Carry a separate bag with your bathing suit. The instant you get to your room. Change and hit the pool or hot tub. Let the others wait for their bags to be delivered.
Be sure to pack a carry on back pack/bag with swim suite/sunscreen if you get on board early day one. It takes until dinner sometimes to get your luggage. Enjoy the pools, dont stress and have a drink!
A) Bring your OWN lanyard with an ID pouch on it. You need to have your room key present to go off/on the ship AND to get back INTO the port. You can go to Walmart, Target, 5 Below etc and choose one for yourself that is not expensive like the ones sold on the ship and better quality. Get one for kids,too, of ALL ages. B) Passports CAN be stamped in port IF the immigration office is still open. Just ask a gate guard as SOON as you leave the ship. We always hide our passports on us in port, just in case ish goes down. C) Bring small bills and a WALLET inside a purse or a backpack. Don't stand there like a hooker with crumpled bills in their hand like my cousin, screaming ROB ME! But also, don't expect change from a $50 for a $4 item. Taxi's, beaches and vendors take USD and if you check the exchange rate on ship and in port, you can get a good deal. If they take Euros, its a REALLY good deal in USD. D) Don't feel hustled into buying the 1st item you see at a stall. LOOK all the way around the market or stores ESPECIALLY in the port areas. Outside vendors will barter and try to guilt you. These vendors are not multimillionaires, but they have THOUSANDS from cruise ships pass them daily, don't get hustled. $10 for a bag, $15-20 for a dress or 2 for $35-40. ANYMORE AND YOU GOT HUSTLED. E) When in the dining hall, check the entire floor before seating in the buffet. People miss entire sections because they stand in the first line they see. You can also take the food anywhere on the ship and back to your room. Just leave outside your door when done. Formal night is ONLY in the formal restaurants and it basically means don't wear swimsuits and flipflops, anything else is good. F) You can ask for room gratuities to be taken off on day 2 at the front desk and then pay in cash. Each ship has a suggested tippage. Tipping IS optional, no matter how much they guilt you. G) KNOW YOUR EMBARKATION PORT!! Its all in the details. Some cities, like San Juan, Puerto Rico have TWO ports, about 20min drive from each other around the channel. Yeah, call your travel agent and google the hell out of WHERE your ship leaves from. H) Also, if you can carry your bag on board with items that fit through an X-Ray, you have a completely different line you stand in. In PR at the smaller airport cruise terminal RC sails from, there is a hella empty line for walkers and a FULL line for people with suitcases who then have to get in the same line after anyway. PEOPLE stand in lines just to stand in line because they see someone else in line. Make sure you're in an embarkation line, not a disembarkation line for former passengers. Trust.....I am @TrotmansTravels on IG, I SEE THIS A LOT ON MY CRUISES. Bags are either left in the hallway or your room by the end of the 1st night. NO ASSIGNED TIME. Yeah, no. Carry my own bags on with a foldable luggage carrier and then go to the buffet to kill time until I can go put in my room, b/c I am usually one of the first on the ship. I) Everyone is eventually in vacation mode on the cruise. Strangers who would normally never talk to strangers are SUPER chatty on cruises. ROLL WITH IT. Meet a new friend. GET A NEW PLACE TO STAY FOR FREE. J) IF you are someone who NEEDS to have ironed clothes, iron them at the hotel the night before and then roll the clothes into your suitcase. Some ships confiscate travel steamers, you won't know until embarkation and rooms do NOT come with irons. Why pay to send out to be ironed?? Wearing shake and go clothes is your best bet. Put it this way with your planning: SEA DAY? Wear the same clothes. You're not leaving the ship. Why pack two outfits? Put the clothes on a hanger and let them air out in the room with the travel febreze you brought. Finished packing? Take a full outfit out, you won't wear it anyway. 5-7 day cruises only need 4 outfits and like 2 pairs of shoes. I always pack my bag half full so I can add booze to it for the flight back with my checked bag. I also roll an empty dufflebag into my carryon for my flight to use as my carryon on the way back with souvenirs. K) Cigarettes and booze are duty free on the ship in int'l waters and in the ports. If sailing out of Florida, go to Walgreens or Rite-Aid, they sell tobacco products for like $5 a pack!! Definitely not the $10-11 in Massachusetts. Buy JUST enough to last you til an hour after your ship sets sail, when the stores open up and you can get duty free cigarettes (not always 100s) for 2 cartons for $30 or 3 for $45 or something. MY AUNT WAS IN LOVE WITH THESE PRICES! Don't bother with wifi, its crap. Be merry and leave work at work and your phone in airplane mode. Most ports have free wifi anyway. Keep your phone in airplane mode and check email then IF you must. L) Have fun. It's a cruise. Don't be THAT person with the I Want To Talk To Your Manager Voice at sea. Have questions? Download the Shipmate app and they answer ALL your questions about booked and upcoming cruises. Also, there's cruisecritic.com that I use to see where my room is. Corner balconies are usually WAY bigger for the same price. Always book with a travel agent. I use icruise.com or JetBlue Cruises. I get points for using my JB credit card and loyalty number. Book with an agent, you get extra perks and can book 1-3yrs in advance with just a deposit. Keep calling back by checking cruise page or going to icruise.com and adding an alert to your cruise. Price drop? Call agent and update your invoice. NEVER pay in full for a cruise more than 100 days out. Most make you pay in full 45-90 days before cruise. Why get refunded in OBC (on board credit) when you can just avoid paying it at all? shipmateapp.com/ www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/ (you can see down to specific room reviews by number) Use the site to find a deal and then call the number to book. I don't think they let you book online. If you have AAA, have military or senior discount, a teacher, a student, loyalty points on another cruise line, tell ALL of this to your agent. MSC matches points/status from other lines. Before boarding your ship, sign up for the cruise line's free loyalty program so you can get points AND get invited to events on your sailing, even if its your first cruise! cruises.jetblue.com/ www.icruise.com Ciao!!
MeToo84 Anyone who doesn't tip the standard amount that they charge per day...shouldn't go on cruises! That's just selfish and inconsiderate. Those working, work very hard and for very little pay, and the little amount that they charge per day is divided among everyone that does a service for you (each waiter, cleaning service etc..) they ALL have to divide up less than $80 a day between the 10-15 of them that cater to you throughout your cruise. The least you can do is be grateful for their service. Ugh. I can't stand people who don't tip these people who work so hard for pennies! And who complain that it's too much.
Panama Rubia thats not being selfish. America is the main country that does tipping and some peopel cant afford to tip. And if they are getting low money, they dont have to work on a cruise so u through your money out
Blue aadi If you can afford to cruise... your ass should afford to tip!!! They work in that industry probably because it's the only job that they can do that's available. Or maybe they just love their job. Doesn't mean you get to be inconsiderate and not tip them for doing a good job. I can see if they sucked at their job. Otherwise, don't be greedy and just TIP, you selfish people. Sheesh
Blue aadi First, I've never called you a bitch, so, there's no reason to disrespect me like that. Second, I'm Hispanic from Panama. Finally, I am happy to tip because I'm not a hateful or depressed woman. Or evil. Anyone who goes on a cruise or out to eat and doesn't tip, should just stay home. Those are the depressed people, not me. It's not like I'm tipping a thousand dollars per cruise. Goodness. Each cruise is barely $300. Don't be so stingy, you greedy foreigner. lol
Many great tips but you forgot one of the best: Book and reserve excursions and activites in advance whenever you can. You do not want to get the worst seats in the theatre or find out that youre favorite excursion is booked full when you enter the ship. So take use of the app and the websides and book in advance. Its often cheaper as well. Also its worth mentioning the value of pre arranged transfer to and from hotels and airports. Helps a lot if you have them. Johan.
I TOTALLY agree with this! Take a few mins. of your time to look through your "Compass" (planner) while enjoying a cup of coffee etc. in the AM...it is well worth it as NOT to miss any points of interest...highlight them!
Ms. Education i recently cruised and they have check in times. Idk if they stick to those but I read you won’t get checked in if you come earlier than your assigned time.
If you chose an excursion not offered by Royal Caribbean, and it gets delayed coming back to the ship, the ship wont wait up for your ass unlike the RC ones
Same goes if you book a LOT cheaper flight to the port of debarkation. But, I go a day early, and stay in a cheap hotel. Sightsee a little and then take a cab to the pier the next afternoon. Most of the excursions are a joke anyway. Just get a cab and spend a day at the beach. Have the driver drop you off in town on the way back. Save your money.
@@rogerdodger8415 agreed. the shore excursions are generally extremely overpriced when I went on a cruise to the south pacific there were cheaper options available on shore. (eg: I paid around $38 for shuttle ride around noumea and went snorkelling at duck island for free, however if you had booked pretty much the exact same thing through Royal Caribbean, it would have costed around $80. like tominator said, it doesn't come with the perk of the ship waiting If the excursion is delayed, but if you keep track of time, you should have no problems :) Here's a review I wrote that goes more in depth about it: www.cruisecritic.com.au/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=646232
@@amber_chou I used the link you provided. Great Comment! I'm booked on RC for August and was just starting to look at the prices of their soda and booze packages. They are outrageous!! The math that some suggest to use in determining whether you'll save money on the deal, ignore the fact that you'll be OFF the boat in Port for a substantial part of your sailing. You've got a LOT of drinking (ugh) to do to break even. They're robbery without a gun. Soda costs them pennies. Also, everyone could easily see the shows, but on my last trip, I failed to make our reservation and got locked out of seeing the stage shows!!! Unbelievable. Years of cruising, and never saw anything like that.
@@rogerdodger8415 I bought a bottle of soft drink with me and stored it in the minifridge in my room though, I never really felt the need to drink it as there were always a lot of other sweet treats and hot chocolate in the complimentary cafe to fill me up :)
@@amber_chou I thought they had restrictions on what you can bring on board. Do they allow soda in your luggage? Seems like I'll need a lot for a seven day cruise. If you buy alcohol at the duty free store, they grab it as you get back on board, THEN the airlines forces you to check it and they charge $35 for each checked bag! They've come a long long way from Kathy Lee Giffords commercials where she would say "everything is included, leave your wallet at home" Now, it's one big selling opportunity for them. They hound you constantly to buy something.
