how early can i board my royal caribbean cruise

If your schedule allows, the best time to cruise when prices are the lowest are in the off-season and shoulder seasons. NATURI - A Sound Installation & Performance. The open house is when you can go to meet the staff, register your kids, and ask any questions. Related: Photography on Cruise Ships: What to Expect. Depending on the arrival time you chose during online check-in, you can show up at the cruise terminal as early as 10:00 am for your cruise vacation. 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. 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. Video: Royal Caribbean food secrets Discounts, tips and more! Our next RCL isn't until December 2016. Since the online check-in time usually opens up at midnight (EST) 45 days before your cruise, youll want to login at this time. Set Sail pass states that boarding begins at 2:00 PM. I would love to hearyourtips and tricks! Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean'sshore excursions if they book onboard. You'll need to buy The Key for every guest in the cabin (age 6 and above) for every night of the cruise. Here are my tips for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner. Heres what The Key is (and why some cruisers like it), Royal Caribbean testing expedited boarding, Video: Mistakes to avoid on the first day of your cruise, What to expect on embarkation day on a Royal Caribbean cruise, The best spot for sailaway on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The person didnt even ask for the ship name or location and gave monosyllabic responses. Once onboard, cancellations must be made at least 4 hours prior to show time. Ideally, you'll book a cruise at NextCruise while on a sailing when struck with the inspiration to book another cruise. If you're reading this at home, you're still better off booking a cruise now, rather than waiting to book onboard your ship. Most cruise terminals enforce the boarding times, but occasionally you find situations where a particular pier agent doesn't pay attention to the check-in time or say anything about it. Posted January 23, 2012. We completed our Muster Drill requirements immediately after boarding. 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? First, if you miss The Key check-in window, you have to fall back to whatever time you had before. Just turn airplane mode once you get onboard the ship. Booked my cruise early. Exclusive a la carte breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on . Packing your cruise day bag is important so that you have everything you need for your first day. Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to 12 bottles/cans of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroomwith them on embarkation day. You can save and come back to the process at a later time. 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. Another tip for securing an early arrival time is to book a suite. So, make sure you keep everything within reach and enjoy a smooth boarding process. Cruise lines want you to be loyal to them, so ranking up your loyalty tier is a great way to get faster boarding times in addition to a ton of other 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. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Like what you see? They also re-wear their embarkation clothes since this first day is typically not dressy at all. Once you're cleared to board, you will follow a gangway (elevated ramps) up to the 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. Exclusive access to time slots for rock climbing, FlowRider etc. Keep in mind the differences between Royal Caribbean's shore excursions and third party shore excursions. Plus, the agents at the port wont have to take the extra time to verify your birth certificate. 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. Cruise ships have to receive clearance from port authorities in order to be able to allow passengers from the previous cruise off the ship. 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. One of the best parts? You start getting benefits after just one cruise, and you never lose your status. We like to carry a backpack onboard the ship on embarkation day. For Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, check-in registration begins at 11:00 am and embarkation begins at 1:00 pm. 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. For groups traveling with more than two people per room, however, a new policy could allow groups to bring . This buffet wasnt crowded at all during these early hours, and it offered a large variety of food for our big travel group. This is basically a forum for discussing your exact sailing with other people booked on it too. Club Orange by Holland America Line offers passengers priority access to exclusive perks and amenities, including priority check-in, stateroom upgrades, and an intimate dining venue on select ships. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. 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. To save time and money, you really should pre-book beverage packages, dining packages, internet packages and more. The faster you get on the cruise ship on embarkation day, the sooner you can start enjoying your vacation. Some families prefer to arrive in the afternoon, so they dont have to navigate crowds at the terminal. Depending on the length of your sailing, you can get up to $250 onboard credit. 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. However, I highly recommend traveling with a passport. 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. The total cost of my cruise for two guests, including gratuities, taxes, and fees, was $1656. In this post, we will walk you through the whole embarkation process so that youre prepared for your first day on board. This makes it easy to undress them poolside, and they can hop right in. 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. Also, since your cruise will likely take you to foreign countries, its crucial to have a passport with you. When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. Some days it's sunny, some days it's stormy, some days it's just . What time to arrive at the port. Usually, guests who book The Key are allowed to check-in with the first group (an exact time will be emailed later). View All Cruises 1. You can view all the shore excursions available by logging into Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner and browsing the shore excursions by port. Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to. It is wholly owned by parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. 