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. Every cruise line has its own procedure for when they open up the check-in process. Things like medications, documents, passports, and even a bathing suit and some sunscreen can be kept in this bag. My Tips for Using the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner It is the fourth-largest cruise line in the world by passengers, controlling about 8.6% of the total worldwide share of the cruise market by passengers as of 2021. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. You will then go straight to the section on choosing your arrival time and pick the one you want. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. 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. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Porters are available to assist with your luggage. Previously, Royal Caribbean permitted a maximum of two 750-milliliter bottles per room. We have spent years sharing tips, secrets and strategies on this blog about taking a better and more fun Royal Caribbean cruise, and we discovered there is one common thread among so many of our best tips: being early. Getting on the ship for us is also the point when the cruise 'starts'. For Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, check-in registration begins at 11:00 am and embarkation begins at 1:00 pm. 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. or "How do I get the lowest price?" How soon can you board a cruise ship before departure? 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. Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. The faster you get on the cruise ship on embarkation day, the sooner you can start enjoying your vacation. 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 Online Check-in Process is a 4 step process and Royal Caribbean will walk you through it step by step. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. This was a really fast process that took less than five minutes. For obvious reasons the early times are taken first. 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. Suite guests still need to get a check-in time for their sailing, butusuallythey will be give more flexibility in their times. Your email address will not be published. For lunch and dinner, you can find a rotating set of options that include pasta, stir-fry, crepes and more. Things like weapons, candles, and irons are on the list of things NOT to bring. Cruise ships have to receive clearance from port authorities in order to be able to allow passengers from the previous cruise off the ship. And it may seem way out of your budget. Simply check in on the very day availability opens. After we completed this check-in procedure, our family sat in the waiting area until it was our turn to board the ship. Re: Changing one guest name - Royal Caribbean. They also re-wear their embarkation clothes since this first day is typically not dressy at all. To ensure that your price remains the lowest, SEMA will price-match When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. Boarding Time Adjustments for Royal Caribbean Ship When we say "early", we mean booking your cruise 12, 18 or even 24 months before the sail date. A. I'm not sure RCL has started that. Prior to sailing, guests may change or cancel their show reservations online up to 4 days prior to their cruise start date. 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. As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner! One of my favorite benefits was having access to an amazing restaurant that was reserved for suite guests only. If you dont have extra room in the budget, the first point in this article will help the most. Comment below to share your tips with us! Many cruise lines allow you to pay a little extra for priority access to the ship. If you want to have a hassle-free boarding process, its important to stay organized and keep all your important documents organized and easily accessible. 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. Jon can be reached at. How early can I board my ship (Mariner)? - Royal Caribbean The First Day on a Royal Caribbean Cruise In that case, keep in mind the luggage tags you will be provided with can be swapped out at Guest Services for a luggage tag with an earlier disembarkation time. Most cruise ships will . Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0f9c8c1261d574f1224454f4fa00eeb" );document.getElementById("d5aa0859c9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. That means if a couple buys The Key for a 7 day cruise it will cost at least $350. No reservations needed, just walk on in and be seated. Whether the first day or the last day of your cruise, be sure to grab a porter to make things easier on yourself. At 11:00, crew members instructed all of the suite guests to form a line. If you have a cruise booked with Royal Caribbean, you can typically check-in around 45 days before your sail date. 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. In that post, we provide tips for staying organized and packing for your trip. That's my quick take on the new boarding process for Adventure of the Seas -- the first Royal Caribbean ship to restart operations in North America.. From the moment I began the process on Saturday in Nassau, Bahamas, in advance of the vessel's first sailing in 15 months to the time I stepped into my cabin, almost exactly one . The result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise. 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. Lunch and drink package 3. Guests who were sailing in Star Class and had access to a Royal Genie were permitted to move to the front of the line in order to receive the priority boarding that was included in their suite perks. 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. By the way, there are still delays in the passport renewal process. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. You can change in a public restroom, and towels are available at the pool area to use. Be among the first to check in and it will feel like youre getting priority access at the terminal. Believe me, searching for documents in your luggage is not only time-consuming but also frustrating. Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. Norwegians priority access program includes: Other cruise lines have some sort of priority-access program as well. One of the best cruise ship cabin hacks is to bring magnets with you on your cruise. 