The last day of your cruise is never fun, and regardless of how many times you cruise, it never gets any less depressing. Aurea is the most expensive options and could cost anywhere from $150 to $600 more than the lowest cost experience. Royal Caribbean is quite understanding about schedules, and if you need to get off the ship sooner, they are usually very accommodating. Book entertainment and dining as soon as possible. Royal Caribbean's fitness center has separate showers for men and women that is complimentary to use. If you subscribe to the theory that time is money, then you definitely want to arrive to your embarkation port early. 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. When you get the receipt to sign, look for the line item that indicates if an automatic 18% gratuity is already included. We fly in early enough to explore the port city if we want to prior to embarkation day. 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! I didnt even have a chance to sit down in the Port Everglades terminal before I was welcomed onto the ship. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. If you encounter problems using Online Check-in, please contact Carnival. 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. 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. This way youre paying about half the price of a week-long cruise and you can test the waters. If it is, you should feel confident that the proper gratuity is being given to that crew member. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail. Did you know if one adult elects to buy the unlimited alcohol package, all other adults in the same room have to get it too? Often this comes down to the ports of call being visited by the cruise line. You may also want to pack a dinner outfit, especially if you . Ideally, you'll book a cruise at NextCruise while on a sailing when struck with the inspiration to book another cruise. 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. Read more: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise. The "3-1-1" rule is ubiquitous in airports. Once at the Muster Station, you just scan your SetSail Pass. 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 the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. You dont want to find yourself stuck in a foreign land without your passport in a worst-case scenario. [Subscribe fo. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. In this post, we will walk you through the whole embarkation process so that youre prepared for your first day on board. By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. You can use it to check-into your cruise (more on that in the next tip), book entertainment, shore excursions and packages. 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. 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. Booking a suite has more advantages than you may think. Share them in our comments on this post. Several years ago, I decided to start this blog to document our family trips. Either way, you should have plenty of time to enjoy all the entertainment and activities onboard the ship. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. (The porters also have luggage tags in case you forget to print yours.). If you can cruise during these times, there are some truly low prices to enjoy. In most cases, you should be able to save at least $10 per person compared to dinner (if not more). The same is true for beer . Royal Caribbean offers all guests the option to bring their own luggage (rather than have their luggage delivered to the terminal) and leave the ship anytime once customs officials clear the ship. 10 tips to help you improve your cruise vacation. Royal Caribbean shore excursions are fully refundable if your ship cannot dock at a scheduled port. The moms in our group then ran errands to take care of some items. 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. (+1 345) 244 2431. 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 earlier you can book, the best chance you will have at getting a good price on your cruise. This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the ship. Be the first to write a review! The NextCruise office offers incentives to book another cruise while you're still onboard. Plus, the agents at the port wont have to take the extra time to verify your birth certificate. If you want a ship with a Broadway show, book Oasis or Harmony of the Seas, but skip Wonder of the Seas. 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. That seems like a lot to save an hour or two on embarkation day. This includes accepting the cruise contract, answering the health questions, and choosing your boarding time. To be honest, your embarkation day usually starts . Some days it's sunny, some days it's stormy, some days it's just . If you have a cruise booked with Royal Caribbean, you can typically check-in around 45 days before your sail date. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. Cruise lines offer several boarding times and can only allow for so many in each slot. 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. 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 cost is $129 for a 3-5 day cruise and $199 for a 6-9 day cruise with higher rates for longer voyages. If you dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. Set . For obvious reasons the early times are taken first. Unlike Traditional Dining, you will not be seated at the same table . Getting on the ship for us is also the point when the cruise 'starts'. Our $2,179.98 cruise has an insurance cost of $138 if bought through Royal Caribbean. Photo Credit: NAN728 / Shutterstock. Two restaurants that always offer a cheaper lunch price than dinner are Chops Grille and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. However, I highly recommend traveling with a passport. Want to get an idea of what entertainment, activities and things to do (along with times) will be offered on your cruise? Before the cruise, guests may change the show/ti. The concept is simple: pay a few bucks and skip the lines. 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. Your vacation time is limited, so do not waste it waiting to buy a drink package. 