Take advantage of any pre checkin opportunities, book your specialty restaurants, spa and shows early. Read the compass and plan out entire cruise, sign up for the, flow rider and zip line early. Don’t waste your port days with the first person who comes up to you trying to sell you time shares. Ask the local taxi drivers for there favorite food spots and hangout spots.
I'm not even going on a cruise but I'm watching this to make me feel like I am so I can pretend, and not have to face the depressing reality of this quarantine any longer D:
Bring a waterproof pouch that hangs around your neck for room key and phone, it can also hold passport/or photocopy of passport if needed. Also, bring your thermal insulated mug with lid (your drink won't melt when it's hot on deck)
want to get some free souvenirs for your trip? My wife and I always go to the jewel meeting on board. They give you a free bracelet and charm for going. Each stop, they give you shops to visit to collect another free charm. ALOT of shops also advertise "come in and get a free charm" If you can avoid the sales pitch, you will end up with a neat little charm bracelet, with charms from every port, and it cost you only time walking around window shopping. We have several bracelets now and it all tell a story of each cruise we have taken. It's kind of fun "treasure hunting" for free charms.
Bring a highlighter! To highlight stuff you want to do on the Cruise Compass. Can't tell you how many little seminars and classes I missed because I didn't tick it off and keep track of the time!!
Great tips; however, what he fails to point out regarding booking third party excursions is that while they may be a bit cheaper, they do not offer protection in case they are running late. By booking through the cruise line, you may pay a bit more but you have the added protection of the ship either waiting for you or the cruise line getting you to the next port at their expense if the excursion is delayed.
This IS an excellent point! You need to be careful with excursions "outside" of the ships offerings. By paying a little extra, you are "guaranteed" the ship will not leave without you back on board even if the excursion return is running late... they HAVE to wait for you...I know, it happened to me. With 3rd party excursions, the ship DOES NOT have to wait for you. I too am surprised this wasn't mentioned.
I was going to mention this. I've been on 2 cruises but (along with my family) was ALWAYS careful about going off on our own. In Bermuda we had 2 days so we took local transportation to the aquarium facility (both local transport AND that facility were pretty neat experiences) on the first day so we KNEW we wouldn't have a problem. Second day was just milling around within sight of the ship. In Nassau some of us had an excursion booked to go to Atlantis, but a couple of us walked to the Queen's Staircase and did some local shopping before hopping on that excursion so we knew we had more than enough time. You can do 3rd-party excursions or just meander on your own, but you need to be smart about it. Our ship this year left a couple people in Nassau...
Jon Lieberman I agree!!! My husband and I did an excursion in montego bay and our group was an hour late getting back to the boat. We booked the excursion through RC so the boat waited for us. Had we booked through a third party, we would have been extremely stressed out! So I believe the extra cost to book through RC is definitely worth it.
Totally agree... I was shocked that it wasn't mentioned, especially in a video targeted to first-timers. The rest was good, but that omission is unacceptable.
It's a vacation... If you want to eat with 2,000 people at a time and absorb all that noise go ahead. Speciality restaurants are only for people with extra money to spare, and really want to have a better vacation than the rest of the 4,000 onboard.
@@ofwpinoymovieclassics8715 I do the unlimited specialty dining, well worth it. What's $174 a person at the end of the day to never have to deal with the main dining room.
You didn’t mention that ordering breakfast from the room service menu was much hotter and tastier than going to the buffet. I wish I had done this the whole cruise.. it was sooo much better!
Yes it was just a surcharge or cover charge but it was only $7 for no matter what I got.. I forgot what's the name of the charge but it's just like a small fee of convenience but it was so worth it having my breakfast made fresh and hot! My only regret is not knowing about it earlier!
Some items are complimentary, such as, pastries, cold cereal, fresh fruit plate, yogurt, juice, milk, coffee. A more substantial breakfast has a slight charge. It was great to eat breakfast on our balcony or have something before leaving on an early excursion.
I am definitely guilty of a few of these mistakes. I had my first cruise last year on Carnival. Thankfully I had no issues flying in the morning of but I have heard horror stories since and will not do that ever again. As a newbie cruiser, I didn't know about the ability to book 3rd party excursions so I spent A LOT of money on Carnival ones. I'm going on my second cruise in December of this year on Royal Carribean Anthem of the Seas. I am soooo looking forward to it and I have already learned so much from my last cruise on what not to do.
So am i me and the girls are having a 2nd Girls Trip on the Anthem of the Seas Dec 8 maybe we will see you if that is the cruise you going on. Was on Anthem in May and i loved it so much that i missed because it was a short 5 days now i have 12 days to redo and find stuff we missed..
One mistake we made was booking our excursions for the middle of the day. We thought we’d sleep in and enjoy the port of call in the afternoons but that left us with no time to enjoy the beach or local shopping.
Just came back from Bermuda on anthem. If you have any doubts about the drink package offered you better get it. Average drink of the day is 10 bucks plus 2 buck gratuity. Bottled water is 4 bucks. Speciality coffee is 5 bucks. Believe me its worth it, especially when you are at the pool or casino or at the many shows you will see on board. Plus you can get a discount on the package if you pay a week before you're cruise ( av 30%)..happy cruising......
Colleen Williams You can go to your own travel agency instead of using or go through Royal Caribbean agency/customer service. You can get a better deal from your own travel agency but you just have to research which is the best for you. Btw, you will go crazy to see the price from Celebrity Cruise! It ridiculous expensive compare to RCL which is a little cheaper. Celebrity Cruise don’t even have water slide, rock climbing, zip lining, and etc. You get everything or more than Celebrity Cruise.
1. Don't forget to print your cruise documents before showing up at port 2. Use Royal Caribbean's online cruise planner to purchase on board amenities before cruising 3. Don't try to avoid the muster drill, you just make it more difficult for everyone else
I find it funny that on our first cruise our travel agent thought it was a great idea to fly in the morning of the cruise. We never questioned it and luckily didn't have any issues. However, going forward we will ALWAYS fly in at least the day before. And - we don't use that agent anymore. She missed more than just the flight advice. 😉 Great video!
I have questioned it myself as certain flight companies are known for cancelling..thats not good..but others are not ,so i went with the one whom i was recommended that wont cancel this yr..Up to date though, ive not had a prob in australia going..just doing that when i came home :)
It’s just a Royal blog, but yes, these tips would apply to most of the cruise lines. I’ve only cruised with Carnival, but came here also looking to learn about Royal. Good tips for new cruisers for sure!
after 17 cruises i am going to tell you the most important thing to know about cruising : when you are in the dinning room you can order all you can eat my wife ordered 4 lobster tail and shrimp dinners richard in fort lauderdale
This is so true! We were lucky enough to get seated with also first time cruisers who had been given this tip! It was awesome to be able to try more than one option since their food was always so delicious! I wanted the prime rib and the salmon but I didn't want everything that came with the salmon and they had no issues getting me just what I wanted! You can also order multiple desserts! Be prepared to gain weight on your cruise! lol
Some excursions actually will give you alcohol included in the price. Be careful and check your balance daily. We saw one girl crying at the desk when she found out she owed close to $800 and had to provide payment before leaving the ship! Those drinks add up fast! Also they misplaced my garment bag on one of our cruises and made every effort to find it...even gave us some onboard credit and extras to try to make up for it. They sent everyone a notice asking to check and make sure they did not have someone else's bag. Come to find out another woman had it all along and we caught her trying to sneak it off the ship on the last day. My husband recognized it. All of my pretty dresses and evening gowns were inside.
Totally disagree with the having a travel agent. I went through a well-known travel agency and they messed up everything they did for me. My airline tickets ended up being a notch above standby and we barely made our flight! We did not request cheap tickets!!! Our names were not on the list to transfer from the airline to the cruise ship and back! I finally had to show proof of payment to board the bus. These were all arranged by the travel agency. If you want it done right, DO IT YOURSELF!! In response to the travel agency query about how things went, I detailed everything that went wrong. I never got a response or an apology from anyone!
When i first started cruising I used a travel agent.. The first one i was doing for a family trip the darn "travel agent" that i passed for years decided she wanted to skip town with all of our money. It was about 8 cabins worth of money.. Had to sue toget a small amount of the money back.. there are some good ones but there are a lot of bad ones too. sorry about your experience.
The only mistake I made when I booked our first cruise was booking with Carnival. They double booked our room and pretty much told us we could take a much smaller interior room or get off the boat and beg for a refund. We stayed but we should have got off. The ship was pretty junky and outdated. Service was good after the initial encounter. The food was mediocre at best. Carnival may have cheaper rates but there’s a reason.
@@Abdul_Wakeel_Ghuraba probably carnival magic.. it pretty common ship to go on and carnival magic is literally docked like 30 minutes away where i live (i dont live in florida)
Remember ship time and port time ***ARE NOT*** always the same. It's smart to wear a watch and keep it set according to SHIP time because your phone may not be correct. Many people have been left in port because of this. Keep in mind if you book independent shore excursions and something happens and you can't get back to the ship on time they WILL NOT wait for you. They will if it's an excursion booked through the cruise line. This is one of the perks and you have one less thing to worry about.
That is excellent advice! I know some cruise passengers were recently left in Cuba because they didn't go by ship time and returned to find an empty pier.
Sarah Phillips this happened with us and the ship waited. We were so thankful that we went through RC for our excursion. They waited almost a half an hour for our truck to make it back to port.
Something very important that was not discussed is to examine the location of cabins. You don't want a cabin that is on a deck directly above/below things such as pool areas, entertainment venues, restaurants, etc. Trust me, it will make your experience more enjoyable. One other important item to consider is if you book during Easter break, be prepared to deal with drunk, out of control college students. I made this mistake on my first cruise and it was pure hell!
