Thanked the person politely and hung-up. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. Video: Royal Caribbean food secrets Discounts, tips and more! and the answer to them all is simple: book your cruise as early as you can. $50k Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance. Whether this is your first cruise or youre a seasoned pro, we hope you have a great trip! 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. Readers share: Whats the best piece of cruise advice you have ever received? 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. One of the best cruise ship cabin hacks is to bring magnets with you on your cruise. Exclusive a la carte breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on . 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. Using a travel agent simplifies this entire process. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 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). 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. Guests who pay for this upgraded status typically receive priority access upon arrival on embarkation day. This fish feature is prominently present on many late 19th- to early 20th-century French April Fools' Day postcards. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. 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! However, I highly recommend traveling with a passport. You can change in a public restroom, and towels are available at the pool area to use. 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. (He was right!) You can bring soda, water, energy drinks and any other non-alcoholic beverages. 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. By the way, there are still delays in the passport renewal process. When should I arrive at the cruise port terminal? | Royal Caribbean Cruises Other families, like mine, like to get the process started as soon as possible. Set Sail pass states that boarding begins at 2:00 PM. 5 rounds of Hornady SST Lite 12 Gauge 2 3/4" Shotgun Slugs. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will . Many cruise lines allow you to pay a little extra for priority access to the ship. (The porters also have luggage tags in case you forget to print yours.). Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays. Your email address will not be published. We like to carry a backpack onboard the ship on embarkation day. Believe me, searching for documents in your luggage is not only time-consuming but also frustrating. In our experience, most guests see the times for an activity and begin arrivingafterthe scheduled start time. The First Day on a Royal Caribbean Cruise 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. You can then save this information and complete the rest of the check-in process at a later date. 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. Can I Get Off a Cruise Early in Another Port? (Partial Cruises) 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. Each excursion will list the price, details of the activity and any physical or age restrictions. Read more: 10 biggest tipping mistakes cruisers make. Quick tip: You should always keep one bag with you. When you get the receipt to sign, look for the line item that indicates if an automatic 18% gratuity is already included. 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. 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. If you dont have extra room in the budget, the first point in this article will help the most. 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. One of my favorite benefits was having access to an amazing restaurant that was reserved for suite guests only. Keep in mind that travel agents are paid by Royal Caribbean, so there is no additional cost to you to use their services. We also use the hairbrush for the kids hair after swimming. The plan offered is called the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, and it provides the following coverage: $25k Emergency Travel Medical Insurance. Read a past Cruise Compass! Complimentary Canaps (a French hors doeuvre) on second day. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. You're probably wondering what to expect on the day you board the ship. You dont want to find yourself stuck in a foreign land without your passport in a worst-case scenario. 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. 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. 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! Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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 . So if you have an early flight and can carry all your bags, then you can be among the first to get off the ship. In addition to the non-alcoholic beverages, you can also bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom. A passenger can't sail from one U.S. port and get off at another U.S. port (even for the day) without the trip including a foreign port of call in the itinerary. You should always check with the cruise line to see what is not allowed on their ships. Booking a suite has more advantages than you may think. But it wasn't a nightmare either. This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the ship. This is the perfect time to make dining changes/requests, book activities and specialty restaurants, secure shore excursions, etc. View All Cruises How early can I board my ship (Mariner)? - Royal Caribbean To save time and money, you really should pre-book beverage packages, dining packages, internet packages and more. 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. 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.". 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. 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. If you plan on visiting the pool deck, you'll want a bathing suit, sunscreen, and other pool essentials. 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. Our family chose to eat lunch at Windjammer Marketplace after boarding. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. If you are on a Radiance or Quantum Class ship, be sure to enjoy your meals outside while at the Windjammer. Follow along on this incredible voyage! 1. This online check-in is when you choose your port arrival time. 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. The difference is booking onboard will get you extra onboard credit and reduced deposit. 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. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! How to Check In for Your Royal Caribbean Cruise in 2022 Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows for you to choose from. 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. Would rather get to port early and board than hang out in a hotel room. As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner! Employees come over to make you show that you are in a suite. Its also important to note that theres no best time to board the Royal Caribbean ship. If you get on the ship early you will find this is one of the best times to enjoy the cruise ship pools without any crowds. Here's how to cancel or postpone a cruise due to COVID-19 By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. Royal Caribbean Embarkation Tips for Your First Day Questions are often worded like, "How do I get a deal? HOW EARLY CAN I BOARD THE SHIP? 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 has The Key, Carnival has Faster to the Fun, and Norwegian has the Priority Access Pass. The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program - Cruise Critic This didnt take long at all, and our whole group was onboard the ship shortly after 11:00. This frees up storage space in your closets and drawers for other things. Your loyalty status doesnt reset at the end of the year. 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. How being early is the secret to the best Royal Caribbean cruise, from When we say "early", we mean booking your cruise 12, 18 or even 24 months before the sail date. I didnt even have a chance to sit down in the Port Everglades terminal before I was welcomed onto the ship. 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. In short, the app is tied to so much of the cruise experience now. Its important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. When I tried on my Android / Pixel 6 Pro, I had to hit the button a bunch of times to take a picture . The "3-1-1" rule is ubiquitous in airports. Luggage and Baggage Rules for Taking a Cruise | Cruzely.com Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. Since we were in a suite, we were able to stand in the super short line on the right. In the morning, there is an omelet station available. 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. Then, we walked right into the suite waiting area. A Royal Caribbean employee came over to our large group and checked in each party using her tablet. Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. But how early can you board the cruise ship? 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. In addition to being able to use your drink package benefits nearly anywhere onboard your ship, Royal Caribbean also extends the benefit to Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti. Things like weapons, candles, and irons are on the list of things NOT to bring. In that post, we provide tips for staying organized and packing for your trip. Just turn airplane mode once you get onboard the ship. 19. These are not the times you actually board the ship. 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. And in that case theres nothing you can do but sit back and make the best of it. 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. 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. Note: MSC Cruises has a status match program, so you can carry over some of the perks you have with another cruise line. 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. Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options. Royal Caribbean's suite accommodations include a variety of VIP perks, some of which overlap with The Key. 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. For assistance in navigating Online Check-in or questions on how to fill out the information - contact your travel agent or if booked directly, contact our Service Specialists at 800 327-5782, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-10:00pm ET and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am-6:00pm . Youll also find that the water slides dont have long lines at this time on embarkation day. I just boarded the first Royal Caribbean cruise in North America in Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open forlunch (and breakfast) too? The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean. Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise. Check with the Windjammer wait staff for a schedule of options.