Once at the Muster Station, you just scan your SetSail Pass. 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. First, we recommend choosing your port arrival time before completing anything else during online check in. 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. Any money saved is always welcome! After all, if you want to jump in that pool as soon as you get on the ship you might as well be prepared. 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. 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. Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options. 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. Even if you have an international cell phone plan, cruise ship cellular coverage is rarely included. . Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Once you board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, youll want to take care of a few chores. The simplest and easiest way to get on the ship faster is taking care of the check-in process early. All rights reserved. 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. Since the online check-in time usually opens up at midnight (EST) 45 days before your cruise, youll want to login at this time. 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. 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. The same is true for beer . The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean. Getting on the ship for us is also the point when the cruise 'starts'. Looking for the Best Cruise Deals? 10 tips to help you improve your cruise vacation. The reason is Royal Caribbean cruise fares are very erratic, and can change at a moment's notice. Follow along on this incredible voyage! Read more: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise. 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. 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! Remington Premier Copper 12 Gauge 3 Inch 1550 FPS 1 Ounce . Royal Caribbean's app is a must-have for your cruise, so make sure to download it before your cruise. 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. . 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. If someone cancels their cruise, their check-in time goes back into the system for someone else to grab. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. How to Get on Your Cruise Ship As Early as Possible: 7 We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. . Ideally, you want other staterooms on either deck and not public venues like pools, restaurants or other public venues. You can even start using your drink packages right away to help you get into vacation mode even faster! 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). An unusual exit wound as a result of a shotgun suicide to the head. If your stateroom shower is occupied by a family member, you could go to the gym and shower there instead. Did you know that Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis Class ships? Through our past experiences, on many different lines, we have boarded closer to 11:00. However, the cruise terminal in Miami did not open its doors until 10:00 am. 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. When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have a choice of places to eat throughout the day. So, how do you secure an early arrival time so that you can board the ship as soon as possible? The helipad onis located on the bow (front)of the ship and during sailaway, Royal Caribbean permits guests access to the helipad. Not only are the dress codes quite liberal, you can also re-use the same clothes on the same sailing. On my most recent cruise on Oasis of the Seas, my family and I had junior suites booked with a 10:30 am port arrival time. 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. All rights reserved. It was 6 years ago and I still remember my waiters name. I see some people skip this step because they want to save a few bucks on tipping. 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. In addition, these roll calls are helpful because someone might spot a change or announcement before you, which can greatly benefit you by getting ahead of the pack. Most cruise ships will . One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing. 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. Have you heard about Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages? 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. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. Related: Photography on Cruise Ships: What to Expect. Would rather get to port early and board than hang out in a hotel room. For lunch and dinner, you can find a rotating set of options that include pasta, stir-fry, crepes and more. Known. 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. my last NCL cruise was out of tamp. And from there the perks just kept coming. If you dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. You don't plan to take advantage of its . Set . Unsubscribe whenever you want. Instead of arriving to your departure city on the day of your cruise, get in early! You can view all the shore excursions available by logging into Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner and browsing the shore excursions by port. A number of factors affect when you can embark a cruise ship. The right slugs can turn a 12 gauge shotgun into a. 1. 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. Related: A look inside Regent's most expensive cruise ship. Embarkation day is often full of a lot of chaos and stress, especially if you are a first time cruiser. Plus, the agents at the port wont have to take the extra time to verify your birth certificate. Check-in opens up 45 days before your cruise begins. It can, however, still use its WiFi and Bluetooth connections to stay connected, if you so choose. There are two problems with buying The Key for an early check-in. Believe me, searching for documents in your luggage is not only time-consuming but also frustrating. 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. $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. In many ports, porters have a special line for Customs that allows you to get through it all faster. Royal Caribbean asks its guests to arrive within their check-in window to avoid crowding in the terminal. We will be flying out . By the way, there are still delays in the passport renewal process. Check-in opens up 45 days before your cruise begins. Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean'sshore excursions if they book onboard. Once you are ready to begin, completing the Royal Caribbean online check in takes very little time. 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. You can read more about me here- Meet Shari. If you selected my-time dining you will want to select your preferred time as the most popular times book up fast. Depending on the length of your sailing, you can get up to $250 onboard credit. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. Re: Changing one guest name - Royal Caribbean. There is no question that if you want to get the lowest price on a cruise, book it as early as you can. I dont think I need to mention how this would slow down your boarding process, but its a key element to remember when cruising. This allows us to keep our things organized and within easy access. 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. Instant Real Time Pricing Welcome aboard! (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) You are staying in a suite. (The porters also have luggage tags in case you forget to print yours.). If it is, you should feel confident that the proper gratuity is being given to that crew member. Questions are often worded like, "How do I get a deal? Some families prefer to arrive in the afternoon, so they dont have to navigate crowds at the terminal. They offer guests the option to drink as much as they want on their cruise for a fixed price. 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. We enjoy being on the ship early to take advantage of as much time on board as possible. Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom. So the best way to learn about what is offered on your cruise is to check out a past Cruise Compass. Children between the ages of 0-5 are complimentary and ages 6-12 are $10 per child at any specialty restaurant. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will need to wait until we are able to work them into another group. Royal Caribbean has The Key, Carnival has Faster to the Fun, and Norwegian has the Priority Access Pass. Been a while since I've been on Royal Caribbean and we are sailing tomorrow out of Miami. Some days it's sunny, some days it's stormy, some days it's just . The price of the cruise is the same whether you book at home or onboard. Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to. We fly in early enough to explore the port city if we want to prior to embarkation day. Royal Caribbean cruises that depart from the United States will often open the cruise terminal for check-in sometime between 9am and 10am. I pack my kids undergarments for them to put on after they swim. Your loyalty status doesnt reset at the end of the year. I didnt even have a chance to sit down in the Port Everglades terminal before I was welcomed onto the ship. On Voyager, Freedom or Radiance class ships, be sure to visit the helipad for my favorite sailaway spot. These are not the times you actually board the ship. Peak dinner time is between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, so if you plan to dine during these times, reservations are so important. 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. Did you know Royal Caribbean offers extra onboard credit if you own at least a certain amount of Royal Caribbean Group stock? Want to get an idea of what entertainment, activities and things to do (along with times) will be offered on your cruise? The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. The Online Check-in Process is a 4 step process and Royal Caribbean will walk you through it step by step. The online check-in process is super simple and consists of filling out personal information among other tasks. 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 . 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. 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. This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the ship. Just one of the perks of being a suite guest on a cruise ship is having priority access. 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. Venue: The Artground Date: 4 - 12 Mar 2023 Fee: $18 per pax (Weekday), $20 per pax (Weekend). Her whole family, including the oceanview cabin guests, were permitted to stand in the suite line. 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. 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. When I tried to check in for my May 2022 cruise, this step was the only glitchy part of the whole process. When I tried on my Android / Pixel 6 Pro, I had to hit the button a bunch of times to take a picture . You can login to your account on the Royal Caribbean website or via the Royal Caribbean App. Be sure to check it. Find answers to your questions about all the requirements to board a Royal Caribbean Cruise. 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. Love Cruise Fever?Sign Up to Our FREE Newsletter! 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. Thanked the person politely and hung-up. In addition, Royal Caribbean has onboard laundry services you can use to make wearing the same clothes later in the cruise more practical. The rule is a thorn in the side of many travelers. 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. Things I've tried on Royal Caribbean that I won't do again, The worst cruise mistakes our readers have made on a ship. As long as the cruise line doesnt make a drastic change to their program you will keep reaping the rewards for every cruise. #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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. You can use it to check-into your cruise (more on that in the next tip), book entertainment, shore excursions and packages. [Subscribe fo. Fax: +1 345 946 8825. Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to 12 bottles/cans of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroomwith them on embarkation day. 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. Royal Caribbean may send you an email about boarding times, but those are mostly suggestions and not enforced at all. 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. 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. 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. Video: Royal Caribbean food secrets Discounts, tips and more! Here are 7 proven ways to board your cruise ship faster on embarkation day. Lets look at what some of these early-access programs offer. This is a 9 night cruise and price per night is noted below for each cabin type. The plan offered is called the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, and it provides the following coverage: $25k Emergency Travel Medical Insurance. For just a few dollars, you can make the embarkation and disembarkation process significantly easier. You may also want to pack a dinner outfit, especially if you . Lunch and drink package 3. 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. 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. 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. Bermuda supreme court legalised same-sex marriage last year. And the earlier check-in time you have, the sooner you get to get onboard the ship and start vacation. Often this comes down to the ports of call being visited by the cruise line. You dont want to find yourself stuck in a foreign land without your passport in a worst-case scenario. The first time I booked a suite was on Celebrity Silhouette. The earliest that guests can board a cruise is between 4-5 hours before the ship is scheduled to sail away. Commonly it is expected to tip somewhere around $1-$2 per bag. Sounds great, right? The majority of cruises leave port at 4 or 5:00 pm. Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. However, the earlier your arrival time, the sooner you are usually able to embark on the ship. Getting an early arrival slot means that you can board the ship earlier than . 2. This makes it easy to undress them poolside, and they can hop right in. There are a few tricks to scoring early arrival times if you are eager to be one of the first passengers on the ship. The difference is booking onboard will get you extra onboard credit and reduced deposit. 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. 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. Simply check in on the very day availability opens. Readers share: Whats the best piece of cruise advice you have ever received? 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! We also use the hairbrush for the kids hair after swimming. Things like weapons, candles, and irons are on the list of things NOT to bring. And in that case theres nothing you can do but sit back and make the best of it. We didnt even have to get off the couch. Due to government regulations requiring cruise lines to submit final departure . (Sponsored). If guests wish to enjoy their wine or champagne in our dining or bar venues, there will be a corkage fee applied. Be sure to look up all your benefits, and ensure you use the most lucrative Crown and Anchor Society perks during your sailing so you can reap the best rewards! Comment below to share your tips with us! Plus, the Royal Caribbean app will have all of the activities for the day listed so that you can easily reference it during your sailing. And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. If you are in My Time Dining for dinner, your best strategy is to make reservations either before the cruise, or during the cruise. Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise. 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.". The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. 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. 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. If you have a cruise booked with Royal Caribbean, you can typically check-in around 45 days before your sail date. As for Royal Caribbean opening up additional earlier times, it's not usually the case. Each ship is packed with adventures . Several years ago, I decided to start this blog to document our family trips. First, if you miss The Key check-in window, you have to fall back to whatever time you had before. As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner! Some specialty restaurants will cost less if you eat there for lunch. Booked my cruise early. Generally speaking, the best price for a Royal Caribbean cruise can be found when booked many months in advance. If you subscribe to the theory that time is money, then you definitely want to arrive to your embarkation port early. Before the cruise, guests may change the show/ti. This was a really fast process that took less than five minutes. 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. After having paused this program during the cruise re-openings , Carnival is now offering Faster to the Fun again. 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. Exclusive a la carte breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on . When you make a reservation for a restaurant onboard, let your server know the adults have dining packages, but kids don't and you will get a better price than if you bought the dining package for everyone. 2) Take a security photo. The exact benefits you get depend on which tier of Crown and Anchor Society you belong to. ", "When is the best time to book a 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. This way youre paying about half the price of a week-long cruise and you can test the waters. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. Just turn airplane mode once you get onboard the ship. The result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise.