Pasted as rich text. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Thanks, I didn't even think of that. A Grand Suite on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Wonder of the Seas departing in June 2024 starts at $7,145 per person, based on double occupancy. 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. We didnt even have to get off the couch. For an additional fee starting at $24.99 USD per person/per day, children under six years of age are free, Royal Caribbean cruisers can add on a host of additional concierge-level benefits including: Priority Check-In at Boarding; Carry-on Luggage Drop Off; Luggage Delivery to Stateroom; This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the ship. Royal Caribbean International Priority boarding Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! This allows us to keep our things organized and within easy access. At Port Canaveral we had to clear security before checkin. Most cruise ships require all passengers to be on board no fewer than one to two hours before the scheduled departure time, which is almost always in the late afternoon or evening. 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. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. They are larger, especially on the newer ships in the fleet. 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. Should I buy my flights through my cruise line, 27 cruise ship embarkation day dos and donts, More banned items: What not to pack for a cruise. In addition to having a private beach away from the crowds, you will also have upgraded lunch offerings compared to the other buffets. Instead, cruisers can pick from almost any cocktail, beer, and many wines. On the cruise they didnt enforce check-in times there was less than 1000 passengers on the ship. For a 3-night vacation, you would earn 3 points, for a 7-night cruise, you would earn 7, and so on. If your cruise vacation snuck up on you and you forgot to make reservations in advance, do not worry! Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. There are a few tricks to scoring early arrival times if you are eager to be one of the first passengers on the ship. 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. Lunch on Day 2 for ships sailing from Seward or Vancouver. We show you what the procedures on boarding day, as well as tips for a less-stressful check-in process at the cruise terminal, plus the top choices for lunch. Read More Honest Review of CocoCay Beach CabanasContinue, Read More Are the Royal Caribbean Drink Packages Worth It? Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society Program Updates. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Special Event: Q&A with Rudi Schreiner, President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner - AmaWaterways River Cruises, Q&A with Avoya Travel: Learn How to Turn Your Passion into Success by Becoming an Independent Travel Advisor. Start each morning off right with a relaxing breakfast in a specialty restaurant. Whats a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money? This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. (This post may contain affiliate links. This didnt take long at all, and our whole group was onboard the ship shortly after 11:00. You should also receive an e-mail when your documents are ready. In comparison, a standard ocean view balcony is currently going for $1,988 per person. Those staying in a Grand Suite, however, will get two points per night. Follow signs for the applicable arrival channel, whether that be parking or drop-offs via taxis, Ubers and shuttles. Our rooms then opened up at around 1:00 that afternoon. That seems like a lot to save an hour or two on embarkation day. If your clothing got wrinkled in your suitcase, you have the chance to get a complimentary pressing on your itinerary's first formal night. If you do not complete check-in online, you will be required to complete this process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing time. The trick is knowing when that will be. Priority check-in and boarding (with some exceptions) Ability to store carry-on luggage in the main dining room from boarding until 1:30 p.m. when it's delivered to your cabin Welcome lunch. Her whole family, including the oceanview cabin guests, were permitted to stand in the suite line. We assumed we would need to wait. You will be happy to know that you can find Grand Suites on any ship, whether it is Grandeur of the Seas or the highly anticipated Icon of the Seas. Then, youll proceed to the check-in desk, where an agent will help you complete the process. You will not have to worry about missing out on the delicious offering in the Main Dining Room since you have the ability to order straight from the menu and have it delivered! 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. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. 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. This is by far the least crowded time to swim on the cruise ship. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. This online check-in is when you choose your port arrival time. Embarkation day is often full of a lot of chaos and stress, especially if you are a first time cruiser. Get there too early and you'll be fighting with the traffic for all those leaving the cruise that is disembarking (and all the other cruises disembarking at the other Miami terminals). We know youre eager to arrive at the cruise port for your Royal Caribbean cruise. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! If you are driving yourself, they may not let you enter the parking if you are too early. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The latter often includes a separate sitting area with snacks and drinks. Alternatively, if you have upper-tier loyalty status, youre booked in a high-end suite or youve purchased one of several perks packages (like Carnival Cruise Lines Faster to the Fun, Royal Caribbean Internationals The Key or Norwegian Cruise Lines Priority Access), you can arrive at any time to take advantage of priority boarding or special embarkation lounge access to make your wait more comfortable. There are two problems with buying The Key for an early check-in. How can I get my Royal Caribbean cruise boarding pass (SetSail Pass)? How early can I board my Royal Caribbean cruise? Note, though, that seating is still first-come, first-served. The Royal Loft Suite on Quantum of the Seas In this post, we will walk you through the whole embarkation process so that youre prepared for your first day on board. Also, have your ID and other boarding documents handy, and dont pack anything in your luggage that could cause you to be flagged at security. 