Two restaurants that always offer a cheaper lunch price than dinner are Chops Grille and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. An unusual exit wound as a result of a shotgun suicide to the head. And if this gets delayed it will also impact when you can embark. 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. Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom. 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. In that post, we provide tips for staying organized and packing for your trip. 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. 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. I see some people skip this step because they want to save a few bucks on tipping. There's no way to know that's happened without checking manually. If not, just leave blank. A Royal Caribbean cruise is hands down my favorite type of vacation, and with so many years of going cruising, I have come across a lot of tricks and tips that really enhance my cruise. Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options. Too many parents are unaware of the open house and waste time signing their kids up as the evening session is set to begin. 2. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Every cruise line has its own procedure for when they open up the check-in process. Test out the TV, the toilet and the lights; check for bed bugs; sanitize anything you need to. 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. 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. Then, we walked right into the suite waiting area. Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner. In addition to that you get to the best locations on the ship, personalized service, exclusive amenities, and other complimentary perks. 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. Other families, like mine, like to get the process started as soon as possible. Dress codes look imposing, and you might feel like you need to have more outfit changes in a single day than most celebrities at an awards ceremony, but the reality is it's not nearly that stringent. If you ever wanted to see what the suite life was all about I recommend booking a short 3 day cruise. 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. 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. When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have a choice of places to eat throughout the day. Ideally, you want other staterooms on either deck and not public venues like pools, restaurants or other public venues. 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. Powered by Cruiseline.com. 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. 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. 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. If it is, you should feel confident that the proper gratuity is being given to that crew member. 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. The drink packages have become quite popular with guests, but Royal Caribbean rewards guests that purchase their drink package early with a discount. This large room consisted of plenty of seating options, refreshments, and restrooms. Royal Caribbean International has notified guests booked aboard several Allure of the Seas cruises to adjust their boarding times . You may also want to pack a dinner outfit, especially if you . We enjoy being on the ship early to take advantage of as much time on board as possible. Readers share: Whats the best piece of cruise advice you have ever received? Lots of passengers arrive early, standing in line for the opportunity to board early and be among the first on the ship. If you are concerned about the drink package price dropping, take solace in the fact you can always cancel and rebook with no penalty! 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. If you choose to fly ChoiceAir, Royal Caribbean automatically displays only the airline schedules that will enable you to meet your cruise. And the earlier check-in time you have, the sooner you get to get onboard the ship and start vacation. All Guests must board the ship no later than 4:00 pm. You're probably wondering what to expect on the day you board the ship. You can then save this information and complete the rest of the check-in process at a later date. There is no question that if you want to get the lowest price on a cruise, book it as early as you can. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows . In many cases, Royal Caribbean promises a discount on select pre-cruise purchases compared to the price onboard. You can save and come back to the process at a later time. It can, however, still use its WiFi and Bluetooth connections to stay connected, if you so choose. You start getting benefits after just one cruise, and you never lose your status. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. . . Several years ago, I decided to start this blog to document our family trips. 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. This was a really fast process that took less than five minutes. 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. I wrote about this in the post on 19 things you should do on embarkation day. Here are my tips for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner. Things like medications, documents, passports, and even a bathing suit and some sunscreen can be kept in this bag. Exclusive a la carte breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on . I pack my kids undergarments for them to put on after they swim. 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 have an adult in your room that does not drink (much) alcohol, you can get around this rule by calling Royal Caribbean and requesting that person get the Royal Refreshment package. Royal Caribbean offers a lot of shore excursions in every port and on top of that, you can also consider shore excursions through third party groups to further expand your options. If you dont have extra room in the budget, the first point in this article will help the most. Smart cruise advice, cruise deals, and breaking news. And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore. 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. Not only are the dress codes quite liberal, you can also re-use the same clothes on the same sailing. Since we were in a suite, we were able to stand in the super short line on the right. 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). That is a question for Royal Caribbean. 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. 12. long pause. Each excursion will list the price, details of the activity and any physical or age restrictions. For lunch and dinner, you can find a rotating set of options that include pasta, stir-fry, crepes and more. Be sure to pack these items in your carry-on luggage, and not your checked luggage. It'll guide you to aim and take the picture. 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. Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open forlunch (and breakfast) too? 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. {{alert.title}} {{notification.title}} {{notification . Thanked the person politely and hung-up. An an example, if you have kids and water slides are a must-do, then skip the Vision Class ships and Explorer of the Seas. 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. The online check-in process is super simple and consists of filling out personal information among other tasks. The plan offered is called the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, and it provides the following coverage: $25k Emergency Travel Medical Insurance. 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. 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. Do you have Cruise Fever too? Nor do they publish their entertainment schedules prior to a cruise. Venue: The Artground Date: 4 - 12 Mar 2023 Fee: $18 per pax (Weekday), $20 per pax (Weekend). Her whole family, including the oceanview cabin guests, were permitted to stand in the suite line. 