30 Things You’ll Want To Know Before Cruising Royal Caribbean

Want to know more about cruising? If you’re a first time cruiser, here are 24 things you’ll want to know before cruising Royal Caribbean. Bon voyage!

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#1 Bring All Your Travel Documents 

You absolutely need to bring all your travel documents when you cruise while keeping them secure inside your stateroom safe.

Acceptable Travel Documents For Cruising:

a. Valid passport
◾Make sure you have a current passport that is at least 6 months from expiration.
◾Valid for land, sea and air travel
◾Bring this if you have one. You might need it if you ever miss your ship and need to fly to the next port, or if you need to leave your cruise because of a personal emergency.

b. Passport card
◾Valid only for land & sea, but not air travel between the US, Canada & Caribbean islands.
◾“Closed-loop” cruises only (or cruises that begins and ends in same US port)

c. State Enhanced Driver’s License
◾Valid only for land & sea, but not air travel between the US, Canada & Caribbean islands.
◾Issued only by some states to US & Canadian citizens only
◾“Closed-loop” cruises only

d. Certificate of US Naturalization
◾“Closed-loop” cruises only.

e. Birth Certificate with Government Issued Photo ID
◾“Closed-loop” cruises only

#2 Dining and Beverage Packages

Most food items and drinks are complimentary. However, specialty dining choices are available to those who want to add a little more opulence to their cruise ship culinary experience.

What is complimentary:
a. All food items except those in specialty restaurants and lavish menu items like lobsters.
b. Basic drinks like iced water, iced tea, fruit juices, standard coffee

What is not complimentary:
a. Specialty restaurants
b. Soft drinks
c. Alcoholic drinks
d. Premium Coffee and Tea

Are dining packages worth it?
Yes, they really are. Complimentary food is good but in specialty restaurants, you’ll expect a fine dining experience with premium cuts of beef, exquisite seafood options, delicious appetizers and sinful desserts. You can either get an Ultimate Dining Package which covers one specialty restaurant for each day of your cruise, or you can opt for a 3-day dining package so you can also experience complimentary dining and taste for yourself the difference in food quality between complimentary and specialty restaurants. Click here to read our review on Enchantment of the Seas’ dining options.

Are drink packages worth it?
It all depends on your personal preference. Generally, there are enough types of complimentary beverages that can quench your thirst on a cruise ship. But if you still prefer to have something more like fountain drinks or some alcohol to kick your cruising experience up a notch, then a drink package might be for you. You will be spending more up front, but the appeal of being on a vacation and not having to pay extra for your drinks is priceless. Just be careful not to overindulge and get too drunk on the cruise ship. A morning hangover is a good way to ruin your cruising experience.

Here are the types of beverage packages on board:
1. Deluxe Drink Package – includes alcoholic beverages, bottled and sparkling water, fountain sodas, premium coffee and tea and a souvenir Coca-Cola cup. Costs around $60 per day.
2. Refreshment Package – includes non-alcoholic cocktails, bottled and sparkling water, fountain sodas, premium coffee and tea. Costs around $30 per day.
3. Soda Package – includes fountain sodas and a Coca-Cola souvenir cup. Costs around $10 per day.
4. Water Bottle Package – includes 12 or 24 packs of Evian Water Bottles delivered to your stateroom

#3 Ground Transportation

There are plenty of options that can take you from the airport to your port of embarkation and back. It all depends on what you’re expecting and how much you’re willing to pay for your ride.

Here are some popular options to choose from:
a. Royal Caribbean Ground Transport
b. Limo, SUV and Van rental service
c. Metered Taxi
d. Uber
e. Third party shuttle service (Recommended)
f. Bus (Most economical)

#4 Luggage Tags

Luggage tags are provided in your online check-in print outs. They are included in the eDocs that are issued about 49 days before your cruise sailing along with some instructions and printable luggage tags within the attached PDF document. The luggage tags are for those who wanted to check in their luggage and have crew members deliver your luggage to your stateroom. If you would rather personally bring them to your room, there is no need to print them out. You can also purchase luggage tag holders to keep them protected during transport.

