I'm a port agent and I have a couple of suggestions to make your check in time at the counter shorter: FIRST: People complain about having to retake the picture when they already downloaded it in the app. There is a guide line to take them the appropriate way: Pictures need to be a close up of the face, so take the picture only from the shoulders up and front face. - It cannot be a cut picture (when you're with somebody else in the original one). - No dark glasses, hats, pets or anything that obstruct some part of your face. - Smile is OK, is a happy picture, you're going on a cruise!. SECOND: Before you get to the counter, have your documents ready in your hands, not in your purse, carry on, or briefcase: Passports (or Birth Certificates and ID) and Set sails for every one in your party. THIRD: Agents usually can check just one room at a time, so make sure that the documents are not all in one person's hands, but they are separate by state rooms because is quicker when different agents check different cabins. I know when you're at the port you just want o get onboard as soon as you can. Happy Cruising!
11:17 - That is a rule we followed also. We flew to Miami the afternoon before and stayed overnight at a hotel near the airport. And they also had cruise shuttles that picked us up and took us straight to our ship the next day. It really lessens the stress of rushing. Nobody wants a flight delay to cause them to miss the ship
Booked a cruise for my 50th bday, had a weather delay in the connecting flight and ended up missing the ship. Will always arrive the day before from now on.
Do the complete muster drill process as soon as possible. It is mandatory by International Maritime Law and is not optional. A fun activity is to randomly go from wherever you are to your lifeboat every day of your cruise. This insures you know where it is and how to get to it, if you ever have to do it for real. You don't have to rush. You can stop along the way. Adds to your physical well being. Or, if cruising with family and friends, you can make a game of it.
Went on my first cruise in the Spring of 2023. I wanted to do all the things that was mentioned here, but by the time I got to my cabin, all I really wanted to do was take a nap, so I did. Throughout the week, I was able to explore the ship, but even just listening to this video is making me tired. I'm a full time working mom and I was without my son on this trip. I took a nap on Embarkation day.
I'm a big "doer" on vacations but I also want to relax and do stuff at my own pace. Particularly the embarkation day and sea days, I'll do some exploration sure but the last thing I want is to feel rushed. If I want to chill in my cabin and/or take my time unpacking and "moving in" to my cabin I'll definitely do that too.
The most important thing to do on Embarkation day is do what YOU want to do. There are many choices if you want to do actives but sometimes just getting to the ship and onboard can be very busy and/or overwhelming. But don’t forget to eat. 😊😊😊😊
When you're in your stateroom check the patio door if you have a balcony check to make sure the TV runs through all the channels pick up the phone to make sure you get a dial tone also check the toilet pushed flush one time to make sure it functions turn on the hot and cold water to make sure you get hot and cold water out of the you know the proper knob same with the shower shut closet doors you know functionality of the cabin
Just wanted to say thank you so much for making these vlogs. I don’t have any family it’s just me for the holidays , which makes it so depressing this time of year. But watching your videos makes me so happy. You’re so fun and down to earth. My favorite vlogger by far.
Exploring your embarkation port is probably the biggest recommendation for me - it always surprises me when people rock up in the city and their holiday doesn't begin until 3pm when they board the ship. I always aim to get out the hotel at the crack of dawn, to add 'day 1' to my holiday, instead of a lazy hotel day! Great video - some really great tips in here!
Probably the best time to go to the windjammer is that breakfast time and be an early bird in other words I think they open their doors at 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning and a lot of cruisers are still sleeping from partying a little too hard the first night so you should be able to to not deal with a bunch of crowds have the freshest choices of food and be able to sit where you want to sit at the windjammer also remember the apps section of the windjammer usually has very good views and it's the least crowded
For me is a no to drop off luggage! I prefer to take it myself, i feel like it’s faster! If you wanna change or take a shower or Settle in you don’t have to wait for your bag to arrive!
And it sometimes doesn’t make it on board. NCL Porter took my bag at the Port of Tampa, never saw it gain, that was last March. All I have was 1 pair of tennis shoes, 1 pair of pants, socks, underwear and jeans. 5 night cruise without my bag! 😢
I have found myself in CruiseTube, and I'm not even planning a cruise. I think I might book one soon though, thanks to these videos. I went on one with my parents in the 90s...I think it might be time to revisit this kind of travel.
You should be able to watch and complete the muster checklist in the app while riding the bus or cab to the cruise port. I did it my last cruise and when I got on board I went directly to the muster station where the app was ready for the staff signoff.
As soon as we get on we get the lay of the land on the ship. Then we grab a light lunch and hit the hot tub right away because it’s always less crowded than sea days. Then run to change for dinner!
CONNECT SEPARATE ACCOUNTS VIA CUSTOMER SERVICE BEFORE EMBARKATION. If you booked separately for a family trip (my bro and wife booked, my mom and dad booked, and then I booked same trip, Different accounts) make sure you call and connect yourselves through CS! We were not linked on RC side even though we connected via the app. And would not have been seated together for dinner. All parties must verbally OK the connection, so a conference call of some sort would be helpful.
I'm glad you mentioned the whole thing with cell phones. I used to work for a major cellphone carrier and handled their tech support and international suport calls pre-covid. There was several times where we would have to try and save some poor sap from $2000 phone bills all because they forgot to put their phone on airplane mode or do what i usually recommend because sometimes apps will be sneaky and take out the sim card all together. One guy that a co worker got rang up a $10000 bill because he was using his data on board just as if he were sitting in his own living room. My poor co worker went white as a ghost when he discovered he was going to have to tell that guy some not so great news. He was going to owe almost every penny of it because there's only so much our staff could have done.
