See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. If you are on a Voyager, Freedom, Oasis, or Quantum Class ship, you will have a reserved section of the pool deck that is saved for suite guests. I dont understand why people get upset when RCI clearly states on multiple locations to show-up during your check-in window. At 11:00, crew members instructed all of the suite guests to form a line. Certain hotels have resort fees. Successfully completing the check-in process for you and those guests listed on your SetSail Pass will allow you to receive a SetSail Pass. The Redmonds are an active-duty military family, living in Las Vegas. We have been on two RCI cruises recently. (driving in so coming from parking deck). You must purchase The Key package online in advance of your sailing. We are Crown and Anchor Diamond and I'm wondering if we qualify for priority check in. For additional packing tips and cruise hacks, check out our post on Royal Caribbean Tips for First Timers. For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. Get there before 11am and you will wait upstairs until the ship is cleared and boarding starts at around 11:30. It has since expanded to all ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. First, we will go over the benefits available for all guests in Grand Suites, then we will go into the specifics of the perks on Oasis and Quantum ships: Embarkation and disembarkation is already hectic enough. Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean's Junior Suites Unfortunately the choices were all 10am. First, we recommend choosing your port arrival time before completing anything else during online check in. 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! Here, suite guests can relax on the suites-only Barefoot Beach. 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. The moms in our group then ran errands to take care of some items. At both ports theywere doing the 2:30 people by 1:00 as the lines move fast. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. 2x points on all other eligible purchases. You cannot paste images directly. Note, though, that seating is still first-come, first-served. She frequently travels the U.S. and the world with her toddler seeking out unique travel experiences with a motto that Traveling with Kids makes them better humans. Before you head inside, leave large bags with the porters, who will make sure theyre safely loaded onto the ship. Boarding Requirements FAQ | Royal Caribbean Cruises Have more cruise questions? 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. My kids wear their bathing suits onto the ship underneath their clothes. Youll need a plan for getting to the port and some knowledge about the embarkation process, including your cruise ship boarding time. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. The porter told us our luggage should be in our cabin fairly early since we were some of the first to arrive at the ship. In the last two months I took 3 cruises. Royal Caribbean Cruise Cabins and Suites Guide Booking a suite on any cruise doesn't make sense for us. (If youre someone who prefers to spend as much time as possible on board, you can elect to choose an earlier boarding time, but be warned that there could be long lines and wait times.). Royal Caribbean Suite Perks (What's Included 2023) Heres everything you need to know about the perks you can receive when staying in a Grand Suite. Your concierge will be able to assist. A second way to grab an early port arrival time is by purchasing The Key. 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. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. The couple flagged down another worker and told her about the Genie and she took them out of the line and immediately got of hold of the Genie for them. Royal Caribbean International allows cruisers to choose a port arrival time during online check-in. To enhance your experience even more, you could rent one of the cabanas at Barefoot Beach for an extra cost. How can I get my Royal Caribbean cruise boarding pass (SetSail Pass)? It's important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. Upload or insert images from URL. However, once you finally arrive at the port and board the ship, all your worries are washed away. We like to carry a backpack onboard the ship on embarkation day. It says we get priority boarding. Royal Caribbean Plush Bathrobes for Use Onboard. 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. 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. 2. So, in practicality, what will that mean regarding boarding in Galveston? You cannot, for instance, order from the Main Dining Room menu to enjoy a private in-suite meal. The latter often includes a separate sitting area with snacks and drinks. In cases where you dont receive a keycard at check-in, it will be waiting for you either at your cabin door or inside your room. At Port Canaveral we had to clear security before checkin. If you have any interest in this, it is worth reaching out to your concierge to see what is available on your sailing. Then, youll proceed to the check-in desk, where an agent will help you complete the process. Those who arrive early will not be able to begin boarding, and those who arrive late will need to wait until we are able to work them into anoth. While the exact tour will vary, you will most likely be taken to see the bridge, galley, and/or theatre. Once at the Muster Station, you just scan your SetSail Pass. Exceptions are more advanced ports or cruise lines (like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity) that allow you to skip the check-in desk if youve already completed everything (check-in, onboard account setup and security photo) ahead of time using the app. If you already get a host of perks through being a high-status Crown & Anchor member or will be getting benefits through booking a suite, it might not be worth the money. Basically, it's your chance to get to the fun faster and receive VIP access to certain activities. Buying The Key package instead of booking a suite is an awesome way to receive some VIP benefits at a more affordable price. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. There are several other tricks like completing check-in online or via your cruise lines mobile app before you show up that you can employ to speed up the embarkation process. Once we check in, the cruise will seem real! Port personnel continued to check our line to make sure only 12:00 to 12:30 passengers were in the line. Wonder, however, does not have any 2-bedroom Grand Suites onboard. There is a Key line outside of the terminal entrance, usually it is on the left side when facing the terminal where the restrooms are. You can always show up at the terminal early and hope they arent enforcing check-in times. Paste as plain text instead, So, now that youve got all the facts, youre probably wondering how much these benefits cost. 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 online check-in is when you choose your port arrival time. There are two problems with buying The Key for an early check-in. This pending amount is used to secure funds for anticipated onboard purchases. A Royal Caribbean employee came over to our large group and checked in each party using her tablet. If your cruise vacation snuck up on you and you forgot to make reservations in advance, do not worry! Priority boarding By mimi217, October 3, 2021 in Royal Caribbean International Share. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Clear editor. Like what you see? The Key program is Royal Caribbean's initiative to give guests access to premier and exclusive cruise services and activities while on board for a small additional fee. If your cruise documents are available, you can access them through your reservation dashboard in yourGuest Account. I always advise flying in at least one day before youre scheduled to embark, just in case you encounter any delays or cancellations. (Although its not required, its nice to give a dollar or two per bag as a tip.) Flash the digital pass to the entry staff, they see it says SUITE and they wave you thru. However, the earlier your arrival time, the sooner you are usually able to embark on the ship. Either way, you should have plenty of time to enjoy all the entertainment and activities onboard the ship. Just sharing that they are there but that was unusual circumstances, and not recommended. You will not have to worry about arriving early and locating a seat, as the main theatre, Studio B, AquaTheatre, and Two70 all have reserved seating for suite guests. Signage for The Key will usually be found at the terminal where you embark and also at various points around the ship. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. They did not know &asked someone else who said no. C&A became too successful. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. First and foremost, can you book a Grand Suite on any cruise? Certain hotels have resort fees. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Her whole family, including the oceanview cabin guests, were permitted to stand in the suite line. This makes it easy to undress them poolside, and they can hop right in. Everyone on the reservation who is older than 6 will need to buy The Key. As with most cruises, the newer the ship, the most the suite will cost. Other families, like mine, like to get the process started as soon as possible. When to Book Entertainment on Royal Caribbean. Rude woman at the terminal said nope that line is full and we have to go into the long zig zagging line. Priority embarkation is not available in Vancouver or ports in Australia, for example. VisitRoyal Suite Classto learn more. A couple in front of us said they had the Genie and she said well it's too late. When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. However, adding the cost of a pre-cruise hotel stay onto the overall bill isnt always doable for every traveler, especially those on tight budgets. Offer ends 5/3/23. Junior Suite benefits include priority boarding, luxury toiletries and a more comfortable mattress. All rights reserved. Each everything, they will serve cocktails and a selection ofhors doeuvres for you to enjoy with other suite guests. 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. 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. As with most cruises, the newer the ship, the most the suite will cost. A All suites in the Royal Caribbean Suites program have access to certain benefits. In 2018, Royal Caribbean rolled out "The Key." Royal Caribbean is now offering an expedited arrival option on about a half dozen of its ships that aim to get guests, Royal Caribbean is inviting select guests to try out a new way to board the ship that aims to improve the embarkation, The first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise is areallyfun moment in any cruise fan's vacation, because it is when, When you arrive at the cruise terminal for the first day of your cruise, there are porters waiting to take your luggage, With your Royal Caribbean cruise right around the corner, you might be wondering what time should I get to the cruise, When your Royal Caribbean cruise ship begins to sail away from port and your cruise actually begins, you will probably. Several years ago, I decided to start this blog to document our family trips. 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. . 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. You can even start using your drink packages right away to help you get into vacation mode even faster! Terms and Conditions Apply. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. This is the perfect time to make dining changes/requests, book activities and specialty restaurants, secure shore excursions, etc. Whats the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler? Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Man overboard: Why do people fall off cruise ships? Dining here offers a more intimate experience than elsewhere on the ship. This is by far the least crowded time to swim on the cruise ship. Powered by Invision Community. The per-person cost varies based on your ship and the time that you choose to purchase the package. The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program - Cruise Critic It is a good question to ask, especially since some of Royal Caribbean's newest suites are only available on certain classes and/or ships. If you have a cruise booked with Royal Caribbean, you can typically check-in around 45 days before your sail date. First time cruisers: What time to get to the cruise port for your Royal Caribbean cruise? We are local and had to be dropped off once just before 7:30 and the porters were there and took our bags. Royal Caribbean's Star Class guests also receive priority disembarkation, unlimited VOOM internet, and invitations to exclusive signature events. They created a different line for the 12:30 to 1:00. It took a few weeks for my cruises to offer earlier arrival times, so just check back every couple days. Our driver dropped us off with the porters at the terminal who checked that all of our bags held luggage tags, which we had printed from our online account. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Preferred boarding: You and your companions can board with Group 5. The Key passes are bought online before you board the ship; you can't buy them once you board. In order to complete Check-In successfully, you will need the following: Personal Information for each guest . Pasted as rich text. Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows for you to choose from. Our Junior Suites, Grand Suites, Ocean View/ Panoramic (No Balcony) Suites, and Owner's Suites all receive priority boarding, and our Royal Suite and Villa Suite guests are escorted onboard by an officer. Cruise boarding times: How early should you arrive for a cruise - The Purchases made onboard over the initi *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. That way, you have time to rebook yourself on a different flight if something goes wrong. Youll also find a free printable cruise packing list! He also directed us on exactly where to go and made certain we understood we needed passports/identification documents. This was a really fast process that took less than five minutes. Do junior suites get priority boarding on Royal Caribbean? We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The answer to the first question depends on how far of a commute you have to the cruise port. We found our SeaPass cards in the room, which are used during the cruise as your room key, identification, credit card, etc. Embarkation day is often full of a lot of chaos and stress, especially if you are a first time cruiser. 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. 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 on to find out the answers, as well as when you should plan to arrive in your departure city before you set sail. I would like to NOT repeat that, even if it means arriving much later or much earlier. However, the cruise terminal in Miami did not open its doors until 10:00 am. When you are ready to experience Royal Caribbean's suite life, the Grand Suite is the first category of stateroom. This will help you make the most out of your day in port. There are a few tricks to scoring early arrival times if you are eager to be one of the first passengers on the ship. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program, 8 Reasons to Cruise on a Refurbished Ship, What to Expect on a Cruise: Boarding a Cruise Ship, 10 Things to Know About Cruising on Empress of the Seas, Priority check-in and boarding (with some exceptions), Ability to store carry-on luggage in the main dining room from boarding until 1:30p.m. when it's delivered to your cabin, 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, Specialty seating at shows and events in the main theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B and Two70 (reservations needed for Oasis- and Quantum-class ships), Special access hours for onboard attractions, such as the zipline, FlowRider, rock climbing wall, Ultimate Abyss, North Star, iFly and the ice rink, Priority line at ship attractions and water slides during regular hours, Priority access off the ship to the shore in port, Exclusive a la carte breakfast from 6:30a.m. to 9:30a.m. on debarkation morning, Special Key luggage tags that put your suitcases in a special area in Customs when you disembark. Since we were in a suite, we were able to stand in the super short line on the right. Read more:Heres what The Key is (and why some cruisers like it). What are the benefits of the Royal Caribbean Suites program? She said you should have called him before entering the terminal. Related: 27 cruise ship embarkation day dos and donts. How early is too early for the porters to be there? We didnt even have to get off the couch. You'll need to buy The Key for every guest in the cabin (age 6 and above) for every night of the cruise. Once you board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, youll want to take care of a few chores. They started letting us into the building a few at a time at 11:45. Lines here? 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. What Food Is Included on a Royal Caribbean Cruise? 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. 5 minutes later, they included Jr suites also. When can I check-in for my Royal Caribbean cruise? PLEASE NOTE:We are hard at work uplifting our cruises for the health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities in which we operate. Your carry-on bags pass through a scanner, and you must walk through a metal detector. If youve already checked in online, the process will be faster. It was almost as if it was pre covid on this one. Priority Boarding (?) - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic (When choosing a time, aim for something in the afternoon, after the morning rush has died down.). Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. While nobody is ever truly ready to leave the ship and return to everyday life, Grand Suite guests are able to transition with a little bit more ease thanks to the private departure breakfast. Just like some land-based hotels, guests can expect to see an initial $100 pending charge or authorization on their credit card. You will then go straight to the section on choosing your arrival time and pick the one you want. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score.
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