Notes:
a. If you want to check in your bags but forgot to print your luggage tags, you can always ask a porter where to get generic luggage tags.
b. Depending on how many passengers decide to check their bags in, you might not get your bags until 7 or 8pm.

#5 Voom WiFi Internet Service

Royal Caribbean’s Voom Internet Service provides cruisers the ability to stay connected at sea. It utilizes satellite technology to provide fast internet connectivity that lets you stream Netflix, YouTube or Hulu in the middle of the sea. Click here to browse Royal Caribbean’s internet packages and their prices.

Voom packages available on Royal Caribbean:
a. Surf – this package is the more economical option that provides you with sufficient bandwidth to surf the web and send emails.
b. Surf & Stream – for the more avid internet users, you can opt for this package which provides you with high speed internet so you can do video calls, stream music and watch movies at sea.
Note: Purchase your internet package pre-cruise and enjoy a 30% discount.

#6 Book Your Excursions Ahead

We would recommend booking your excursions in advance through your Royal Caribbean account. For seasoned cruisers, there are cheaper options available at the ports of call. If you’re new to cruising, booking through Royal Caribbean is generally a better option for the following reasons:

a. Excursion tickets will be ready for you in your assigned stateroom.
b. If there are unexpected delays during your excursion that you’ve booked through Royal Caribbean, they will wait for you.
c. If there are changes in your excursion schedule, you will be notified and a new set of tickets will be sent to your stateroom.

#7 Limited Electrical Outlets

All of our portable electronic devices have one thing in common. They all needed to be charged after each use. Unfortunately, cruise ships limit the number of electrical outlets in the stateroom for safety purposes. Here are some ways you can mitigate this problem:
a. Use a USB Charging Station
b. Purchase a European power adapter

Note: Most cruise ships prohibit bringing of power strips on board.

#8 Bringing Wine To Your Stateroom

Royal Caribbean allows passengers to bring two bottles of wine per stateroom upon checking in. Unfortunately, beer and hard liquor are still prohibited.

#9 Laundry Services

As a precautionary measure, guests are not allowed to iron their clothes in the stateroom. Royal Caribbean does offer washing, steaming and ironing services for an extra charge. You can always opt for these services to keep your clothes fresh and wrinkle free during formal nights.

#10 Cruise Compass

Cruise compass is Royal Caribbean’s daily newsletter to keep their guests informed of the day ahead. If you lose your copy, you can always ask for another copy from guest services, or you can also use the touch screen monitors located near the elevators of each floor.

The following information is printed on your cruise compass:
a. Weather conditions
b. Dining schedule and options
c. Entertainment schedules
d. Special discounts

#11 Seasickness

When you’re on a cruise, the one thing you don’t ever want to have is to get seasick. It’ll ruin everything enjoyable on your vacation. With so much food, drinks, activities and excursions to enjoy, you really don’t want to miss out on any of them. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent you from being seasick.

Here’s a few of our recommendations that helps:
a. Scopolamine patch (Prescription – prevents motion sickness)
b. Dramamine (Over the counter but get the less drowsy kind)
c. Zofran (Prescription – helps with nausea)
d. Ginger Pills (Natural way to prevent motion sickness)
e. Seabands (Naturally prevents motion sickness by applying pressure to certain point on your wrist)
f. Choose a stateroom on a lower deck and located mid ship.  Rooms closest to the front or the stern of the cruise ship experience most of the rocking motion.

#12 Bring Cash Or Credit Cards

Cash is great for tipping and for making purchases at Ports of Call. Some shops accept credit cards but some of them add around 10-12% to the total price just for using your plastic. On the bright side, cash can give you a bargaining edge for your purchases.

Notes:
a. If you still prefer to use credit cards, make sure you use the ones that don’t charge foreign transaction fees. These fees can quickly add up to a hefty sum at the end of your credit card billing cycle.
b. On board the cruise ship, you will be using your SeaPass card to pay for everything. Please see #18 on this list.

#13 Get Back On The Ship As Scheduled

Port of calls are a lot of fun, especially if you have booked excursions for yourself and your entire family. Others just want to explore the city and delve into the cultural picture and culinary scene. Cruise ships don’t care what you do as long as you get back to the ship at a certain time. If not, then the cruise ship will leave you behind and it becomes your responsibility to get to the next port.

