At check-in, you should have access to a special embarkation day Cruise Compass that lists venues that are open and activities that will be available. You wont have to take off your shoes but will have to remove belts and bulky jewelry and clear your pockets. With your Royal Caribbean cruise right around the corner, you might be wondering what time should I get to the cruise, Embarkation day on any Royal Caribbean cruise is an exciting and busy day, and it appears Royal Caribbean is trying to, 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 cruise is such an awesome feeling, and I have some great tips for making it as super smooth as, Royal Caribbean is inviting select guests to try out a new way to board the ship that aims to improve the embarkation, Royal Caribbean has a reputation for being a leader in a variety of areas, including integrating technology to make the. If I have UDP I go to Chops. Cabins just below the pool deck and near the anchor also can be problematic, as well as cabins near casinos. 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). PPPJJ-GCVAB , FloatyBoaty , DoomSlayer and 1 other 2 2 Quote OCSC Mike Members 681 Location: Outside Orlando, FL (Near Matt) Posted April 15 All rights reserved. Its not always smooth seas when it comes to cruising or any sort of travel. Liberty of the Seas Embarkation Day with Lunch at Chops Grille - YouTube 0:00 / 29:18 Royal Caribbean Cruise! They don't just apply when you're on your Royal Caribbean ship. A line-by-line guide. We recommend always cruising with a small go bag of over-the-counter medicines in your suitcase that contains cold medicine, seasickness pills and the like. You also might only have to put down a reduced deposit of as little as $100 per person to hold the sailing. Your previous content has been restored. That looks very similar (possibly identical) to the turnaround day B2B menu we saw on Indy in July. 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. Your previous content has been restored. Chicago, IL. This is no small thing. If you have brought sanitary wipes, this is a good time to further sanitize your cabin, including high-touch areas such as door handles, light switches and that TV remote. Some Royal Caribbean cruisers also swear by bringing magnets to ships to affix dinner invitations, excursion tickets and other important papers to their cabin walls. Specifically, you'll currently pay $3.49 to send out a T-shirt for washing and folding on a Royal Caribbean ship, or $4.99 for a long-sleeve shirt. 27 cruise ship embarkation day do's and don'ts - The Points Guy 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. (Dock workers expect a small tip for the service.) If you're unsure, ask if a gratuity has already been included before adding another 15% or 20% to the total. Put your name on signup sheets for fitness classes, as these also fill up quickly. We say yes. You can also pay for lunch at Chops. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. To avoid costly roaming charges, you will want to keep your cell phone on airplane mode. But do you really want your first day on board to result in an unpleasant morning after? In many cases, you can save a lot of money and get a better touring experience by booking shore excursions through independent tour operators in ports or a tour booking service such as Viator or ToursByLocals. A line-by-line guide, Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise, The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruises and itineraries, Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime, 27 cruise ship embarkation day dos and don'ts, 21 things you should do to make your first cruise go smoothly, The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Royal Caribbean ship, How to visit Royal Caribbeans Perfect Day at CocoCay on zero dollars, The 6 types of Royal Caribbean ships, explained, maximizing your status in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program. Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining. Check-in for Royal Caribbean sailings can open as far as 45 days in advance, and it pays to go through the check-in process as early as you can. Many Royal Caribbean cruises depart in the afternoon, so it might seem fine to fly to a port on the morning of departure. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) The Key benefits are: Priority check-in and boarding on embarkation day* Carry-on bag drop off in the Main Dining Room with stateroom delivery** Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room with a menu featuring Chops Grille on embarkation day And it's no small thing, given that CocoCay is a marquee stop on a significant number of Royal Caribbean voyages to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. January 17, 2007. To make the most of these activities, head straight to them on the first day of your sailing. Once you get to dinner time on the first day of your cruise, all the restaurants onboard will be open for service. For starters, people won't notice if you wear the same thing two days in a row. But Ill add the Pea Soup too! Royal Caribbean is increasingly putting everything you need to know about your cruise on its app, and it's also the place where you can check in for your cruise in advance and have your boarding pass accessible at all times. We like to stroll the decks and nibble our way thru. Lunch in the MDR on embarkation day was one of the very, very, few things that I liked about NCL. 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. The line's ships also will wash an entire load of your laundry (whatever you can fit into a bag) for a flat fee of $34.99, sometimes less when they run onboard specials. Anyone who wants to indulge may prefer to eat lunch at a specialty restaurant on the first day of the cruise. 3. These sorts of things happen all the time to cruisers, and theyre all the sort of situations where you might benefit from having travel insurance. Often, independent tours will be much more intimate than the tours offered directly through Royal Caribbean. It won't cost you anything to snag a seat to one of the shows in advance when you can. Following the muster drill and sail away, your evening plans will start to open up more than what was available during the afternoon. I am surprised that Royal Caribbean still has the protocol that crew members have to serve guests their choices and portions. All of the shops and the casino will be closed while in port. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Some common activities to consider in the early afternoon after you eat are. The best way to start your cruise is to arrive at the pier expecting some lines and minor hassles and perhaps a bit of chaos and then be thrilled if you dont encounter any of them. The FlowRider aboard Allure of the Seas. Independent tours also can take you to places that Royal Caribbean-organized tours dont. Maybe your flight to your ship gets canceled and you miss the vessels departure. Related: Do you need a passport for a cruise? I'm in. Not every cabin on a Royal Caribbean ship is created equal. A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences and steer you to the perfect Royal Caribbean ship, itinerary and cabin for you. As with most cruises, the newer the ship, the most the suite will cost. The good news is these bonuses are in addition to whatever perks you already would be getting for booking another trip as a result of your Crown & Anchor Society status. But itll cost you. You wont regret it. Never crowded on embarkation day. Arrive early, and youll just have to wait often, outside in the hot sun, without access to water, restrooms or other necessities. Welcome lunch in the main dining room on embarkation day from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., featuring a menu from Chops Grille Voom internet with Surf & Stream for one device per Key cruiser. If you purchased a specialty dining package, you can choose to use your package benefits on the first day lunch. The trick is to do the research in advance, so you have a plan for the best way to spend your day. Solarium Bistro is open for breakfast daily around 7:30 to 10:30 am and for lunch on select days from around 11:30 am to 3 pm. (Unlike some lines, Royal Caribbean doesn't build self-service launderettes onto its ships, which we find a bit annoying.). Is it better to book a cruise through a travel agent? Some Royal Caribbean ships even have bumper car pavilions. As the boarding process begins around noon and continues well into the afternoon, many people arrive hungry. Share them in our comments! Walls on Royal Caribbean ships are made with metal (even if they don't look like they're made of metal, thanks to faux coverings) and will hold a magnet. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. These include: The main dining room is not typically open for lunch on embarkation day, except for guests who purchased The Key, where they will enjoy a complimentary specialty restaurant meal there. There . Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. European cruises, in particular, can be port-intensive, with lots of touring, so you want to be refreshed and ready to hit the ground running right after the cruise begins. Once you prove (through your paperwork or electronically) that you belong on the ship, you will go through security. While it's a busy day and there are embarkation procedures to be aware of, it's also the start of an amazing vacation ahead! Plus you may discover something onboard you didn't know existed! 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. You can post now and register later. Going on Wonder, can dining reservations be made on the app - Reddit See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. 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. While not all specialty restaurants may be open on the first day, some do open their doors for those first few hours onboard. Single guests would have to pay 200% of the fare to receive the offer. Guests enjoy a complimentary bar, loungers in the garden area, as well as a private beach with drink service. January 22, 2022 in Royal Caribbean Dining. Food included at no extra cost It offers a truly wonderful vantage point. Glad they have a vegetarian option! First time cruisers: What time to get to the cruise port for your Royal Caribbean cruise? Embarkation Day Chops Lunch : r/royalcaribbean - Reddit That's because early birds in the check-in process have their pick of arrival times at the ship. To keep in touch with those at home and brag about your trip on social media, consider buying a shipboard Wi-Fi package. The First Day on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Do you know about when you'd like to sail? But if its getting close to the time your ship is set to leave the pier and your suitcases have not arrived, alert your cabin steward. Just let your server know that you have the package. Editorial disclaimer: 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 also can't be used for activities you pay for prior to sailing, as it won't be applied to your account until you board. Your link has been automatically embedded. Trust us. Plus, they often come with excellent service. Would need to check your Cruise planner though.. You may find a ship deck plan (map) in your cabin, or one may be available at the pursers desk. 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. The exact times depend on a variety of factors, including how quickly customs clears the ship and how quickly Royal Caribbean's crew is ready for the new wave of guests. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Check here before booking an award fare. 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. The check-in procedure at the port consists of dropping off your luggage with porters, going through security and then meeting with the pier staff to receive your boarding documents. The crew were clear its a test and dont know if its on any other ship. Crew members may direct passengers to the buffet but experienced cruisers know there are other, often less crowded, options. 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. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. She is the author of several cruise and travel books, including 100 Things To Do In Alaska Before You Die." ToursByLocals has staff on hand around-the-clock to respond to questions, and for those worried about missing your ship they offer a return-to-ship guarantee with every tour. If you change your mind once on board, you can give up your seat without penalty. You put your belongings on a screening belt and walk through a metal detector. More cruise tips: 21 things you should do to make your first cruise go smoothly. Your smart TV or app will record that you have watched the video. MDR will be open for key guests serving a limited chops menu. Without your luggage, youll have your hands free for the rest of the embarkation process. Note that the credit cant be used for the daily service charges levied on Royal Caribbean ships. The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program - Cruise Critic The first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise is areallyfun moment in any cruise fan's vacation, because it is when vacation begins and the many days, months and even years leading up to this cruise are finally realized. 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? You'll often find that they are less crowded on embarkation day, when many cruisers still are getting oriented, than later in the sailing, when the attractions have been widely discovered. If you're planning a Royal Caribbean cruise and you haven't already downloaded Royal Caribbean's app to your smartphone, do it now. But Royal Caribbean is one line that allows passengers to bring their own drinks on ships albeit in small amounts. Staff will be on hand to welcome your progeny and show them around the play spaces and hangouts available just for them. Their short ribs are really good!! 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. Windjammer is the go-to for a majority of cruisers, but I assume most people dont know what else is even open. I would probably get the same choices as you. Learn More Still need help? This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Booking a shore excursion directly through Royal Caribbean is easy. 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. Plus, youll want to save room in your suitcase for all the souvenirs you'll want to bring home from your travels. Its one way to save money when cruising on a Royal Caribbean ship, as drink prices on the line's vessels can be high. Many Royal Caribbean ships feature Johnny Rockets eateries serving the chain's signature burgers and shakes. But there's an exception: The Johnny Rockets venues on Royal Caribbean's five Oasis-class ships offer breakfast for free. Depending if you booked traditional or My Time Dining for your dinners, the dining room is always available as an option, in addition to the complimentary and specialty restaurants onboard.