With all the discussion about what one can do with a cell phone enroute to or onboard, my question is >>> do cruise ships now REQUIRE passengers to carry smartphones? Or, is a smartphone optional? If optional, are there substitute ways to find out the important things one needs to know before boarding or while on the ship?
Just returned a couple of days ago from a family cruise on Symphony of the Seas. I've taken over twenty cruises, but this was only my second one on RC. You're suggestions make sense and are generally what I do. When I was on Navigator last December there were several announcements made for passengers to complete their muster drills, no issues on Symphony. Several folks, including our party, had issues with the specialty restaurants. They had been given different instructions online and discovered one or more reservations had disappeared. I have a family member who does not drink, so we were delighted by the number of mocktails available. I even tried a few at the Bionic Bar, which were really good. The app was a pain, as I had to continually sign back into the wifi to check messages from my family. I'll be sailing on RC again as everyone had such a great time.
Excellent tips, thanks for the video! Long time subscriber. I’m from Orlando too, and I recommend booking a hotel for the night before the cruise if coming from up north to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale cruise ports to alleviate the stress since it takes 3-4 hours drive time. We’ve run into traffic and road work on the highway. One time we literally had to run after parking the car to get to the ship before it left. Yes you can leave earlier but we are always doing last minute things and always seemed to leave a little later then planned. Many hotels offer free parking for cruise guests and some have a free shuttle to cruise port. The extra cost of hotel is offset by the normal cost of cruise port parking, so it’s not like you add much more cost to stay that night. So now I have a rule that when we book a cruise down there we have to get a hotel the night prior.
Wow, didn't know you can now bring your own water and soda! Just returned from Odyssey of the Seas and I could've saved $20 on purchasing 12- 8oz cans of water provided by RC. Definitely bring your own water/soda.
I agree about the embarkation drink, but unless you dont care about saving money or you had a stressful trip getting on board and you need one right away to relax, wait a couple hours to have the first one to avoid state and region taxes on alcohol. Knowing these policies would be helpful in international ports of call, but be aware DRINK BILLS SHOULD BE CHEAPER ON INTERNATIONAL WATERS DUE TO LESS TAXING. Don't necessarily refrain completely from a first day embarkation drink but try to wait until you are on the sea. The only possible exceptions to keep in mind for this advice is pre-registered drink packages or if you have a specialized waiver from this problem written in your booking contract with your cruise company. In my experience though, this is golden advice that I wish I knew.
the airline i used did not have any sameday flights with arrivals prior to embarkation time so that forced me to book a flight with arrival the prior day
11:58 An add on, it you have a legitimate problem (example- heat/air doesn't work), or even a question, if at all possible, find someone in that department, and talk to them about it. They are probably more familiar with the situation. Not always, but there tends to be staff in all the areas available to talk to. It is even a good time to meet the staff in the dining room, spa, etc. Moreover, if you have a legitimate complaint about you room, talk to you steward. They are probably already know about that kind of thing, and if it's not something petty, there is a good chance to get an room upgrade for free. It's the number one way to get a free upgrade. But remember: 1) It needs to be legit; 2) You can't be petty; 3) You have to go in not expecting an upgrade. (Bonus: Make a habit of giving the steward a good tip up from, say $100 cash. If you have an issue, they are even more likely to go above and beyond their normal high lever of service. Have some tack though. Don't just do it to get something extra. Do it because these people are getting extremely low pay, but watch what they will do for you!)
If you are driving to your port I suggest showing up a little before your check in time to find a spot in the parking garage and then getting over to the check in area.
For us: Do ask for the refrigerator to be emptied. We don't want those tiny bottles of not our flavor of liquor, soda & waters. Not there no chance to be charged for something. We take a little treat for out cabin steward (s). A high end chocolate seems to be a favorite .
I usually bring my suitcase to my room myself. That eliminates dealing with the porters.if my room isn't ready, I just leave the suitcase in front to the door.
I was surprised that you didn't mention that booking a shore excursion ahead of time guarantees you a slot but if you get on board and decide you no longer want to do it (for whatever reason) you can cancel up to 24 hours (and I've seen that be quite flexible) before the excursion for no penalty. And the money is, I believe, refunded to you as On Board Credit meaning you have more money to enjoy specialty dining, shopping, drinks or pay-to-play activities!
I love how people say don't go to guest services but a lot of people do anyway. It's like when people see a "wet paint" sign but they still touch the paint.
#1 DONT - fly in same day as cruise… I arrived 4days ahead to also visit family in FL and the group chat created by the trip agent/director had a woman frantically trying to catch a flight the night before. There was a BIG storm and allll flights on the east coast were cancelled that night. She couldn’t even fly in early the next morning in time.
I have been on 9 cruises and honestly I couldn’t come up with one tip lol good job!! Can’t wait for my next cruise I’m hoping for Jan 2023 Cheers and love from Canada 🇨🇦
A Must to book dinner & entertainment the 1st day. I started my cruise on Wonder of the Seas in Rome in July, but it the cruise actually started in Barcelona. Many reservations were taken already. If I had waited another day, my unlimited dinning pass would not have been worth it.
I was planning to see the Tampa Aquarium on embarkation, however was unable to drop off luggage as planned because the ship got in late which meant ALL the porters were like 2 hours late, and there was no place to check luggage at the aquarium, you will not be able to keep your carry on wine with you if you plan to keep your backpack with you and you can't leave it in your checked luggage, so you have to check with your planned AM excursion to see if carrying wine in your backpack is cool. It was not at the Aquarium. Also, these venues open LATE, like 10 AM. Other than that it is a good idea to do something on the AM of embarkation day, just be discerning about what you plan to do that morning.