@@angelicamora9591I think he would be referring to spring break. maybe just called it easter break bc its around the same time as easter? similiar to how winter break is also called christmas break
After my first Royal cruise, I learned to have a change of clothes or two in my carry on bag as bags can be delayed getting to your cabin or (even worse) the ship. My first cruise was on the Adventure of the Seas from San Juan, PR and we never got our bags 'til almost dinner. Spent the whole afternoon in jeans. Not fun.
Bring a small medical bag with benadryl, motion sickness relief, pain relievers, sunburn gel, cold meds, blister bandaids, etc...The ship's gift shop has some of this, but it's at a cost. The ship's doctor is also very expensive. You never know what will come in handy. Have been on several cruises and we always need something.
So you're saying my trip will cost me 18 percent more off the getco because everything I buy is marked up 18 percent for gratuity. What in the actual fuck. I'm not liking that at all. Smh
My last cruise I went to a lot of specialty stuff then realized a lot of the steaks or sides at say the chop house are equal to what your getting at the wind jammer for dinner. Just because the food is included does not mean it’s less then. Most cases it’s better! If your nice and joke with the staff at the main hall they def take of you and give more.
if you ask them for more either way the will give you more.. It does help to be nice.. since i don't eat out that often and dont like trying new foods. that is when i do. somes i order atleast 2 of every app entree dessert. But i always take care of them at the end.
Nah, I don’t care for travel agents. I’ve gone on 7 cruises and have my 8th and 9th booked. I love scheduling excursions and visually seeing my options. I’ve been quite successful without a third party.
However, with RC excursions, if they run late then the ship will wait for you but if you book on your own, the ship will not wait and you risk being left behind.
I went on a cruise many years ago but used a travel agent. I picked my own room and choose excursions before going and had a wonderful trip. I would have loved it to have been longer even though it was a 7 day cruise. But I highly recommend a travel agent that knows what they're doing.
My only mistake was getting a hotel when we got back from our cruise, because they say you shouldn't arrange a flight for your first day back but you'll likely be getting back around 7 or 8 at the latest and they need to get the next guests on board and the only way to do that is to make sure you're off the ship, so if you get a flight around 3 or 4 you shouldn't really have any problems. And you can save a little money especially when you're just ready to be home and in your own bed again.
On the Oasis Class - DO BOOK YOUR SHOWS AND PREMIUM RESTAURANTS BEFORE YOU TRAVEL!! Depending on the show you may prefer an area of seating that might be taken if you just walk in. For the premium restaurants - you can try walking in but you may encounter a 2 hour wait or worse. We learned the hard way to book at least 2 weeks before you travel. We're leaving on another cruise in 10 weeks and our premium restaurants and shows are now booked. About shore excursions... we mix our excursions between the cruise line and do-it-yourself. If you choose the cruise line and your tour is late the cruise line "HAS" to wait for you. The Do-It-Yourself tour operators may be cheaper but if they're late then you have to pay for a flight to the next port.
Third party excursions, tho allowing a wider range of activities puts you at risk of getting left behind if there is an issue (bus breaks down, etc.) Booking thru the ship assures that you will make it back.
Bring CASH. Cash for Taxis, tipping, souvenirs (ports will charge outrageous credit card fees) and whenever you need to buy food or drink out on the ports.
Don't buy food when you are off the ship. Plan your day around the meals that are included on board. Plus there is always a place on board that serves food all day. Just buy drinks in port if you dont have a drink package on board
A good travel agent can make booking easier but a bad agent like in my case offered us 1 of 4 Royal Caribbean cruise so my wife and I booked everything on the Royal Caribbean website with a lot less issues. I will think twice about using an agent in the future when I can do it all myself without someone trying to steer me in the direction of their preference instead of listening to me the paying customer
Actually if you want to just cruise you can get a Passport ID Card. It doesn't allow you to fly internationally but it does allow you to enter and leave a country by land or sea. (again as you stated as long as the start and end points are on US soil), because that is what I did in 2011.
Handy tip: Bring a power strip Most cabins even some suites have a limited number of power outlets. I always bring a power strip so we can plug in our phones, laptop, etc.
ALWAYS get the travel/cruise insurance! Hopefully you’ll never need it but it is way cheaper than God forbid you do. Take it from experience with the latter.
They won't honor it can if you do purchase it unfortunately. The insurance is provided by a 3rd party carrier who won't return your call and if you contact Royal Caribbean they'll tell you to contact the insurance carrier... They keep you running in a circle that way.
Yes, if you must fly to meet the ship, go the day before. Our airline knowingly put our luggage on a later flight and notified us after we stood at the luggage carousel until it was shut off. Then we found out at customer service. I also pack empty covered thermal mug for coffee convenience and a cold drink bottle. If you’re partial to straws, bring a box.
Shouldn’t have watched this... it’s been a year since I’ve been on RC and I want to go so bad 😭😭 We cruise on RC frequently... about once or twice a year for me personally and upwards of 3 times for my parents (so unfair! Haha) I want to skip down to ft. Lauderdale and hop on the allure or the harmony and get me some of those gooooood rolls at dinner. I really wanted to be a cruise director for a while and I still think of getting a job for RC at some point. Have you stayed in the staterooms with the virtual balcony? How was it? Did you like it? I just absolutely love the ocean view balconies. I think a really good tip also would be to sign up for the crown and anchor society!! Even if it’s your first cruise... you get to start racking up points, classes, and special stuff from RC :]
Don't be afraid of public transportation at your port. When you leave a port I prefer being upstairs in a lounge sipping on a drink while you can watch the port go by. Pack correctly. Don't overpack. Unpack as soon as you're on the ship. Put your suitcase away and forget about it. The buffet will be very busy so get there first or find that other restaurant. Usually, the speciality restaurants have some sort of special on the first night so check it out. My first cruise was Royal Caribean's Sun Viking. (shows my age) Very small ship but service and food were top notch. I prefer the smaller ships. Unsually better service and you don't have to fight the crouds.
The amount of time scheduled "at sea" versus "in port" should be the deciding factor whether you pay alot more for a balcony suite or not. We got a balcony suite on a week-long cruise to 4 different Hawaiian Islands. We were stopped at each port for 2 days -- lots of time to leave the ship, and no pressure to rush back to the ship and freak out about "the last tender" or "departure time". It was fantastic. Because of this, we almost spent no time in our cabin suites at all -- we were always gone. However, there are other cruises that are literally 2/3rds all "at sea", where having a balcony suite would be nice, because you're probably gonna be in your cabin alot more of the time. I would say if money is no object, go ahead with paying for a balcony suite. But, if you are going to be in port all the time, almost everyday, you might not even use your balcony much, so why bother paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars more for something you're not gonna use except a couple minutes?
While you do not NEED a travel agent, it's a good idea to have a good one. We work to get you the best deal and are there for you before, during, and after the cruise. We're here to handle issues for you on your behalf so you won't have to. We also have lots of travel experience and can make suggestions that will help you get the very most of your vacation... as well as save you money.
1. You certainly don’t need a travel agent. RC has excellent customer service 2. Be very careful doing 3rd party excursions. If they are late the ship will leave your ass at the port. 3. Pretty much everything else was common sense or already emphasized and explained by RC
Our "agent" was absolutely horrible! He never told us about any of the addons, told us nothing about reservations, restaurants, entertainment. Just basically booked our room one the cruise that we researched, and took our money. This is going to be our first cruise, and it will be our honeymoon, however if we do enjoy it (It's coming up end of February into March) we will absolutely NOT book through him again. Hell, we've paid it off and he still hasn't bothered emailing us anything showing that it was paid off, and he also refused to sell us cruise insurance because he said my wife couldn't buy it because she's Canadian (instead of booking with me as the main person so I could get it).
I can't imagine flying in the day of the cruise. We always get to the port location at least the day before. I never book the cruise line excursions. One time. Never again. Bring empty water bottles. And check the ever changing rules. Pack light. Carry on if you can. We do every year now. Print the deck plan and tape it to the cabin door. Or take refrigerator magnets. Highlight routes to dining & shows. Call your credit card companies and tell them where you are going. Was a big deal for us this spring in Belize. Didn't have a lot of cash. Speaking of cash - take a lot of small bills. Lot's of hands out at some ports, and what do you know? No change. Lots of $5 and $1 bills. Get on the boat first and head to the sun deck. Eat lunch, read a book, get some sun. You have your swimsuit because you carried it on. Also sunscreen. Be the first off the boat at ports and beat the crowds to your destinations. I encourage people to try different cruise lines. We were shocked at our favorite after trying three. Shocked! On a recent RC cruise there was a dinner theater one night. It was awesome and worth every penny. The wine kept flowing and it was all included somehow.
Exactly. Third party excursions save you money but just make sure it ends with plenty of time to spare before the ship departs. Many tours are the same ones the ship offers at sometimes half the cost.
Does Royal Caribbean have luggage tags delivered to your room on the last night so you place them on and that the number that you get off the ship? Carnival has one for zone 1 or 2 and passenger sell these on ebay? Which gives you a faster way to get off the ship?
Passport ID Card can be used for: Entering the United States at land border crossings and sea ports-of-entry from: Canada Mexico The Caribbean Bermuda The passport card cannot be used for international air travel.
Make sure you always find the best deals before booking a cruise! Last year it was cheaper for us to go on a 9 day cruise, instead of a 7 day. This year we're going on the Rhapsody and we booked two staterooms for the price of one.
Not sure how it is for RC cruises in other regions, but for the region I'm from (SE Asia), remember to bring your own toothbrush and toothpaste Accompanied a couple of travel buddies who didn't, so they had to get new ones on the port of call
Thank you for the good information. I am going on my first cruise in Dec 2019, which is a themed one on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas, and am finding all sorts of good information on TH-cam. Another page recommended your blog.
Book direct with the cruise company, you will be treated better if there’s a problem otherwise you’ll just be told to contact your travel agent if there’s an issue. I got a full sized bottle of champagne instead of a half bottle booking direct and after the cruise I received beautiful hard copy brochures in the mail and preferential pricing on future cruises plus I can select my own cabin number, some travel online agencies don’t allow you to select your own cabin, just the category
I’ve never bothered with anything above a standard room, I put it this way. Are you there to spend time in the room? No! I go there to sleep, change, and shower so why do I need to pay extra for a space I’m aiming to spend the least amount of time in?
