For dinner, Solarium Bistro is open from 5:30 to 9 pm. The muster drill consists of going to your assigned muster station and being instructed on what would happen in the event of an emergency at sea. They need time to kick in. Many cruisers assume they cant bring their own drinks on board a ship. To get the best price on any particular sailing, you should book right when the voyage opens for sale. It will outline which documents, IDs, QR codes or other electronic receipts you must have ready. Your carry-on items will be inspected via an X-ray machine at the security checkpoint, and your checked bags might be searched before theyre delivered to you. Related: 26 cruise secrets from an expert that will blow your mind. You can buy a Wi-Fi package, which will let you make FaceTime calls and stream videos over Wi-Fi without using phone data. 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. Chops Grille also offers lunch on embarkation day and the two sea day for $22.99 from 12-1:30 pm. mritty 7 hr. 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. Evening entertainment starts up around this time, with live music at a number of locations throughout the ship. We'll wait. As is the case for resorts on land, the floating resorts that are Royal Caribbean ships can be significantly less expensive during the offseason travel months of September, October and November. Some ship atriums are impressively high or have cool artwork or chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. By You can post now and register later. Walked right in at noon without a reservation and had no issues. 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. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. You'll get the best price on dining and beverage packages if you book them in advance of your cruise. Check here before booking an award fare. Given the many thousands of people on these ships on any given sailing, its not uncommon to find that some shows book up in advance. Upload or insert images from URL. And at some lines that is, indeed, the rule. Start your cruise right. 3. But it also means you might not have access to your luggage for many hours on your first day on board. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Go ahead and grab one if you want just understand you will be charged for the welcome drink. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Display as a link instead, Liberty of the Seas Embarkation Day with. Independent tours also can take you to places that Royal Caribbean-organized tours dont. Its OK to stand in awe. 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). Sorrentos, El Loco Fresh, and Playmakers ($) for sure will be open. Note that the credit cant be used for the daily service charges levied on Royal Caribbean ships. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Getting on your ship means a lot of choices on how to begin your vacation, but many guests elect to start things off with lunch. You'll probably never use it. In fact, you should force yourself to try not to do it all. I am surprised that Royal Caribbean still has the protocol that crew members have to serve guests their choices and portions. All rights reserved. Remember, you are one of thousands of people entering a floating city at basically the same time. Feastin Mother's Day Brunch Options: Choose from Flour & Branch's stuffed French toast, Daughter's Diner brunch for two ($89) or Palette Tea House's classic dim sum, crab feast ($78) or . This is the first big activity of your cruise and not to be missed. While many guests elect to join in the sail away party fun, others enjoy sail away from other parts of the ship, such as their balconies, on public decks or at the helipad on some ships. Adventure of the Seas' 7-day itinerary will include two back-to-back days on Perfect Day at CocoCay as well as visits to Grand Bahama Island and Cozumel, Mexico. This is no small thing. Many Royal Caribbean ships feature Johnny Rockets eateries serving the chain's signature burgers and shakes. Cabins just below the pool deck and near the anchor also can be problematic, as well as cabins near casinos. Royal Caribbean ships offer laundry and dry cleaning services that will get your clothes cleaned quickly for a nominal fee. 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. On roughly half of Royal Caribbean's ships, you should be able to watch the ship sail away from port from an amazing location that normally isn't open to passengers: the helipad on the bow. To make the most of your time, book an organized tour and let someone else get you to the destination's top attractions and back in a timely manner. You are required to watch a video on your cabin TV or cruise line app that tells you what to do in the event of a fire or other shipboard emergency. Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Heres a comparison of the top travel insurance providers and information about Cancel for Any Reason add-ons. By Pasted as rich text. As others pointed out, the menu is similar to B2B menu. You cannot paste images directly. Never filled up more than half. Your smart TV or app will record that you have watched the video. Share them in our comments! The flat-fee extra charge is typically half as much as the cost of going at dinnertime. You also might only have to put down a reduced deposit of as little as $100 per person to hold the sailing. Depending on your ship's departure time, a mandatory muster drill will take place where guests are instructed what to do in case of an emergency at sea. way to make calls and access the internet from Royal Caribbean ships, The best cruise apps to streamline your vacation at sea, 8 cabin locations on cruise ships that you definitely should avoid, How to book a cruise with points and miles, Everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise ship, 26 cruise secrets from an expert that will blow your mind, pay the equivalent of $1,330 in points for a flight that cost $16,000, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. None of that is anything I eat, so I would do if they had a different selection. Booking far in advance can pay off in more ways than one. But do you really want your first day on board to result in an unpleasant morning after? This is important to do if you want to be sure to get a seat for a specific show on a specific night. Take the spa tour and sign up for the raffle you may win a free treatment. Booking a shore excursion directly through Royal Caribbean is easy. In your closet, or in another location in the cabin, will be life jackets. Alternatively, you can wait in a standby line at onboard theaters on show nights. We show you what the procedures on boarding day, as well as tips for a less-stressful check-in process at the cruise. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Here are some dos and donts to help make embarkation day as hassle-free as possible. A Lunch will be included for the Unlimited Dining Package depending on availability. 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. Fun times are ahead; a little cat nap may be in order. Related: Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise. We're talking about the Broadway musicals and ice shows found on these vessels. Royal Caribbean first introduced their Unlimited Dining Package on cruise ships back in early 2019. (Dock workers expect a small tip for the service.) Related: The best cruise apps to streamline your vacation at sea. Check out the open decks, the atriums, the interior spaces. Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles. Or, maybe youll fall ill during the trip and need emergency medical attention. Certain hotels have resort fees. 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. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). In most cases, guests receive their SeaPass card, wait to be called to board and then board the ship. The crew will instruct you where and when to report for muster drill and it is a fairly straight-forward event. The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. In comparison, a standard ocean view balcony is currently going for $1,988 per person. This option entitles you to dinner at Chops plus one other specialty restaurant of your choice. Got on the ship, did my muster drill . We like to sail b2b and enjoy the MDR lunch and always order short rib. See what embarkation day was like for a Royal Caribbean cruise ship! 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. So, you'll probably want to pick one or two things that you want to do during your time at the destination. 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. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Just take her for a drink at Schooners, as soon as you get to the bar. Specialty restaurants, the main dining room and other dining venues will also start serving dinner. Sure, you can book a Royal Caribbean cruise on your own, directly through the line's website. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. I totally forgot about Cafe Two70 on Anthem, i felt like all we had was Windjammer (Solarium Bistro wasn't open). Since cruising restarted post-pandemic, most cruise lines now assign passengers a staggered time to arrive at the pier. Make sure your suitcase is tagged with your name and cabin number, ship name and sail date. Put your name on signup sheets for fitness classes, as these also fill up quickly. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Related: When is the best time to book a cruise? Lunch on Embarkation Day: Whats your go-to? 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. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Yummmmmmmm. r/royalcaribbean Waterslide from the Mariner of the Seas, Royal Caribbean - Hero 11. Once the ship leaves port and gets into open water, shops, the casino and more bars will open up. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Clear editor. This is a great time to explore the ship and get your bearings onboard and see what is offered. 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. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. All rights reserved. Our first cruise, we ended up getting on just before muster, then our luggage came and we were so hungry and exhausted we just ordered room service. You wont have to take off your shoes but will have to remove belts and bulky jewelry and clear your pockets. Welcome lunch When The Key program was first rolled out, one of the perks was an exclusive embarkation day lunch at Chops Grille or Jamie's Italian specialty restaurants. 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. And, even if they do, you'll probably never see any of them again, so it doesn't matter what they think. Arrive the Night Before The bring-your-own beverages allowance on Royal Caribbean ships currently is two bottles of wine or Champagne per cabin at boarding, plus up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks. 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. I'll have the Scallops, Short Rib and Dark Chocolate Cookie please. Youre off to new horizons. Worried you might miss out on a deal by booking a cruise far in advance? In other words, don't just show up at the main dining room without a reservation assuming that there will be a table ready for you and your traveling companions. As with most cruises, the newer the ship, the most the suite will cost. There is no need (nor option) to make lunch reservations on embarkation day, so it is just first-come, first served. Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise ship. We put this tip first for a reason. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Here is what you should know about where you can eat on the first day of your cruise. Some common activities to consider in the early afternoon after you eat are. 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. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 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. 