One way to save: Book these venues for lunch instead of dinner. Youve arrived at your floating home for the week. On many Royal Caribbean ships, the least expensive cabins and most expensive suites often sell out quickly. The cruise line provides a seated 3-course lunch with specialty cocktails to top off the perfect day. Its best to stay out of the way of the cabin stewards and instead find a place for you (and your carry-on luggage) to hang out until the ship announces all cabins are ready. Otherwise, you may end up tipping twice. 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. By 1pm, your stateroom will be ready and that means you can check out your new home, drop off any carry on luggage you brought and start enjoying the benefits of your room. I like to print out and bring paper copies of documents as a backup to electronic documents. When sailing on Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class and Quantum-class ships, you also can use the line's online portal or app to pre-book shows in advance. If not, just leave blank. In our experience, guests willusuallybe let into the cruise terminal around 10am, or shortly thereafter and embarkationusuallybegins somewhere around 11am. Spend some time on embarkation day walking your Royal Caribbean ship. 3. Carnival bans handcuffs. Royal Caribbean offers some enticing onboard perks to its most loyal customers, including free drinks, free internet time, access to an exclusive Diamond Club on select ships, a complimentary entertainment tour and, at the highest level, daily breakfast at a specialty restaurant. But itll cost you. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. You saw this one coming, no? Youll find thousands of cruise fans on these pages who often are more than willing to answer questions about their favorite Royal Caribbean ships, the line's itineraries and activities in the ports of call. By 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. Just grab a plate, take what you like, and find a seat. We never had a real go-to before. That said, that doesnt mean you cant save big time by booking your flights to and from a ship using points and miles. 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. Try out the activities Many of the on-board activities are open on embarkation day. Cruise embarkation day is also be referred to as boarding day. They might go to the same sites but in a small van instead of a big motorcoach. 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. (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 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. You should plan on arriving to the cruise port as early as you can so that you can start your vacation. Embarkation day is the day they have the hardest time selling specialty dining. Giovanni's then while there, I have them book all my dinner reservationsfor the week on the UDP. With so much to do on board, you'll have a better shot at sampling all the top Royal Caribbean cruise ship attractions if you get started early. Although fond of lake Erie, her first love is the sea. I agree that it looks better thanThe Key. Here are some dos and donts to help make embarkation day as hassle-free as possible. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 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. Would need to check your Cruise planner though.. Many Royal Caribbean cruises depart in the afternoon, so it might seem fine to fly to a port on the morning of departure. They also work when you're on land at Royal Caribbeans private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay. By Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry service. Upload or insert images from URL. We did our first-ever specialty dining on our cruise last week just to avoid WJ (our sailing was a sold out cruise). Plus, your own feed of TPG content. In fact, you should force yourself to try not to do it all. As others pointed out, the menu is similar to B2B menu. More cruise tips: 21 things you should do to make your first cruise go smoothly. Royal Caribbean's Unlimited Dining Package allows cruisers to enjoy multiple specialty restaurants every night of their cruise for one low price. January 17, 2007. 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. 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. Youll find a list of all the daily activities printed out in your cabin, on your cabin TV and on the shipboard app. El Loco is legit. If you normally use a travel agent to book your cruises, don't worry about not being able to work with them. The most popular option is theWindjammer Marketplace, which is a traditional cruise buffet that serves up a variety of food and beverages. 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. 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. That menu is a heck of a lot better than any B2B menu I have seen. You may request the nontransferable credit each time you cruise. If you change your mind once on board, you can give up your seat without penalty. Royal Caribbean automatically adds an 18% gratuity to bar bills and minibar items, as well as spa and salon purchases. Got a great Royal Caribbean cruise tip of your own that's not included here? Please ask them to test it on Harmony. There are some types of vacations a beach trip, for instance where you dont have to do much advance research. The only major caveat: Sailings on chartered cruises on Royal Caribbean ships, such as full-ship theme cruises, are excluded. But it also means you might not have access to your luggage for many hours on your first day on board. You wont have to take off your shoes but will have to remove belts and bulky jewelry and clear your pockets. Many Royal Caribbean ships feature Johnny Rockets eateries serving the chain's signature burgers and shakes. It will be delivered to your room later in the day. But they can come with a hefty extra charge. 