I loveeee flying in the same day as my cruise, the adrenaline is fun. Ha ha. I only do it when I'm not flying far (a couple hours max) and when I've booked through a travel agent, that way it's their job to sort it out if it goes wrong. If I book it myself or fly far I always stay a night. :-)
One more don’t is don’t eat lunch around dinner time. I made this mistake a couple years ago when I went a Cruise to Alaska and I wasn’t hungry for dinner. Do eat lunch around 1:30
I'm going on my first cruise (and first plane ride for that matter lol) next April. We're going on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise, the Mariner of the Seas cruise ship. Thanks for these helpful videos!
I'm going to be on Mariner for the High Seas Rally in 2 days. Congratulations for you first 2. Upgrade your dining before you go and get excursions now. Check back with me in 2 weeks for my review.
You do have to still go to your muster location but you only have to check in and tell them you watched the video on the app. Takes less than a minute. Hard to believe they are still calling for passengers hours after they get on.
That's what I do at Baltimore MD and I'm familiar with Baltimore after I got on the ship I had a drink special and then took a tour of the ship had lunch in the Windjammer and then the cabin or stateroom
One more DON'T to add: Despite how tempting it may be, don't get drunk on embarkation day. Hangovers can RUIN the next day ... which is exactly when you want to be at your best.
You touched upon it Matt regarding the shore excursions. When we went to Hawaii, we wanted to go see the Waimea Canyon, but no excursions were posted before hand. We checked at the excursion desk after dinner the first day and sure enough RC just made the Waimea Canyon excursion available to book. Will definitely check with RC on board in the future regarding new excursions to book.
I goofed even as a seasoned veteran of cruising. I did everything as stated BUT I had the package that includes speciality dining. I was starving so I went for lunch in the buffet. By the time I made it to my stateroom all the specialty restaurants were booked full, they oversold the package. It did work out. I was traveling solo so they had me on standby for last minute cancellations. Don't risk it!!!
I don’t think I have enough time on the embarkation morning to do anything in the city. I would prefer making sure I’m in the port as early as possible.
Thanks fo all the tips. We're embarking on our first cruise in next april (on the MSC Seashore) and it's so cool to get all those advices from experienced cruisers. Our first will only last for 4 days, so every info we can gather before (especially me, my wife and daughter sort of rely on me because... well... cruising is my dream to begin with), every info is welcome so we don't get lost or stressed when we arrive. I wish for them to cheer the experience, so that we will go back in the years to come. So... Thank you again :-)
Please consider making a PDF list of this. Getting ready to plan my 1st cruise and having a printout of this would be even more helpful. Still a great video!
If you have to have a fan...don't pack it in your suitcase. Take it in your carry on. I've had it taken away everytime. At least if it's on your person you can usually get in with it. Same for phone chargers.
Can you do the muster drill on the day of your cruise before getting on the ship so you just have to check in at your station when you get on the ship?
Yes. We generally watch the video and the ship horns on the app while in line for boarding the ship (on the free ship wifi) and our muster station is the first stop upon boarding.
Are reservations made in the app, TV, or at the guest service counter? For instance for north star reservation. Where is that made? Thanks for all the tips. I’m saving this to rewatch before I leave for my cruise.
You know that's kind of sucks that you can't make it when you do it at the check-in terminal your reservations for specialty dining but thanks for telling me about it zooms that sounds like a very popular restaurant so soon as I get on board make reservations with the izoomy then go to the then go to the quartermaster's desk and make reservations for the other specialty dining then find something to eat and do muster drill
You should be able to go on your app right now and do it (if your cruise is soon). We're leaving 11/26 and I already made reservations for the steak place and Jamie's Italian.
@@kimkelly4586 yeah I usually don't like downloading strange apps one I downloaded totally changed all the configuration of my phones that I had to do a factory reset I'm pretty sure the Royal Caribbean app is safe but long as it doesn't change the settings on my phone or download a bunch of spyware
Hi. I have never cruised before. I am looking into this for possibly 2024. Can wifi and drink packages ext. be booked before the cruise? Also, good idea about putting your phone in plane mode. I never thought about that, but makes sense.
Our transportation turned up at 11am , breakfast was so slow in our 4* hotel we didnt have much time to look around be for transport, and at the luggage drop off as soon as the porter came up to us he wanted a tip, even looking at our hands giving us a talk on what he do just for us. Then swore at us, when we didnt have cash to hand.
“Don’t arrive at the port before your check-in time” I have taken 2 cruises during the pandemic, from both Europe and Florida, and in spite of repeated Royal Caribbean communication of arriving to the port on the assigned time, I have seen people allowed into the cruise terminal even after staff finds out it’s not their time yet.
In FLL, I saw the port staff (not RCL employees) turn people away who came early. The problem was that they only had one line. Everyone was jumbled together. I saw a Celebrity embarkation in a YT video and they had three clearly labeled and roped lines (11:30,12:00,12:30, e.g.) That seemed smart. If no one is waiting in the 11:30 line, let the people in the 12:00 line proceed and so on.
My wife and I will be going on our 1st cruise ever in 2 weeks to Alaska. Approximately how long will it take to get familiar with the ship and where all the places are located? That's my biggest challenge I think I will have is to know where things are.