Tip: If this ever happens to you, call Royal Caribbean and tell them what happened. They have agents who are willing to help you out. Whatever cost it incurs will still be your responsibility.

What to do:
a. Book your excursions through Royal Caribbean to make sure they fit your cruising schedule
b. Get back to the ship at least 30 mins prior to the time you’re supposed to be back

#14 Cruise Ship Cabin Types

Where your cruise stateroom is located on the ship can have an overall impact to your entire cruise experience. This is after all your home away from home for the next 4-7 days. Here are the different cabin types on your cruise ship:

a. Inside Cabin
Pros: Cheapest
Cons: Might be windowless, can feel “claustrophobic” to some, smallest

b. Ocean View
Pros: Great view of the ocean, just a bit more expensive than an inside cabin
Cons: May induce seasickness to some, small

c. Balcony View
Pros: Private balcony with an awesome view of the ocean, little bit more spacious than ocean view
Cons: Bit more expensive

d. Suite Room
Pros: Very spacious accommodation, private balcony, great for traveling with kids, separate living and sleeping area
Cons: Most expensive

Tip: Choosing a stateroom that is located mid ship on a lower deck is ideal for those who easily gets seasick regardless of your accommodation type.

#15 Skip The Souvenir Photos

Taking photographs is all about immortalizing precious memories and reliving those moments over and over. However, today’s smartphones are equipped with an amazing built-in camera and the ability to digitally save the pictures so you can upload them to your social media account. Plus, you can always ask someone to take a picture of you. However, if you still prefer to purchase professionally-taken photos on your cruise, purchase them pre-cruise to avail of their discounted price.

#16 Plan On Arriving A Day Early When Flying

Airlines usually do a pretty good job sticking to their schedule. However, we don’t live in a perfect world and there will always be variables like weather related issues, mechanical problems, loss luggage, and other reasons that can cause you to miss your cruise. To be on the safe side, plan on arriving at the airport a day ahead and just stay overnight at a hotel. This should give you ample time to get to your port in time for your cruise.

#17 Muster Safety Drill

The Muster Safety Drill is a mandatory drill instigated by the US Coast Guard so everyone on board will have an idea on how to safely evacuate in case of an emergency at sea. The drill usually lasts between 15-25 mins depending on how fast everyone responds. To ensure everyone’s participation, SeaPass cards are scanned by the crew members.

#18 SeaPass Card

SeaPass cards are convenient ways to keep all your information on a single card during the entire cruise. To keep them from getting lost, check out these nautical-themed water resistant badge holders you can use.

Here are some of its uses:
a. Personal identification
b. Virtual credit card for purchases.
  Note: Use your SeaPass card to pay for your drinks, spa, excursions, etc. Upon checkout, you just need to pay the balance on your card.
  Tip: Keep track of your expenses by checking your balance periodically.
c. Stateroom Access Key
d. Get towels for the pool and for excursions

#19 Purchase Alcohol On Board

Stop by the Royal Shops and you’ll find tons of things you can buy including several offerings of hard liquor and quality wine selections. However, the liquor you purchased will only be delivered to your cabin on the last day of the cruise.

#20 Pack A Small Day Bag

After you check your luggage in, there’s no guarantee what time it will be delivered to your stateroom. If you want to have a change of clothes before your dinner reservation, you can always bring your first set of clothes in your day bag. Day bags are great for holding your excursion essentials like beach towels, sunscreen, swimsuits and bottled water.

Check out our post on cruising essentials you’ll need for your next cruising adventure. Click here to read the post.

#21 Gratuities

By default, Royal Caribbean automatically charges an extra service gratuity ($14.50) for every person per day on your SeaPass account. For guests staying in Suite Rooms, the charge is $17.50 per person per day.  An 18% gratuity is automatically added to all beverages, mini bar items, and spa & salon purchases.

Note: In the event that you are not satisfied with the level of service, you can always contact Guest Services and have them change the amount you’re paying towards service gratuity. On the other hand, you can always tip a little extra to your favorite crew members for excellent service.

#22 Arrive Early

This is more of a personal preference but it does come with a few advantages. Arriving early means arriving at your port of embarkation as early as 11am.