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 prefer El Loco Fresh or Playmakers depending on which sporting event is televised that day. Meals there are not free; they come with an extra charge. Never crowded on embarkation day. Its a great place for embarkation lunch. 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. Food included at no extra cost All of the shops and the casino will be closed while in port. Simply put, embarkation day is the first day of your cruise, when you will embark your cruise ship. One big advantage to booking ahead of time is that youre more likely to get the exact cabin type you want. Without your luggage, youll have your hands free for the rest of the embarkation process. 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. 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. Take it to heart, or you may end up missing your ship something that happens to cruisers more often than you might think. 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. 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. This may be the most important piece of cruise advice you'll read in this entire story. Just take her for a drink at Schooners, as soon as you get to the bar. Check here before booking an award fare. Please check once onboard if any specialty restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day. 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. In general cruise calls are short often just six to eight hours. Theres nothing more jammed than a Royal Caribbean ship buffet on embarkation day. 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. Evening entertainment starts up around this time, with live music at a number of locations throughout the ship. You can also pay for lunch at Chops. Many phone plans even international plans do not include talking, texting and data on cruise ships, and youll pay exorbitant roaming rates for such services that will show up weeks later on your phone bill. Depending on when you arrive, cabins may or may not be completely ready, as the crew needs to clean and straighten them after the previous guests have left. cruise lines allowance for bringing your own beverages on board, The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, A beginners guide to picking a cruise line, 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, The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I loved their roast beef sandwich. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. When going ashore, always bring your Royal Caribbean ships contact information with you. Some of the biggest cruise ship horror stories youll find on the internet are tales of cruising newbies who racked up thousands of dollars in cellphone charges while on ships. Have no clue why they used that menu. Chops Grille is open every night of the cruise from 5:30pm to 10pm. Book your flights to arrive the day before your cruise to build wiggle room into your travel schedule should something go wrong. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. The agent also can help you if something goes wrong before, during or after your voyage. It's not always open the rest of the cruise. Find the places you want to come back to and check out. 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. If you wait, you might only find late afternoon arrival slots still available. 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. 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. The line knows youre a captive audience and prices its shipboard stores accordingly. Clear editor. 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). Related: Ship-sponsored vs. independent shore excursions on cruises: Which should you book? Note that the credit cant be used for the daily service charges levied on Royal Caribbean ships. 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. 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. Here, our 35 best tips and tricks for getting the most from your Royal Caribbean cruise. Royal Caribbean ships have some wonderful extra-charge restaurants that you might want to try, such as the signature Chops Grille steakhouses found on many vessels. 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. The Royal Caribbean app allows you to make all sorts of reservations for onboard venues including restaurants and shows, and you can book shore excursions through it, too. Here is what you should know about where you can eat on the first day of your cruise. 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. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Getting acclimated with where everything will make your cruise easier since you will spend less time trying to locate everything. Yummmmmmmm. Our cruise team at TPG belongs to a number of them, including the Royal Caribbean Cruises group and the COPs (Cruisers Opinion Page) group, for instance, and we love talking tips with their members. This option - which is available 24 hours a day, every day - has been recently offered in lieu of the complimentary embarkation lunch. The most notable restaurant open to everyone for dinner, but not lunch, on embarkation day is the main dining room. Not very crowded and good. 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. Single guests would have to pay 200% of the fare to receive the offer. I remember going to Park Cafe on Grandeur a few years ago right after boarding, and it was a ghost town. Windjammer is the go-to for a majority of cruisers, but I assume most people dont know what else is even open. Some cruisers even bring magnets with hooks so they can hang up clothes and other items on their walls. 