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 . You can view all the shore excursions available by logging into Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner and browsing the shore excursions by port. Since the online check-in time usually opens up at midnight (EST) 45 days before your cruise, youll want to login at this time. The day your cruise begins is full of excitement, and naturally, you may be wondering what time you can board the ship. Packing your cruise day bag is important so that you have everything you need for your first day. Once you are ready to begin, completing the Royal Caribbean online check in takes very little time. 2011-2023, Cruise Fever . Your email address will not be published. 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. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. One of the best cruise ship cabin hacks is to bring magnets with you on your cruise. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. So the best way to learn about what is offered on your cruise is to check out a past Cruise Compass. Once we walked to the entrance of Terminal Building A, we saw two separate lines: a LONG line on the left and a short line on the right. 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. In short, the app is tied to so much of the cruise experience now. Since these are Royal Caribbean cruise tips that apply primarily to just this cruise line, it's meant to provide advice that almost anyone sailing with Royal Caribbean can use right away. And if this gets delayed it will also impact when you can embark. 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. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows . If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. Simply check in on the very day availability opens. Prior to sailing, guests may change or cancel their show reservations online up to 4 days prior to their cruise start date. Lots of passengers arrive early, standing in line for the opportunity to board early and be among the first on the ship. Posted January 23, 2012. Royal Caribbean cruises that depart from the United States will often open the cruise terminal for check-in sometime between 9am and 10am. This is by far the least crowded time to swim on the cruise ship. Things I've tried on Royal Caribbean that I won't do again, The worst cruise mistakes our readers have made on a ship. Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. As for Royal Caribbean opening up additional earlier times, it's not usually the case. 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. In the weeks leading up to your cruise, be sure to complete online check-in. 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 enjoy being on the ship early to take advantage of as much time on board as possible. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. If your stateroom shower is occupied by a family member, you could go to the gym and shower there instead. These are the times of year when demand is less for cruises to certain regions. On my most recent cruise on Oasis of the Seas, my family and I had junior suites booked with a 10:30 am port arrival time. Video: Royal Caribbean food secrets Discounts, tips and more! People often wonder what is the cheapest month to go on a cruise, and the key is cruise when others cannot. 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. Guests may be able to check in earlier but will usually not be able to embark until this time. We have found in the US on a standard turn around that you can board a RCL ship starting around 11:30 but . We arrived on time (1pm) and waited over three hours to board. Royal Caribbean. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. But how early can you board the cruise ship? Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options. Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to. 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. And in that case theres nothing you can do but sit back and make the best of it. Its not a lengthy process but should you need to stop along the way to gather a piece of information, do not worry. In addition to the drink package, a wifi package also works while at CocoCay. 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 . And it may seem way out of your budget. 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. 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. Check with the Windjammer wait staff for a schedule of options. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. For a full list of items that my family and I pack on a cruise vacation, you can check out my Cruise Packing List article. Royal Caribbean puts its itineraries on sale as much as two years in advance of the sailing, and while that may be too far in advance for many to plan vacations, the earlier you can book the cruise, the better for that bottom line price. 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. Youll also find a free printable cruise packing list! 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. 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. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), also known in short as Norwegian, is an American cruise line founded in 1966, incorporated in Bermuda and headquartered in Miami. This large room consisted of plenty of seating options, refreshments, and restrooms. Due to government regulations requiring cruise lines to submit final departure . Cayman Islands: Who's Who & Business Guide. A Royal Loft Suite on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. Plus, the Royal Caribbean app will have all of the activities for the day listed so that you can easily reference it during your sailing. Read a past Cruise Compass! Any money saved is always welcome! (Make sure you watched and marked off the Safety video in the app the morning of your cruise.). Many guests are curious how early they can board a Royal Caribbean ship on embarkation day, so here is a guide for what to expect. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. For Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, check-in registration begins at 11:00 am and embarkation begins at 1:00 pm. This was a huge relief from the typical check-in desk with long check-in lines we have experienced in the past. You can then save this information and complete the rest of the check-in process at a later date. One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing. 