ALWAYS get the travel insurance. Limited ramp, runway, and taxiway space for airliners during adverse weather means an increased probability of missing your cruise departure time or your day ahead stay overnight in the port city plan. 90% of the time you probably won't need it, but the 9% of the time that you do use it you will be glad you paid for it. Yes, travel is only going to get worse in the future, so buy travel insurance.
It's important to note that booking your OWN excursions can put you in a very very bad situation if that excursions time table is late. the ship won't wait for you. It'll wait if it's an excursion through royale carrib.
As a travel agent, please listen to this man... And in regards to Travel Insurance, it's not a yes or no decision, you are a fool if you do not get insurance, even it's not with me, pleaseeee get it, the amount of things I have seen go wrong and people asking me to fix it 🤷
Again... read the reviews. Royal Caribbean uses an overseas 3rd party insurance carrier who won't return your calls and if you contact Royal Caribbean they tell you to contact the insurance carrier... sooo... you can buy the trip insurance but it won't be honored.
Just did my first cruise on Anthem this summer and a couple things I’d like to put out there: 1. Our travel agent made things MORE complicated I almost every aspect 2. Specialty restaurants aren’t usually worth the extra money they charge, the included restaurants are more than enough 3. If you want worry free drinking BUY THE DELUXE PACKAGE, yes it’s not cheap but even moderately drinking through your cruise you will spend more with their drink prices 4. ALWAYS try the drink of the day, it’s usually amazing 5. Take a day at sea to REALLY explore the ship so you get the hang of where everything is and fastest routes
we flying the same day of our cruise and we missed and in florida we pay a charter plane to take us a group of 8 family members to Bahamas where are the first port day of Oasis we have a bad experience but finally we learn the lesson 😄. I'm sorry for my writing but I hope you'll understand what I try to say
Juana Garcia , it is a great idea to fly in the day before. More money, but you know you will not miss the ship. Just be sure to get a hotel close to the airport or the cruise terminal with a free shuttle bus.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but if you make your travel arrangements through the cruise line THEY bear the cost of getting you to the ship if you end up delayed.
Yes, the only exception is if you book your airfare through the cruise line. In that case, if you fly in the day of and miss the ship, they will cover the cost of getting you to the next port.
On our first cruise we didn't know any better and left early in the morning on the same day as the cruise...the kicker is we drove, and the port was 9 hours from where we lived. We made it on time with no issues but now we wonder what the heck were we thinking, lol! We always arrive at least a day ahead of time now. Less stress.
Great tips! My first cruise I went on was with family (experience cruisers). Maybe my only small mistake was double tipping but that’s ok, I had great customer service.
Cancel the tips they automatically put in your cabin bill and pay them yourself. The cabin attendant, wait staff etc. live the " green" that goes directly from your hand to theirs.
If you’re single and traveling with your family, GET YOUR OWN Stateroom DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHARE A STATEROOM WITH ANY FAMILY MEMBERS And get an Oceanview Balcony Stateroom REGARDLESS WHAT ANYONE tells you, it’s worth it. Of course if you’re in a committed relationship and ACTUALLY enjoy each other’s company, share a Stateroom with that person (arguably I think cruises are geared mostly to couples and singles anyway) and if you have kids it’s a different story. Also, even if you’re a casual drinker, GET the Alcohol Drink Package.
Just got home from Symphony of the Seas. We didn’t like any of the specialty restaurants more than the main dining room! We won’t make that mistake again.
For embarkation day, it is the same thing for disembarkation, I have personal experience with this, when I was on Norwegian the cruise before mine a woman jumped overboard (you may of heard about it on the news) and the ship turned around to find her, delaying disembarkation 7 hours for those on board and 9 hours for embarkation. I had a friend that missed his flights on the other ship because he booked his flight 5 hours after he would’ve supposedly left.
Tom Gandy I’ve had a travel agent that I had to report to Royal Caribbean because they wouldn’t use a coupon that RC had issue to me. It was worth a few hundred dollars. I prefer to do my own leg work.
I'm a travel agent, and he is correct. We don't charge extra, plus we're premiere so we get extra discounts that save clients money, that you wont get on the cruise company site.
I can't really say that "picking the wrong ship class for you" is a rookie mistake. The ships are like shoes. You have to try them out to really know how well they fit you. The mistake would be thinking that whatever ship you're on is representative of all of them. it might be an older ship that needs updating. It could be a new / updated one that is having teething problems. One mistake I would warn new cruisers against is getting an alcoholic drink package on your first cruise. You need to figure out what your actual drinking habits are like in order to determine if the drink package is worth buying or which particular drink package you need. I'm usually only buying 3 or 4 fairly simple drinks and cocktails a day, so it usually makes more sense for me to just pay as I go. (The non alcoholic package, however, may be more appropriate even for new cruisers because it covers beverages that most people are probably accustomed to drinking on a regular basis, so you're more likely to get your money's worth out of it. especially if you're avoiding alcohol but want something more than basic water, tea, or juice to drink.)
This is a very true statement and great advice. RC allows you to bring one bottle of wine per passenger on board. Our last cruise, we only drank one bottle. For "specialty coffee", I brought Starbucks instant coffee packs and individual creamers. If we had the desire to drink a soft drink, we would get our fix in port.
Carry a separate bag with your bathing suit. The instant you get to your room. Change and hit the pool or hot tub. Let the others wait for their bags to be delivered.
...yes, and add to that anything else you may need (medication, sunblock, etc.) as it can take several hours for your bags to arrive in your room.
Roger didit I normally have my bathing suit under my regular clothing
@@kidzmaddezuzumaki that is the the smartest thing to do
I just wear my swim trunks on with a T-shirt .
Can't u carry your own bags on instead of waiting?
Be sure to pack a carry on back pack/bag with swim suite/sunscreen if you get on board early day one. It takes until dinner sometimes to get your luggage. Enjoy the pools, dont stress and have a drink!
HKYMOM8 can you bring a case of waters onboard ?
I just take my bags on myself instead of waiting for them to be delivered to my room
A) Bring your OWN lanyard with an ID pouch on it. You need to have your room key present to go off/on the ship AND to get back INTO the port. You can go to Walmart, Target, 5 Below etc and choose one for yourself that is not expensive like the ones sold on the ship and better quality. Get one for kids,too, of ALL ages.
B) Passports CAN be stamped in port IF the immigration office is still open. Just ask a gate guard as SOON as you leave the ship. We always hide our passports on us in port, just in case ish goes down.
C) Bring small bills and a WALLET inside a purse or a backpack. Don't stand there like a hooker with crumpled bills in their hand like my cousin, screaming ROB ME! But also, don't expect change from a $50 for a $4 item. Taxi's, beaches and vendors take USD and if you check the exchange rate on ship and in port, you can get a good deal. If they take Euros, its a REALLY good deal in USD.
D) Don't feel hustled into buying the 1st item you see at a stall. LOOK all the way around the market or stores ESPECIALLY in the port areas. Outside vendors will barter and try to guilt you. These vendors are not multimillionaires, but they have THOUSANDS from cruise ships pass them daily, don't get hustled. $10 for a bag, $15-20 for a dress or 2 for $35-40. ANYMORE AND YOU GOT HUSTLED.
E) When in the dining hall, check the entire floor before seating in the buffet. People miss entire sections because they stand in the first line they see. You can also take the food anywhere on the ship and back to your room. Just leave outside your door when done. Formal night is ONLY in the formal restaurants and it basically means don't wear swimsuits and flipflops, anything else is good.
F) You can ask for room gratuities to be taken off on day 2 at the front desk and then pay in cash. Each ship has a suggested tippage. Tipping IS optional, no matter how much they guilt you.
G) KNOW YOUR EMBARKATION PORT!! Its all in the details. Some cities, like San Juan, Puerto Rico have TWO ports, about 20min drive from each other around the channel. Yeah, call your travel agent and google the hell out of WHERE your ship leaves from.
H) Also, if you can carry your bag on board with items that fit through an X-Ray, you have a completely different line you stand in. In PR at the smaller airport cruise terminal RC sails from, there is a hella empty line for walkers and a FULL line for people with suitcases who then have to get in the same line after anyway. PEOPLE stand in lines just to stand in line because they see someone else in line. Make sure you're in an embarkation line, not a disembarkation line for former passengers. Trust.....I am @TrotmansTravels on IG, I SEE THIS A LOT ON MY CRUISES.
Bags are either left in the hallway or your room by the end of the 1st night. NO ASSIGNED TIME. Yeah, no. Carry my own bags on with a foldable luggage carrier and then go to the buffet to kill time until I can go put in my room, b/c I am usually one of the first on the ship.
I) Everyone is eventually in vacation mode on the cruise. Strangers who would normally never talk to strangers are SUPER chatty on cruises. ROLL WITH IT. Meet a new friend. GET A NEW PLACE TO STAY FOR FREE.
J) IF you are someone who NEEDS to have ironed clothes, iron them at the hotel the night before and then roll the clothes into your suitcase. Some ships confiscate travel steamers, you won't know until embarkation and rooms do NOT come with irons. Why pay to send out to be ironed?? Wearing shake and go clothes is your best bet. Put it this way with your planning:
SEA DAY? Wear the same clothes. You're not leaving the ship. Why pack two outfits? Put the clothes on a hanger and let them air out in the room with the travel febreze you brought.
Finished packing? Take a full outfit out, you won't wear it anyway. 5-7 day cruises only need 4 outfits and like 2 pairs of shoes. I always pack my bag half full so I can add booze to it for the flight back with my checked bag. I also roll an empty dufflebag into my carryon for my flight to use as my carryon on the way back with souvenirs.