Will RC ever bring these oasis class ships to Singapore? Or is our waters too shallow? Also, i disagree. Do NOT leave your luggage to porter service. You will definitely receive it late and thus ruining your plans. Take it to ur room yourself. If room is not ready then leave it outside (they put it outside anyways) or if you're not comfortable then bring it with u. You will likely get your room ready after taking your lunch.
I'm going on my first cruise and I couldn't be any more nervous/excited!!! I am absolutely grateful for this video, but I am confused about the cruise app. If my phone is on airplane mode, will the app work?
Great vids... I have a question I hope someone can answer. I have been on 2 Royal Caribbean cruises.. both on Adventure of the Seas.... and had a great time in the Imperial lounge for game night. I have an upcoming cruise on Allure of the Seas. Does Allure of the Seas have the same game night in any of the lounges? Name of the lounge?
Most of the time as a kid and being sent to those cruise day cares. Yeah...I stayed for 30 minutes, found out we were coloring then doing face painting. I just left the group and went to the pool. Much better crowd and I had fun compared to some coloring books XD I was 13,15,16
I have not seen anyone turned away for showing up early. We were in line with people who had onboarding time of 2 hours after ours. they boarded before us. It was very crowded. they should do it like boarding a plane. call the times and those people get in line and when the line dies down call the next set of people
I'm a port agent and I have a couple of suggestions to make your check in time at the counter shorter: FIRST: People complain about having to retake the picture when they already downloaded it in the app. There is a guide line to take them the appropriate way: Pictures need to be a close up of the face, so take the picture only from the shoulders up and front face. - It cannot be a cut picture (when you're with somebody else in the original one). - No dark glasses, hats, pets or anything that obstruct some part of your face. - Smile is OK, is a happy picture, you're going on a cruise!. SECOND: Before you get to the counter, have your documents ready in your hands, not in your purse, carry on, or briefcase: Passports (or Birth Certificates and ID) and Set sails for every one in your party. THIRD: Agents usually can check just one room at a time, so make sure that the documents are not all in one person's hands, but they are separate by state rooms because is quicker when different agents check different cabins. I know when you're at the port you just want o get onboard as soon as you can. Happy Cruising!
Thank you for this!
Great tips, thanks.
Great Info thanks
Is it ok that it's an ugly picture😅😂 thanks for the info!
Thank you Maria 😊
11:17 - That is a rule we followed also. We flew to Miami the afternoon before and stayed overnight at a hotel near the airport. And they also had cruise shuttles that picked us up and took us straight to our ship the next day. It really lessens the stress of rushing. Nobody wants a flight delay to cause them to miss the ship
Hi! Did you have to pay for the shuttle from the airport? I was trying to find information about the shuttle online and couldn’t find.
Thank you
@@gabrielcrsaldanha Oh, sorry, I don't remember. I was 15 and my parents paid for and arranged the vacation
@@gabrielcrsaldanhacheck with your hotel. They can tell you immediately. They’re used to having cruise people coming/going.
Booked a cruise for my 50th bday, had a weather delay in the connecting flight and ended up missing the ship. Will always arrive the day before from now on.
Based on the thumbnail I think I've got the gist: no vegetables and fruit, just pizza. That's what I was going to do anyway.
🤣 this guy's got the idea!
Nailed it!
And coffee and orange juice 😂 man jokes aside royal carribean takes fruit PUNCH to a whole new level. Literally punching your taste buds out 😂
Kind of my motto anyway. Just take vitamins….
that is my son. we only cruise on ships that have 24/7 real pizza available. Forget dress-up (formal)night for us. lol
Call every bartender “Isaac”. They love this.
Do the complete muster drill process as soon as possible. It is mandatory by International Maritime Law and is not optional.
A fun activity is to randomly go from wherever you are to your lifeboat every day of your cruise. This insures you know where it is and how to get to it, if you ever have to do it for real. You don't have to rush. You can stop along the way. Adds to your physical well being.
Or, if cruising with family and friends, you can make a game of it.
brilliant! ty!
Great idea! Especially with kids!
Surely these modern cruise ships are unsinkable..why bother
@@bryans2790 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 Yes, yes they are!!! 👍
This is a wonderful idea to do with the family! Great suggestion
Went on my first cruise in the Spring of 2023. I wanted to do all the things that was mentioned here, but by the time I got to my cabin, all I really wanted to do was take a nap, so I did. Throughout the week, I was able to explore the ship, but even just listening to this video is making me tired. I'm a full time working mom and I was without my son on this trip. I took a nap on Embarkation day.
I'm a big "doer" on vacations but I also want to relax and do stuff at my own pace. Particularly the embarkation day and sea days, I'll do some exploration sure but the last thing I want is to feel rushed. If I want to chill in my cabin and/or take my time unpacking and "moving in" to my cabin I'll definitely do that too.
The most important thing to do on Embarkation day is do what YOU want to do. There are many choices if you want to do actives but sometimes just getting to the ship and onboard can be very busy and/or overwhelming. But don’t forget to eat. 😊😊😊😊
When you're in your stateroom check the patio door if you have a balcony check to make sure the TV runs through all the channels pick up the phone to make sure you get a dial tone also check the toilet pushed flush one time to make sure it functions turn on the hot and cold water to make sure you get hot and cold water out of the you know the proper knob same with the shower shut closet doors you know functionality of the cabin
Excellent advice. If you need to change a room for any reason, do it before you unpack and get settled!
Just wanted to say thank you so much for making these vlogs. I don’t have any family it’s just me for the holidays , which makes it so depressing this time of year. But watching your videos makes me so happy. You’re so fun and down to earth. My favorite vlogger by far.
I understand.
I understand as well. We 3 should meet up on a ship!!!
