It seems like a majority of guests tend to arrive in the afternoon hours, so arriving before 1pm can often result in shorter lines. Its fun to do the exploring as a family. If you're unsure, ask if a gratuity has already been included before adding another 15% or 20% to the total. Take a scroll through our ultimate list of Royal Caribbean cruise tips, tricks and hacks in the story below 35 in all! You'll also find a comprehensive daily schedule of activities on the app as well as menus for restaurants. Related: Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime. Youre on vacation woohoo! Keep a level head and look forward to good times once your sailing gets underway. In addition to the fall months, the offseason period for Royal Caribbean cruises generally includes parts of January and February, but it varies by region. Is it normally open for embarkation lunch? These are specific Royal Caribbean cruise tips that will save you money and time, and let you maximize the experience both on board the vessels and during port calls. Here, our 35 best tips and tricks for getting the most from your Royal Caribbean cruise. While were on the topic of sundries, dont forget extra batteries or memory cards for your camera if you are bringing one. You cant wait to get on board your ship and relax, sip a tropical drink and stare out to sea. Depending on your ship, Royal Caribbean offers a few venues to dine at that cost nothing extra to enjoy. The itinerary you are looking at should say specifically what time the ship is planned to arrive and depart. 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card, Southwest unveils stunning new Hawaii-themed aircraft, How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value, IHG Rewards Premier Business card review: The annual fee is justified. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). That's right, you now have to pick an arrival time when heading to a Royal Caribbean ship, and passengers who check in early get the widest array of arrival slots from which to choose. You saw this one coming, no? Once you prove (through your paperwork or electronically) that you belong on the ship, you will go through security. Once onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, there will be lots to see and do and like any cruise, it is up to you what to do. I loved their roast beef sandwich. We like to sail b2b and enjoy the MDR lunch and always order short rib. Throw all the clothes you think youll need for a Royal Caribbean cruise in a pile, and then take away half of them. Giovanni's then while there, I have them book all my dinner reservationsfor the week on the UDP. Royal Caribbean ships are known for having some of the biggest arrays of activities and entertainment at sea so many options that it's sometimes hard to do it all in a single voyage. This is important to do if you want to be sure to get a seat for a specific show on a specific night. Terms and Conditions Apply. Royal Caribbean first introduced their Unlimited Dining Package on cruise ships back in early 2019. Better to pace yourself and drink lots of water between adult beverages. You must go through the ships pier-side check-in process, which can take time. Since youre likely leaving from a sunny destination, you also may want to have a sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. Yummmmmmmm. Maybe your flight to your ship gets canceled and you miss the vessels departure. Please check once onboard if any specialty restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day. Crew members will be on hand on the first day to help set up your package. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. What are your favorite things to do on embarkation day? I believe chops and Giovanni's are as well but can't confirm for sure. We like to stroll the decks and nibble our way thru. Once you get to dinner time on the first day of your cruise, all the restaurants onboard will be open for service. Related: The best cruise apps to streamline your vacation at sea. 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping, 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases, Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points), Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status, Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Depending on which type of Royal Caribbean ship you are on, this could be the Sorrentos pizza outlets found in ship promenades, Park Cafe (found in the Central Park area of Oasis-class ships) or Cafe @ Two70 (found on Quantum-class ships). Just let your server know that you have the package. You'll get the best price on dining and beverage packages if you book them in advance of your cruise. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. We prefer El Loco Fresh or Playmakers depending on which sporting event is televised that day. It used to be that everyone on a cruise ship was required to gather on embarkation day at their assigned muster station, listen to a safety briefing and be checked off a list as having been briefed. This option - which is available 24 hours a day, every day - has been recently offered in lieu of the complimentary embarkation lunch. All of the restaurants and bars and other venues will remain open. Without your luggage, youll have your hands free for the rest of the embarkation process. Walked right in at noon without a reservation and had no issues. The salad was also good. Want to relax? 