While most cruise lines allow passengers to bring a small amount of alcohol, soda and bottled water for consumption in their cabin, make sure you have not gone over the cruise lines allowance for bringing your own beverages on board. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Pasted as rich text. Perhaps you plan to head to the main dining room the first evening or want to go casual at the buffet. is an award-winning cruise journalist whose work regularly appears in Bloomberg, Travel + Leisure, Afar and other travel outlets. We did our first-ever specialty dining on our cruise last week just to avoid WJ (our sailing was a sold out cruise). This is because Royal Caribbean often runs online sales on these packages in the months leading up to a voyage. In comparison, a standard ocean view balcony is currently going for $1,988 per person. More cruise tips: 21 things you should do to make your first cruise go smoothly. Chops Grille also offers lunch on embarkation day and the two sea day for $22.99 from 12-1:30 pm. 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. And it's no small thing, given that CocoCay is a marquee stop on a significant number of Royal Caribbean voyages to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. This is the first big activity of your cruise and not to be missed. 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. 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. If not, just leave blank, What to expect on embarkation day on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 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. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. 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. Book your flights to arrive the day before your cruise to build wiggle room into your travel schedule should something go wrong. I totally forgot about Cafe Two70 on Anthem, i felt like all we had was Windjammer (Solarium Bistro wasn't open). 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. The crew will instruct you where and when to report for muster drill and it is a fairly straight-forward event. Single guests would have to pay 200% of the fare to receive the offer. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. There are some types of vacations a beach trip, for instance where you dont have to do much advance research. By We'll wait. Some ship atriums are impressively high or have cool artwork or chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Guests will discover, Whether this is your first Royal Caribbean cruise or your fiftieth, there are certain nuances and "secrets" to dining, Let's face it: Dining is as essential to the cruise experience as the ocean itself. These items will include weapons, fireworks, flammable liquids, candles, clothing irons, incense and anything else that produces a flame. Cruise embarkation day is also be referred to as boarding day. Chops Grille is the Royal Caribbean signature steakhouse and is located on Deck 4 near the Schooner Bar on Adventure of the Seas. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Sami Kohen, Princess vice president of food . Your big bags may or may not have arrived at this point, but you can drop your carry-ons and take a look to see that everything is to your satisfaction. Given TPGs origins as a points and miles website, wed be remiss if we didnt remind you to maximize your credit card points while making purchases on Royal Caribbean ships. 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. 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. On our last b2b they had all of us order off the Key menu and the Filet was so good. This venue serves buffet-style options for breakfast and lunch including a custom omelet station. Sit on your balcony, if you have one, and just stare out at the ocean for a couple of hours. Booking far in advance can pay off in more ways than one. 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. Those details are usually printed in the Cruise Compass newsletter thats delivered to your cabin each night. The Cruise Compass is a daily newspaper of events, times, and schedules, including what is open on the first day of your cruise. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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. Relax. I'll have the Scallops, Short Rib and Dark Chocolate Cookie please. 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. 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. As with most cruises, the newer the ship, the most the suite will cost. In fact, you should force yourself to try not to do it all. Never filled up more than half. We never had a real go-to before. On Carnival Cruise Line ships, go directly to celebrity chef Guy Fieris poolside Guys Burger Joint and indulge in a decadent burger or fries. Never crowded on embarkation day. Those who skip this step will hear their cabin numbers called out over the PA system, which can be embarrassing. The earlier you can make reservations for the time slot you want, the better. In this case, a balcony is not too much less, as they begin at $1,238 per person! But it also means you might not have access to your luggage for many hours on your first day on board. Slacker. They need time to kick in. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Embarkation day is the day they have the hardest time selling specialty dining. If you change your mind once on board, you can give up your seat without penalty. 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. If you check in far in advance, you'll probably find the earliest arrival slots still open. 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. In the Bahamas and the Caribbean, its also hurricane season, which keeps some people away from both land resorts and cruise ships in the region. priority embarkation, a special welcome lunch on embarkation day, reserved times at certain attractions onboard, reserved seating section at shows, Voom Surf and Stream Internet, a special debarkation day breakfast, a flexible debarkation time. 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 site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Some cruisers even bring magnets with hooks so they can hang up clothes and other items on their walls. 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. Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. 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. 