@@sacramentosistah Absolutely, that would be so nice.
Same here if you don’t mind a 4th. 😂😂😂
Aww Im down as a 5th Im heading on this cruise Navigator of Sea In February next year! First time too! Soo excited!
Even if you have the barcoded boarding pass info on your cell, keep a printout handy just in case.
Exploring your embarkation port is probably the biggest recommendation for me - it always surprises me when people rock up in the city and their holiday doesn't begin until 3pm when they board the ship. I always aim to get out the hotel at the crack of dawn, to add 'day 1' to my holiday, instead of a lazy hotel day! Great video - some really great tips in here!
Normally a good idea but not in Miami, place is a shithole.
very helpful make everyday count!
About to go on my first cruise in three days and I'm excited and anxious at the same time.
You'll love it
yes, you will love it. going on my 9th in 30 days. can't wait
You'll have a great time!
The only danger….it’s addictive! Have a wonderful time.
@@Silvares1 so dangerous 🤣🤣
This channel has a great community of fellow cruisers helping out one another in the comments.
Probably the best time to go to the windjammer is that breakfast time and be an early bird in other words I think they open their doors at 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning and a lot of cruisers are still sleeping from partying a little too hard the first night so you should be able to to not deal with a bunch of crowds have the freshest choices of food and be able to sit where you want to sit at the windjammer also remember the apps section of the windjammer usually has very good views and it's the least crowded
I love being one the first at the Windjammer, it’s the most peaceful time to go. 😊
If you want to carry a bit of cash for your destination country, do the exchange before you leave home. It costs heaps to do it on the ship.
Thank You Matt, for sharing the “Do’s and Don’t’s of Cruising. I am so looking forward to cruising real soon!
For me is a no to drop off luggage! I prefer to take it myself, i feel like it’s faster! If you wanna change or take a shower or Settle in you don’t have to wait for your bag to arrive!
I agree
And it sometimes doesn’t make it on board. NCL Porter took my bag at the Port of Tampa, never saw it gain, that was last March. All I have was 1 pair of tennis shoes, 1 pair of pants, socks, underwear and jeans. 5 night cruise without my bag! 😢
I have found myself in CruiseTube, and I'm not even planning a cruise. I think I might book one soon though, thanks to these videos. I went on one with my parents in the 90s...I think it might be time to revisit this kind of travel.
You should be able to watch and complete the muster checklist in the app while riding the bus or cab to the cruise port. I did it my last cruise and when I got on board I went directly to the muster station where the app was ready for the staff signoff.
Hellos thank you. From where I can download the muster drill app. Going in December.
As soon as we get on we get the lay of the land on the ship. Then we grab a light lunch and hit the hot tub right away because it’s always less crowded than sea days. Then run to change for dinner!
CONNECT SEPARATE ACCOUNTS VIA CUSTOMER SERVICE BEFORE EMBARKATION.
If you booked separately for a family trip (my bro and wife booked, my mom and dad booked, and then I booked same trip, Different accounts) make sure you call and connect yourselves through CS! We were not linked on RC side even though we connected via the app. And would not have been seated together for dinner. All parties must verbally OK the connection, so a conference call of some sort would be helpful.
I'm glad you mentioned the whole thing with cell phones. I used to work for a major cellphone carrier and handled their tech support and international suport calls pre-covid. There was several times where we would have to try and save some poor sap from $2000 phone bills all because they forgot to put their phone on airplane mode or do what i usually recommend because sometimes apps will be sneaky and take out the sim card all together. One guy that a co worker got rang up a $10000 bill because he was using his data on board just as if he were sitting in his own living room. My poor co worker went white as a ghost when he discovered he was going to have to tell that guy some not so great news. He was going to owe almost every penny of it because there's only so much our staff could have done.
With all the discussion about what one can do with a cell phone enroute to or onboard, my question is >>> do cruise ships now REQUIRE passengers to carry smartphones? Or, is a smartphone optional? If optional, are there substitute ways to find out the important things one needs to know before boarding or while on the ship?
1. DO NOT allow wait staff to hand you a "souvenir" drink unless you want to spend $15.-$20. Nothing is free on the ship, it will get charged to you.
do you live in SE Ky? if so, I may have worked with you.
Just returned a couple of days ago from a family cruise on Symphony of the Seas. I've taken over twenty cruises, but this was only my second one on RC. You're suggestions make sense and are generally what I do. When I was on Navigator last December there were several announcements made for passengers to complete their muster drills, no issues on Symphony. Several folks, including our party, had issues with the specialty restaurants. They had been given different instructions online and discovered one or more reservations had disappeared. I have a family member who does not drink, so we were delighted by the number of mocktails available. I even tried a few at the Bionic Bar, which were really good. The app was a pain, as I had to continually sign back into the wifi to check messages from my family. I'll be sailing on RC again as everyone had such a great time.
Which drink(s) was/were good at Bionic Bar please? Going in December. Thanks!
Excellent tips, thanks for the video! Long time subscriber. I’m from Orlando too, and I recommend booking a hotel for the night before the cruise if coming from up north to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale cruise ports to alleviate the stress since it takes 3-4 hours drive time. We’ve run into traffic and road work on the highway. One time we literally had to run after parking the car to get to the ship before it left. Yes you can leave earlier but we are always doing last minute things and always seemed to leave a little later then planned. Many hotels offer free parking for cruise guests and some have a free shuttle to cruise port. The extra cost of hotel is offset by the normal cost of cruise port parking, so it’s not like you add much more cost to stay that night. So now I have a rule that when we book a cruise down there we have to get a hotel the night prior.
