Here are my tips for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner. If guests wish to enjoy their wine or champagne in our dining or bar venues, there will be a corkage fee applied. For your return home, you have the ability to select the flight that best suits your schedule. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. 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. So, how do you secure an early arrival time so that you can board the ship as soon as possible? All rights reserved. Be among the first to check in and it will feel like youre getting priority access at the terminal. This provides the ability to break up the total cost of the cruise. People often wonder what is the cheapest month to go on a cruise, and the key is cruise when others cannot. Instant Real Time Pricing Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. The "3-1-1" rule is ubiquitous in airports. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. There is no way to know in absolute terms what your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise will or will not offer, but Royal Caribbean insiders will consult past Cruise Compass' to see what was available on those similar sailings to get an idea of what to expect. That means if a couple buys The Key for a 7 day cruise it will cost at least $350. In addition, Royal Caribbean has onboard laundry services you can use to make wearing the same clothes later in the cruise more practical. Rope dropping is also a great strategy for the sort of activities that quickly generate a line. 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. Plus, the agents at the port wont have to take the extra time to verify your birth certificate. In our experience, most guests see the times for an activity and begin arrivingafterthe scheduled start time. What you want to do is look at what the ship you're considering has to do onboard, and ensure it has the most important options that you want to experience. Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. So, anyone in the wrong line was asked to move. $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. Norwegians priority program offers everything from faster embarkation to quicker tendering, and even a faster debarkation process. Been a while since I've been on Royal Caribbean and we are sailing tomorrow out of Miami. The boarding process for the 1/8 Adventure of the Seas cruise to the S. Caribbean was horrible. Over the course of a 7-night cruise, those savings add up quickly! 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. Be sure to pack these items in your carry-on luggage, and not your checked luggage. Norwegian Cruise Line: Priority Access 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. The earlier you arrive on embarkation day, the earlier you will board the ship. The reason is Royal Caribbean cruise fares are very erratic, and can change at a moment's notice. Royal Caribbean is quite understanding about schedules, and if you need to get off the ship sooner, they are usually very accommodating. The cruise line can have an impact as some lines have different embarkation . 19. It was 6 years ago and I still remember my waiters name. It wasn't nearly as easy as usual. That being said, my sister had a junior suite AND an oceanview room booked. NATURI A sound installation and performance for young audiences from 18 months up to physical or psychomotor skills of 4 years!. Through our past experiences, on many different lines, we have boarded closer to 11:00. 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. As long as the cruise line doesnt make a drastic change to their program you will keep reaping the rewards for every cruise. This is a 9 night cruise and price per night is noted below for each cabin type. How to Complete Check-In. Usually, guests who book The Key are allowed to check-in with the first group (an exact time will be emailed later). In fact, Day One has the makings to be as memorable as every other day of your getaway. Don't book a cabin one deck above or below a public space, such as a pool, dining room, or bar. If not, just leave blank. There is no question that if you want to get the lowest price on a cruise, book it as early as you can. (This post may contain affiliate links. But once youre approved you will get a 5% discount on any future MSC sailing along with some other discounts on ship amenities. A second way to grab an early port arrival time is by purchasing The Key. Cayman Islands: Who's Who & Business Guide. 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. In addition to the non-alcoholic beverages, you can also bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom. 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 . I wont go into every perk these loyalty programs offer, but you can check out our comparison of the loyalty programs on 8 different cruise lines. And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. Simply check in on the very day availability opens. Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. This means you can get extra value from your drink package purchase while anywhere in these private destinations. Too many parents are unaware of the open house and waste time signing their kids up as the evening session is set to begin. 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. 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. Sure, you can book a Royal Caribbean cruise on your own, directly through the line's website. In fact, most people don't use these showers, so there's a good chance they are unoccupied when you would need it, especially in the evening. 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. 90% refund of cruise credits if you Cancel for Any Reason. On a cruise, your vacation starts as soon as you set foot on your cruise ship. Royal Caribbean does not post or publish Cruise Compasses for upcoming sailings in advance. 