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. Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options. How to Complete Check-In. Not only are the dress codes quite liberal, you can also re-use the same clothes on the same sailing. These are the times of year when demand is less for cruises to certain regions. Posted January 23, 2012. Answer (1 of 9): It is becoming more common to have a check-in time on your boarding pass. Welcome aboard! In our experience, most guests see the times for an activity and begin arrivingafterthe scheduled start time. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. You should always check with the cruise line to see what is not allowed on their ships. For groups traveling with more than two people per room, however, a new policy could allow groups to bring . Knowing this, we decided to reserve a shuttle service to pick us up at our Miami hotel at 9:30 on embarkation day. r/royalcaribbean - Is Royal Caribbean strict about boarding times? Do Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 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.". DON'T assume your cabin is pristine and in working order, if you tend to worry about such things. On a cruise, your vacation starts as soon as you set foot on your cruise ship. So if youve been delaying getting your passport renewed and dont have a trip planned any time soon, Id recommend getting that taken care of. 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! 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. 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. But given that you must make many decisions during the booking process, it can pay to use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises to help you arrange things. Royal Caribbean asks its guests to arrive within their check-in window to avoid crowding in the terminal. 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. 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. Set . People often wonder what is the cheapest month to go on a cruise, and the key is cruise when others cannot. But did you know if you wait to book your drink package onboard the ship you will be overpaying for it? Children between the ages of 0-5 are complimentary and ages 6-12 are $10 per child at any specialty restaurant. Any money saved is always welcome! You'll need to buy The Key for every guest in the cabin (age 6 and above) for every night of the cruise. 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. 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. Each stateroom may bring up to two 750 ml bottles of wine or champagne, as long as one guest is of legal drinking age. That is a question for Royal Caribbean. Do you have Cruise Fever too? 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. Another tip for securing an early arrival time is to book a suite. When a sailing is first offered, supply is at its highest because no one has purchase a cruise ship cabin yet. Second, you're spending extra money for a benefit that is not cheap. The right slugs can turn a 12 gauge shotgun into a. Thanked the person politely and hung-up. Search Now Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom. 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. Printed Set Sail Pass this morning for April 2nd Sailing of the Serenade of the Seas, out of San Juan. The FCC . 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. This is basically a forum for discussing your exact sailing with other people booked on it too. Royal Caribbean is quite understanding about schedules, and if you need to get off the ship sooner, they are usually very accommodating. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows . Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to. Arrive early. The Key is an optional add-on you can purchase to get VIP benefits, including an early check-in time. If you encounter problems using Online Check-in, please contact Carnival. The menu can vary from lunch to dinner, but the experience is still the same. Many people here, I think, . Most people go on vacation based around their school or work schedules. 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). What food is included with your Royal Caribbean cruise? I just boarded the first Royal Caribbean cruise in North America in My kids wear their bathing suits onto the ship underneath their clothes. Royal Caribbean shore excursions guarantee your return to the ship, even if the excursion is delayed. When should I arrive at the cruise port terminal? | Royal Caribbean Cruises The difference is booking onboard will get you extra onboard credit and reduced deposit. And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. Youll also find a free printable cruise packing list! Packing your cruise day bag is important so that you have everything you need for your first day. Things I've tried on Royal Caribbean that I won't do again, The worst cruise mistakes our readers have made on a ship. 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. MSC Cruises has three experiences to choose from: Bella, Fantastica, and Aurea. Getting an early arrival slot means that you can board the ship earlier than . If you ever wanted to see what the suite life was all about I recommend booking a short 3 day cruise. NATURI A sound installation and performance for young audiences from 18 months up to physical or psychomotor skills of 4 years!. 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. Just one of the perks of being a suite guest on a cruise ship is having priority access. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows for you to choose from. 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. 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. 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. Nor do they publish their entertainment schedules prior to a cruise. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. You dont want to find yourself stuck in a foreign land without your passport in a worst-case scenario. Exclusive access to time slots for rock climbing, FlowRider etc. Royal Caribbean Travel Insurance - AARDY All sent to your inbox. Here's how to cancel or postpone a cruise due to COVID-19 Inside a tree trunk, a forest nymph spends its day. 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. So many aspects of the cruise experience, from saving money to saving time, can be greatly improved if you embrace the idea of doing it all early. Known. 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.