DON'T be a jerk to employees or fellow passengers. DO be nice!😀
Having worked on cruise ships I always suggest going to introductions which can be very informative.
Wow, didn't know you can now bring your own water and soda! Just returned from Odyssey of the Seas and I could've saved $20 on purchasing 12- 8oz cans of water provided by RC. Definitely bring your own water/soda.
Make sure you check with your specific cruise. Many no longer allow this.
I agree about the embarkation drink, but unless you dont care about saving money or you had a stressful trip getting on board and you need one right away to relax, wait a couple hours to have the first one to avoid state and region taxes on alcohol. Knowing these policies would be helpful in international ports of call, but be aware DRINK BILLS SHOULD BE CHEAPER ON INTERNATIONAL WATERS DUE TO LESS TAXING. Don't necessarily refrain completely from a first day embarkation drink but try to wait until you are on the sea. The only possible exceptions to keep in mind for this advice is pre-registered drink packages or if you have a specialized waiver from this problem written in your booking contract with your cruise company. In my experience though, this is golden advice that I wish I knew.
Absolutely agree with flying in early!!!!
the airline i used did not have any sameday flights with arrivals prior to embarkation time so that forced me to book a flight with arrival the prior day
11:58 An add on, it you have a legitimate problem (example- heat/air doesn't work), or even a question, if at all possible, find someone in that department, and talk to them about it. They are probably more familiar with the situation. Not always, but there tends to be staff in all the areas available to talk to. It is even a good time to meet the staff in the dining room, spa, etc.
Moreover, if you have a legitimate complaint about you room, talk to you steward. They are probably already know about that kind of thing, and if it's not something petty, there is a good chance to get an room upgrade for free. It's the number one way to get a free upgrade. But remember: 1) It needs to be legit; 2) You can't be petty; 3) You have to go in not expecting an upgrade.
(Bonus: Make a habit of giving the steward a good tip up from, say $100 cash. If you have an issue, they are even more likely to go above and beyond their normal high lever of service. Have some tack though. Don't just do it to get something extra. Do it because these people are getting extremely low pay, but watch what they will do for you!)
I am binging your videos and LOVING it!
Glad you like them!
If you are driving to your port I suggest showing up a little before your check in time to find a spot in the parking garage and then getting over to the check in area.
Just finished my first cruise experience on Spectrum of the Seas. Was great!
This video can be my check list ✅️ for embarkation day.
This was very helpful, I am going on my 1st cruise in February and trying to learn as much as possible 🙂 Thank you!
you're going to LOVE it!!! have a great time!
@@AndreaShink Thank you!
Me too
Have a great time! Buffets are great do not forget to try one or maybe two! And Have Fun!❤
@@gulnursarinzhieva3055 We're in the same boat then...maybe literally 🤣
For us: Do ask for the refrigerator to be emptied. We don't want those tiny bottles of not our flavor of liquor, soda & waters. Not there no chance to be charged for something. We take a little treat for out cabin steward (s). A high end chocolate seems to be a favorite .
We take a picture of all the stuff in the refrigerator and video them taking everyting out so we are not charged for it.
I usually bring my suitcase to my room myself. That eliminates dealing with the porters.if my room isn't ready, I just leave the suitcase in front to the door.
I heard some hallways have doors they lock and you can’t get to your room.
Casino slots are very loose day 1. Then they tighten up especially as the cruise goes forward.
I was surprised that you didn't mention that booking a shore excursion ahead of time guarantees you a slot but if you get on board and decide you no longer want to do it (for whatever reason) you can cancel up to 24 hours (and I've seen that be quite flexible) before the excursion for no penalty. And the money is, I believe, refunded to you as On Board Credit meaning you have more money to enjoy specialty dining, shopping, drinks or pay-to-play activities!
Also once it is "onboard credit" you can withdraw the cash at Customer Service.
I love how people say don't go to guest services but a lot of people do anyway. It's like when people see a "wet paint" sign but they still touch the paint.
#1 DONT - fly in same day as cruise… I arrived 4days ahead to also visit family in FL and the group chat created by the trip agent/director had a woman frantically trying to catch a flight the night before. There was a BIG storm and allll flights on the east coast were cancelled that night. She couldn’t even fly in early the next morning in time.
I've found out you can often avoid the line at guest services by calling with your stateroom phone.
True, although I find the wait times quite long too on the phone
Thank You..... All your videos have been very helpful
Glad to hear that!
My last cruise we forgot to check the fridge was working the first day; took until the afternoon of day two to get a working fridge.
I have been on 9 cruises and honestly I couldn’t come up with one tip lol good job!! Can’t wait for my next cruise I’m hoping for Jan 2023
Cheers and love from Canada 🇨🇦
Thank you, Matt!! One of your very best!
Thanks for watching!
I laughed at the first tip! We usually leave out of Los Angeles, literally a shipping container dock, nothing to explore! :)
Yeah there will be no wandering about Long Beach.
Nearby there's the aquarium, Queen Mary, among other destinations. I didn't mean it has to be within walking distance of the terminal.
LOL...isn't that the truth! I literally find a spot to relax and read a book until booking.
My first cruise coming up in a few weeks! Thanks Matt
Great tips! We never go to windjammer on day 1. Cafe promenade for us!
DO: Have patience, cruise ships will have lines and borderline over crowded especially if a portion of the ship closed / is being repaired
A Must to book dinner & entertainment the 1st day. I started my cruise on Wonder of the Seas in Rome in July, but it the cruise actually started in Barcelona. Many reservations were taken already. If I had waited another day, my unlimited dinning pass would not have been worth it.