K) Cigarettes and booze are duty free on the ship in int'l waters and in the ports. If sailing out of Florida, go to Walgreens or Rite-Aid, they sell tobacco products for like $5 a pack!! Definitely not the $10-11 in Massachusetts. Buy JUST enough to last you til an hour after your ship sets sail, when the stores open up and you can get duty free cigarettes (not always 100s) for 2 cartons for $30 or 3 for $45 or something. MY AUNT WAS IN LOVE WITH THESE PRICES! Don't bother with wifi, its crap. Be merry and leave work at work and your phone in airplane mode. Most ports have free wifi anyway. Keep your phone in airplane mode and check email then IF you must.
L) Have fun. It's a cruise. Don't be THAT person with the I Want To Talk To Your Manager Voice at sea. Have questions? Download the Shipmate app and they answer ALL your questions about booked and upcoming cruises. Also, there's cruisecritic.com that I use to see where my room is. Corner balconies are usually WAY bigger for the same price.
Always book with a travel agent. I use icruise.com or JetBlue Cruises. I get points for using my JB credit card and loyalty number. Book with an agent, you get extra perks and can book 1-3yrs in advance with just a deposit. Keep calling back by checking cruise page or going to icruise.com and adding an alert to your cruise. Price drop? Call agent and update your invoice. NEVER pay in full for a cruise more than 100 days out. Most make you pay in full 45-90 days before cruise. Why get refunded in OBC (on board credit) when you can just avoid paying it at all?
shipmateapp.com/
www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/ (you can see down to specific room reviews by number)
Use the site to find a deal and then call the number to book. I don't think they let you book online. If you have AAA, have military or senior discount, a teacher, a student, loyalty points on another cruise line, tell ALL of this to your agent. MSC matches points/status from other lines. Before boarding your ship, sign up for the cruise line's free loyalty program so you can get points AND get invited to events on your sailing, even if its your first cruise!
cruises.jetblue.com/
www.icruise.com
Ciao!!
Great advice!!
MeToo84
Anyone who doesn't tip the standard amount that they charge per day...shouldn't go on cruises! That's just selfish and inconsiderate. Those working, work very hard and for very little pay, and the little amount that they charge per day is divided among everyone that does a service for you (each waiter, cleaning service etc..) they ALL have to divide up less than $80 a day between the 10-15 of them that cater to you throughout your cruise. The least you can do is be grateful for their service. Ugh. I can't stand people who don't tip these people who work so hard for pennies! And who complain that it's too much.
Panama Rubia thats not being selfish. America is the main country that does tipping and some peopel cant afford to tip. And if they are getting low money, they dont have to work on a cruise so u through your money out
Blue aadi
If you can afford to cruise... your ass should afford to tip!!! They work in that industry probably because it's the only job that they can do that's available. Or maybe they just love their job. Doesn't mean you get to be inconsiderate and not tip them for doing a good job. I can see if they sucked at their job. Otherwise, don't be greedy and just TIP, you selfish people. Sheesh
Blue aadi
First, I've never called you a bitch, so, there's no reason to disrespect me like that. Second, I'm Hispanic from Panama. Finally, I am happy to tip because I'm not a hateful or depressed woman. Or evil. Anyone who goes on a cruise or out to eat and doesn't tip, should just stay home. Those are the depressed people, not me. It's not like I'm tipping a thousand dollars per cruise. Goodness. Each cruise is barely $300. Don't be so stingy, you greedy foreigner. lol
Many great tips but you forgot one of the best: Book and reserve excursions and activites in advance whenever you can. You do not want to get the worst seats in the theatre or find out that youre favorite excursion is booked full when you enter the ship. So take use of the app and the websides and book in advance. Its often cheaper as well. Also its worth mentioning the value of pre arranged transfer to and from hotels and airports. Helps a lot if you have them. Johan.
Thanks for adding these!
Another tip: Make sure to read the daily planner!! (Don't just throw it to the side!) It contains important info!
I TOTALLY agree with this! Take a few mins. of your time to look through your "Compass" (planner) while enjoying a cup of coffee etc. in the AM...it is well worth it as NOT to miss any points of interest...highlight them!
When will you get your compass?
@@springmartin7819 Every night.
Arriving to the the port early. I used to always pull up around 2pm, now I get there at 11am...it's like an extra day onboard!
Ms. Education i recently cruised and they have check in times. Idk if they stick to those but I read you won’t get checked in if you come earlier than your assigned time.
From what I gather, the check-in times are just recommendations. RCCL's own web site says that you can arrive anytime up to the check-in cutoff time.
Maddie Perez well, if you ‘idk’, then why are you commenting?
Steve Rosengren why do you care fucktard
Maddie Perez sigh
If you chose an excursion not offered by Royal Caribbean, and it gets delayed coming back to the ship, the ship wont wait up for your ass unlike the RC ones
Same goes if you book a LOT cheaper flight to the port of debarkation. But, I go a day early, and stay in a cheap hotel. Sightsee a little and then take a cab to the pier the next afternoon. Most of the excursions are a joke anyway. Just get a cab and spend a day at the beach. Have the driver drop you off in town on the way back. Save your money.
@@rogerdodger8415 agreed. the shore excursions are generally extremely overpriced when I went on a cruise to the south pacific there were cheaper options available on shore. (eg: I paid around $38 for shuttle ride around noumea and went snorkelling at duck island for free, however if you had booked pretty much the exact same thing through Royal Caribbean, it would have costed around $80. like tominator said, it doesn't come with the perk of the ship waiting If the excursion is delayed, but if you keep track of time, you should have no problems :)
Here's a review I wrote that goes more in depth about it: www.cruisecritic.com.au/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=646232
@@amber_chou I used the link you provided. Great Comment! I'm booked on RC for August and was just starting to look at the prices of their soda and booze packages. They are outrageous!! The math that some suggest to use in determining whether you'll save money on the deal, ignore the fact that you'll be OFF the boat in Port for a substantial part of your sailing. You've got a LOT of drinking (ugh) to do to break even. They're robbery without a gun. Soda costs them pennies. Also, everyone could easily see the shows, but on my last trip, I failed to make our reservation and got locked out of seeing the stage shows!!! Unbelievable. Years of cruising, and never saw anything like that.
@@rogerdodger8415 I bought a bottle of soft drink with me and stored it in the minifridge in my room though, I never really felt the need to drink it as there were always a lot of other sweet treats and hot chocolate in the complimentary cafe to fill me up :)
@@amber_chou I thought they had restrictions on what you can bring on board. Do they allow soda in your luggage? Seems like I'll need a lot for a seven day cruise. If you buy alcohol at the duty free store, they grab it as you get back on board, THEN the airlines forces you to check it and they charge $35 for each checked bag! They've come a long long way from Kathy Lee Giffords commercials where she would say "everything is included, leave your wallet at home" Now, it's one big selling opportunity for them. They hound you constantly to buy something.
Take advantage of any pre checkin opportunities, book your specialty restaurants, spa and shows early. Read the compass and plan out entire cruise, sign up for the, flow rider and zip line early. Don’t waste your port days with the first person who comes up to you trying to sell you time shares. Ask the local taxi drivers for there favorite food spots and hangout spots.
I don't think anyone says "Royal Caribbean" faster than this guy.
Manny Lyn “Roll Kibbean”, that’s what I hear, lol.
@@melissab1868 I hear Rulkaribbon!
Travel agency is very misspelled from him
“Roll Kibbean” or “Roll Cabbean”
0:20 its less than half a second!
I'm not even going on a cruise but I'm watching this to make me feel like I am so I can pretend, and not have to face the depressing reality of this quarantine any longer D:
I'm going on my first one in January 2022 for my birthday
Ha! same here
I’m going in February!
im going in two weeks!
@@illcrimsonill6224 1 week! Have fun
Bring a waterproof pouch that hangs around your neck for room key and phone, it can also hold passport/or photocopy of passport if needed. Also, bring your thermal insulated mug with lid (your drink won't melt when it's hot on deck)
want to get some free souvenirs for your trip? My wife and I always go to the jewel meeting on board. They give you a free bracelet and charm for going. Each stop, they give you shops to visit to collect another free charm. ALOT of shops also advertise "come in and get a free charm" If you can avoid the sales pitch, you will end up with a neat little charm bracelet, with charms from every port, and it cost you only time walking around window shopping. We have several bracelets now and it all tell a story of each cruise we have taken. It's kind of fun "treasure hunting" for free charms.
Bring a highlighter! To highlight stuff you want to do on the Cruise Compass. Can't tell you how many little seminars and classes I missed because I didn't tick it off and keep track of the time!!
Great tips; however, what he fails to point out regarding booking third party excursions is that while they may be a bit cheaper, they do not offer protection in case they are running late. By booking through the cruise line, you may pay a bit more but you have the added protection of the ship either waiting for you or the cruise line getting you to the next port at their expense if the excursion is delayed.
Jon Lieberman , I agree!
This IS an excellent point! You need to be careful with excursions "outside" of the ships offerings. By paying a little extra, you are "guaranteed" the ship will not leave without you back on board even if the excursion return is running late... they HAVE to wait for you...I know, it happened to me. With 3rd party excursions, the ship DOES NOT have to wait for you. I too am surprised this wasn't mentioned.
I was going to mention this. I've been on 2 cruises but (along with my family) was ALWAYS careful about going off on our own.
In Bermuda we had 2 days so we took local transportation to the aquarium facility (both local transport AND that facility were pretty neat experiences) on the first day so we KNEW we wouldn't have a problem. Second day was just milling around within sight of the ship.
In Nassau some of us had an excursion booked to go to Atlantis, but a couple of us walked to the Queen's Staircase and did some local shopping before hopping on that excursion so we knew we had more than enough time.
You can do 3rd-party excursions or just meander on your own, but you need to be smart about it. Our ship this year left a couple people in Nassau...
Jon Lieberman I agree!!! My husband and I did an excursion in montego bay and our group was an hour late getting back to the boat. We booked the excursion through RC so the boat waited for us. Had we booked through a third party, we would have been extremely stressed out! So I believe the extra cost to book through RC is definitely worth it.