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. Things like hats, coverups, important paperwork and more would be ideal. Called RCL this morning and got a weird / rude response when asking about what time I can board the ship. 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. The biggest key is being prepared and knowing when you should or shouldnt pay extra to get on board faster. Set Sail pass states that boarding begins at 2:00 PM. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. (Sponsored). On cruise day, everyone is excited to board. When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. But how early can you board the cruise ship? Find answers to your questions about all the requirements to board a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Usually, guests who book The Key are allowed to check-in with the first group (an exact time will be emailed later). If you dont want to spend all morning waiting in lines, or if you just wish you could speed things up, this post is for you. 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? Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. You can enjoy a lineup of adventures on a Royal Caribbean cruise from Day One, like the North Star observation capsule, ice skating and more. If you dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. Norwegian Cruise Line: Priority Access Pass. The same is true for beer . By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. #4 Check into your cruise as soon as you can Royal Caribbean now enforces its check-in times, so be sure to check-in for your cruise as soon as check-in opens. 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. 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. Keep in mind that other factors may effect your boarding time. Employees come over to make you show that you are in a suite. Be the first to write a review! Whether the first day or the last day of your cruise, be sure to grab a porter to make things easier on yourself. Then, the dads in our group took the kids to the pool so that they could swim in virtually empty swimming areas. One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing. So, how do you secure an early arrival time so that you can board the ship as soon as possible? For everyone's sanity, this rule does not apply to cruise ships. This makes it easy to undress them poolside, and they can hop right in. 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. Please plan your arrival accordingly to avoid the possibility of not being permitted to sail. You can view all the shore excursions available by logging into Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner and browsing the shore excursions by port. Share them in our comments on this post. This means you can get extra value from your drink package purchase while anywhere in these private destinations. After we completed this check-in procedure, our family sat in the waiting area until it was our turn to board the ship. Simply check in on the very day availability opens. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. Each ship is packed with adventures . 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. Most people go on vacation based around their school or work schedules. Over the course of a 7-night cruise, those savings add up quickly! All E-Docs will be available up to 21 days prior to departure, provided full payment has been received and Online Check-In has been completed. Unfortunately, there's no wifi coverage in Labadee. Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. Just one of the perks of being a suite guest on a cruise ship is having priority access. We arrived on time (1pm) and waited over three hours to board. It's important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. Re: Changing one guest name - Royal Caribbean. Please check your email and click the link to confirm, and you're all set! Once logged in, navigate toOnboard Activitiesand select the show you wish to reserve. Posted January 23, 2012. These are not the times you actually board the ship. my last NCL cruise was out of tamp. Be among the first to check in and it will feel like youre getting priority access at the terminal. [Subscribe fo. Arrived to the port at 10:30. Your fellow guests won't notice you wore that pair of jeans or dress from night two. Instead of arriving to your departure city on the day of your cruise, get in early! 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. Royal Caribbean now enforces its check-in times, so be sure to check-in for your cruise as soon as check-in opens. Royal Caribbean's fitness center has separate showers for men and women that is complimentary to use. Kids get special pricing at a specialty restaurant, so buy dining packages only for the adults. The cruise line can have an impact as some lines have different embarkation . The earlier you can book, the best chance you will have at getting a good price on your cruise. Lunch and drink package 3. Getting on the ship for us is also the point when the cruise 'starts'. Royal Caribbean shore excursions are fully refundable if your ship cannot dock at a scheduled port. If you buy heavy duty magnets with hooks, you can use these magnets to store certain items. And again, this just slows down that quick embarkation process. 19. 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. 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. 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! $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. Once you're cleared to board, you will follow a gangway (elevated ramps) up to the ship. As long as the cruise line doesnt make a drastic change to their program you will keep reaping the rewards for every cruise. Unless you've really got money to blow, don't know how people make the decision to go to Caribbean/offshore schools anymore.Foundation year 1 (FY1) doctors told The BMJ that they had asked the trust to consider increasing medical locum shift pay rates from 24 an hour for social hours and 29 for unsocial hours to match those provided for . 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. Through our past experiences, on many different lines, we have boarded closer to 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. But I have a helpful suggestion. Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean'sshore excursions if they book onboard. 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. You will then go straight to the section on choosing your arrival time and pick the one you want. Get Cruise Savvy with our FREE Newsletter! 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. And in that case theres nothing you can do but sit back and make the best of it. For groups traveling with more than two people per room, however, a new policy could allow groups to bring . 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. Peak dinner time is between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, so if you plan to dine during these times, reservations are so important. If you followed our previous advice about arriving to your port city early, then likely your hotel will have a check-out time in the early part of the morning, which is the perfect excuse to head to the cruise port. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. By planning to arrive to your departure port at least one day early, you assure yourself that a travel delay will not impact your ability to get on your cruise. In short, to save time and money, use a good travel agent. 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. Whether this is your first cruise or youre a seasoned pro, we hope you have a great trip! Did you know that Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis Class ships? NATURI - A Sound Installation & Performance. If your stateroom shower is occupied by a family member, you could go to the gym and shower there instead. Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. 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. 5 rounds of Hornady SST Lite 12 Gauge 2 3/4" Shotgun Slugs.