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. All sent to your inbox. If you want to try Sky Pad, FlowRider, rock climbing wall or zipline, take advantage of lower waits on the first day of the cruise. 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 . Please see my disclosure policy at the bottom of this page for more details.). 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. 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. After having paused this program during the cruise re-openings , Carnival is now offering Faster to the Fun again. Most guests pack their bathing suits in the checked luggage, which means they will not have access to it until later that day. How to Get on Your Cruise Ship As Early as Possible: 7 We hate spam as much as lounge chair hogs. Priority line at ship attractions and water slides during regular hours. 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 completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. You can read more about me here- Meet Shari. Commonly it is expected to tip somewhere around $1-$2 per bag. Using a travel agent simplifies this entire process. Royal Caribbean sells its cruises largely based on the concept of supply and demand. I booked my Symphony of the Seas cruise five months in advance of my February sail date. Nor do they publish their entertainment schedules prior to a cruise. Keep in mind the differences between Royal Caribbean's shore excursions and third party shore excursions. In addition to the non-alcoholic beverages, you can also bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom. 90% refund of cruise credits if you Cancel for Any Reason. Here are 7 proven ways to board your cruise ship faster on embarkation day. It wasn't nearly as easy as usual. Then, the dads in our group took the kids to the pool so that they could swim in virtually empty swimming areas. This online check-in is when you choose your port arrival time. 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. They offer guests the option to drink as much as they want on their cruise for a fixed price. Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. 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. However, once you finally arrive at the port and board the ship, all your worries are washed away. 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. Not only are the dress codes quite liberal, you can also re-use the same clothes on the same sailing. There, crewmembers will typically check you in via . He also directed us on exactly where to go and made certain we understood we needed passports/identification documents. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. Want to know one of the best tips for avoiding the worst cruise ship cabins? We will be flying out . And from there the perks just kept coming. Possible pranks include attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed. The simplest and easiest way to get on the ship faster is taking care of the check-in process early. 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. If you're reading this at home, you're still better off booking a cruise now, rather than waiting to book onboard your ship. It can feel like torture if you have to wait a long time to board your ship. 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. In fact, Day One has the makings to be as memorable as every other day of your getaway. Booked my cruise early. 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. Children between the ages of 0-5 are complimentary and ages 6-12 are $10 per child at any specialty restaurant. The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. But I have a helpful suggestion. DON'T assume your cabin is pristine and in working order, if you tend to worry about such things. If you are on a Radiance or Quantum Class ship, be sure to enjoy your meals outside while at the Windjammer. So, anyone in the wrong line was asked to move. You start getting benefits after just one cruise, and you never lose your status. Take advantage of the opportunity to get tickets and not be stuck in a line waiting to enter the theater or worse, miss out on the show completely. For just a few dollars, you can make the embarkation and disembarkation process significantly easier. 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. Known. Royal Caribbean has The Key, Carnival has Faster to the Fun, and Norwegian has the Priority Access Pass. (This post may contain affiliate links. We were technically allowed to arrive an hour before this 10:30 slot since we were suite guests. When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have a choice of places to eat throughout the day. I see some people skip this step because they want to save a few bucks on tipping. This option may not beviable for everyone because families and large groups may find lugging all their stuff from the stateroom to the terminal is not practical. I am a stay-at-home mom with an amazing husband and two little girls who keep me busy with gymnastics, soccer, and swimming. If you dont have extra room in the budget, the first point in this article will help the most. You will not have to start over! $250 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 14 or more nights, $100 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 to 13 nights, $50 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 5 nights or less. Like what you see? 2. I'm Shari. Quick tip: You should always keep one bag with you. If you do not complete check-in online, you will be required to complete this process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing 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. 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. After we completed this check-in procedure, our family sat in the waiting area until it was our turn to board the ship. Its also important to note that theres no best time to board the Royal Caribbean ship. 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. This was a really fast process that took less than five minutes. You'll want to do this as early as you can in order to get an early check-in time and avoid wasting time in the cruise terminal. You can bring soda, water, energy drinks and any other non-alcoholic beverages. $50k Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance. 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. . 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.