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 must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. It will be delivered to your room later in the day. Once you prove (through your paperwork or electronically) that you belong on the ship, you will go through security. But Ill add the Pea Soup too! There are ways to use points and miles to book a Royal Caribbean cruise, but it doesnt always make sense, as it often requires a huge number of points to secure a cabin. From Matt via the RCL Dining facebook group: Mariner of the Seas is experimenting with a complimentary embarkation day lunch to help alleviate demand in Windjammer. 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. Although fond of lake Erie, her first love is the sea. 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. You should plan on arriving to the cruise port as early as you can so that you can start your vacation. It offers a truly wonderful vantage point. To reach the helipad on these ships, head to the promenade deck (the deck where there is an outside walking area) and walk toward the front of the ship until you reach the helipad area. Like what you see? Related: The 6 types of Royal Caribbean ships, explained. Is it better to book a cruise through a travel agent? Better to pace yourself and drink lots of water between adult beverages. This is a great convenience, as theres no need to haul your bags through the entire check-in progress. But booking tours through the line isnt your only option, and its not always the best option. Plus, watching the land disappear as your ship heads to sea is a dreamy experience. 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. 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. The salad was also good. 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). I've gotten into the habit to book a specialty restaurant lunch for embarkation day on most sailings. But on our 4th cruise we were on Odyssey and had access to Coastal Kitchen. Please ask them to test it on Harmony. 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. Im with @Xaa100% with my choices! 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. I remember going to Park Cafe on Grandeur a few years ago right after boarding, and it was a ghost town. 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. With this package, guests can also enjoy lunch at specialty restaurants on embarkation day and sea days. I like it better than The Key lunch. Plus you may discover something onboard you didn't know existed! See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. It takes time to deliver thousands of suitcases to thousands of cabins. Never crowded on embarkation day. For starters, people won't notice if you wear the same thing two days in a row. Food included at no extra cost Once you get to dinner time on the first day of your cruise, all the restaurants onboard will be open for service. Seriously. If I have UDP I go to Chops. Here, our 35 best tips and tricks for getting the most from your Royal Caribbean cruise. 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. Inspired by Tip #3 in todays main site post (https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/01/21/10-tips-worked-out-our-royalcaribbeanblogcom-staffers-2021), I havent even thought about Playmakers, this will likely be our go-to when we hit Oasis in October. As a result of COVID-19, and a desire to keep crowds at a minimum, most cruise lines have moved to e-muster drills. 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. Related: Is it better to book a cruise through a travel agent? El Loco is legit. 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. Getting acclimated with where everything will make your cruise easier since you will spend less time trying to locate everything. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Your previous content has been restored. Got a great Royal Caribbean cruise tip of your own that's not included here? But it's easy to miss out on these perks if you're not aware of what you can get. Royal Caribbean automatically adds an 18% gratuity to bar bills and minibar items, as well as spa and salon purchases. 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. These items will include weapons, fireworks, flammable liquids, candles, clothing irons, incense and anything else that produces a flame. Like many cruise lines, Royal Caribbean will offer you a bonus if you book a cruise while on a ship. On Quantum class ships, your SeaPass cards are waiting in your stateroom. Youll find both official and unofficial photo spots at the terminal. Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Paste as plain text instead, (with Pre-COVID crowds anyway). 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. 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. The check-in process on embarkation day will take place throughout much of the day, and guests can arrive at their convenience to the port, as soon as the port allows guests to do so. But you also might find it works perfectly fine to go it alone. If there isnt, alert your cabin steward. 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). They should at least offer that to suites and pinnacles/D+. It is also the first restaurant to open on embarkation day, and will remain open until just before it is time to set sail. In general cruise calls are short often just six to eight hours. Ms Seafarer is excited to try El Loco next week. A 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise onboard Rhapsody of the Seas that also departs in August 2024 starts at $1,393 per person, based on double occupancy, for a Junior Suite. Want to impress your traveling companions the next time you cruise with Royal Caribbean? 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. Take a look and see whats in store for your first evening shipboard.

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