Totally agree... I was shocked that it wasn't mentioned, especially in a video targeted to first-timers. The rest was good, but that omission is unacceptable.
This video should be retitled “A Useless Video With A Guy Talking Too Fast But Here Are Lots of Helpful Tips In the Comment Section”
I agree. I can easily think of a dozen things he didn’t even mention and just listening to him made me want to throat punch him.
True. I got better tips and more important info in the comments.
I disagree with the specialty restaurants. That's a big price increase when the included evening meal is already amazing.
It's a vacation... If you want to eat with 2,000 people at a time and absorb all that noise go ahead. Speciality restaurants are only for people with extra money to spare, and really want to have a better vacation than the rest of the 4,000 onboard.
@@ofwpinoymovieclassics8715 I do the unlimited specialty dining, well worth it. What's $174 a person at the end of the day to never have to deal with the main dining room.
@@ofwpinoymovieclassics8715 stay at home if you dont want to mingle with other people.weirdo
@@ofwpinoymovieclassics8715 stay at home if you dont want to mingle with other people.weirdo
You didn’t mention that ordering breakfast from the room service menu was much hotter and tastier than going to the buffet. I wish I had done this the whole cruise.. it was sooo much better!
Is it extra to do room service or included?
Yes it was just a surcharge or cover charge but it was only $7 for no matter what I got.. I forgot what's the name of the charge but it's just like a small fee of convenience but it was so worth it having my breakfast made fresh and hot! My only regret is not knowing about it earlier!
Dorothy Larmore
If you stay in a suite, it's included and it's 24/7 room service.
Okkkk great! I didn't know!
Some items are complimentary, such as, pastries, cold cereal, fresh fruit plate, yogurt, juice, milk, coffee. A more substantial breakfast has a slight charge. It was great to eat breakfast on our balcony or have something before leaving on an early excursion.
I am definitely guilty of a few of these mistakes. I had my first cruise last year on Carnival. Thankfully I had no issues flying in the morning of but I have heard horror stories since and will not do that ever again. As a newbie cruiser, I didn't know about the ability to book 3rd party excursions so I spent A LOT of money on Carnival ones. I'm going on my second cruise in December of this year on Royal Carribean Anthem of the Seas. I am soooo looking forward to it and I have already learned so much from my last cruise on what not to do.
Milan Juliette you're going to LOVE Royal Caribbean. Enjoy your trip hun
See my post above about booking 3rd party excursions.
So am i me and the girls are having a 2nd Girls Trip on the Anthem of the Seas Dec 8 maybe we will see you if that is the cruise you going on. Was on Anthem in May and i loved it so much that i missed because it was a short 5 days now i have 12 days to redo and find stuff we missed..
Don’t get sunburned, especially on the first day!
One mistake we made was booking our excursions for the middle of the day. We thought we’d sleep in and enjoy the port of call in the afternoons but that left us with no time to enjoy the beach or local shopping.
Sounds like you think every opportunity to spend less money is a mistake
He's a Royal Caribbean shill so it makes sense
Just came back from Bermuda on anthem. If you have any doubts about the drink package offered you better get it. Average drink of the day is 10 bucks plus 2 buck gratuity. Bottled water is 4 bucks. Speciality coffee is 5 bucks. Believe me its worth it, especially when you are at the pool or casino or at the many shows you will see on board. Plus you can get a discount on the package if you pay a week before you're cruise ( av 30%)..happy cruising......
Lol excursions booked through the cruise won’t have you getting left…
I can’t believe he didn’t say anything about online check in...it saves you so much time
Rosie Tillman
The best advice EVER!!!! I recommend doing this 💯%!!
I am a first time cruiser I feel like a of his items are so pricey. I would live to take a 7 day vacation and go to a expensive restaurant 4 nights
Rosie Tillman You’re right! Online check-in is important. It just make it a whole lot easier.
Colleen Williams You can go to your own travel agency instead of using or go through Royal Caribbean agency/customer service. You can get a better deal from your own travel agency but you just have to research which is the best for you. Btw, you will go crazy to see the price from Celebrity Cruise! It ridiculous expensive compare to RCL which is a little cheaper. Celebrity Cruise don’t even have water slide, rock climbing, zip lining, and etc. You get everything or more than Celebrity Cruise.
Rosie Tillman But you mentioned it tanks
Tip tip tip tip it’s my vacation!! It’s their job. They choose this employment option.
Do not visit all the ship on the first day! Keep some stuff to discover for the sea days.
1. Don't forget to print your cruise documents before showing up at port
2. Use Royal Caribbean's online cruise planner to purchase on board amenities before cruising
3. Don't try to avoid the muster drill, you just make it more difficult for everyone else
Good advice, thanks for sharing.
What is a muster drill?
Emergency assembly drill required by maritime law, usually occurs just before departure.
Thank you
Totally. The set-sail passes makes the embarkation process a lot quicker.
BRING A WATER BOTTLE !
Arianna Russo but there is water all around
I’m not even going on a cruise
Caypel 8947 why are u watching the video?
LOOOOL
LMAO
probably wants to learn
We're in our 70' s and have been on many, many cruises. It is the best way to travel at any age.
I find it funny that on our first cruise our travel agent thought it was a great idea to fly in the morning of the cruise. We never questioned it and luckily didn't have any issues. However, going forward we will ALWAYS fly in at least the day before. And - we don't use that agent anymore. She missed more than just the flight advice. 😉 Great video!
I'm sure that works for some people, but I just don't need that kind of anxiety in my life.
Royal Caribbean Blog we fully agree!
If you are flying in the same day for any reason, make sure you have Travel insurance.
I have questioned it myself as certain flight companies are known for cancelling..thats not good..but others are not ,so i went with the one whom i was recommended that wont cancel this yr..Up to date though, ive not had a prob in australia going..just doing that when i came home :)
We always fly into our departure port city the day before - one hotel room is a lot cheaper than travel insurance for 2-4 people.
how are ANY of these specific to Royal Carribbean?
David RIley lol I always been on Carnival, so I thought I was going learn something about Royal Caribbean......
They probably paid the guy to mention them.
They are not, it is just a Royale Carribean Blog.
Kaiden Kobani so be blogs for then for free?
It’s just a Royal blog, but yes, these tips would apply to most of the cruise lines. I’ve only cruised with Carnival, but came here also looking to learn about Royal. Good tips for new cruisers for sure!
after 17 cruises i am going to tell you the most important thing to know about cruising : when you are in the dinning room you can order all you can eat my wife ordered 4 lobster tail and shrimp dinners richard in fort lauderdale
richard none have you been on Caribbean Cruises ? If so what do you think the cons of Royal Caribbean cruise line ?
Thanks
I
@@sandrahendriks421 I have been on a Caribbean cruise. I didn't book the cruise - I was a guest
Have you ever taken a 16 night cruise? I want to book it but worry it may be too long.
This is so true! We were lucky enough to get seated with also first time cruisers who had been given this tip! It was awesome to be able to try more than one option since their food was always so delicious! I wanted the prime rib and the salmon but I didn't want everything that came with the salmon and they had no issues getting me just what I wanted! You can also order multiple desserts! Be prepared to gain weight on your cruise! lol
Some excursions actually will give you alcohol included in the price. Be careful and check your balance daily. We saw one girl crying at the desk when she found out she owed close to $800 and had to provide payment before leaving the ship! Those drinks add up fast! Also they misplaced my garment bag on one of our cruises and made every effort to find it...even gave us some onboard credit and extras to try to make up for it. They sent everyone a notice asking to check and make sure they did not have someone else's bag. Come to find out another woman had it all along and we caught her trying to sneak it off the ship on the last day. My husband recognized it. All of my pretty dresses and evening gowns were inside.
It’s nightmare to me loosing garment bag!!🥶
Totally disagree with the having a travel agent. I went through a well-known travel agency and they messed up everything they did for me. My airline tickets ended up being a notch above standby and we barely made our flight! We did not request cheap tickets!!! Our names were not on the list to transfer from the airline to the cruise ship and back! I finally had to show proof of payment to board the bus. These were all arranged by the travel agency. If you want it done right, DO IT YOURSELF!! In response to the travel agency query about how things went, I detailed everything that went wrong. I never got a response or an apology from anyone!
When i first started cruising I used a travel agent.. The first one i was doing for a family trip the darn "travel agent" that i passed for years decided she wanted to skip town with all of our money. It was about 8 cabins worth of money.. Had to sue toget a small amount of the money back.. there are some good ones but there are a lot of bad ones too. sorry about your experience.
The only mistake I made when I booked our first cruise was booking with Carnival. They double booked our room and pretty much told us we could take a much smaller interior room or get off the boat and beg for a refund. We stayed but we should have got off. The ship was pretty junky and outdated. Service was good after the initial encounter. The food was mediocre at best. Carnival may have cheaper rates but there’s a reason.
Which ship?
@@Abdul_Wakeel_Ghuraba probably carnival magic.. it pretty common ship to go on and carnival magic is literally docked like 30 minutes away where i live (i dont live in florida)
Remember ship time and port time ***ARE NOT*** always the same. It's smart to wear a watch and keep it set according to SHIP time because your phone may not be correct. Many people have been left in port because of this. Keep in mind if you book independent shore excursions and something happens and you can't get back to the ship on time they WILL NOT wait for you. They will if it's an excursion booked through the cruise line. This is one of the perks and you have one less thing to worry about.
That is excellent advice! I know some cruise passengers were recently left in Cuba because they didn't go by ship time and returned to find an empty pier.
Sarah Phillips this happened with us and the ship waited. We were so thankful that we went through RC for our excursion. They waited almost a half an hour for our truck to make it back to port.
It’s my first time going on a ship (for Christmas) and we are going for 10 days and I’m very excited but sooo nervous
Simone :D ur nervous feeling will soon turn into excitement when u see the ship in person
Something very important that was not discussed is to examine the location of cabins. You don't want a cabin that is on a deck directly above/below things such as pool areas, entertainment venues, restaurants, etc. Trust me, it will make your experience more enjoyable. One other important item to consider is if you book during Easter break, be prepared to deal with drunk, out of control college students. I made this mistake on my first cruise and it was pure hell!