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. Yes. Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. I've only been there prior to boarding beginning and at that time they had all the Key grouped in seats together and they escorted them by groups to board the ship. With additional perks such as concierge service, priority boarding and departure privileges, and dedicated entertainment seating, everything you need for a lavish voyage is at your fingertips. Reserved seating section in select entertainment venues (reservations required) Suite Lounge Access (complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails each evening) Access to Suite Sun Deck. In addition to breakfast, Grand Suite (and above) guests are also offered private seating for lunch. Royal Caribbean asks its guests to arrive within their check-in window to avoid crowding in the terminal. *with the exception of Vancouver, Canada and any Australian ports**limited to two pieces of luggage per guest; each bag must weigh less than 25 pounds. 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. For an extra-special journey, select Royal Suite Class, with . For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's new cruise newsletter. On the latter two classes, Royal Caribbean introduced what is known as the Royal Suite Class. In order to complete Check-In successfully, you will need the following: Personal Information for each guest . Edited September 9, 2021 by TheBucketLister. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. You can post now and register later. Our family chose to eat lunch at Windjammer Marketplace after boarding. Whether The Key package is worth it depends on the type of traveler you are. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a5bba5e9528c15d27c649f19a0dc456c" );document.getElementById("d5aa0859c9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. Once you board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, youll want to take care of a few chores. In short, purchasing The Key package comes down to your budget and desire for some exclusive benefits. I hear that some people have managed to get earlier times by constantly checking via the RCL App. Luxury Pillow Top Mattress. Royal Caribbean suitesprovide more than extra living space. If booking one interests you, it is best to conduct your own research or reach out to a travel agent who can assist you with the booking process. Morethan a few people were not happy about it during the short time we were inline outside. Expand Do you have any experience with Bayonne and what they have for suites at the terminal? I pack sunscreen to apply before swimming, and we carry on other essentials that we need before dinner. Buying The Key package instead of booking a suite is an awesome way to receive some VIP benefits at a more affordable price. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Basically, its your chance to get to the fun faster and receive VIP access to certain activities. He also directed us on exactly where to go and made certain we understood we needed passports/identification documents. She said you should have called him before entering the terminal. When they first called for boarding ~11am, they called for Pins and suite guests. 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. Booking a suite on any cruise doesn't make sense for us. First and foremost, can you book a Grand Suite on any cruise? Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. The Key is an extra-fee program from Royal Caribbean that gives cruisers a host of perks, such as priority boarding and debarkation, reserved seating at shows, special access to onboard attractions and more. Those in Junior Suites will find that they are not eligible for the full onboard suite experience, which may be why you are considering a Grand Suite. You will then go straight to the section on choosing your arrival time and pick the one you want. We were technically allowed to arrive an hour before this 10:30 slot since we were suite guests. Here, suite guests can relax on the suites-only Barefoot Beach. I don't even ask, I go to the Suite line and stay there. Display as a link instead, 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. If your documents are not yet available, check back soon. Then, we walked right into the suite waiting area. Since the online check-in time usually opens up at midnight (EST) 45 days before your cruise, youll want to login at this time. Powered by Invision Community. Your Key purchase is noted on your card by a special icon. Guess I am wondering if having "priority" will shorten boarding all that much. Note that boarding did come to a stop at one point. Yes, cruisers are no longer limited to the Happy Hour menu. (They do sell out.). Should you use the porters to take your luggage on your cruise ship? As with most cruises, the newer the ship, the most the suite will cost. I pack my kids undergarments for them to put on after they swim. 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. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. No one looked at anything until your at the counter and I'm sure it probably didn't matter what time your boarding time was. Read on to find out the answers, as well as when you should plan to arrive in your departure city before you set sail. How can I get my Royal Caribbean cruise boarding pass (SetSail Pass)? In the aftermath of the pandemic, lines began assigning boarding times to passengers or, more commonly, asking them to choose the window of time that theyd prefer in order to stagger the crowds. They have some of the same benefits as those staying in Grand Suites on other ships, such as the concierge service, priority boarding and departure, reserved seating for shows (although reservations are required), Suite Lounge access withcomplimentary hors doeuvres and cocktails each evening, dedicated suites-only sun deck,bathrobes for onboard use, luxury mattress and bathroom amenities, and aLavazza Espresso Coffee Machine. Once you've booked a cruise, go to Royal Caribbean's site, log in to your account and click on "Cruise Planner." Your link has been automatically embedded. Most cruise terminals enforce the boarding times, but occasionally you find situations where a particular pier agent doesn't pay attention to the check-in time or say anything about it. The online check-in process is super simple and consists of filling out personal information among other tasks. A Grand Suite on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Wonder of the Seas departing in June 2024 starts at $7,145 per person, based on double occupancy. From the Cruise Planner, click toedit your check-in: If there are no better times to select, just close out of the website -- all your existing information is saved. Is there a specialty restaurant that you would like to eat at? To enhance your experience even more, you could rent one of the cabanas at Barefoot Beach for an extra cost. Guests should arrive at the terminal within the arrival time slot you selected during Royal App check-in. Disembarkation generally wraps up by 10 a.m. at the latest, and some extra time is allowed for the crew to start on tasks like provisioning (restocking of supplies and food), bunkering (refueling) and cleaning of the vessels cabins and public areas to ready them for the next round of guests. Suit guest had separate check-in area with a short line and it appeared they were letting them in the building. We booked a cruise for Oct. 24th and was given a 3:00pm check in time. Our hotel shuttle offered us a choice of times for departure. All suite guests enjoy priority boarding, as well as luxury bathroom amenities, a Royal Caribbean bathrobe (for onboard use only) and an espresso coffee machine. From the Cruise Planner, click toedit your check-in: Txs. Take one 10 night cruise solo in a JS and you will be. There are a number of benefits of booking a suite on a Royal Caribbean ship. Successfully completing the check-in process for you and those guests listed on your SetSail Pass will allow you to receive a SetSail Pass. At both ports theywere doing the 2:30 people by 1:00 as the lines move fast. Got on board in Galveston this past Sunday and the only thing suite did for us was save us walking to the end and getting into that line. Check-in will be available once our updates are completed ahead of your sailing. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. What about an afternoon at the spa on a sea day? Priority tender boarding At tender ports, where the ship ferries passengers to shore using smaller boats, Key members can take advantage of priority boarding when going ashore. You'll need to buy The Key for every guest in the cabin (age 6 and above) for every night of the cruise. 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. How do I setup a Royal Caribbean SeaPass or Onboard Expense Account? It's strictly a pay-to-play situation. The cost of The Key can vary from ship to ship, as well as itinerary. In my opinion, this is not a one-size-fits-all package. 30 Best Things to Do in Downtown Gatlinburg (2023), 35 Best Places to Visit in Tennessee (2023), 89 Free Things to Do on Oasis of the Seas, Best Things to Do in Labadee (from Beaches to Excursions), 53 Royal Caribbean Tips and Tricks You Need to Know. However, once you finally arrive at the port and board the ship, all your worries are washed away. Inside the building everyone wore a mask. On the Cruise Critic boards, people have reported paying between $19.99 to $29.99 and even up to $37 per day for each person in the cabin. Tendering operations can often take hours to get all the passengers to shore, so this is a valuable benefit if your itinerary has multiple tender ports. As far as your check in time. Royal Caribbean asks its guests to arrive within their check-in window to avoid crowding in the terminal. Even if you have cruised before, never underestimate the benefits of a concierge. Several years ago, I decided to start this blog to document our family trips. You can even start using your drink packages right away to help you get into vacation mode even faster! Preferred boarding: You and your companions can board with Group 5. What exactly are the perks of a Royal Caribbean suite? You don't need the App to check for an earlier boarding time. You can follow her daily exploits, both at sea and on land, on Instagram or Twitter @slyjabroni. Show up after 1pm and you will probably walk right on. Once at the Muster Station, you just scan your SetSail Pass. Paste as plain text instead, For a full list of items that my family and I pack on a cruise vacation, you can check out my Cruise Packing List article. So, now that youve got all the facts, youre probably wondering how much these benefits cost. 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. Either way, you should have plenty of time to enjoy all the entertainment and activities onboard the ship. has spent more than 15 years writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises. Since you can only order from the Main Dining Room menu when it is open, it is likely that you might find yourself caving an in-suite snack outside of their operational hours. Whats the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler? The Redmonds are an active-duty military family, living in Las Vegas. However, the earlier your arrival time, the sooner you are usually able to embark on the ship. 5 minutes later, they included Jr suites also. Below you will find a comprehensive list of all our suite benefits so you can choose the suite that best fits your cruise vacation. 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. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! A 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise onboard Rhapsody of the Seas that also departs in August . If youre anything like us, we have a small family and always intend to spend 95% of our time out of our room. Youll also find that the water slides dont have long lines at this time on embarkation day. Many terminals have a separate seating area in the terminal for Suites and Pinnacle if you arrive before the ship has commenced boarding. The best time to board a cruise ship is obviously when there are few lines and short waits. The Key is an optional add-on you can purchase to get VIP benefits, including an early check-in time. Guests who were sailing in Star Class and had access to a Royal Genie were permitted to move to the front of the line in order to receive the priority boarding that was included in their suite perks. The $13 allotment coves almost any drink, including martinis at the Schooner Bar. In fact, balconies on older ships are far less, too. After we completed this check-in procedure, our family sat in the waiting area until it was our turn to board the ship. Then proceed to the Terminal A Entrance and is this where lines will be based on boarding time? Purchases made onboard over the initi *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. There was no separation for the actual check-in or security inside the terminal for the Key as it wasn't needed for the volume of people they were processing through at the time. We were at the port ~10:20 and our boarding time was 12:30-1pm. Royal Caribbean suites are impressive, with some even spanning two levels with a private jacuzzi, multiple bedrooms, and a personalized Royal Genie 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. As for when to arrive at the cruise terminal on embarkation day, the answer depends on your boarding time. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! We completed our Muster Drill requirements immediately after boarding. Either way, I recommend purchasing travel insurance (through a third party, not through your cruise line) that will protect your investment if something happens and you miss your ship. Is there any special line at this point for The Key? Bypassing the parking deck on the way in will let you not have to worry about bringing down your luggage from the parking deck at Terminal A. With The Key, you don't need to splurge on a suite or have Royal Caribbean status in order to get these perks. Ask when should I arrive for my cruise? and you likely mean one of two things: When should you arrive in your ships departure port city before your sailing or when should you arrive at the cruise terminal on embarkation day? Boarding begins roughly between 10 and 11 a.m., depending on the ships schedule and how long it takes everyone from the last cruise to debark. Unfortunately, it can vary from port to port and ship to ship, but I prefer arriving in the early afternoon, usually around 1 or 2 p.m. By then, the morning rush of me first passengers has usually died down, and it allows enough time between your arrival at the port and all aboard, the cutoff for when all passengers and crew must be on the vessel. So, in practicality, what will that mean regarding boarding in Galveston? Note that The Key is not offered on all Royal Caribbean ships. Your email address will not be published. While offerings can change at any time, and usually vary slightly between ships, benefits of the Key Program usually include: Priority access to the terminal upon arrival at the port Carry on bag delivery to your stateroom Welcome lunch in the main dining room with selections from Chops Grille Get expert advice, insider tips and more. On one no one ever asked anyone to show their check-in time while on the other one, they strictly enforced the check-in times. All suites in the Royal Caribbean Suites program have access to certain benefits. We are local and had to be dropped off once just before 7:30 and the porters were there and took our bags. In addition to being able to utilize the concierge, you will also have access to a private onboard lounge. In theory, they never have to step foot in the Main Dining Room or Windjammer! By Man overboard: Why do people fall off cruise ships? You cannot, for instance, order from the Main Dining Room menu to enjoy a private in-suite meal. Youll need a plan for getting to the port and some knowledge about the embarkation process, including your cruise ship boarding time. It is my understanding that with the exception of suite guest, who can check in up to an hour ahead of their scheduled time, priority boarding is not being used during COVID. Went into a door that moved us ahead of that line but through the same security checkpoint as everyone else. For what ever reason when check-in times first became available the earliest time was 1:00. Perhaps you had a long day ashore or you are just wanting a lazy evening in your suite. Basically, it's your chance to get to the fun faster and receive VIP access to certain activities. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, the suite amenities -- such as priority embarkation/debarkation, departure breakfast and reserved theater seating -- are pretty sweet (pun intended). The Royal Caribbean junior suites offer extra room for cruisers without the hefty price tag of a full suite. They created a different line for the 12:30 to 1:00. (He was right!) Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. We like to carry a backpack onboard the ship on embarkation day. Why is check-in not available for my cruise? 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. The big day is approaching, and youre finally getting ready to head to the cruise port and board your ship. While frustrating to not have the rules enforced across the board, we still recommend adhering to the check-in time window to avoid any possible denial of boarding until later. Rude woman at the terminal said nope that line is full and we have to go into the long zig zagging line. What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships? If you live within driving distance of your departure port, its acceptable to make your way there the same day your ship leaves unless youre looking at a multi-hour ride and dont want to cut it too close to boarding time.

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