In this post, we will walk you through the whole embarkation process so that youre prepared for your first day on board. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. When we say "early", we mean booking your cruise 12, 18 or even 24 months before the sail date. 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. In addition to the drink package, a wifi package also works while at CocoCay. And in that case theres nothing you can do but sit back and make the best of it. In many cases, Royal Caribbean promises a discount on select pre-cruise purchases compared to the price onboard. If you are concerned about the drink package price dropping, take solace in the fact you can always cancel and rebook with no penalty! 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. Commonly it is expected to tip somewhere around $1-$2 per bag. The last day of your cruise is never fun, and regardless of how many times you cruise, it never gets any less depressing. Check with the Windjammer wait staff for a schedule of options. If you wait weeks or months to book a cruise onboard, the price of the cruise may increase and negate any savings you'd receive from the extra onboard credit. This large room consisted of plenty of seating options, refreshments, and restrooms. If you plan on visiting the pool deck, you'll want a bathing suit, sunscreen, and other pool essentials. The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean'sshore excursions if they book onboard. And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. Royal Caribbean now enforces its check-in times, so be sure to check-in for your cruise as soon as check-in opens. Book entertainment and dining as soon as possible. Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options. When we say "early", it essentially means as early as you can. Porters are available to assist with your luggage. Once onboard, cancellations must be made at least 4 hours prior to show time. That being said, my sister had a junior suite AND an oceanview room booked. Search Multiple Sites at Once You will not have to start over! But if you opt to drag your suitcases all through the terminal and onto the ship youre just slowing down the entire process. Did you know that Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis Class ships? Since we were in a suite, we were able to stand in the super short line on the right. (Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas). If getting onto your cruise ship as early as possible is important to you these tips above should help. The Online Check-in Process is a 4 step process and Royal Caribbean will walk you through it step by step. 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. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Aurea is the most expensive options and could cost anywhere from $150 to $600 more than the lowest cost experience. Firearms and ammunition, including plastic replicas and toys, Sharp objects like knives and scissors(scissors with a blade length of less than 4 inches are allowed), Coffee makers, clothes irons, travel steamers and hot plates, Alcoholic beverages like beer, selter, or hard liquor. You start getting benefits after just one cruise, and you never lose your status. Depending on your disembarkation time and port, the time needed to arrive at the airport will vary. 2023 Mom's Plan-it Vacation Blog - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbeans Junior Suites, Free Printable Cruise Packing List (with Tips), Guide to Royal Caribbean Ship Classes (2023), Easy Guide to Royal Caribbean Online Check In. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. Her whole family, including the oceanview cabin guests, were permitted to stand in the suite line. Royal Caribbean sales promotions will come and go, but if you talk to folks who book their cruises very early, they will tell you that booking super-early beats most sales offers. Unless you've really got money to blow, don't know how people make the decision to go to Caribbean/offshore schools anymore.Foundation year 1 (FY1) doctors told The BMJ that they had asked the trust to consider increasing medical locum shift pay rates from 24 an hour for social hours and 29 for unsocial hours to match those provided for . 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. Because so many guests are just getting onboard and acclimated to the new ship, many guests are unaware of where the headline attractions are or that they are open on embarkation day. In many ports, porters have a special line for Customs that allows you to get through it all faster. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. You'll want to include all of your valuables, medications, and documentation. For Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, check-in registration begins at 11:00 am and embarkation begins at 1:00 pm. 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. That is a question for Royal Caribbean. If it is, you should feel confident that the proper gratuity is being given to that crew member. Once logged in, navigate toOnboard Activitiesand select the show you wish to reserve. So which food is included and which cost extra? Children between the ages of 0-5 are complimentary and ages 6-12 are $10 per child at any specialty restaurant. Embark's office is located in an industrial chic building in Boston's Seaport District. Cruise ships have to receive clearance from port authorities in order to be able to allow passengers from the previous cruise off the ship. In the morning, there is an omelet station available. The reason is Royal Caribbean cruise fares are very erratic, and can change at a moment's notice. So, how do you secure an early arrival time so that you can board the ship as soon as possible? Easier said than done, but you probably won't need all the clothes, shoes, and outfits you think you might need on a Royal Caribbean cruise. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Royal Caribbean International allows cruisers to choose a port arrival time during online check-in. 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. Unvaccinated travellers age 5 and Lets look at what some of these early-access programs offer. Usually, guests who book The Key are allowed to check-in with the first group (an exact time will be emailed later). Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to 12 bottles/cans of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroomwith them on embarkation day. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 5 rounds of Hornady SST Lite 12 Gauge 2 3/4" Shotgun Slugs. No reservations needed, just walk on in and be seated. Don't book a cabin one deck above or below a public space, such as a pool, dining room, or bar. While showing up early can be a problem, coming in later is not as much of a concern. It was 6 years ago and I still remember my waiters name. The result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise. 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. Employees come over to make you show that you are in a suite. We have found in the US on a standard turn around that you can board a RCL ship starting around 11:30 but . Holland American Line: Mariner Society . Share them in our comments on this post. Over the course of a 7-night cruise, those savings add up quickly! Unlimited food and posh amenities await you, and its only feet away when youre in the cruise terminal. [Subscribe fo. I see some people skip this step because they want to save a few bucks on tipping. Hi there! 