how early can i board my royal caribbean cruise

You'll want to include all of your valuables, medications, and documentation. 12. long pause. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will . The larger the group, the more important having a reservation is to limiting the wait times. 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. Priority line at ship attractions and water slides during regular hours. Been a while since I've been on Royal Caribbean and we are sailing tomorrow out of Miami. If your schedule allows, the best time to cruise when prices are the lowest are in the off-season and shoulder seasons. It was 6 years ago and I still remember my waiters name. Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! 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. For obvious reasons the early times are taken first. 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. 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. 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. It is wholly owned by parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Since the online check-in time usually opens up at midnight (EST) 45 days before your cruise, youll want to login at this time. Once logged in, navigate toOnboard Activitiesand select the show you wish to reserve. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. An intangible benefit to pre-purchasing anything is it saves you time onboard from doing the exact same thing, which means more vacation time back to you. The day your cruise begins is full of excitement, and naturally, you may be wondering what time you can board the ship. 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's suite accommodations include a variety of VIP perks, some of which overlap with The Key. We enjoy being on the ship early to take advantage of as much time on board as possible. How to Complete Check-In. 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. . You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. For everyone's sanity, this rule does not apply to cruise ships. The right slugs can turn a 12 gauge shotgun into a. This online check-in is when you choose your port arrival time. 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. Here are the 8 easy strategies I used to save money on my Royal Caribbean cruise that you can use too. This was a really fast process that took less than five minutes. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows for you to choose from. The FCC . By the way, there are still delays in the passport renewal process. To be honest, your embarkation day usually starts . Priority access off the ship to the shore in port. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0f9c8c1261d574f1224454f4fa00eeb" );document.getElementById("d5aa0859c9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. {{alert.title}} {{notification.title}} {{notification . You're probably wondering what to expect on the day you board the ship. Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. 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. NATURI - A Sound Installation & Performance. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Just turn airplane mode once you get onboard the ship. 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. 2) Take a security photo. 2. 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. Note: MSC Cruises has a status match program, so you can carry over some of the perks you have with another cruise line. Suite guests still need to get a check-in time for their sailing, butusuallythey will be give more flexibility in their times. Unlimited food and posh amenities await you, and its only feet away when youre in the cruise terminal. You don't plan to take advantage of its . 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. We have spent years sharing tips, secrets and strategies on this blog about taking a better and more fun Royal Caribbean cruise, and we discovered there is one common thread among so many of our best tips: being early. 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). Be sure to check it. 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. The price for The Key varies by sailing, but prices start at $25 per guest for each day of the cruise. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. As time progress, more and more staterooms are reserved and stateroom inventory drops, so the price increases conversely. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. 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. But it wasn't a nightmare either. Second, you're spending extra money for a benefit that is not cheap. After we completed this check-in procedure, our family sat in the waiting area until it was our turn to board the ship. Whether the first day or the last day of your cruise, be sure to grab a porter to make things easier on yourself. One of the best mantras for cruise planning is book as early as you can in order to get the lowest price. And if this gets delayed it will also impact when you can embark. For Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, check-in registration begins at 11:00 am and embarkation begins at 1:00 pm. 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. This was a huge relief from the typical check-in desk with long check-in lines we have experienced in the past. 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. Each cruiser scanned his/her SetSail Pass (from the Royal Caribbean app) and was permitted to board the ship. 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. Depending on your disembarkation time and port, the time needed to arrive at the airport will vary. Royal Caribbean sells its cruises largely based on the concept of supply and demand. Believe me, searching for documents in your luggage is not only time-consuming but also frustrating. 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. It can feel like torture if you have to wait a long time to board your ship. If you ever wanted to see what the suite life was all about I recommend booking a short 3 day cruise. 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. The helipad onis located on the bow (front)of the ship and during sailaway, Royal Caribbean permits guests access to the helipad. Many people here, I think, . One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing. The cost is $129 for a 3-5 day cruise and $199 for a 6-9 day cruise with higher rates for longer voyages. You dont want to find yourself stuck in a foreign land without your passport in a worst-case scenario. Love Cruise Fever?Sign Up to Our FREE Newsletter! 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. Even if you have an international cell phone plan, cruise ship cellular coverage is rarely included. We arrived on time (1pm) and waited over three hours to board. 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. 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. When we say "early", we mean booking your cruise 12, 18 or even 24 months before the sail date. Did you know Royal Caribbean offers extra onboard credit if you own at least a certain amount of Royal Caribbean Group stock? For groups traveling with more than two people per room, however, a new policy could allow groups to bring . Most guests pack their bathing suits in the checked luggage, which means they will not have access to it until later that day. Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to 12 bottles/cans of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroomwith them on embarkation day. 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. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. But given that you must make many decisions during the booking process, it can pay to use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises to help you arrange things. Cruise fares tend to be lower the sooner you book. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? If not, just leave blank. Here is a list of a few prohibited things Royal Caribbean has on their website: If you try to bring any of these things onto your cruise ship you will not only get the items confiscated, you could also be in some trouble with the law. 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. Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Theirservices are complimentary, although a tip is expected for their trouble. We also use the hairbrush for the kids hair after swimming. The key is to understand what the ship you're booking has and doesn't have so there's no disappointment later. In addition to the drink package, a wifi package also works while at CocoCay. In addition to that you get to the best locations on the ship, personalized service, exclusive amenities, and other complimentary perks. Here are some of the benefits included with this program: Carnival Cruise Line: Faster to the Fun (FTTF). We have an entire forum dedicated to Royal Caribbean roll calls on our message boards that is totally free to use! Cruise lines offer several boarding times and can only allow for so many in each slot. You start getting benefits after just one cruise, and you never lose your status. And from there the perks just kept coming. 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 more: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise. If you ask seasoned travelers how they get around these obstacles, the answer is often to give yourself more time. In short, to save time and money, use a good travel agent. In our experience, most guests see the times for an activity and begin arrivingafterthe scheduled start time. The only trouble is you may get hooked on it, and then you will have to come up with the cash for the next cruise. Most people go on vacation based around their school or work schedules. Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open forlunch (and breakfast) too? How soon can you board a cruise ship before departure? and the answer to them all is simple: book your cruise as early as you can. The drink packages have become quite popular with guests, but Royal Caribbean rewards guests that purchase their drink package early with a discount. 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. The menu can vary from lunch to dinner, but the experience is still the same. 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 . The concept is simple: pay a few bucks and skip the lines. Set . The biggest key is being prepared and knowing when you should or shouldnt pay extra to get on board faster. Royal Caribbean. Once you get onboard and connect to the ship's wifi, it will ask you if you want to just use the app. But did you know if you wait to book your drink package onboard the ship you will be overpaying for it? The result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise. Each stateroom may bring up to two 750 ml bottles of wine or champagne, as long as one guest is of legal drinking age. Royal Caribbean may send you an email about boarding times, but those are mostly suggestions and not enforced at all. However, the earlier your arrival time, the sooner you are usually able to embark on the ship. $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. The benefits wont always be the same, and you have to fill out a form and wait for approval. However, the cruise terminal in Miami did not open its doors until 10:00 am. Due to government regulations requiring cruise lines to submit final departure manifests at least 60 minutes prior to sailing, guests are requested to complete Check-in no later than 3 days prior to their cruise. The same is true for beer . Royal Caribbean International allows cruisers to choose a port arrival time during online check-in. The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean. My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. Lots of passengers arrive early, standing in line for the opportunity to board early and be among the first on the ship. Too many parents are unaware of the open house and waste time signing their kids up as the evening session is set to begin. The cruise line can have an impact as some lines have different embarkation . If you are in My Time Dining for dinner, your best strategy is to make reservations either before the cruise, or during the cruise. Through our past experiences, on many different lines, we have boarded closer to 11:00. The "3-1-1" rule is ubiquitous in airports. If you are wondering what time constitutes, "early", we are talking about sometime between 10am and 11:30am. I dont think I need to mention how this would slow down your boarding process, but its a key element to remember when cruising. Posted January 23, 2012. Hi there! Can anyone who has recently been on the Serenade rec. How early can I board my Royal Caribbean cruise? And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. 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. Moreover, the onboard credit is stackable with other discounts Royal Caribbean is offering at the time! Kids get special pricing at a specialty restaurant, so buy dining packages only for the adults. 1. Here are 7 proven ways to board your cruise ship faster on embarkation day. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 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. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 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. The exact amount of the discount will vary from sailing to sailing, but in general, the savings of booking a drink package online before a cruise can be as much as over $10 per person, per day compared to booking it onboard. Unfortunately, there's no wifi coverage in Labadee. If you're on the fence about buying a Royal Caribbean drink package, keep in mind you can use them at Royal Caribbean's private islands. 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. Knowing this, we decided to reserve a shuttle service to pick us up at our Miami hotel at 9:30 on embarkation day. 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. All Guests must board the ship no later than 4:00 pm. 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. I see some people skip this step because they want to save a few bucks on tipping. Another tip for securing an early arrival time is to book a suite. 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. 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. 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. Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise. First, if you miss The Key check-in window, you have to fall back to whatever time you had before. On Voyager, Freedom or Radiance class ships, be sure to visit the helipad for my favorite sailaway spot. Just one of the perks of being a suite guest on a cruise ship is having priority access. So, anyone in the wrong line was asked to move. 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. Any money saved is always welcome! The price of the cruise is the same whether you book at home or onboard. The moms in our group then ran errands to take care of some items. 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. If someone cancels their cruise, their check-in time goes back into the system for someone else to grab. 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. Not only will buying your drink packages online save you money, it will also save you time because typically there can be lines to purchase the drink packages onboard the ship. But once youre approved you will get a 5% discount on any future MSC sailing along with some other discounts on ship amenities. If you're flying to your cruise, take heed of what happened today as an important reminder of what not to do, We have a quick tip to share on how you can save money on your next Royal Caribbean cruise before you ever set foot on, The Royal Caribbean Blog staff collectively spent over 270 nights on Royal Caribbean ships in 2022. They offer guests the option to drink as much as they want on their cruise for a fixed price. This is basically a forum for discussing your exact sailing with other people booked on it too. The earliest that guests can board a cruise is between 4-5 hours before the ship is scheduled to sail away. When you purchase anything before your cruise via the Cruise Planner site, you will be required to pay for it at the time of purchase. 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. You can save and come back to the process at a later time. Weird. 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. You can use it to check-into your cruise (more on that in the next tip), book entertainment, shore excursions and packages. Guests who pay for this upgraded status typically receive priority access upon arrival on embarkation day. There, crewmembers will typically check you in via . HOW EARLY CAN I BOARD THE SHIP? If a ship sails a journey to a "nearby" foreign port, a passenger still can't leave the ship permanently at a different U.S. port than the embarkation point (nearby foreign . Just know that with some of the tips above you will still be able to get on the ship before most of the other passengers. 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. Possible pranks include attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed. This provides the ability to break up the total cost of the cruise. This is not only a great opportunity for your kids to become familiar with the kids club, but also save time later so all you have to do when the club opens up is drop them off and be done. (Make sure you watched and marked off the Safety video in the app the morning of your cruise.). A Royal Caribbean employee came over to our large group and checked in each party using her tablet. And after hopping aboard I was invited to a special lounge for suite guests with all kinds of complimentary foods and beverages. Answer (1 of 9): It is becoming more common to have a check-in time on your boarding pass. Youll also find a free printable cruise packing list! One of my favorite benefits was having access to an amazing restaurant that was reserved for suite guests only. Want to know one of the best tips for avoiding the worst cruise ship cabins? In many cases, Royal Caribbean promises a discount on select pre-cruise purchases compared to the price onboard. Do you have Cruise Fever too? Before the cruise, guests may change the show/ti. TX Royal Caribbean Directions to . 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. 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. 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. Book entertainment and dining as soon as possible. In addition, these roll calls are helpful because someone might spot a change or announcement before you, which can greatly benefit you by getting ahead of the pack. We completed our Muster Drill requirements immediately after boarding. Peak dinner time is between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, so if you plan to dine during these times, reservations are so important. . 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. Entertainment is typically included in your cruise fare but on the largest ships, you are required to make reservations. No reservations needed, just walk on in and be seated. 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. If you'd like to arrive at that time, go right ahead! Since we were in a suite, we were able to stand in the super short line on the right. 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. While you may want to save the added expense,regular medical insurance will not usually cover medical services onboard or in port. For your return home, you have the ability to select the flight that best suits your schedule. Several years ago, I decided to start this blog to document our family trips. When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have a choice of places to eat throughout the day. Things like weapons, candles, and irons are on the list of things NOT to bring. 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. If guests wish to enjoy their wine or champagne in our dining or bar venues, there will be a corkage fee applied. Arrive early. We make sure to pack several items in our backpack, which I will include below: Youll notice that many of the items listed above are needed because our kids swim on embarkation day. However, I highly recommend traveling with a passport. 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. If you want a ship with a Broadway show, book Oasis or Harmony of the Seas, but skip Wonder of the Seas. 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. 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. 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. By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. Keep in mind that travel agents are paid by Royal Caribbean, so there is no additional cost to you to use their services. If you're in a suite, you don't need to pay extra for this package too. Prior to sailing, guests may change or cancel their show reservations online up to 4 days prior to their cruise start date. Every cruise line has its own procedure for when they open up the check-in process. ", "When is the best time to book a cruise?" If you buy heavy duty magnets with hooks, you can use these magnets to store certain items. Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays. To save time and money, you really should pre-book beverage packages, dining packages, internet packages and more. By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. This includes accepting the cruise contract, answering the health questions, and choosing your boarding time. This means you can still be on Royal Caribbean's wifi and use the app, but avoid a huge bill. I'm not sure RCL has started that. 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.