And after hopping aboard I was invited to a special lounge for suite guests with all kinds of complimentary foods and beverages. The moms in our group then ran errands to take care of some items. Jon got hooked on cruising after his first cruise on his honeymoon, and today he is always looking for cruise deals and reading information about the cruise industry. All rights reserved. Tipping hard working crew members is a must-do, but double check the bill that it's not already included. 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. Fax: +1 345 946 8825. Royal Caribbean may send you an email about boarding times, but those are mostly suggestions and not enforced at all. Read More Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbeans Junior SuitesContinue, Read More Honest Review of Perfect Day at CocoCayContinue, Read More Free Printable Cruise Packing List (with Tips)Continue, Read More Guide to Royal Caribbean Ship Classes (2023)Continue, Read More Easy Guide to Royal Caribbean Online Check InContinue, Read More Honest Review of Oasis of the SeasContinue, Your email address will not be published. #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. 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). At 10:00, the doors to the terminal opened, and the suite guests were escorted to an elevator that took us to a separate security line. The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean. 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. 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). The embarkation process is stressful enough without adding in the guy behind you asking you to hurry things up in the most colorful of ways. 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . Be sure to check it. Readers share: Whats the best piece of cruise advice you have ever received? It can feel like torture if you have to wait a long time to board your ship. You can use it to check-into your cruise (more on that in the next tip), book entertainment, shore excursions and packages. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. Embarkation day is often full of a lot of chaos and stress, especially if you are a first time cruiser. Click on the person icon, and it should fire up the camera again. Norwegians priority access program includes: Other cruise lines have some sort of priority-access program as well. The person didnt even ask for the ship name or location and gave monosyllabic responses. The key is to understand what the ship you're booking has and doesn't have so there's no disappointment later. Also, since your cruise will likely take you to foreign countries, its crucial to have a passport with you. 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.". So, anyone in the wrong line was asked to move. 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. Prior to sailing, guests may change or cancel their show reservations online up to 4 days prior to their cruise start date. Then, the dads in our group took the kids to the pool so that they could swim in virtually empty swimming areas. 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. 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. Called RCL this morning and got a weird / rude response when asking about what time I can board the ship. He also directed us on exactly where to go and made certain we understood we needed passports/identification documents. Inside a tree trunk, a forest nymph spends its day. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will . Priority line at ship attractions and water slides during regular hours. If you'd like to arrive at that time, go right ahead! The biggest key is being prepared and knowing when you should or shouldnt pay extra to get on board faster. Now, if youre planning to embark on a closed-loop itinerary that starts and ends in the United States, you can use your birth certificate and legal name change documentation to board. At 11:00, crew members instructed all of the suite guests to form a line. Be sure to pack these items in your carry-on luggage, and not your checked luggage. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. The cost is $129 for a 3-5 day cruise and $199 for a 6-9 day cruise with higher rates for longer voyages. Complimentary Canaps (a French hors doeuvre) on second day. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Here are 7 proven ways to board your cruise ship faster on embarkation day. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have a choice of places to eat throughout the day. So, make sure you keep everything within reach and enjoy a smooth boarding process. In many ports, porters have a special line for Customs that allows you to get through it all faster. This way youre paying about half the price of a week-long cruise and you can test the waters. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows for you to choose from. Instant Real Time Pricing You really do not want to bethat personin the airport losing their mind because the latest delay means the entire vacation is in jeopardy. A. 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. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. 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. Peak dinner time is between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, so if you plan to dine during these times, reservations are so important. Things I've tried on Royal Caribbean that I won't do again, The worst cruise mistakes our readers have made on a ship. 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. 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). On Voyager, Freedom or Radiance class ships, be sure to visit the helipad for my favorite sailaway spot. If you dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. For just a few dollars, you can make the embarkation and disembarkation process significantly easier. Second, you're spending extra money for a benefit that is not cheap. 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. Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. I pack sunscreen to apply before swimming, and we carry on other essentials that we need before dinner. Powered by Cruiseline.com. However, I highly recommend traveling with a passport. Note: MSC Cruises has a status match program, so you can carry over some of the perks you have with another cruise line. Quick tip: You should always keep one bag with you. View All Cruises 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. No reservations needed, just walk on in and be seated. Possible pranks include attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed. This includes your passport, boarding pass, and any other necessary paperwork. While frustrating to not have the rules enforced across the board, we still recommend adhering to the check-in time window to avoid any possible denial of boarding until later. This means you can still be on Royal Caribbean's wifi and use the app, but avoid a huge bill. Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options. 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. 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. 1. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. 12. long pause. We were technically allowed to arrive an hour before this 10:30 slot since we were suite guests. 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. and the answer to them all is simple: book your cruise as early as you can. And loyalty perks usually involve priority access to the ship. We will also provide tips for scoring the earliest boarding time on Royal Caribbean based on our recent experience on the Oasis of the Seas at the cruise terminal in Port of Miami. The Windjammer is the go-to spot for most when they get onboard their Royal Caribbean ship for lunch, but there are good alternatives that are less crowded. 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. Follow along on this incredible voyage! It'll guide you to aim and take the picture. You don't plan to take advantage of its . 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. Search Now I wrote about this in the post on 19 things you should do on embarkation day. 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. 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. I dont think I need to mention how this would slow down your boarding process, but its a key element to remember when cruising. Its important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. Bermuda supreme court legalised same-sex marriage last year. Looking for the Best Cruise Deals? This makes it easy to undress them poolside, and they can hop right in. 1. Cruise lines offer several boarding times and can only allow for so many in each slot. If not, just leave blank. You will not have to start over! DON'T MISS: One Key Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Tip Cruisers Need to know Royal Caribbean does not allow passengers to bring hard liquor on board its ships. 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. Royal Caribbean's app is a must-have for your cruise, so make sure to download it before your cruise. They also re-wear their embarkation clothes since this first day is typically not dressy at all. Did you know that Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis Class ships? The first time I booked a suite was on Celebrity Silhouette. While this isnt necessarily the time in which you will board the ship, it is a good indicator of when you will be allowed to embark. This is a 9 night cruise and price per night is noted below for each cabin type. Do you have Cruise Fever too? Guests may be able to check in earlier but will usually not be able to embark until this time. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! By going on embarkation day, not only will you likely have a short wait but you may be able to re-ride a number of times! If you are sailing on an Oasis or Quantum Class ship, you can pre-book shows in advance, such as the Broadway musicals or ice shows. 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. Before the cruise, guests may change the show/ti. But if you opt to drag your suitcases all through the terminal and onto the ship youre just slowing down the entire process. 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. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. If getting onto your cruise ship as early as possible is important to you these tips above should help. For everyone's sanity, this rule does not apply to cruise ships. This means the terminal will open up . This frees up storage space in your closets and drawers for other things. The day your cruise begins is full of excitement, and naturally, you may be wondering what time you can board the ship. Things like medications, documents, passports, and even a bathing suit and some sunscreen can be kept in this bag. Our hotel (Intercontinental Miami) was a short 15-minute drive to the Port of Miami. Please see my disclosure policy at the bottom of this page for more details.). Previously, Royal Caribbean permitted a maximum of two 750-milliliter bottles per room. In most cases, you should be able to save at least $10 per person compared to dinner (if not more). With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! {{alert.title}} {{notification.title}} {{notification . People often wonder what is the cheapest month to go on a cruise, and the key is cruise when others cannot. And the earlier check-in time you have, the sooner you get to get onboard the ship and start vacation. 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. In short, to save time and money, use a good travel agent. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail. One of my favorite benefits was having access to an amazing restaurant that was reserved for suite guests only. 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. We like to carry a backpack onboard the ship on embarkation day. Photo Credit: NAN728 / Shutterstock. 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. 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. By the way, there are still delays in the passport renewal process. There's an impressive amount of discounts and benefits included in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program that you should absolutely know about in advance. How soon can you board a cruise ship before departure? , Cruising in 2023 is mostly back to normal following the pandemic-induced changes implemented across the industry in. The plan offered is called the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, and it provides the following coverage: $25k Emergency Travel Medical 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! In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. There is no question that if you want to get the lowest price on a cruise, book it as early as you can. This buffet wasnt crowded at all during these early hours, and it offered a large variety of food for our big travel group. All sent to your inbox. 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. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. How to Complete Check-In. Our next RCL isn't until December 2016. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. For your return home, you have the ability to select the flight that best suits your schedule. When I tried on my Android / Pixel 6 Pro, I had to hit the button a bunch of times to take a picture . And in that case theres nothing you can do but sit back and make the best of it. (Sponsored). The helipad onis located on the bow (front)of the ship and during sailaway, Royal Caribbean permits guests access to the helipad. 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. Often this comes down to the ports of call being visited by the cruise line. Have you heard about Royal Caribbean's unlimited drink packages? Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays. Check with the Windjammer wait staff for a schedule of options. The benefits wont always be the same, and you have to fill out a form and wait for approval. In fact, Day One has the makings to be as memorable as every other day of your getaway. You can change in a public restroom, and towels are available at the pool area to use. Children between the ages of 0-5 are complimentary and ages 6-12 are $10 per child at any specialty restaurant. 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. Usually, guests who book The Key are allowed to check-in with the first group (an exact time will be emailed later). And from there the perks just kept coming. The exact benefits you get depend on which tier of Crown and Anchor Society you belong to. 10 tips to help you improve your cruise vacation. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. If your schedule allows, the best time to cruise when prices are the lowest are in the off-season and shoulder seasons. Embark's office is located in an industrial chic building in Boston's Seaport District. 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. Jon lives in the foothills of North Carolina and wishes there were a cruise port that far inland. There is a lot that goes into a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation, from your cruise fare (and the slew of discounts available), to dining, shore excursions, air travel and more. The Online Check-in Process is a 4 step process and Royal Caribbean will walk you through it step by step. And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. 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. You can login to your account on the Royal Caribbean website or via the Royal Caribbean App. I would love to hearyourtips and tricks! Norwegians priority program offers everything from faster embarkation to quicker tendering, and even a faster debarkation process. By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. If you encounter problems using Online Check-in, please contact Carnival. Youll also find that the water slides dont have long lines at this time on embarkation day. If you can check in using the cruise lines app or website the very first day you have a better chance of having an early boarding time. 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. 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. . We also use the hairbrush for the kids hair after swimming. Video: Royal Caribbean food secrets Discounts, tips and more! Rope dropping is also a great strategy for the sort of activities that quickly generate a line. Like what you see? That being said, my sister had a junior suite AND an oceanview room booked. 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 . For example, a 7 day cruise with the Bella experience will earn you 500 points, while that same cruise with the Aurea experience will net you 1,000 points. Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise. Here are the 8 easy strategies I used to save money on my Royal Caribbean cruise that you can use too. Keep in mind the differences between Royal Caribbean's shore excursions and third party shore excursions. I didnt even have a chance to sit down in the Port Everglades terminal before I was welcomed onto the ship. 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. 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. 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. Members also get invitations to special events, like behind-the-scenes tours of the ship. The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. 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! Printed Set Sail Pass this morning for April 2nd Sailing of the Serenade of the Seas, out of San Juan. Some families prefer to arrive in the afternoon, so they dont have to navigate crowds at the terminal. Guests who pay for this upgraded status typically receive priority access upon arrival on embarkation day. 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. Since the online check-in time usually opens up at midnight (EST) 45 days before your cruise, youll want to login at this time. Been a while since I've been on Royal Caribbean and we are sailing tomorrow out of Miami. 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. 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. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. Royal Caribbean International has notified guests booked aboard several Allure of the Seas cruises to adjust their boarding times . The majority of cruises leave port at 4 or 5:00 pm. Your stateroom walls are made of metal, and that means you can stick a magnet on any of them (even the ceiling). Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. Cruise fares tend to be lower the sooner you book. All Guests must board the ship no later than 4:00 pm. One of the best parts? This is basically a forum for discussing your exact sailing with other people booked on it too. 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. The open house is when you can go to meet the staff, register your kids, and ask any questions. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Perhaps one of the most common questions we receive on Royal Caribbean Blog is about how to save money and get the best possible price for a Royal Caribbean cruise. These are the times of year when demand is less for cruises to certain regions. The FCC . You can even start using your drink packages right away to help you get into vacation mode even faster! And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. A second way to grab an early port arrival time is by purchasing The Key. 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. The last day of your cruise is never fun, and regardless of how many times you cruise, it never gets any less depressing. 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. 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.

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