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. But once youre approved you will get a 5% discount on any future MSC sailing along with some other discounts on ship amenities. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows . Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. That means if a couple buys The Key for a 7 day cruise it will cost at least $350. 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 . . Try to get on the ship as soon as you can (in other words, get inline at the port early or get to the airport to the Royal Caribbean desk early to get the first transfer to the pier). Our hotel (Intercontinental Miami) was a short 15-minute drive to the Port of Miami. If that statement does not make a whole lot of sense yet, check out the five steps we outlined in this post to demonstrate why being early will help you have a great cruise. Before the cruise, guests may change the show/ti. At 11:00, crew members instructed all of the suite guests to form a line. 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. You can use it to check-into your cruise (more on that in the next tip), book entertainment, shore excursions and packages. 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. I pack my kids undergarments for them to put on after they swim. 2. $50k Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance. Generally speaking, the best price for a Royal Caribbean cruise can be found when booked many months in advance. Read a past Cruise Compass! Your fellow guests won't notice you wore that pair of jeans or dress from night two. The faster you get on the cruise ship on embarkation day, the sooner you can start enjoying your vacation. 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. Yes, a suite is more expensive. This way youre paying about half the price of a week-long cruise and you can test the waters. Be among the first to check in and it will feel like youre getting priority access at the terminal. Youll also find a free printable cruise packing list! 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 simplest and easiest way to get on the ship faster is taking care of the check-in process early. Search Now 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. Using a travel agent simplifies this entire process. 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. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. 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. Remington Premier Copper 12 Gauge 3 Inch 1550 FPS 1 Ounce . We enjoy being on the ship early to take advantage of as much time on board as possible. On cruise day, everyone is excited to board. All Guests must board the ship no later than 4:00 pm. 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. 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. In fact, Day One has the makings to be as memorable as every other day of your getaway. Each cruiser scanned his/her SetSail Pass (from the Royal Caribbean app) and was permitted to board the ship. Royal Caribbean has The Key, Carnival has Faster to the Fun, and Norwegian has the Priority Access Pass. 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. 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. 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. 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. On all ships, check for entertainment reservations once onboard the ship via the Royal Caribbean app. 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. Posted January 23, 2012. Printed Set Sail Pass this morning for April 2nd Sailing of the Serenade of the Seas, out of San Juan. Even if you have an international cell phone plan, cruise ship cellular coverage is rarely included. Some specialty restaurants will cost less if you eat there for lunch. {{alert.title}} {{notification.title}} {{notification . 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. If you'd like to arrive at that time, go right ahead! While making a mistake is bound to happen, we can learn from, The proverb, "experience is the best teacher" is a famous proverb ofJulius Caesar, and it applies to so many aspects, While I can't come up with a formula for the perfect cruise for every single person, I can suggest some easy ways to. 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.". If someone cancels their cruise, their check-in time goes back into the system for someone else to grab. As long as the cruise line doesnt make a drastic change to their program you will keep reaping the rewards for every cruise. 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. Its recommended to have travel insurance. As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner! Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Booked my cruise early. The only trouble is you may get hooked on it, and then you will have to come up with the cash for the next cruise. Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. A Royal Caribbean employee came over to our large group and checked in each party using her tablet. Fax: +1 345 946 8825. Inside a tree trunk, a forest nymph spends its day. The exact amount of the discount will vary from sailing to sailing, but in general, the savings of booking a drink package online before a cruise can be as much as over $10 per person, per day compared to booking it onboard. Here are some of the benefits included with this program: Carnival Cruise Line: Faster to the Fun (FTTF). 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. Venue: The Artground Date: 4 - 12 Mar 2023 Fee: $18 per pax (Weekday), $20 per pax (Weekend). 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. 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. He also directed us on exactly where to go and made certain we understood we needed passports/identification documents. Lunch and drink package 3. The concept is simple: pay a few bucks and skip the lines. If you're in a suite, you don't need to pay extra for this package too. and the answer to them all is simple: book your cruise as early as you can. We will be flying out . 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. View All Cruises 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. If you are wondering what time constitutes, "early", we are talking about sometime between 10am and 11:30am. The drink packages have become quite popular with guests, but Royal Caribbean rewards guests that purchase their drink package early with a discount. The online check-in process is super simple and consists of filling out personal information among other tasks. 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. Taking the time to purchase anything onboard does not take very much time, but every little bit helps, and some purchases on the first day of the cruise can require waiting in a line, such as drink packages. Once you board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, youll want to take care of a few chores. Not only will buying your drink packages online save you money, it will also save you time because typically there can be lines to purchase the drink packages onboard the ship. 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. Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to.