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. The. And fortunately we're on Allure this year! 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, they often come with excellent service. You'll probably never use it. First time cruisers: What time to get to the cruise port for your Royal Caribbean cruise? Join us as we embark, settle in, and visit Chops Grille.Hope you enjoy a. Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Since cruising restarted post-pandemic, most cruise lines now assign passengers a staggered time to arrive at the pier. If you are prone to seasickness, plan to take your first pills a couple of hours before the ship is scheduled to leave the pier. Chops Grille is the Royal Caribbean signature steakhouse and is located on Deck 4 near the Schooner Bar on Adventure of the Seas. 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. 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. But there's an exception: The Johnny Rockets venues on Royal Caribbean's five Oasis-class ships offer breakfast for free. Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining. You wont regret it. A line-by-line guide. Royal Caribbean My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining, Top 8 most common Royal Caribbean dining questions, Avoid these ten Royal Caribbean dining mistakes. To avoid costly roaming charges, you will want to keep your cell phone on airplane mode. Despite the ubiquitous nature of, I get asked plenty of questions related to eating on a Royal Caribbean ship, but today I am answeringthemost common, There is no question that dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise has become a major aspect of the cruise experience. (Prices quoted were for our sailing if booked pre-cruise. 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. A main dining room with waiter service and specialty for-a-fee restaurants also may be alternatives for an embarkation day lunch. If shares are held jointly, and you are booking more than one stateroom, 100 shares are required for each stateroom (based on one credit per shareholder per sailing and double occupancy). There . Everybody heads straight to it after they board. Probably the one item I will miss on the new MDR menus. 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! smokeybandit See what embarkation day was like for a Royal Caribbean cruise ship! 11. r/royalcaribbean Waterslide from the Mariner of the Seas, Royal Caribbean - Hero 11. The Cruise Compass is a daily newspaper of events, times, and schedules, including what is open on the first day of your cruise. Check out the open decks, the atriums, the interior spaces. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Remember, you are one of thousands of people entering a floating city at basically the same time. Lunch in the MDR on embarkation day was one of the very, very, few things that I liked about NCL. In most cases, guests receive their SeaPass card, wait to be called to board and then board the ship. Cruises arent this way at least if you want to get the most out of them. But you also might find it works perfectly fine to go it alone. 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. Arrive early, and youll just have to wait often, outside in the hot sun, without access to water, restrooms or other necessities. Heres the good news: If the cost of your cruise drops at a later date, you can usually get your fare reduced to match the lower price. 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. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. 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. Related: What happens if you miss your cruise ship. Certain hotels have resort fees. Starting with Oasis in July! 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. But booking tours through the line isnt your only option, and its not always the best option. But do you really want your first day on board to result in an unpleasant morning after? Related: Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime. Guests enjoy a complimentary bar, loungers in the garden area, as well as a private beach with drink service. If so, you may qualify for an enticing perk free onboard credit! The salad was also good. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. You can find your SetSail pass at Royal Caribbean's web site under My Cruises. (with Pre-COVID crowds anyway). Youll find both official and unofficial photo spots at the terminal. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). 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. Related: 26 cruise secrets from an expert that will blow your mind. Often, independent tours will be much more intimate than the tours offered directly through Royal Caribbean. I would probably get the same choices as you. While you're booking restaurant reservations in advance at Royal Caribbean's online portal, it's a good idea to also sign a waiver for any onboard activities that you'd like to try that require one, such as the zip lines found on Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Video: Mistakes to avoid on the first day of your cruise, Royal Caribbean testing expedited boarding, How Royal Caribbean will make check-in, Adventure Ocean and its app easier & faster. For our second and 3rd I think we did Windjammer and Sorrento's respectively. Video: Royal Caribbean dining questions I get asked all the time. Upload or insert images from URL. 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. All rights reserved. If you do this in advance of sailing, you can jump right into onboard activities as soon as you board the ship. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Is it normally open for embarkation lunch? Your previous content has been restored. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The Windjammer is the most popular choice, although ships may have other venues open as well. Many cruisers assume they cant bring their own drinks on board a ship. Our advice: Don't even try to do it all. Booking a shore excursion directly through Royal Caribbean is easy. 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. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Even better, Johnny Rockets outlets on Oasis-class ships (located in the Boardwalk amusement area) typically aren't crowded at breakfast time, in part because many people don't realize they're open. You can renegotiate the price until you've paid in full for the cruise; that final payment is typically due a few months prior to the sail date. Worried you might miss out on a deal by booking a cruise far in advance? There are plenty of other included options to choose from. Put your name on signup sheets for fitness classes, as these also fill up quickly. Scroll around a little, and you may never pay cash for a flight to a cruise ship again. That was in March on Radiance. January 22, 2022 in Royal Caribbean Dining. Price will be about 22.00 as opposed to a sale price of 17.50 on your cruise planner. Looks good to me! This is the first big activity of your cruise and not to be missed. I believe chops and Giovanni's are as well but can't confirm for sure. 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. The cruise line will send pre-cruise reminders explaining what to expect at check-in, including health and safety procedures. 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. Be sure to pack anything you might need for the first hours of your cruise in your carry-on bag. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Check here before booking an award fare. Preferably sooner than later, I hope this test passes with flying colors and becomes the offered MDR embarkation day lunch fleet wide! Cruise lines have specific rules for other banned items, which you can find on your lines website. I had unlimited dining package on my recent independence trip and had the 11am embarkation time slot. You can buy a Wi-Fi package, which will let you make FaceTime calls and stream videos over Wi-Fi without using phone data. Royal Caribbean ships offer laundry and dry cleaning services that will get your clothes cleaned quickly for a nominal fee. These items will include weapons, fireworks, flammable liquids, candles, clothing irons, incense and anything else that produces a flame. 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. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. You must go through the ships pier-side check-in process, which can take time. Better to pace yourself and drink lots of water between adult beverages. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! But the goal is reduce demand on WJ. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Display as a link instead, Chops Grille also offers lunch on embarkation day and the two sea day for $22.99 from 12-1:30 pm. Like what you see? A Lunch will be included for the Unlimited Dining Package depending on availability. By MattG January 22, 2022 in Royal Caribbean Dining Share Followers 1 Reply to this topic Start new topic MattG Members 350 Posted January 22, 2022 What's your go-to Embarkation Day Lunch? Even if you think the biggest allure of your Royal Caribbean cruise will be the amenities you'll find on your ship, you'll still be facing several days of port calls on many sailings. Related: The best cruise apps to streamline your vacation at sea. 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. Unless there's suddenly been some uptick in people going to chops for lunch on embarkation day. PPPJJ-GCVAB , FloatyBoaty , DoomSlayer and 1 other 2 2 Quote OCSC Mike Members 681 Location: Outside Orlando, FL (Near Matt) Posted April 15 The itinerary you are looking at should say specifically what time the ship is planned to arrive and depart. And, even if they do, you'll probably never see any of them again, so it doesn't matter what they think. (Dock workers expect a small tip for the service.) 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. Slacker. It will outline which documents, IDs, QR codes or other electronic receipts you must have ready. Royal Caribbean Cruise! They should at least offer that to suites and pinnacles/D+. Bottom line: To us, at least, the extra cost of sending out a few shirts or even a full load of laundry for cleaning on a Royal Caribbean ship is a small price to pay for the freedom of not having to lug a giant suitcase around as you travel to and from your ship. You also might only have to put down a reduced deposit of as little as $100 per person to hold the sailing. 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. Glad they have a vegetarian option! Eyes may roll, but now is the time to talk to the kids about the danger of climbing on any railings and remind them that other people on the ship are strangers and that they should use the same caution they would at home. The steward also will let you know how to keep in touch should you need anything extra throughout your cruise. The easiest way to find that out is to read a past Cruise Compass from a sailing on your ship. If you've purchased a drinks package, you won't need to pay extra for sodas, beer or frozen cocktails when you're thirsty on the beach. The trick is to do the research in advance, so you have a plan for the best way to spend your day. I'm staying in a JS? 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. It is a beautiful blue building that looks like a Bahamian house, with white rafters and Caribbean decor.