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. When a sailing is first offered, supply is at its highest because no one has purchase a cruise ship cabin yet. 12. long pause. I'm not sure RCL has started that. 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. Booking a suite has more advantages than you may think. Generally speaking, the best price for a Royal Caribbean cruise can be found when booked many months in advance. If you have a cruise booked with Royal Caribbean, you can typically check-in around 45 days before your sail date. Getting on the ship for us is also the point when the cruise 'starts'. It is wholly owned by parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. At 11:00, crew members instructed all of the suite guests to form a line. Cruise fares tend to be lower the sooner you book. Unlike Traditional Dining, you will not be seated at the same table . Want to know one of the best tips for avoiding the worst cruise ship cabins? When we say "early", we mean booking your cruise 12, 18 or even 24 months before the sail date. If you ask seasoned travelers how they get around these obstacles, the answer is often to give yourself more time. Commonly it is expected to tip somewhere around $1-$2 per bag. Royal Caribbean is inviting select guests to try out a new way to board the ship that aims to improve the embarkation, The first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise should be the start of an amazing vacation, so be sure to avoid these, The first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise is areallyfun moment in any cruise fan's vacation, because it is when, The first day of your cruise is such an awesome feeling, and I have some great tips for making it as super smooth as, Embarkation day on any Royal Caribbean cruise is an exciting and busy day, and it appears Royal Caribbean is trying to, When your Royal Caribbean cruise ship begins to sail away from port and your cruise actually begins, you will probably. 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. You're probably wondering what to expect on the day you board the ship. Royal Caribbean offers a wide variety of things to do, services, and benefits to all guests that it can be easy to, We love a little intrigue as much as the next person, but nothing beats finding out about a secret, right? If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Its also important to note that theres no best time to board the Royal Caribbean ship. Each excursion will list the price, details of the activity and any physical or age restrictions. 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. In addition to that you get to the best locations on the ship, personalized service, exclusive amenities, and other complimentary perks. You can read more about me here- Meet Shari. 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? Since we were in a suite, we were able to stand in the super short line on the right. Lets look at what some of these early-access programs offer. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will need to wait until we are able to work them into another group. 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. This online check-in is when you choose your port arrival time. And if this gets delayed it will also impact when you can embark. Other families, like mine, like to get the process started as soon as possible. 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. Welcome aboard! Previously, Royal Caribbean permitted a maximum of two 750-milliliter bottles per room. 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 really do not want to bethat personin the airport losing their mind because the latest delay means the entire vacation is in jeopardy. Answer (1 of 9): It is becoming more common to have a check-in time on your boarding pass. If you're in a suite, you don't need to pay extra for this package too. This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the 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. We didnt even have to get off the couch. Check with the Windjammer wait staff for a schedule of options. So, continue reading below to find out everything you need to know about how to get an early boarding time on Royal Caribbean, so you can get started on your vacation as soon as possible! We have found in the US on a standard turn around that you can board a RCL ship starting around 11:30 but . They offer guests the option to drink as much as they want on their cruise for a fixed price. 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. Here are some of the benefits included with this program: Carnival Cruise Line: Faster to the Fun (FTTF). Quick tip: You should always keep one bag with you. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. 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. After having paused this program during the cruise re-openings , Carnival is now offering Faster to the Fun again. 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. Your loyalty status doesnt reset at the end of the year. Unlimited food and posh amenities await you, and its only feet away when youre in the cruise terminal. 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. Read more: 10 biggest tipping mistakes cruisers make. This way youre paying about half the price of a week-long cruise and you can test the waters. 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 . Set . To be honest, your embarkation day usually starts . What you want to do is log onto the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's website and purchase the drink package of your choice online. 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. Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to. 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. There's an impressive amount of discounts and benefits included in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program that you should absolutely know about in advance.