Someone else mentioned that Michael. I actually tried it with my android just this morning and it did not work. (You know, it's Friday and I'm going on a cruise. Woot!)
Ask them if that means decibels! There are plenty of people that need/want paper as the daily planner is impossible to read for the day and print to take with you.
@@EntropyGuardian Not really, I have a Masters in Computer Science and learned years ago a lot of things shouldn’t be automated! Besides the online planner is clumsier than carrying around a Farmers Almanac. A single page of paper is easier to carry and scan. It reminds me of what happens when you lose your place in a kindle book and aren’t synced and haven’t bookmarked your page.
Last sailed in April on Independence and our stateroom attendant automatically left us the paper copy which I prefer. In January on Odyssey we had to ask for it. However I do like the app, on Odyssey was able to use my phone to unlock the stateroom door instead of having to reach for the sea pass card
Do you know that RCCL now allows guests to complete the Health and safety questions at least 21 days before your cruise? I enter the royal app today and be able to answer the questions but my cruise departs 09/11/22... It seems that rccl made and update or somenthing like that allowing guests to answer the questionaire in advance!!
Hey Kevin! I have not tried to do the health survey well in advance yet but let me try real quick (I might have a few cruises booked), brb. Okay, just went to my cruise for next week, and it does allow me to do the Heath Questionnaire. The 3 Questions are 1) Are you fully vaxed 2) have a booster, 3) 23 weeks pregnant are the updated "health screening" questions. Luckily, you should know all the answers well before your cruise and sounds like they have increased the timeline. Interestingly, I am still receiving app notifications the day before that I need to do my health questionnaire like I used to.
Very important to get comfortable using it because in some ships the activities like the North Star and the iFly fill up quickly - especially the free options. So fellow cruisers, get on the app asap after embarking and get scheduled :) But let me go first… LOL
I took a screen shot of my boarding passes and saved them in my "wallet" on my phone. I do this for boarding passes when I fly as well. No fumbling around looking for screen shots.
Thanks, Princess seems to be much better with technology than RC. Getting Crown points updated requires a couple tricky maneuvers that they recommended. Can't find the email they sent though.
Can you request a mattress topper and mini fridge or medical fridge thru app? I see where people say the request ahead of sailing but not sure how to do that? Thank you!!
I know you can request a medical fridge but not sure about the mattress topper, I believe I've heard this as well. There is a phone number to special assistants with Royal Caribbean but I don't have at my fingertips right now
My biggest wish for the Royal app is being able to input your own items into the calendar. Then I wouldnt have to keep track on a separate paper or alarms.
Hey Tammy, you do not. Once you select the wifi, it will give you the options to purchase an internet package or to continue without purchase to just use the app.
Hey Louisa! You do not need to purchase wifi to only connect to their app and all the features covered excluding texting via the Royal app. Just connect y to the wifi and it will give you an option to only use the app.
hahah I mean, CocoCay and Nassay aren't bad places to hang out! Though, the real reason is I have a full-time job and need to be in the office. So, I do what I can and say thank you for the weekend :-)
@@TheWeekendCruiser oh ok cool beans! Wish I could lol I do love coco cay! It’s a must on the itinerary anytime I book Royal lol I’ll be there in 2 weeks
That is correct - though normally, those are not going to fill up. Outside of Oasis class, rarely do I see shows that fill up. If you show up 10 minutes early, you can have your pick of seating at most shows.
🎉 Thank you for making this video! Quick question for you: When will I be able to access all the onboard events, activities, and restaurant menus that will be available? As of today (sailing May 22nd) only one show is listed, a bunch of stuff for kids, and some restaurants still don’t have menus, just theme descriptions. It’s the entertainment I’m looking for early info on most…
Hey Amber! Rule of thumb is going to be 30 days prior to cruise... if your sailing is May 22nd, you should be able to see a good. A lot more features will populate once you board the ship and are fully checked-in.
I'm going on a cruise tomorrow and I actually brought my old color cruise compass. I never throw them out. I'm going to be disappointed if I don't get a new one to compare it with.
It just doesn't work that way... I think this is to allow flexibility in scheduling and for the crew to easily be able to make last minute changes. Not ideal...
Thank You! i used the app a lot on my cruise earlier this year but i see now that i missed a lot of the capabilities and info. Appreciate all the helpful information
There is Joy! I have not been on Independence since pre-covid (she is my 2nd favorite ship) but traditionally, the ping pong tables will be towards the aft section of the pool heading to the sports court.
Sooo much more to explore on the app like all the menus, your on board spending account, unlocking your cabin door, TV remote and seeing the itinerary for other ships and sailings that you aren’t even booked on. The FB groups are overloaded with questions that can be easily answered in the app. A lot of potential though to make the app better.
Agree on all fronts! It has a TON of information but getting to that information or knowing it is there is the tough part. I have left many FB groups because I cannot handle the redundancy of the questions.
