I only ask because we're driving from Virginia to Titusville day before and those last 3.5 hours to Miami morning of embarkation. The intent was to give travelers VIP or suite-style benefits while on board. 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. So, in practicality, what will that mean regarding boarding in Galveston? 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. On the latter two classes, Royal Caribbean introduced what is known as the Royal Suite Class. Second, you're spending extra money for a benefit that is not cheap. I would like to NOT repeat that, even if it means arriving much later or much earlier. Many more perks are available in higher suite tiers. If you think you want The Key, buy early, as the number of passes can vary by sailing. 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. How early can I board my Royal Caribbean cruise? If you live within driving distance of your departure port, its acceptable to make your way there the same day your ship leaves unless youre looking at a multi-hour ride and dont want to cut it too close to boarding time. 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. A couple in front of us said they had the Genie and she said well it's too late. Junior Suite benefits include priority boarding, luxury toiletries and a more comfortable mattress. With additional perks such as concierge service, priority boarding and departure privileges, and dedicated entertainment seating, everything you need for a lavish voyage is at your fingertips. What are the Benefits of The Key Program? | Royal Caribbean Cruises What are the Royal Caribbean suite perks? Depending on when you go to select a time, there will be variety of 30 minute windows for you to choose from. Those in Junior Suites will find that they are not eligible for the full onboard suite experience, which may be why you are considering a Grand Suite. I use the Ziploc bag to hold wet swimsuits until our room is ready, so you wont need this item if you dont have a wet bathing suit to store. Whats the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler? How early is too early for the porters to be there? We will also provide tips for scoring the earliest boarding time on Royal Caribbean based on our recent experience on the Oasis of the Seas at the cruise terminal in Port of Miami. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. (Although its not required, its nice to give a dollar or two per bag as a tip.) All suites in the Royal Caribbean Suites program have access to certain benefits. Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean's Junior Suites 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. Closet Space However, the cruise terminal in Miami did not open its doors until 10:00 am. VisitRoyal Suite Classto learn more. Since we were in a suite, we were able to stand in the super short line on the right. While showing up early can be a problem, coming in later is not as much of a concern. Either way, you should have plenty of time to enjoy all the entertainment and activities onboard the ship. First, Royal Caribbean is now allowing guests to use the vouchers for any drink up to $13. 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. 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. They created a different line for the 12:30 to 1:00. Ocula932 4 mo. 2023 Mom's Plan-it Vacation Blog - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Are the Royal Caribbean Drink Packages Worth It? Whats a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money? Pasted as rich text. What port was this? Priority check in for suite guests? - Royal Caribbean Discussion Priority boarding - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic Community Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. So effectively to make the most of it, arrive as early as you can. This makes it easy to undress them poolside, and they can hop right in. But how early can you board the cruise ship? Suffice to say, the pricing of a Grand Suite can vary. If you are talking about Terminal A at Port of Miami, you will drive around to the drop-off/pick-up area and offload your luggage with a porter. You will be happy to know that you can find Grand Suites on any ship, whether it is Grandeur of the Seas or the highly anticipated Icon of the Seas. We are Crown and Anchor Diamond and I'm wondering if we qualify for priority check in. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. 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. We were onboard at ~11:30am (1 hr before our boarding window started.). Like what you see? Plus, your own feed of TPG content. You'll want to do this as early as you can in order to get an early check-in time and avoid wasting time in the cruise terminal. With additional perks such as concierge service, priority boarding and departure privileges, and dedicated entertainment seating, everything you need for a lavish voyage is at your fingertips. Heres what The Key is (and why some cruisers like it), Royal Caribbean offering guest expedited arrival options to speed up check-in process, Royal Caribbean testing expedited boarding, What to expect on embarkation day on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 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. You can even start using your drink packages right away to help you get into vacation mode even faster! This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. If you are driving yourself, they may not let you enter the parking if you are too early. Find the right card for you. In addition to having a private beach away from the crowds, you will also have upgraded lunch offerings compared to the other buffets. While this isnt necessarily the time in which you will board the ship, it is a good indicator of when you will be allowed to embark. The best time to board a cruise ship is obviously when there are few lines and short waits. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise lines would often allow passengers to show up at the terminal on embarkation day whenever was convenient for them within a half-day window. If someone cancels their cruise, their check-in time goes back into the system for someone else to grab. The Key package is a great way to feel like a VIP on your next Royal Caribbean cruise without busting the budget. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). 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. I think the number of passengers determines how strictly they enforce the check-in times. This allows us to keep our things organized and within easy access. 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. Is there any special line at this point for The Key? When something like this happens, I look for a Royal Caribbean employee and not one of temporary people scattered around the terminal. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Whether The Key package is worth it depends on the type of traveler you are. Do junior suites get priority boarding on Royal Caribbean? Many terminals have a separate seating area in the terminal for Suites and Pinnacle if you arrive before the ship has commenced boarding. While offerings can change at any time, and usually vary slightly between ships, benefits of the Key Program usually include: Priority access to the terminal upon arrival at the port Carry on bag delivery to your stateroom Welcome lunch in the main dining room with selections from Chops Grille 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. Whether this is your first cruise or youre a seasoned pro, we hope you have a great trip! Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. I pack my kids undergarments for them to put on after they swim. They also re-wear their embarkation clothes since this first day is typically not dressy at all. A Royal Caribbean employee came over to our large group and checked in each party using her tablet. In comparison, Wonder of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, has 28. In fact, balconies on older ships are far less, too. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. The cost of The Key can vary from ship to ship, as well as itinerary. We have been on two RCI cruises recently. To enhance your experience even more, you could rent one of the cabanas at Barefoot Beach for an extra cost. 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. Suite Priority boarding : r/royalcaribbean - Reddit Royal Caribbean suitesprovide more than extra living space. Some families prefer to arrive in the afternoon, so they dont have to navigate crowds at the terminal. You must purchase The Key package online in advance of your sailing. Our hotel (Intercontinental Miami) was a short 15-minute drive to the Port of Miami. Boarding begins roughly between 10 and 11 a.m., depending on the ship's schedule and how long it takes everyone from the last cruise to debark. If you are trying to cruise on a budget, staying in a Grand Suite is probably not the most economical choice, as you could devote that money to other experiences, such as shore excursions, specialty dining, etc. I pack sunscreen to apply before swimming, and we carry on other essentials that we need before dinner. 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. 5 minutes later, they included Jr suites also. What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships? In Lauderdale it was different, this was pre covid, and suites/pinnacle etc had their own security check through. Display as a link instead, Once you've booked a cruise, go to Royal Caribbean's site, log in to your account and click on "Cruise Planner." In theory, they never have to step foot in the Main Dining Room or Windjammer! If you do not complete check-in online, you will be required to complete this process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing time. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Sky guests onboard Spectrum of the Seas have access to The Balcony. We had a suite and should have been in the suite check in line. However, the earlier your arrival time, the sooner you are usually able to embark on the ship. Royal Caribbean suites provide a range of benefits that can greatly enhance your cruise experience, from an exclusive suites-only lounge to private dining experiences and priority embarkation. Staying in a Grand Suite means that you can bypass the tender line and be one of the first guests off! If you are hoping to climb the Crown & Anchor loyalty ladder faster, this is one way to do it! Royal Caribbean International Priority boarding Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! When to Book Entertainment on Royal Caribbean. For our four-day itinerary out of Miami on Navigator of the Seas and a family of three, the total cost for our package (two adults) was around $159. Royal Caribbean International allows cruisers to choose a port arrival time during online check-in. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. 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. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Royal Caribbean Suite Perks Explained is a journalist specializing in luxury family travel and the blogger behind The Daily Impressions.
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