. 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. What's the first day of a cruise really like? - Cruiseline.com When should I arrive at the cruise port terminal? | Royal Caribbean Cruises The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean. Whether this is your first cruise or youre a seasoned pro, we hope you have a great trip! Check with the Windjammer wait staff for a schedule of options. Also, since your cruise will likely take you to foreign countries, its crucial to have a passport with you. The day your cruise begins is full of excitement, and naturally, you may be wondering what time you can board the ship. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. You really do not want to bethat personin the airport losing their mind because the latest delay means the entire vacation is in jeopardy. It is wholly owned by parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. A second way to grab an early port arrival time is by purchasing The Key. You simply keep your luggage in your room (instead of placing it in the hallway on the last evening of the cruise) and then when the ship is cleared by Customs agents, you take your own luggage and disembark the ship. There's no way to know that's happened without checking manually. This frees up storage space in your closets and drawers for other things. Once you are ready to begin, completing the Royal Caribbean online check in takes very little time. The simplest and easiest way to get on the ship faster is taking care of the check-in process early. Suite guests still need to get a check-in time for their sailing, butusuallythey will be give more flexibility in their times. I will absolutely think twice about taking a cruise from San Juan again, and RCCL as well for that matter. Laundry costs extra, but it may save you money compared to paying to check an extra bag at the airport. Getting on the ship for us is also the point when the cruise 'starts'. You Could Soon Bring More Wine on Royal Caribbean Cruises But Here's Johnny Rockets tends to be not very crowded for breakfast, because many guests are unaware of this option, and it also has a large seating capacity (indoor and outdoor seating options). 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 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. 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. This is a 9 night cruise and price per night is noted below for each cabin type. We also use the hairbrush for the kids hair after swimming. We will be flying out . The Windjammer on Radiance and Quantum class ships offers an area at the rear of the ship to enjoy any meal with a fantastic view of the ship's wake. 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 . You can save and come back to the process at a later time. 10 tips to help you improve your cruise vacation. Venue: The Artground Date: 4 - 12 Mar 2023 Fee: $18 per pax (Weekday), $20 per pax (Weekend). For your return home, you have the ability to select the flight that best suits your schedule. We arrived on time (1pm) and waited over three hours to board. (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) You are staying in a suite. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. 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. 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. Thanked the person politely and hung-up. Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open forlunch (and breakfast) too? This includes your passport, boarding pass, and any other necessary paperwork. Search Now Prior to sailing, guests may change or cancel their show reservations online up to 4 days prior to their cruise start date. Don't worry, you don't need to buy an internet package to use the Royal Caribbean app. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. Plus, the agents at the port wont have to take the extra time to verify your birth certificate. An inside cabin will cost $76 per night, an ocean view cabin will cost $101 per night, a balcony cabin will cost $134 per night, and a . The benefits wont always be the same, and you have to fill out a form and wait for approval. 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. On all ships, check for entertainment reservations once onboard the ship via the Royal Caribbean app. Corkscrews will be provided for guests to enjoy their drinks in their stateroom. 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. In many cases, Royal Caribbean promises a discount on select pre-cruise purchases compared to the price onboard. Ideally, you'll book a cruise at NextCruise while on a sailing when struck with the inspiration to book another cruise. This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the ship. Readers share: Whats the best piece of cruise advice you have ever received? Embark LocationE6, 448, Ist Floor Gounder Complex, Trichy Road Do you know about when you'd like to sail? By having them get the non-alcoholic drink package, you will save a lot of money compared to buying them the Deluxe Beverage package that costs much more. As long as the cruise line doesnt make a drastic change to their program you will keep reaping the rewards for every cruise. 22 Do's and Don'ts for Your First Day Onboard a Cruise Ship - Cruise Critic The helipad onis located on the bow (front)of the ship and during sailaway, Royal Caribbean permits guests access to the helipad. Love Cruise Fever?Sign Up to Our FREE Newsletter! Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. Can I Get Off a Cruise Early in Another Port? (Partial Cruises) People often wonder what is the cheapest month to go on a cruise, and the key is cruise when others cannot. I booked my Symphony of the Seas cruise five months in advance of my February sail date. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! Moreover, the onboard credit is stackable with other discounts Royal Caribbean is offering at the time! Royal Caribbean shore excursions are fully refundable if your ship cannot dock at a scheduled port. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Some specialty restaurants will cost less if you eat there for lunch. If you are concerned about the drink package price dropping, take solace in the fact you can always cancel and rebook with no penalty! Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail. You can use it to check-into your cruise (more on that in the next tip), book entertainment, shore excursions and packages. There are two problems with buying The Key for an early check-in. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 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 cruise lines allow you to pay a little extra for priority access to the ship. Royal Caribbean's fitness center has separate showers for men and women that is complimentary to use. One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing. Cruise lines offer several boarding times and can only allow for so many in each slot. I pack sunscreen to apply before swimming, and we carry on other essentials that we need before dinner. 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. 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. First, if you miss The Key check-in window, you have to fall back to whatever time you had before. 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. All sent to your inbox. . 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. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will . 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. 1. 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. And in that case theres nothing you can do but sit back and make the best of it. Holland American Line: Mariner Society . Lets look at what some of these early-access programs offer. 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. The "3-1-1" rule is ubiquitous in airports. Carnival allows you to check-in 14 days before the cruise date, for Royal Caribbean its 45 days, and for Norwegian Cruise Line you can check in 21 days before a sailing. Depending on your disembarkation time and port, the time needed to arrive at the airport will vary. 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. After we completed this check-in procedure, our family sat in the waiting area until it was our turn to board the ship. The plan offered is called the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, and it provides the following coverage: $25k Emergency Travel Medical Insurance. When you purchase anything before your cruise via the Cruise Planner site, you will be required to pay for it at the time of purchase. 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. The reason is Royal Caribbean cruise fares are very erratic, and can change at a moment's notice. If you buy heavy duty magnets with hooks, you can use these magnets to store certain items. For just a few dollars, you can make the embarkation and disembarkation process significantly easier. Your fellow guests won't notice you wore that pair of jeans or dress from night two. But I have a helpful suggestion. (+1 345) 244 2431. 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. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. Keep in mind the differences between Royal Caribbean's shore excursions and third party shore excursions. The Key is an optional add-on you can purchase to get VIP benefits, including an early check-in time. 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. 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. Bermuda supreme court legalised same-sex marriage last year. Arrive early. All E-Docs will be available up to 21 days prior to departure, provided full payment has been received and Online Check-In has been completed. I pack my kids undergarments for them to put on after they swim. Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean'sshore excursions if they book onboard. 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. Posted January 23, 2012. Would rather get to port early and board than hang out in a hotel room. The earlier you arrive on embarkation day, the earlier you will board the ship. When I tried on my Android / Pixel 6 Pro, I had to hit the button a bunch of times to take a picture . The price of the cruise is the same whether you book at home or onboard. The total cost of my cruise for two guests, including gratuities, taxes, and fees, was $1656. The NextCruise office offers incentives to book another cruise while you're still onboard. Our family chose to eat lunch at Windjammer Marketplace after boarding. 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! Here's how to cancel or postpone a cruise due to COVID-19 The last day of your cruise is never fun, and regardless of how many times you cruise, it never gets any less depressing. 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. It can, however, still use its WiFi and Bluetooth connections to stay connected, if you so choose. Royal Caribbean does not post or publish Cruise Compasses for upcoming sailings in advance. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. NATURI - A Sound Installation & Performance. Like what you see? We completed our Muster Drill requirements immediately after boarding. Many newspapers also spread a false story on April Fish Day, and a subtle reference to a fish is sometimes given as a clue to . Since your luggage isnt guaranteed to arrive in your room before dinner, youll want to make sure you have everything you need ahead of time. Before the cruise, guests may change the show/ti. On Voyager, Freedom or Radiance class ships, be sure to visit the helipad for my favorite sailaway spot. 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. Tipping hard working crew members is a must-do, but double check the bill that it's not already included. or "How do I get the lowest price?" 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. Things I've tried on Royal Caribbean that I won't do again, The worst cruise mistakes our readers have made on a ship. To be honest, your embarkation day usually starts . If you are wondering what time constitutes, "early", we are talking about sometime between 10am and 11:30am. Exclusive access to time slots for rock climbing, FlowRider etc. Looking for the Best Cruise Deals? We have an entire forum dedicated to Royal Caribbean roll calls on our message boards that is totally free to use! It wasn't nearly as easy as usual. Royal Caribbean. Like what you see? If getting onto your cruise ship as early as possible is important to you these tips above should help.