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. There is no question that if you want to get the lowest price on a cruise, book it as early as you can. Previously, Royal Caribbean permitted a maximum of two 750-milliliter bottles per room. The price will be different depending on which port youre sailing from $59.95 in Miami to $129.95 in Seattle. Priority access off the ship to the shore in port. The first time I booked a suite was on Celebrity Silhouette. Your stateroom walls are made of metal, and that means you can stick a magnet on any of them (even the ceiling). So if you have an early flight and can carry all your bags, then you can be among the first to get off the ship. Simply check in on the very day availability opens. Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise. Each ship is packed with adventures . If you want a ship with a Broadway show, book Oasis or Harmony of the Seas, but skip Wonder of the Seas. Things like weapons, candles, and irons are on the list of things NOT to bring. Through our past experiences, on many different lines, we have boarded closer to 11:00. Our driver dropped us off with the porters at the terminal who checked that all of our bags held luggage tags, which we had printed from our online account. He also directed us on exactly where to go and made certain we understood we needed passports/identification documents. All sent to your inbox. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. The earliest that guests can board a cruise is between 4-5 hours before the ship is scheduled to sail away. 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. 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. 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. Keep in mind that other factors may effect your boarding time. All rights reserved. Third party shore excursions can offer more personalized tours at a lower price. Not only are the dress codes quite liberal, you can also re-use the same clothes on the same sailing. 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. 2. 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. 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. There are a few tricks to scoring early arrival times if you are eager to be one of the first passengers on the ship. These are not the times you actually board the ship. And in that case theres nothing you can do but sit back and make the best of it. Your vacation time is limited, so do not waste it waiting to buy a drink package. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. 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. These are the times of year when demand is less for cruises to certain regions. Its not a lengthy process but should you need to stop along the way to gather a piece of information, do not worry. Did you know that Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis Class ships? 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. Royal Caribbean does not post or publish Cruise Compasses for upcoming sailings in advance. If you're in a suite, you don't need to pay extra for this package too. 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! Arrived to the port at 10:30. While showing up early can be a problem, coming in later is not as much of a concern. HOW EARLY CAN I BOARD THE SHIP? The price you pay for the cruise is the same whether you board at noon or 2pm, so you may as well get the extra two hours of fun! Since we were in a suite, we were able to stand in the super short line on the right. 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Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. NATURI A sound installation and performance for young audiences from 18 months up to physical or psychomotor skills of 4 years!. Once at the Muster Station, you just scan your SetSail Pass. 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 . Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays. If you subscribe to the theory that time is money, then you definitely want to arrive to your embarkation port early. For just a few dollars, you can make the embarkation and disembarkation process significantly easier. Many cruise lines allow you to pay a little extra for priority access to the 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. 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! Yes, a suite is more expensive. After we completed this check-in procedure, our family sat in the waiting area until it was our turn to board the ship. Just one of the perks of being a suite guest on a cruise ship is having priority access. In addition, Royal Caribbean has onboard laundry services you can use to make wearing the same clothes later in the cruise more practical. (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) You are staying in a suite. When I tried on my Android / Pixel 6 Pro, I had to hit the button a bunch of times to take a picture . 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. Want to get an idea of what entertainment, activities and things to do (along with times) will be offered on your cruise? 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. If you ever wanted to see what the suite life was all about I recommend booking a short 3 day cruise. 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 exact benefits you get depend on which tier of Crown and Anchor Society you belong to. Royal Caribbean cruises that depart from the United States will often open the cruise terminal for check-in sometime between 9am and 10am. You can change in a public restroom, and towels are available at the pool area to use. 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. You will not have to start over! 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. Printed Set Sail Pass this morning for April 2nd Sailing of the Serenade of the Seas, out of San Juan. I'm Shari. 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. Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom. 5 rounds of Hornady SST Lite 12 Gauge 2 3/4" Shotgun Slugs. The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean. But I have a helpful suggestion. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Holland American Line: Mariner Society . . It's the rule that you can only bring liquids three ounces or less in a one quart plastic bag, with one bag per passenger. In our experience, most guests see the times for an activity and begin arrivingafterthe scheduled start time. The Key is an optional add-on you can purchase to get VIP benefits, including an early check-in time. Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open forlunch (and breakfast) too? Search Multiple Sites at Once Search Now As for Royal Caribbean opening up additional earlier times, it's not usually the case. In general, on a cruise with RCI, you can change 1 bane, no problem, as long as at least one original guest stays . 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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. Look up your specific cruise line to see exactly how early you can check in and then set an alarm or reminder on your phone for that date. Its just easier and faster. Royal Caribbean's app is a must-have for your cruise, so make sure to download it before your cruise. Click on the person icon, and it should fire up the camera again. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. And if this gets delayed it will also impact when you can embark. For everyone's sanity, this rule does not apply to cruise ships. We know youre eager to arrive at the cruise port for your Royal Caribbean cruise. By having them get the non-alcoholic drink package, you will save a lot of money compared to buying them the Deluxe Beverage package that costs much more. 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. Instead of arriving to your departure city on the day of your cruise, get in early! It has grown into a website full of information on family vacation tips, kid friendly activities, homeschooling organization hacks, and so much more! Other families, like mine, like to get the process started as soon as possible. In addition to the non-alcoholic beverages, you can also bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom. The concept is simple: pay a few bucks and skip the lines. Our rooms then opened up at around 1:00 that afternoon. Here are the 8 easy strategies I used to save money on my Royal Caribbean cruise that you can use too. 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. I see some people skip this step because they want to save a few bucks on tipping. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. Complimentary Canaps (a French hors doeuvre) on second day. The boarding process for the 1/8 Adventure of the Seas cruise to the S. Caribbean was horrible. Entertainment is typically included in your cruise fare but on the largest ships, you are required to make reservations. Tipping hard working crew members is a must-do, but double check the bill that it's not already included. 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. If youre still not satisfied you can pay extra for the priority access some cruise lines offer. There are two problems with buying The Key for an early check-in. So, anyone in the wrong line was asked to move. Aurea is the most expensive options and could cost anywhere from $150 to $600 more than the lowest cost experience. After all, if you want to jump in that pool as soon as you get on the ship you might as well be prepared. Getting an early arrival slot means that you can board the ship earlier than . Cruise ships will usually begin boarding approximately four hours before the scheduled departure time, typically around 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Royal Caribbean shore excursions guarantee your return to the ship, even if the excursion is delayed. The cost is $129 for a 3-5 day cruise and $199 for a 6-9 day cruise with higher rates for longer voyages. Most people go on vacation based around their school or work schedules. Just like dining, you can reserve shows in advance by going to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. In addition to that you get to the best locations on the ship, personalized service, exclusive amenities, and other complimentary perks. 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. We will be flying out . Youll also find that the water slides dont have long lines at this time on embarkation day. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. If you dont have extra room in the budget, the first point in this article will help the most. Welcome aboard! 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. Royal Caribbean's suite accommodations include a variety of VIP perks, some of which overlap with The Key. In the morning, there is an omelet station available. The moms in our group then ran errands to take care of some items. 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. 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. But it wasn't a nightmare either. From sunny Aruba to, If you are at least a Diamond member or above in Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society, here is a great way to, Taking a Royal Caribbean cruise is a great family vacation because of all the great things to see and do onboard. Theirservices are complimentary, although a tip is expected for their trouble. As time progress, more and more staterooms are reserved and stateroom inventory drops, so the price increases conversely. If you get on the ship early you will find this is one of the best times to enjoy the cruise ship pools without any crowds. I wrote about this in the post on 19 things you should do on embarkation day. 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. Possible pranks include attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed. Many people here, I think, . 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. When a sailing is first offered, supply is at its highest because no one has purchase a cruise ship cabin yet. 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. Royal Caribbean is quite understanding about schedules, and if you need to get off the ship sooner, they are usually very accommodating. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. It'll guide you to aim and take the picture. 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. (+1 345) 244 2431. You can actually get hundreds of dollars of onboard credit by simply booking onboard, but the exact amount depends on how long a sailing you book and in which stateroom category. my last NCL cruise was out of tamp. However, the cruise terminal in Miami did not open its doors until 10:00 am. Answer (1 of 9): It is becoming more common to have a check-in time on your boarding pass. 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. 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. 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. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. If you dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. 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. Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. {{alert.title}} {{notification.title}} {{notification . Generally speaking, the best price for a Royal Caribbean cruise can be found when booked many months in advance. No reservations needed, just walk on in and be seated. For lunch and dinner, you can find a rotating set of options that include pasta, stir-fry, crepes and more. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Venue: The Artground Date: 4 - 12 Mar 2023 Fee: $18 per pax (Weekday), $20 per pax (Weekend). That being said, my sister had a junior suite AND an oceanview room booked. 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. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. If you buy heavy duty magnets with hooks, you can use these magnets to store certain items. Suite guests still need to get a check-in time for their sailing, butusuallythey will be give more flexibility in their times. 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).

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