Thanks for the video, learned a few new things I wasn’t aware of. I don’t know if there’s a suggestion box somewhere but I really wish they had a search feature on the app. Like it would be great if there was a magnifying glass somewhere I can click and type in the word suite lounge or Sorrento’s, etc.
Very helpful I see it gives you the option to add the perfect storm to your calendar. Do you really have to reserve it or is it just an option to add to calendar for planning purposes.
You do not need a reservation for the Perfect Storm. You do need to ensure anyone sliding down has been checked in and has a bracelet on saying they are old/tall enough to ride.
Great information for the app, but I have a question…. How can I change my name on my reservation? I accidentally put my nickname that everyone calls me and not my legal name. Will that cause problems??
You need to get in contact with your Travel Agent or Royal Caribbean directly to fix. This will absolutely cause problems as it should match your identification you are using to board.
Can you please advise - i am travelling with hubby - do we both need to have the app on our phones to check in or can i just do this for us both on my phone - thank you. And thank you also for a beautiful run down on the app so very appreciative
My pleasure Tonia!! Yes, if your husband has the app and you are in the same cabin, when he goes to register into a restaurant or event it will give him the option to register for himself and for you. He just needs to select both names and proceed. 😀
so I was looking at my app as i watched this video. I'm sailing on WOTS in Sept. Many of the features show here aren't showing on my app. Is this because you are currently on board and the app adds things for you depending on the date of your sailing and how close you are to sailing or you are currently sailing? For instance, at the bottom, I do not have a 'boarding' button.
Hey there! You are correct! Various features load at differnet times and you will have the most functionality while on the ship. As your sailing is not until September, even the check-in feature is not open yet. Glad you are already researching and learning! You are ahead of the curve!
@@TheWeekendCruiser mostly yes. I hope to sail again on a freedom class ship. Have you ever been in a suite on a freedom class ship? I wonder how the suite life is. The bigger ships look like they focused more on suites than on freedom class.
I’ve always wondered…..if you reserve a show then decide not to go, can you go into the app and cancel? At the end of our cruise I wanted to see a comedy show but the app said reservations were full. When I strolled past the comedy venue there were lots of empty seats.
Ok, but I need the info on using the app for my room key and tv remote! I can't find it anywhere on the app! Also, what activities do you recommend booking as soon as you board?
Hey Amanda! Some features of the app are not available until check-in opens and you are able to get on the ship. Room key and TV remote would be one of those. Though, I didn't know the app worked for the TV too? Possibly on newer ships but I don't recall that. Watch your app for when the shows start to load. These will start to load about 30 days out. Sounds like you are going on an Oasis Class ship so make sure you book Aqua show for the first night it is available! It is an amazing show but if you book the last night of the sailing to see it and the ship rocks any, they will cancel and you miss it.
Look for the one called "Royal Caribbean International" made by Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. It's their crown and anchor logo with a sea blue background.
The Royal App chat function has to be purchased separately. If everyone just gets the internet package, you can just text them normally with wifi-calling turned on or via a texting app like WhattsApp
The fee might depend on ship/class. We just did a 10day on Adventure OTS. Didn't purchase internet & no daily fee for the chat function on the app. We used it a lot!
Thank you for sharing this. So if you don't have the internet package do you just leave it on Airplane mode and connect to the local wifi? Just want to avoid any roaming charges.
Great video Brandon. The Royal app is great once you know how to use it. They do not label it well. This is awesome knowledge for any one new to the Royal app, it will give you a big head start. Thanks for sharing brother, hope to see you on Freedom sometime this summer ✌🏻
hiii, i was wondering, for the chat app, do you have to be in the app to get the notifications or do notifications pop out as long as youre connected to royals wifi, without Internet access?
Hi Shireen, I have actually never used the texting feature but I would assume you have app notifications as any reservations or dinner plans will pop out as a notification.
I didn’t receive any notifications for the chat messages. Turned on all notifications (sounds, alerts, etc) but nothing popped up. I kept having to check the app constantly throughout the day to make sure I didn’t miss a message from my group. Very annoying!
I have a question. We are going in a 4 night cruise on Adventure of the Seas out of Galveston in Nov. 2022. There is only 1 formal night and I doubt they will be serving lobster tails on that night. Can I order 2 lobster tails even if they're not listed on the MDR menu? Would it cost extra? Thanks so much for your assistance.
Hey Pamela, you are correct, no lobster night on a 4 night sailing. I forget the number of nights you need for lobster but I assure you it isn't the 4 nighter. They will have lobster listed every night but for an additional charge. I want to say $32? This lobster would be much larger and bigger than the lobster night would be.
Hey! Great question! I always have a reservation, so this has not been an issue for me. Though, all the details are specific for a cruise. You probably can only access your profile page but would need to select a reservation to see more.