Do u mean spring break never heard of Easter break. My cruise is On Easter weekend so now I'm worried.
@@angelicamora9591I think he would be referring to spring break. maybe just called it easter break bc its around the same time as easter? similiar to how winter break is also called christmas break
After my first Royal cruise, I learned to have a change of clothes or two in my carry on bag as bags can be delayed getting to your cabin or (even worse) the ship. My first cruise was on the Adventure of the Seas from San Juan, PR and we never got our bags 'til almost dinner. Spent the whole afternoon in jeans. Not fun.
Your problem
Bring a small medical bag with benadryl, motion sickness relief, pain relievers, sunburn gel, cold meds, blister bandaids, etc...The ship's gift shop has some of this, but it's at a cost. The ship's doctor is also very expensive. You never know what will come in handy. Have been on several cruises and we always need something.
Great tip! Thank you.
So you're saying my trip will cost me 18 percent more off the getco because everything I buy is marked up 18 percent for gratuity. What in the actual fuck. I'm not liking that at all. Smh
This video should be called how to spend more money on a cruise
Seriously.... He must get a commission from them.
Never consume hallucinogenic tea (San Pedro) before muster drill. I thought we were going down!
Lol
LOL
How did you get it? It’s illegal in the US.
J Starr5 🤣😂
My last cruise I went to a lot of specialty stuff then realized a lot of the steaks or sides at say the chop house are equal to what your getting at the wind jammer for dinner. Just because the food is included does not mean it’s less then. Most cases it’s better! If your nice and joke with the staff at the main hall they def take of you and give more.
if you ask them for more either way the will give you more.. It does help to be nice.. since i don't eat out that often and dont like trying new foods. that is when i do. somes i order atleast 2 of every app entree dessert. But i always take care of them at the end.
Nah, I don’t care for travel agents. I’ve gone on 7 cruises and have my 8th and 9th booked. I love scheduling excursions and visually seeing my options. I’ve been quite successful without a third party.
jahmod cook corona wasted ur money... and it also wasted mine😕😕 !
I agree. I think planning it is half the fun, plus in my opinion, by doing your own homework and research, you learn so much more in the process.
However, with RC excursions, if they run late then the ship will wait for you but if you book on your own, the ship will not wait and you risk being left behind.
Cash to spend at ports. Small 1's 5's and 10's. In straw markets they might not be able to break a 20. Also also wrinkle releaser for your cloths.
I went on a cruise many years ago but used a travel agent. I picked my own room and choose excursions before going and had a wonderful trip. I would have loved it to have been longer even though it was a 7 day cruise. But I highly recommend a travel agent that knows what they're doing.
My only mistake was getting a hotel when we got back from our cruise, because they say you shouldn't arrange a flight for your first day back but you'll likely be getting back around 7 or 8 at the latest and they need to get the next guests on board and the only way to do that is to make sure you're off the ship, so if you get a flight around 3 or 4 you shouldn't really have any problems. And you can save a little money especially when you're just ready to be home and in your own bed again.
Why would I ever wanna be home in my bed when u can be Amin a different city and state having fun
This video = sales pitch :(
On the Oasis Class - DO BOOK YOUR SHOWS AND PREMIUM RESTAURANTS BEFORE YOU TRAVEL!! Depending on the show you may prefer an area of seating that might be taken if you just walk in. For the premium restaurants - you can try walking in but you may encounter a 2 hour wait or worse. We learned the hard way to book at least 2 weeks before you travel. We're leaving on another cruise in 10 weeks and our premium restaurants and shows are now booked. About shore excursions... we mix our excursions between the cruise line and do-it-yourself. If you choose the cruise line and your tour is late the cruise line "HAS" to wait for you. The Do-It-Yourself tour operators may be cheaper but if they're late then you have to pay for a flight to the next port.
Third party excursions, tho allowing a wider range of activities puts you at risk of getting left behind if there is an issue (bus breaks down, etc.) Booking thru the ship assures that you will make it back.
Bring CASH. Cash for Taxis, tipping, souvenirs (ports will charge outrageous credit card fees) and whenever you need to buy food or drink out on the ports.
Don't buy food when you are off the ship. Plan your day around the meals that are included on board. Plus there is always a place on board that serves food all day. Just buy drinks in port if you dont have a drink package on board
@@billboggs6641 Yeah taking n the local cuisine is a totally stupid. What a terrible suggestion.
I honestly had no idea travel agents still existed
A good travel agent can make booking easier but a bad agent like in my case offered us 1 of 4 Royal Caribbean cruise so my wife and I booked everything on the Royal Caribbean website with a lot less issues. I will think twice about using an agent in the future when I can do it all myself without someone trying to steer me in the direction of their preference instead of listening to me the paying customer
Actually if you want to just cruise you can get a Passport ID Card. It doesn't allow you to fly internationally but it does allow you to enter and leave a country by land or sea. (again as you stated as long as the start and end points are on US soil), because that is what I did in 2011.
Handy tip:
Bring a power strip
Most cabins even some suites have a limited number of power outlets. I always bring a power strip so we can plug in our phones, laptop, etc.
We were on Oasis in May. They took hubby's power strip at embarkation, gave it back at end of cruise.
Not related to cruising, but my cousin's house burned down and the firefighters said it started from a power strip. 😟
ALWAYS get the travel/cruise insurance! Hopefully you’ll never need it but it is way cheaper than God forbid you do. Take it from experience with the latter.
They won't honor it can if you do purchase it unfortunately. The insurance is provided by a 3rd party carrier who won't return your call and if you contact Royal Caribbean they'll tell you to contact the insurance carrier... They keep you running in a circle that way.
Make sure you like the person you have to share a room with!!!
My friend ruined my holiday so this is good advice lol
Lol
Yes, if you must fly to meet the ship, go the day before. Our airline knowingly put our luggage on a later flight and notified us after we stood at the luggage carousel until it was shut off. Then we found out at customer service. I also pack empty covered thermal mug for coffee convenience and a cold drink bottle. If you’re partial to straws, bring a box.
Arrive 1/2 days before cruise. Take a tour the ship has. Make sure your passport is current. And ask about any Visa's if needed
Shouldn’t have watched this... it’s been a year since I’ve been on RC and I want to go so bad 😭😭
We cruise on RC frequently... about once or twice a year for me personally and upwards of 3 times for my parents (so unfair! Haha)
I want to skip down to ft. Lauderdale and hop on the allure or the harmony and get me some of those gooooood rolls at dinner. I really wanted to be a cruise director for a while and I still think of getting a job for RC at some point.
Have you stayed in the staterooms with the virtual balcony? How was it? Did you like it? I just absolutely love the ocean view balconies.
I think a really good tip also would be to sign up for the crown and anchor society!! Even if it’s your first cruise... you get to start racking up points, classes, and special stuff from RC :]
Don't be afraid of public transportation at your port. When you leave a port I prefer being upstairs in a lounge sipping on a drink while you can watch the port go by. Pack correctly. Don't overpack. Unpack as soon as you're on the ship. Put your suitcase away and forget about it. The buffet will be very busy so get there first or find that other restaurant. Usually, the speciality restaurants have some sort of special on the first night so check it out. My first cruise was Royal Caribean's Sun Viking. (shows my age) Very small ship but service and food were top notch. I prefer the smaller ships. Unsually better service and you don't have to fight the crouds.
Veteran cruiser you are for sure...Pinnacle club?
I like these tips since we are first-time cruisers like us and they really helped us.
I quit watching at "use a travel agent". c'mon.
The amount of time scheduled "at sea" versus "in port" should be the deciding factor whether you pay alot more for a balcony suite or not.
We got a balcony suite on a week-long cruise to 4 different Hawaiian Islands. We were stopped at each port for 2 days -- lots of time to leave the ship, and no pressure to rush back to the ship and freak out about "the last tender" or "departure time". It was fantastic. Because of this, we almost spent no time in our cabin suites at all -- we were always gone.
However, there are other cruises that are literally 2/3rds all "at sea", where having a balcony suite would be nice, because you're probably gonna be in your cabin alot more of the time.
I would say if money is no object, go ahead with paying for a balcony suite. But, if you are going to be in port all the time, almost everyday, you might not even use your balcony much, so why bother paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars more for something you're not gonna use except a couple minutes?
I would never cruise without a balcony. Never
This is smart thank you for sharing.
@@denisesmith2745 can I ask why? Have you had a regular room before?
I get the balcony because if anything ever happens it’s a quick way to get out. Morbid I know but it’s how my brain thinks. Lolll
make copies of things.. eg passport..shops will accept the copy and your actual passport remains safe on the ship. also credit card, photo id ect
You DO NOT need a travel agent!!! RC is great on the phone :)
Jamie Sanders RC is terrible on the phone... and the website is not friendly
A travel agent can get you perks you can't get from RC. Or any cruise line.
agree! I phoned RC to change a few things and add people to my group. the agent I spoke to was very helpful and polite. 5 star service
Andrea Stewart you were very lucky. I find their phone service and their website seriously lacking
While you do not NEED a travel agent, it's a good idea to have a good one. We work to get you the best deal and are there for you before, during, and after the cruise. We're here to handle issues for you on your behalf so you won't have to. We also have lots of travel experience and can make suggestions that will help you get the very most of your vacation... as well as save you money.
1. You certainly don’t need a travel agent. RC has excellent customer service
2. Be very careful doing 3rd party excursions. If they are late the ship will leave your ass at the port.
3. Pretty much everything else was common sense or already emphasized and explained by RC
Our "agent" was absolutely horrible! He never told us about any of the addons, told us nothing about reservations, restaurants, entertainment. Just basically booked our room one the cruise that we researched, and took our money. This is going to be our first cruise, and it will be our honeymoon, however if we do enjoy it (It's coming up end of February into March) we will absolutely NOT book through him again. Hell, we've paid it off and he still hasn't bothered emailing us anything showing that it was paid off, and he also refused to sell us cruise insurance because he said my wife couldn't buy it because she's Canadian (instead of booking with me as the main person so I could get it).