Here’s why:
a. Avoid long lines and wait times
b. Beat the Windjammer Marketplace crowd during their Welcome Aboard Lunch Buffet.
c. Great time to tour the entire ship and take pictures before it gets too crowded.

#23 Pregnancy

Royal Caribbean cruising policy states that “Pregnant women who have entered the 24th week of estimated fetal gestational age at any time during the cruise should not be eligible to sail with the ship.”

First of all, the ship does not have an Obstetrician/Gynecologist on board. Pregnancies can potentially be life threatening when unstable and poorly controlled. Secondly, since the ship is in the middle of the ocean, getting timely expert medical care is unlikely.

#24 Wash Your Hands Often

Because of the recent Norovirus scare that has affected cruise ships of late, it is best to practice proper hand hygiene especially when you’re onboard a cruise ship. According to the CDC, alcohol based hand sanitizers can be used in addition to hand washing, never as a substitute.

#25 Reserve Shows in Advance

Especially on board Royal Caribbean’s bigger Oasis class cruise ships, having a reservation for shows is a must if you would like to have the advantage of finding good seats to fully immerse on the show. It is also a good idea to show up at least 30 minutes before the show.

#26 Towels

Guests are allowed to check out as many towels as they want during their cruise, but they need to return them all prior to the end of the cruise to avoid a replacement fee of $24.99.

#27 The Key

‘The Key’ is Royal Caribbean’s optional cruise upgrade complete with exclusive benefits and VIP privileges. With ‘The Key’, you’ll get priority boarding and debarkation, Voom internet service, lunch at Chops Grille, private hours for onboard activities and VIP seats for shows.

To learn more about ‘The Key’, please check out our post, The Key: Purchasing Royal Caribbean’s VIP Service for our Next Cruise

#28 Communication

Communicating with your group with thousands of other passengers onboard can be a quite challenging task, yet it is doable.

Here are some ways Royal Caribbean cruisers have communicated with each other:
a. Stateroom phone – even though this service is complimentary, obviously it only works when the person you’re trying to call is currently in his stateroom. Otherwise, you can leave a short message and play a little phone tag.

b. Walkie talkies – because of the metallic structure of the ship, two way radios do work but with limited range. This can also be annoying to some passengers and subject to channel interference as well.

c. Royal IQ – For $7.95, Royal IQ offers unlimited calling and texting to anyone onboard who has a Royal IQ communication package. Plus, you can take advantage of crystal clear outgoing (ship-to-shore) and incoming (shore-to-ship) calls, billed at a per-minute rate.
(Note: Available onboard Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, and Ovation of the Seas)

d. Messaging Apps – connect to Royal Caribbean’s Voom Internet service and you can use your favorite messaging apps like Skype, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber and other VOIP services.

e. WiFi Calling – some cellphone carriers support WiFi calling. This means you can connect to Royal Caribbean’s Voom Internet and make calls with no extra charge. If in doubt, contact your cellphone service provider and inquire about the availability of this service.

f. Use your cellphone service – your cellphone with continue receiving signal but roaming charges can be substantial. Contact your service provider and inquire about international plans and roaming charges.

#29 Travel Insurance

Cruise travel insurance is purely optional, but a recommended purchase to cover those what-if moments that can happen during your cruise. Remember, your regular health insurance might not cover medical coverage during your cruise.

Here are things that a good travel insurance covers:
a. Emergency Medical Care
b. Emergency Medical Evacuation
c. Baggage Loss or Delay
d. Identity Theft
e. Trip Cancellations Due To Hurricanes and Bad Weather

#30 Crown & Anchor Society

Welcome to Royal Caribbean’s very own membership & loyalty program, rewarding their most loyal cruisers with exclusive discounts, VIP treatment, onboard cruise credits, and special offers.

After you complete your first Royal Caribbean cruise, you are automatically enrolled to the Crown & Anchor Society. One cruise point is equivalent to each cruise night you sailed with Royal Caribbean.

Here are the following Crown & Anchor Tiers with exclusive benefits on each one:
a. Gold (3 points)
b. Platinum (30 points)
c. Emerald (55 points)
d. Diamond (80 points)
e. Diamond Plus (175 points)
f. Pinnacle (700 points)