217. Solarium is my go-to for lunch on first day. Arrive the Night Before Royal Caribbean Cruise! Royal Caribbean offers its guests two choices for enjoying dinner in the main dining room: My Time Dining or, Royal Caribbean's cruise ships offer an incredible amount of food and dining venues onboard. You might have just six or eight other people on a tour with you instead of nearly 40. But it also means you might not have access to your luggage for many hours on your first day on board. Display as a link instead, Share them in our comments! You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Fun times are ahead; a little cat nap may be in order. Posted Monday at 08:32 PM. Email us at tips@thepointsguy.com. Otherwise, you may end up tipping twice. Specialty restaurants, the main dining room and other dining venues will also start serving dinner. Perhaps you plan to head to the main dining room the first evening or want to go casual at the buffet. There are plenty of other included options to choose from. If you dont sign up for shows in advance, a backup strategy is to do so just after you board a vessel. This isn't always the case when visiting cruise line private islands. Would need to check your Cruise planner though.. Never crowded on embarkation day. Cruise embarkation day is also be referred to as boarding day. These intimate, for-a-fee restaurants can be hard to get into (reservations are required) but are usually not as crowded the first night of the sailing. This is a great time to explore the ship and get your bearings onboard and see what is offered. Remember, youre on vacation. Royal Caribbean often boards guests in groups based on the order they arrive, although some guests do receive priority boarding (such as suite guests). When you get onboard your Royal Caribbean cruise, you might be ready for a bite to eat and Royal Caribbean provides a few options to dine at for no additional cost, and some that do cost extra. For dinner, Solarium Bistro is open from 5:30 to 9 pm. Either make reservations for My Time Dining dinner times before you sail (again, through Royal Caribbean's online portal) or after you board but before you plan to head to the dining room. They can be noisy. If something goes wrong when youre away from the ship, youll want to get in contact with the cruise line right away. Those who skip this step will hear their cabin numbers called out over the PA system, which can be embarrassing. To keep in touch with those at home and brag about your trip on social media, consider buying a shipboard Wi-Fi package. Royal Caribbean fans in the know make a beeline to the Park Caf for Royal Kmmelweck roast beef sandwiches, an embarkation day rite of passage. More cruise tips: 21 things you should do to make your first cruise go smoothly. If you like to be active, there are ice skating rinks, bumper cars, laser tag, escape rooms, simulated surfing and skydiving and zip lines, to name a few experiences. In the Bahamas and the Caribbean, its also hurricane season, which keeps some people away from both land resorts and cruise ships in the region. Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruises and itineraries. 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. In addition, travel agents often can get you extra onboard credit and other perks on Royal Caribbean ships that you might not be able to get by booking directly with the line. At Royal Caribbean, it's called the NextCruise program, and the bonus could include up to $600 in onboard credits for the next cruise that you book and up to 10% off shore excursions on the sailing. Youve planned your cruise, and now its embarkation day. Spend some time on embarkation day walking your Royal Caribbean ship. They don't just apply when you're on your Royal Caribbean ship. In your cruise carry-on, pack your medications, valuables, documents and anything else you will need until your luggage arrives in your cabin. It was so nice to sit back in a calm atmosphere and enjoy being waited on that I'm pretty sure it has become an instant go to if the ship has one. One way to save: Book these venues for lunch instead of dinner. Many Royal Caribbean cruises depart in the afternoon, so it might seem fine to fly to a port on the morning of departure. This is a great convenience, as theres no need to haul your bags through the entire check-in progress. Remember, you are one of thousands of people entering a floating city at basically the same time. Book your flights to arrive the day before your cruise to build wiggle room into your travel schedule should something go wrong. This is my first RC cruise (Enchantment of the Seas) next week and I heard a hot tip to skip the main buffet and try a side restaurant for Embarkation Day lunch (because everyone will be heading to the buffet). The credit applies only to the stateroom where the shareholder is staying and is based on double occupancy. A great place to get ideas for what to do on Royal Caribbean ships and in the ports they visit and what to bring on a cruise, for that matter are the many private Facebook groups dedicated to Royal Caribbean in particular or to cruising in general. Royal Caribbean ships have never (in the past 25 years, at least) had embarkation day lunch in the Main Dining Room, unless you were part of a specific group, like consecutive cruisers, or purchasers of The Key. If youre delayed in your arrival at the port, the ship will not wait for you. You may also be required to check in with a crew member at your assigned muster. This is the first big activity of your cruise and not to be missed. Any shareholder with a minimum of 100 shares at the time of sailing is eligible for an onboard credit of $250 per stateroom for sailings of 14 or more nights, $100 on sailings of six to 13 nights and $50 on sailings of five or fewer nights. As soon as you arrive at the pier, porters will be available to take your large suitcases, which will be delivered later to your cabin. I had unlimited dining package on my recent independence trip and had the 11am embarkation time slot. The sooner you arrive, the sooner you can board the ship. Probably the one item I will miss on the new MDR menus. We say yes, TPG's guide to cruise shareholder benefits, How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise, The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining, comparison of the top travel insurance providers, The TPG guide to travel insurance for cruises, What happens if you miss your cruise ship, 13 items you should always pack in your cruise carry-on bag, Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry service, Are drinks packages on cruise ships worth it? Lunch in the MDR on embarkation day was one of the very, very, few things that I liked about NCL. And at some lines that is, indeed, the rule. That was in March on Radiance. Youll find plenty of stories here at The Points Guy about how to, say, pay the equivalent of $1,330 in points for a flight that cost $16,000, or book a $27,000 around-the-world trip for just $168 in out-of-pocket costs. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Many cruisers assume they cant bring their own drinks on board a ship. In general cruise calls are short often just six to eight hours. 2x points on all other eligible purchases. You put your belongings on a screening belt and walk through a metal detector. On the back of your cabin door will be safety instructions including your assigned muster station in the event of a shipboard emergency. On many Royal Caribbean ships, the least expensive cabins and most expensive suites often sell out quickly. Be sure to read through TPG's ultimate guide to maximizing your status in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program to know all of the many perks you'll be able to get depending on how many points you've accumulated. You wont be turned away. Carnival bans handcuffs. Theres nothing more jammed than a Royal Caribbean ship buffet on embarkation day. (Dock workers expect a small tip for the service.) MDR will be open for key guests serving a limited chops menu. If you like what you see in the soothing thermal suite which typically has hot and cold treatments sign up now as spaces may sell out. It is a beautiful blue building that looks like a Bahamian house, with white rafters and Caribbean decor. Royal Caribbean usually allows passengers to walk out onto these helipads around the time that a ship is departing. Embarkation Day Lunch By 2boxers, October 28, 2021 in Royal Caribbean International Share Followers 2 2boxers 251 May 28, 2006 Northeast Ohio #1 Posted October 28, 2021 We purchased The Key. Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry service. Royal Caribbean cruises these days are relatively casual, save for occasional dress-up nights, and you really only need a few outfits to rotate through a voyage. Display as a link instead, She is the author of several cruise and travel books, including 100 Things To Do In Alaska Before You Die." Reservations for dinner in the main dining room on Royal Caribbean ships are particularly important if you want to dine during the busiest times, which typically are between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the line's ships. priority embarkation, a special welcome lunch on embarkation day, reserved times at certain attractions onboard, reserved seating section at shows, Voom Surf and Stream Internet, a special debarkation day breakfast, a flexible debarkation time. your tour is all arranged. Plus, they often come with excellent service. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year. When you first arrive at a Royal Caribbean ship, you'll be greeted by porters who will whisk away your luggage. Offer ends 5/3/23. Given TPGs origins as a points and miles website, wed be remiss if we didnt remind you to maximize your credit card points while making purchases on Royal Caribbean ships. They also work when you're on land at Royal Caribbeans private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Everybody heads straight to it after they board. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. In your closet, or in another location in the cabin, will be life jackets. There are some types of vacations a beach trip, for instance where you dont have to do much advance research. It doesnt even appear in my app currently for a March Harmony sailing. Like many cruise lines these days, Royal Caribbean often offers its best pricing for any given cruise at the moment the sailing opens for booking. Unlike lunch on the first day,dinner time is the beginning of a more normalized schedule for operations onboard and you do not have to be concerned about a specific restaurant being open or not. In most cases, guests receive their SeaPass card, wait to be called to board and then board the ship. Here is yet one more tip about making reservations in advance: If you're signing up for My Time Dining on a Royal Caribbean ship the type of dining where you can eat in the main dining room whenever you want you'll have an easier time getting seated at the time you want if you make a reservation in advance. The only major caveat: Sailings on chartered cruises on Royal Caribbean ships, such as full-ship theme cruises, are excluded. You wont need them. Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card. Planning a cruise? A Lunch will be included for the Unlimited Dining Package depending on availability. Its fun to find not only the main spaces but also the hidden pools, hot tubs and other treasures youll want to return to throughout your sailing. Its one way to save money when cruising on a Royal Caribbean ship, as drink prices on the line's vessels can be high. 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. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Related: Ship-sponsored vs. independent shore excursions on cruises: Which should you book? Your travel agent will get full credit when you book another sailing while on board a Royal Caribbean ship and can take over the booking later. Planning a cruise? While the muster drill is not the most exciting thing about your cruise, following your muster drill, the real fun begins of a Royal Caribbean cruise. The Key is priority access to certain aspects of a Royal Caribbean cruise such as . If Royal Caribbean ships are known for anything, it is their marquee deck-top attractions giant waterslides, surfing simulators, climbing walls and skydiving tubes, to name a few. If not, just leave blank. But do you really want your first day on board to result in an unpleasant morning after? Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. You might be ready to cruise, but the ships crew still is getting the ship ready, having just disembarked last weeks passengers. But there's an exception: The Johnny Rockets venues on Royal Caribbean's five Oasis-class ships offer breakfast for free. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Many first-time cruisers dont know this and write in a hefty tip at the additional tip line on bills at cruise ship bars and spas. Chops Grille or Jamie's Italian will get you out of the craziness of the Wind Jammer on embarkation day, and provide a very nice lunch. You'll probably never use it. Liberty of the Seas Embarkation Day with. Traditionally, the summer months of June, July and August are considered to be the high season in many cruise destinations like the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska. The island is outfitted for Wi-Fi access, so you can use your shipboard internet package to stay in touch or post photos of your day on social media without extra fees. If you normally use a travel agent to book your cruises, don't worry about not being able to work with them. Food included at no extra cost There will be other venues available to dine at on your ship that are complimentary. I'm in. Anyone who wants to indulge may prefer to eat lunch at a specialty restaurant on the first day of the cruise. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. It's not always open the rest of the cruise. Start your cruise right. While not all specialty restaurants may be open on the first day, some do open their doors for those first few hours onboard. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Video: Royal Caribbean dining questions I get asked all the time. Cruise lines have specific rules for other banned items, which you can find on your lines website. Certain hotels have resort fees. There is no need to bring a life jacket to the muster drill. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. There's something for kids and adults of all ages and interests on a Royal Caribbean ship. Upload or insert images from URL. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Embarkation day is the day they have the hardest time selling specialty dining. Smile for the shipboard photographers, who will have a backdrop with the ships name or picture set up, or take your own photos. Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas will sail from its new homeport of Nassau, Bahamas this summer, beginning June 12th. I am surprised that Royal Caribbean still has the protocol that crew members have to serve guests their choices and portions. Trust us. This option entitles you to dinner at Chops plus one other specialty restaurant of your choice. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Want to impress your traveling companions the next time you cruise with Royal Caribbean? Theres also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Chops Grille also offers lunch on embarkation day for $22 and the new Chops +1 option for $65. The set-up is similar to an airport. Should you have a problem in port and not make it back to the ship before it sails, the agent can help you figure out next steps. Youre off to new horizons. There's So Much to Do on Perfect Day at CocoCay https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/01/21/10-tips-worked-out-our-royalcaribbeanblogcom-staffers-2021. Related: The TPG guide to travel insurance for cruises. Price will be about 22.00 as opposed to a sale price of 17.50 on your cruise planner. This may be the most important piece of cruise advice you'll read in this entire story. Paste as plain text instead, There is a way to make calls and access the internet from Royal Caribbean ships without spending a boatload of money. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. If there isnt, alert your cabin steward. To make the most of these activities, head straight to them on the first day of your sailing. Meals there are not free; they come with an extra charge. Many Royal Caribbean cruisers also wont head to a ship without room freshener, a foldable shoe rack (which they hang in the cabin bathroom to store toiletries), a highlighter (to highlight activities on the daily planner) and a lanyard (to hold their cabin keycard). While most cruise lines allow passengers to bring a small amount of alcohol, soda and bottled water for consumption in their cabin, make sure you have not gone over the cruise lines allowance for bringing your own beverages on board. Clear editor. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. We hate to even bring it up, but you might need to cancel your Royal Caribbean cruise in advance due to the sudden onset of an illness. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. You cannot paste images directly. If youre traveling overseas for a cruise, we recommend traveling to the port two or even three days in advance. In addition to the fall months, the offseason period for Royal Caribbean cruises generally includes parts of January and February, but it varies by region. It offers a truly wonderful vantage point. If you are traveling with kids, now is the time to make sure there is an appropriate infant or child life jacket in addition to a life jacket for each adult. Embarkation usually begins in the late morning to early afternoon, so lunch is the first opportunity to sit down for a bite to eat. We're talking about the Broadway musicals and ice shows found on these vessels. But it's easy to miss out on these perks if you're not aware of what you can get. It is important to have your SetSail pass printed out prior to arriving at the pier to ensure a smooth and quick check-in process. #2. Sure, you can book a Royal Caribbean cruise on your own, directly through the line's website. ago. If you wait, you might only find late afternoon arrival slots still available. (Unlike some lines, Royal Caribbean doesn't build self-service launderettes onto its ships, which we find a bit annoying.). We show you what the procedures on boarding day, as well as tips for a less-stressful check-in process at the cruise. It will outline which documents, IDs, QR codes or other electronic receipts you must have ready.