I can't imagine flying in the day of the cruise. We always get to the port location at least the day before.
I never book the cruise line excursions. One time. Never again.
Bring empty water bottles. And check the ever changing rules.
Pack light. Carry on if you can. We do every year now.
Print the deck plan and tape it to the cabin door. Or take refrigerator magnets. Highlight routes to dining & shows.
Call your credit card companies and tell them where you are going. Was a big deal for us this spring in Belize. Didn't have a lot of cash.
Speaking of cash - take a lot of small bills. Lot's of hands out at some ports, and what do you know? No change. Lots of $5 and $1 bills.
Get on the boat first and head to the sun deck. Eat lunch, read a book, get some sun. You have your swimsuit because you carried it on. Also sunscreen.
Be the first off the boat at ports and beat the crowds to your destinations.
I encourage people to try different cruise lines. We were shocked at our favorite after trying three. Shocked!
On a recent RC cruise there was a dinner theater one night. It was awesome and worth every penny. The wine kept flowing and it was all included somehow.
We are goinf on a cruise to to cuba and carribean. Its our first time 8 nights of cruising. Very excited!
This whole video: "Spend more money"
I NEVER book third party exertions. The ship has no obligation to wait if your late?
Agreed! NEVER!!!
I didn't think of that!
This! We saw people get left in cozumel because of this...
Some of my best excursions have been booked prior to leaving and not on the ship. Just be smart about your times
Exactly. Third party excursions save you money but just make sure it ends with plenty of time to spare before the ship departs. Many tours are the same ones the ship offers at sometimes half the cost.
Does Royal Caribbean have luggage tags delivered to your room on the last night so you place them on and that the number that you get off the ship? Carnival has one for zone 1 or 2 and passenger sell these on ebay? Which gives you a faster way to get off the ship?
Yes, luggage tags delivered on the last day.
Passport ID Card can be used for:
Entering the United States at land border crossings and sea ports-of-entry from:
Canada
Mexico
The Caribbean
Bermuda
The passport card cannot be used for international air travel.
Make sure you always find the best deals before booking a cruise! Last year it was cheaper for us to go on a 9 day cruise, instead of a 7 day. This year we're going on the Rhapsody and we booked two staterooms for the price of one.
Not sure how it is for RC cruises in other regions, but for the region I'm from (SE Asia), remember to bring your own toothbrush and toothpaste
Accompanied a couple of travel buddies who didn't, so they had to get new ones on the port of call
Thank you for the good information. I am going on my first cruise in Dec 2019, which is a themed one on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas, and am finding all sorts of good information on TH-cam. Another page recommended your blog.
How was your trip ? Mine is this November
Book direct with the cruise company, you will be treated better if there’s a problem otherwise you’ll just be told to contact your travel agent if there’s an issue. I got a full sized bottle of champagne instead of a half bottle booking direct and after the cruise I received beautiful hard copy brochures in the mail and preferential pricing on future cruises plus I can select my own cabin number, some travel online agencies don’t allow you to select your own cabin, just the category
Great ideas but my budget is not limitless! A little extra for ocen view/balconies? Try almost double!
and then you aren't guaranteed a great view.
I’ve never bothered with anything above a standard room, I put it this way. Are you there to spend time in the room? No! I go there to sleep, change, and shower so why do I need to pay extra for a space I’m aiming to spend the least amount of time in?
OneTrick Puppy I smoke so ocean view balcony all the way
@@mattkennedy6115 I thought you couldn't smoke on the balconies anymore
kathy granda they don’t allow you to but I do it anyway
ALWAYS get the travel insurance. Limited ramp, runway, and taxiway space for airliners during adverse weather means an increased probability of missing your cruise departure time or your day ahead stay overnight in the port city plan. 90% of the time you probably won't need it, but the 9% of the time that you do use it you will be glad you paid for it. Yes, travel is only going to get worse in the future, so buy travel insurance.
And price it third part. Nationwide is about half the cruise lines. Same coverage.
What are some companies to look at
@@tgreengbc Island Marketing www.caribbeanshoretours.com/IslandMarketing.html
I am trying to go on the Allure Of The Seas in 4 years
It's important to note that booking your OWN excursions can put you in a very very bad situation if that excursions time table is late. the ship won't wait for you. It'll wait if it's an excursion through royale carrib.
The locals are well aware of this and get you back in time.
As a travel agent, please listen to this man... And in regards to Travel Insurance, it's not a yes or no decision, you are a fool if you do not get insurance, even it's not with me, pleaseeee get it, the amount of things I have seen go wrong and people asking me to fix it 🤷
Again... read the reviews. Royal Caribbean uses an overseas 3rd party insurance carrier who won't return your calls and if you contact Royal Caribbean they tell you to contact the insurance carrier... sooo... you can buy the trip insurance but it won't be honored.
Just did my first cruise on Anthem this summer and a couple things I’d like to put out there:
1. Our travel agent made things MORE complicated I almost every aspect
2. Specialty restaurants aren’t usually worth the extra money they charge, the included restaurants are more than enough
3. If you want worry free drinking BUY THE DELUXE PACKAGE, yes it’s not cheap but even moderately drinking through your cruise you will spend more with their drink prices
4. ALWAYS try the drink of the day, it’s usually amazing
5. Take a day at sea to REALLY explore the ship so you get the hang of where everything is and fastest routes
we flying the same day of our cruise and we missed and in florida we pay a charter plane to take us a group of 8 family members to Bahamas where are the first port day of Oasis we have a bad experience but finally we learn the lesson 😄. I'm sorry for my writing but I hope you'll understand what I try to say
Juana Garcia , it is a great idea to fly in the day before. More money, but you know you will not miss the ship. Just be sure to get a hotel close to the airport or the cruise terminal with a free shuttle bus.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but if you make your travel arrangements through the cruise line THEY bear the cost of getting you to the ship if you end up delayed.
Yes, the only exception is if you book your airfare through the cruise line. In that case, if you fly in the day of and miss the ship, they will cover the cost of getting you to the next port.
thank you for let me know that Mike Leivy I don't know that! next time I book all together 😊
On our first cruise we didn't know any better and left early in the morning on the same day as the cruise...the kicker is we drove, and the port was 9 hours from where we lived. We made it on time with no issues but now we wonder what the heck were we thinking, lol! We always arrive at least a day ahead of time now. Less stress.
PLEASE UPDATE this video for 2021 & 2022 and ... Cruising.
This guy works for royal caribbean for sure🤣🤣
Great tips! My first cruise I went on was with family (experience cruisers). Maybe my only small mistake was double tipping but that’s ok, I had great customer service.
That's a good "problem" to have!
Cancel the tips they automatically put in your cabin bill and pay them yourself. The cabin attendant, wait staff etc. live the " green" that goes directly from your hand to theirs.
If you’re single and traveling with your family, GET YOUR OWN Stateroom DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHARE A STATEROOM WITH ANY FAMILY MEMBERS And get an Oceanview Balcony Stateroom REGARDLESS WHAT ANYONE tells you, it’s worth it. Of course if you’re in a committed relationship and ACTUALLY enjoy each other’s company, share a Stateroom with that person (arguably I think cruises are geared mostly to couples and singles anyway) and if you have kids it’s a different story. Also, even if you’re a casual drinker, GET the Alcohol Drink Package.
Will Symphony of the seas come to Sydney? If no why not?
ive never heard of someone taking an international trip without a passport
We did it, it was easy, but I must say I was a bit concerned about getting back into the country lol
Just got home from Symphony of the Seas. We didn’t like any of the specialty restaurants more than the main dining room! We won’t make that mistake again.
I was wondering if there was a video/link talking about the Key program and whether or not it is worth it?
For embarkation day, it is the same thing for disembarkation, I have personal experience with this, when I was on Norwegian the cruise before mine a woman jumped overboard (you may of heard about it on the news) and the ship turned around to find her, delaying disembarkation 7 hours for those on board and 9 hours for embarkation. I had a friend that missed his flights on the other ship because he booked his flight 5 hours after he would’ve supposedly left.
Excellent advise, But I have never used a travel agent, over 20 cruises. I would rather use the cruise company site,
Tom Gandy I find it to be cheaper through vacationstogo.com, I’ve done all of my cruises through them
Tom Gandy
I’ve had a travel agent that I had to report to Royal Caribbean because they wouldn’t use a coupon that RC had issue to me. It was worth a few hundred dollars. I prefer to do my own leg work.
I'm a travel agent, and he is correct. We don't charge extra, plus we're premiere so we get extra discounts that save clients money, that you wont get on the cruise company site.
I just know that I paid more using a travel agency then going to the RC site
I used expedia 2 times, pretty good service and prices
the biggest mistake you can make is choosing a 3 night cruise on oasis class ship
I can't really say that "picking the wrong ship class for you" is a rookie mistake. The ships are like shoes. You have to try them out to really know how well they fit you. The mistake would be thinking that whatever ship you're on is representative of all of them. it might be an older ship that needs updating. It could be a new / updated one that is having teething problems.
One mistake I would warn new cruisers against is getting an alcoholic drink package on your first cruise. You need to figure out what your actual drinking habits are like in order to determine if the drink package is worth buying or which particular drink package you need. I'm usually only buying 3 or 4 fairly simple drinks and cocktails a day, so it usually makes more sense for me to just pay as I go. (The non alcoholic package, however, may be more appropriate even for new cruisers because it covers beverages that most people are probably accustomed to drinking on a regular basis, so you're more likely to get your money's worth out of it. especially if you're avoiding alcohol but want something more than basic water, tea, or juice to drink.)
This is a very true statement and great advice. RC allows you to bring one bottle of wine per passenger on board. Our last cruise, we only drank one bottle. For "specialty coffee", I brought Starbucks instant coffee packs and individual creamers. If we had the desire to drink a soft drink, we would get our fix in port.
The subtitles said "hey everybody, it's mashed morel cream"