Once you've booked a cruise, go to Royal Caribbean's site, log in to your account and click on "Cruise Planner." Priority boarding By mimi217, October 3, 2021 in Royal Caribbean International Share. If youre catching a plane, when to fly in for your cruise depends on several factors. 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. Show more Royal Caribbean. 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. I always advise flying in at least one day before youre scheduled to embark, just in case you encounter any delays or cancellations. The porters will be there, but they're busy getting to departing passengers moved out. The Key access can also vary, depending on itinerary. The entertainment offerings onboard Royal Caribbean ships are some of the best at sea. If thats the case and you can find a super-early flight that gets you to your port city with some wiggle room, flying in the same day you sail is possible. Here's our take on this extra-fee package. Get there before 11am and you will wait upstairs until the ship is cleared and boarding starts at around 11:30. Heres everything you need to know about the perks you can receive when staying in a Grand Suite. 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. Instead, cruisers can pick from almost any cocktail, beer, and many wines. The length of time it will take from curb to gangway will vary based on several considerations, including: Its a good idea to show up in your city of embarkation the day before your cruise if youre flying in. What are the Royal Caribbean suite perks? This large room consisted of plenty of seating options, refreshments, and restrooms. There are a few tricks to scoring early arrival times if you are eager to be one of the first passengers on the ship. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. 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. Group Cruise Accommodations | Royal Caribbean Incentives Once at the Muster Station, you just scan your SetSail Pass. We assumed we would need to wait. The best spot for sailaway on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Royal Caribbean Plush Bathrobes for Use Onboard. Youll also find a free printable cruise packing list! 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. 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. Royal Caribbean International Priority boarding Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! It took a few weeks for my cruises to offer earlier arrival times, so just check back every couple days. Just off a cruise on the Symphony out of Port Miami. Boarding Requirements FAQ | Royal Caribbean Cruises They are larger, especially on the newer ships in the fleet. priority boarding? - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic 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. 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. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Is there a specialty restaurant that you would like to eat at? You can then save this information and complete the rest of the check-in process at a later date. 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. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. I intend to cushion the drive heavily and in the absence of any on road issues we'll roll in well before even the earliest check in time. A second way to grab an early port arrival time is by purchasing The Key. 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. First, we recommend choosing your port arrival time before completing anything else during online check in. It has grown into a website full of information on family vacation tips, kid friendly activities, homeschooling organization hacks, and so much more! The consensus seems to be that if you really hate lines and are going to purchase an internet package anyway, The Key is a nice investment. We like to carry a backpack onboard the ship on embarkation day. 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. Boarding early if in a Suite? - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Check here before booking an award fare. Signage for The Key will usually be found at the terminal where you embark and also at various points around the ship. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Many terminals have a separate seating area in the terminal for Suites and Pinnacle if you arrive before the ship has commenced boarding. Youll also find that the water slides dont have long lines at this time on embarkation day. Another tip for securing an early arrival time is to book a suite. This benefit will only be applicable to those whose itinerary includes a stop in Labadee, Haiti. The Key passes are bought online before you board the ship; you can't buy them once you board. What about an afternoon at the spa on a sea day? Royal Caribbean Junior Suite Perks | Royal Caribbean Blog Your email address will not be published. Suffice to say, the pricing of a Grand Suite can vary. Just sharing that they are there but that was unusual circumstances, and not recommended. You can also do it via the website Cruise Planner check-in process: Either way, you should have plenty of time to enjoy all the entertainment and activities onboard the ship. That way, you have time to rebook yourself on a different flight if something goes wrong. What Food Is Included on a Royal Caribbean Cruise? Note that all of the benefits are available on each ship. You can always show up at the terminal early and hope they arent enforcing check-in times. The trick is knowing when that will be. Tip: When you receive your SeaPass card on board, there will be a small sticker on the card to verify your status. A few weeks before our cruise one of ourcruise critic members posted that they were able to change there check-in time to 12:00. Note, though, that seating is still first-come, first-served. After scanning carry ons, up another escalator and board the ship or wait to board? We didnt even have to get off the couch. We booked a cruise for Oct. 24th and was given a 3:00pm check in time. Since 2021, Royal Caribbean has mostly been enforcing check-in times, so it's important to get a good time as early as you can. I am a stay-at-home mom with an amazing husband and two little girls who keep me busy with gymnastics, soccer, and swimming. Closet Space Guests who pay for this upgraded status typically receive priority access upon arrival on embarkation day. Normally, you get one Crown & Anchor loyalty point for each night of the cruise. 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. Check-in will be available once our updates are completed ahead of your sailing. Royal Caribbean asks its guests to arrive within their check-in window to avoid crowding in the terminal. Priority boarding - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic Community 1 download. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. I pack my kids undergarments for them to put on after they swim. 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. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. 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. 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. The only other way to get some of these amenities is to earn a high status tier in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program. Related: Should I buy my flights through my cruise line. ** Carry-on luggage drop-off service is limited to two pieces per guest and can weigh no more than 25 pounds per carry-on. Yes, cruisers are no longer limited to the Happy Hour menu. Be prepared with this information when your concierge reaches out to you, which will be about a week or so before departure. Royal Caribbean offers a wide range of autism friendly products and services, and they include: Priority check-in, boarding and departure Special dietary accommodations including gluten-free and dairy-free Adventure Ocean flexible grouping by ability for children 3 to 11 years old Adventure Ocean toilet-trained policy exception We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. A All suites in the Royal Caribbean Suites program have access to certain benefits. 2. If you are hoping to climb the Crown & Anchor loyalty ladder faster, this is one way to do it! Like what you see? C&A became too successful. The moms in our group then ran errands to take care of some items. Can I book back-to-back cruises at this time? It's strictly a pay-to-play situation. Some benefits may not be available on all sailings. So effectively to make the most of it, arrive as early as you can. Royal Caribbean Cruise Cabins and Suites Guide If you are wanting to maximize your suite benefits, this is a great way to do so, as evening gowns and suits usually cost between $7.50 and $15.00 per item for everyone else on the ship. One perk of staying in a Grand Suite is that you will have access to complimentary backstage tours. If youve already checked in online, the process will be faster. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. This is the perfect time to make dining changes/requests, book activities and specialty restaurants, secure shore excursions, etc. Ultimate Guide To The Key on Royal Caribbean - Should Be Cruising