Do: pack an extension cord because there is not one by the bed if you have like C-pap machines or something that needs to be near you.
FYI: I called the cruise line ahead of time and they are going to provide the extension cord and the distilled water.
I was planning to see the Tampa Aquarium on embarkation, however was unable to drop off luggage as planned because the ship got in late which meant ALL the porters were like 2 hours late, and there was no place to check luggage at the aquarium, you will not be able to keep your carry on wine with you if you plan to keep your backpack with you and you can't leave it in your checked luggage, so you have to check with your planned AM excursion to see if carrying wine in your backpack is cool. It was not at the Aquarium. Also, these venues open LATE, like 10 AM. Other than that it is a good idea to do something on the AM of embarkation day, just be discerning about what you plan to do that morning.
I loveeee flying in the same day as my cruise, the adrenaline is fun. Ha ha. I only do it when I'm not flying far (a couple hours max) and when I've booked through a travel agent, that way it's their job to sort it out if it goes wrong. If I book it myself or fly far I always stay a night. :-)
Today's Jeopardy question: "What are preventable problems solved by a cheap hotel stay?"
Why bother with the stress if something DOES go wrong with your flight. Its not worth it. Dont be a cheapskate.
One more don’t is don’t eat lunch around dinner time. I made this mistake a couple years ago when I went a Cruise to Alaska and I wasn’t hungry for dinner. Do eat lunch around 1:30
I'm going on my first cruise (and first plane ride for that matter lol) next April. We're going on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise, the Mariner of the Seas cruise ship. Thanks for these helpful videos!
Thanks for watching!
I'm going to be on Mariner for the High Seas Rally in 2 days. Congratulations for you first 2. Upgrade your dining before you go and get excursions now. Check back with me in 2 weeks for my review.
I'm sailing the mariner of seas April 1st , I'm so anxious 😟
I LOVE the Mariner of the Seas!
@@vmaine94 why are you anxious? 🤔
Having my first “getting on board beer” is priority #1 🤪🤪🤪
Wait… so we don’t have to physically muster to our special locations anymore? It’s been a hot minute since I’ve cruised. This is exciting!!
You do have to still go to your muster location but you only have to check in and tell them you watched the video on the app. Takes less than a minute. Hard to believe they are still calling for passengers hours after they get on.
It's such a big difference!
When my wife and I sailed on the Mardi Gras.we stayed in the Orlando airport. So worth it
Watched your vlog several times. As a first time cruiser it has been beneficial. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
That's what I do at Baltimore MD and I'm familiar with Baltimore after I got on the ship I had a drink special and then took a tour of the ship had lunch in the Windjammer and then the cabin or stateroom
Very useful. Thanks for the reminders!
One more DON'T to add:
Despite how tempting it may be, don't get drunk on embarkation day. Hangovers can RUIN the next day ... which is exactly when you want to be at your best.
You touched upon it Matt regarding the shore excursions. When we went to Hawaii, we wanted to go see the Waimea Canyon, but no excursions were posted before hand. We checked at the excursion desk after dinner the first day and sure enough RC just made the Waimea Canyon excursion available to book. Will definitely check with RC on board in the future regarding new excursions to book.
What I like to do for E muster is Watch the videos in the hotel then go on board and then find your station
Good idea!
This content is beneficial! Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for all the useful tips.
I goofed even as a seasoned veteran of cruising. I did everything as stated BUT I had the package that includes speciality dining. I was starving so I went for lunch in the buffet. By the time I made it to my stateroom all the specialty restaurants were booked full, they oversold the package. It did work out. I was traveling solo so they had me on standby for last minute cancellations. Don't risk it!!!
I don’t think I have enough time on the embarkation morning to do anything in the city. I would prefer making sure I’m in the port as early as possible.
he said to arrive the DAY BEFORE. you are correct if arriving same day at port.
Excellent job Matt
Thanks!
I enjoyed my day at the port in Vancouver. They have boat tours and poutine. What more could you ask for.
Thanks fo all the tips. We're embarking on our first cruise in next april (on the MSC Seashore) and it's so cool to get all those advices from experienced cruisers. Our first will only last for 4 days, so every info we can gather before (especially me, my wife and daughter sort of rely on me because... well... cruising is my dream to begin with), every info is welcome so we don't get lost or stressed when we arrive. I wish for them to cheer the experience, so that we will go back in the years to come.
So... Thank you again :-)
You will absolutely LOVE cruising
Please consider making a PDF list of this. Getting ready to plan my 1st cruise and having a printout of this would be even more helpful. Still a great video!
Great idea!
Jonathon Tso just made a nice summary.
Just write it down as you watch the video.
If you have to have a fan...don't pack it in your suitcase. Take it in your carry on. I've had it taken away everytime. At least if it's on your person you can usually get in with it. Same for phone chargers.
They take your phone chargers?
Can you do the muster drill on the day of your cruise before getting on the ship so you just have to check in at your station when you get on the ship?
Yes
Yes
Do you have access to that video prior to boarding?
Yes. We generally watch the video and the ship horns on the app while in line for boarding the ship (on the free ship wifi) and our muster station is the first stop upon boarding.
@@sarahsully7729 Yes. On the app. Find the 'Safety' icon at the bottom of the main screen. It's in there.
Just got off a cruise at Bahamas🌺😁
I loved Cafe 270 for lunch on Quantum
“Explore embarkation city.”
/looks around Galveston.
“I’m good.”