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. You must go through the ships pier-side check-in process, which can take time. If you arrive the night before your cruise, you may want to separate out your pajamas and the clothes you are going to wear on embarkation day. These parties are about music, laughter and the opportunity to check out the crowd youll be with for the week. You put your belongings on a screening belt and walk through a metal detector. With your Royal Caribbean cruise right around the corner, you might be wondering what time should I get to the cruise, Embarkation day on any Royal Caribbean cruise is an exciting and busy day, and it appears Royal Caribbean is trying to, The first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise should be the start of an amazing vacation, so be sure to avoid these, The first day of your cruise is such an awesome feeling, and I have some great tips for making it as super smooth as, Royal Caribbean is inviting select guests to try out a new way to board the ship that aims to improve the embarkation, Royal Caribbean has a reputation for being a leader in a variety of areas, including integrating technology to make the. In most cases, guests receive their SeaPass card, wait to be called to board and then board the ship. 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. That looks very similar (possibly identical) to the turnaround day B2B menu we saw on Indy in July. The best part: The app will work on board even if you dont pay for a Wi-Fi package. To make the most of these activities, head straight to them on the first day of your sailing. Royal Caribbean is increasingly putting everything you need to know about your cruise on its app, and it's also the place where you can check in for your cruise in advance and have your boarding pass accessible at all times. Their short ribs are really good!! All three desserts! Getting shorts washed and folded will set you back $4.49. Sorrentos, El Loco Fresh, and Playmakers ($) for sure will be open. You wont need them. You dont need to do everything your first day, so if you spot a perfect spot in the sun or shade, rest your weary bones. This means things like medication, for sure, and a phone charger, but also a bathing suit, hat, sunscreen and other items that will let you head straight to the pool deck to start the fun. What are your favorite things to do on embarkation day? Park Caf or the Solarium are our usual lunch stops since the WJ can get so busy. 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? Without your luggage, youll have your hands free for the rest of the embarkation process. 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. I'm staying in a JS? This is a great time to explore the ship and get your bearings onboard and see what is offered. You check a box on an online form before sailing or while on board, and poof! 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. ago. Royal Caribbean ships offer laundry and dry cleaning services that will get your clothes cleaned quickly for a nominal fee. All rights reserved. Simply put, embarkation day is the first day of your cruise, when you will embark your cruise ship. Cruises arent this way at least if you want to get the most out of them. It seems like a majority of guests tend to arrive in the afternoon hours, so arriving before 1pm can often result in shorter lines. 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. Please ask them to test it on Harmony. Alternatively, you can wait in a standby line at onboard theaters on show nights. 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. That's right, you now have to pick an arrival time when heading to a Royal Caribbean ship, and passengers who check in early get the widest array of arrival slots from which to choose. Many passengers don't know about this secret spot for watching sailaways, found on Radiance-class, Voyager-class and Freedom-class vessels. 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. Here is yet one more tip about making reservations in advance: If you're signing up for My Time Dining on a Royal Caribbean ship the type of dining where you can eat in the main dining room whenever you want you'll have an easier time getting seated at the time you want if you make a reservation in advance. Its a great place for embarkation lunch. Guests enjoy a complimentary bar, loungers in the garden area, as well as a private beach with drink service. If you read one or two of these Compasses, you will quickly discover the restaurants open on embarkation day for a given ship are pretty much the same each sailing. Certain hotels have resort fees. 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. Related: The 6 types of Royal Caribbean ships, explained. Embarkation usually begins in the late morning to early afternoon, so lunch is the first opportunity to sit down for a bite to eat. There is no need to bring a life jacket to the muster drill. You should plan on arriving to the cruise port as early as you can so that you can start your vacation. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs cruise newsletter. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Ship-sponsored vs. independent shore excursions on cruises: Which should you book? Take a scroll through our ultimate list of Royal Caribbean cruise tips, tricks and hacks in the story below 35 in all! Chops Grille or Jamie's Italian will get you out of the craziness of the Wind Jammer on embarkation day, and provide a very nice lunch. Related: The TPG guide to travel insurance for cruises. Arrive the Night Before 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. If youre delayed in your arrival at the port, the ship will not wait for you. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? That's because early birds in the check-in process have their pick of arrival times at the ship. 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. While youre exploring, stop by the kids centers and sign the kids up for the onboard kids program. Go ahead and grab one if you want just understand you will be charged for the welcome drink. 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. 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. Windjammer is the go-to for a majority of cruisers, but I assume most people dont know what else is even open. 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. But you also might find it works perfectly fine to go it alone. This means planning far in advance, as many Royal Caribbean sailings will open for reservations around two years before the trips are scheduled to take place. 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. Theres nothing more jammed than a Royal Caribbean ship buffet on embarkation day.
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