to travel, there are always going to be certain factors involved in the trip that you have no control over: weather, canceled flights, flat tires, and Michael Poole. For your return home, you have the ability to select the flight that best suits your schedule. 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. Royal Caribbean shore excursions guarantee your return to the ship, even if the excursion is delayed. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the ship. We also use the hairbrush for the kids hair after swimming. In the morning, there is an omelet station available. Called RCL this morning and got a weird / rude response when asking about what time I can board the ship. 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. Each ship is packed with adventures . . Kids get special pricing at a specialty restaurant, so buy dining packages only for the adults. Lunch and drink package 3. All sent to your inbox. One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing. Your fellow guests won't notice you wore that pair of jeans or dress from night two. A number of factors affect when you can embark a cruise ship. If you are wondering what time constitutes, "early", we are talking about sometime between 10am and 11:30am. 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. 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. Holland American Line: Mariner Society . Royal Caribbean sells its cruises largely based on the concept of supply and demand. Set Sail pass states that boarding begins at 2:00 PM. Cruise ships have to receive clearance from port authorities in order to be able to allow passengers from the previous cruise off the ship. By having a reservation, you will be seated faster. 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. 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.
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