Moody Gardens, The Strand, Pleasure Pier, the beach, Bishop's Palace, Murdoch's, dolphin tour, ride the ferry, Oil Rig Museum, etc. Tons to do!
😂
Are reservations made in the app, TV, or at the guest service counter? For instance for north star reservation. Where is that made? Thanks for all the tips. I’m saving this to rewatch before I leave for my cruise.
You know that's kind of sucks that you can't make it when you do it at the check-in terminal your reservations for specialty dining but thanks for telling me about it zooms that sounds like a very popular restaurant so soon as I get on board make reservations with the izoomy then go to the then go to the quartermaster's desk and make reservations for the other specialty dining then find something to eat and do muster drill
Specialty dinning reservations can be made thru the app before you board.
@@kimkelly4586 do you mean on embarkation day? That would be awesome.
You should be able to go on your app right now and do it (if your cruise is soon). We're leaving 11/26 and I already made reservations for the steak place and Jamie's Italian.
@@kimkelly4586 yeah I usually don't like downloading strange apps one I downloaded totally changed all the configuration of my phones that I had to do a factory reset I'm pretty sure the Royal Caribbean app is safe but long as it doesn't change the settings on my phone or download a bunch of spyware
I haven't had any problems and you'll really want it on the ship.
Hi. I have never cruised before. I am looking into this for possibly 2024. Can wifi and drink packages ext. be booked before the cruise? Also, good idea about putting your phone in plane mode. I never thought about that, but makes sense.
I'm booked for April 2023, and i booked my wifi and drink packages right after I booked the cruise.
When my wife and I sailed on the Mardi we do order as much we can in the main dining room
Our transportation turned up at 11am , breakfast was so slow in our 4* hotel we didnt have much time to look around be for transport, and at the luggage drop off as soon as the porter came up to us he wanted a tip, even looking at our hands giving us a talk on what he do just for us. Then swore at us, when we didnt have cash to hand.
“Don’t arrive at the port before your check-in time”
I have taken 2 cruises during the pandemic, from both Europe and Florida, and in spite of repeated Royal Caribbean communication of arriving to the port on the assigned time, I have seen people allowed into the cruise terminal even after staff finds out it’s not their time yet.
In FLL, I saw the port staff (not RCL employees) turn people away who came early. The problem was that they only had one line. Everyone was jumbled together. I saw a Celebrity embarkation in a YT video and they had three clearly labeled and roped lines (11:30,12:00,12:30, e.g.) That seemed smart. If no one is waiting in the 11:30 line, let the people in the 12:00 line proceed and so on.
You are going to create congestion if everyone does that... dont be a dick
I arrived a bit early for my check in for RCL - they let me pass. The check in was moving super fast. Barely waited at all.
No do I did and they let me in early
Can you bring both two bottles of wine AND soda or only one or the other? :)
can you bring two bottles of wine if solo and paying the single supplement fee for the room that is double the price?
Both
@@boomboomboom4160 Yes. It's two 750ml bottles wine and 12 17oz soda per stateroom.
Both
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog Their website states only 1 bottle of 750ml wine
My wife and I will be going on our 1st cruise ever in 2 weeks to Alaska. Approximately how long will it take to get familiar with the ship and where all the places are located?
That's my biggest challenge I think I will have is to know where things are.
We made our Uzumi reservation with the manager at Chops along with the rest of our reservations for our dining package.
Will RC ever bring these oasis class ships to Singapore? Or is our waters too shallow?
Also, i disagree. Do NOT leave your luggage to porter service. You will definitely receive it late and thus ruining your plans. Take it to ur room yourself. If room is not ready then leave it outside (they put it outside anyways) or if you're not comfortable then bring it with u. You will likely get your room ready after taking your lunch.
I'm going on my first cruise and I couldn't be any more nervous/excited!!! I am absolutely grateful for this video, but I am confused about the cruise app. If my phone is on airplane mode, will the app work?
Yes, you can use WiFi while your phone is in airplane mode. You can test this out while at home!
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog I just learned something new. Lol. Thank you so much.
Great vids... I have a question I hope someone can answer. I have been on 2 Royal Caribbean cruises.. both on Adventure of the Seas.... and had a great time in the Imperial lounge for game night. I have an upcoming cruise on Allure of the Seas. Does Allure of the Seas have the same game night in any of the lounges? Name of the lounge?
towards the end of this video, it showed beautiful mountain views. What country was that at?
Would be nice to know about handicapped/mobility issue accommodation. Do you have to have a smart phone?
What do you guys do about thieves? My hubby had 6 new tshirts stolen from his luggage 😢
Matt, are stateroom attendants allowed to receive gifts? What if we wanted to bring some chocolate or small item from our home town?
Most of the time as a kid and being sent to those cruise day cares. Yeah...I stayed for 30 minutes, found out we were coloring then doing face painting. I just left the group and went to the pool. Much better crowd and I had fun compared to some coloring books XD I was 13,15,16
I have not seen anyone turned away for showing up early. We were in line with people who had onboarding time of 2 hours after ours.
they boarded before us. It was very crowded. they should do it like boarding a plane. call the times and those people get in line and when the line dies down call the next set of people
You’ve got to be kidding! You have it right! But the buffets are grand!❤
Ive heard that some ship rooms there is no fridge, but it is a cooler only. If true this is a little wierd.
Explore your embarkation city? With hotel checkout at 11:00 a.m., what do we do with our luggage while exploring?
Most hotels will store your luggage for free
Hey Matt- where is the best place on the Wonder to make your show and dinning reservations when you board? Love all your content. Johnny🎉
Look for a booth on the promenade as you board (probably near Sorrento's)