I downloaded the app, but only my reservations are showing up. My husband is on checkin but not on any of the reservations (meals and excursions). How do I add him? I’m confused, we’ve always been on one account inthe past
Hey Lin, sounds like when he was checking in, he only added himself to the reservation. I believe (but don't hold me to this) that if you go into the reservation you should be able to add him. Fingers crossed!
They need to make sure the app is working properly , I see my cruise but when I try to make dining reservations it tells me I need to link my reservation
Believe it or not, this is one of the better cruise ship apps lol I used to complain about it all the time till I went on other lines and they are 10x worse 🤣. With that said, yes, the app is still bad and buggy. Just the best of the bad 🤷
I hope they bring back the ability to book entertainment and dining pre cruise. I like to book shows and my dining time accordingly and don't want to deal boarding day
Hey Brad! Send me a note to my email account if you would. theweekendcruiser@gmail.com with the topic and time you want to go live. If after 5pm, I should be able to make it.
When you make a reservation, it should automatically be added to your calendar. Unfortunately, you cannot just add items to the calendar ie: get ready for dinner at 7pm.
one thing i wish you could do is make payments towards a balance from the app. It isn't a huge deal to have to get onto a computer and do it, but it would be nice if i could just do it from the app.
Hey Brandon, it appears you do number of cruises on Freedom OTS. In a month or two can you do a recap of how you experience Starlink WIFI that was installed as a test to give thoughts and opinion of if you notice any increase performance of the WIFI. As someone who always works when onboard, reliable WIFI is important to us!
We cruised at the end of April. The texting app worked when we were in port but once we left the port, it wouldn't work. It really messed up our plans since we were relying on using it to keep in touch with people in our party.
If you were on the ship's wifi or satellite, I would not have thought it made a difference. Could just be the satelite was no good? Good to know for those looking at this as an option!
Hey Echo, these were not hidden in the sense you press a secret combination of buttons and you are transported to a private section of the app. They are hidden in the sense that the user interface is not intuitive and many people are unaware of the features discussed Take for instance, double clicking on the ship icon on the top. If you are already in thebshio menu, why would you double click it to see the ships schedule?
@@TheWeekendCruiser Oh no, trust me! I downloaded the app on my phone when I booked the cruise 11 months in advance. I just had all that time to play around with it and learn it. R.C. was new to me so I watched a lot of R.C. you tubers as well and studied the ship! I new exactly what I was walking into, except for the no life vest in the room part!
Amazing video. Im from singapore and i love cruising. Fell in love with going onboard cruises from the first cruise i went to on April of 2022. Since then i went once on October also so accumulated a total of 8 points so far 😂 nothing compared to your points right now 😢 Trying to work my way to platinum. Been on spectrum of the seas twice! It was huge with tons of activities. Really looking forward to trying out other ships when they are available here. Your tips has helped alot. Much love from Singapore ❤
Hey Gary, the boarding picture of you? This will populate once you start the check-in process for your cruise. Though, there is no way to see it after you are checked-in.
That is a great question and I honestly do not know the answer. It looks like if you have an IPhone and the system is set to Spanish, it will automatically have the app in Spanish. Could not find anything for Android.
You sure can! You can use any data texting app like WhattsApp, Instragram messages, etc. If you have wifi-calling enabled, you can also just sent normal text messages.
My question remains Are they supplying the phones that will run their app? Seriously, assuming everyone has access to cell coverage or smartphones is annoying to say the least. I don’t carry anything in my hands or pockets, if they exist. Btw, the app won’t work on the iPod either.
There's a certain amount of this aw shucks type thing that works sometimes in real life, but if you have hundreds to thousands to cruise and it is 2022, you're going to own a smartphone unless you're intentionally obstinate.
@@EntropyGuardian Why? We have no cell coverage at home and only need a cellphone for emergencies on the road. We’ve had free phones since we got our Analog phone. Since then the carrier has upgraded it when they’ve changed their services such that our old phone won’t work. The most recent was a flip phone which works just fine, we’ve never used nor needed data on it either. We were the only ones at the scene of an accident that could even get a signal, and that included the Sprint van that stopped. We were the only ones able to call 911!
If you don’t have a smart phone in 2022 you are part of a small minority. No judgement, I just mean the cruise line probably caters more to the probably 95-99% of us that do have one.
@@glopez1849 I know several serious cruisers that at best share a smartphone thus making some apps unavailable to the other. Many others have older phones that while smartphones can’t be updated to versions required by newer apps. I also know many many women who just don’t like having a phone in their hand constantly, especially on vacation, even if they would have a hand free. On our last Royal cruise we found several people who had flip phones without much effort trying to find them. My last cruise, Oceania has no app and seem to have no interest saying their clientele don’t want them. For the record about half of my neighbors don’t have electricity, but you are right they aren’t cruisers either!
I totally get it. They painted with a broad brush and not everyone fits into their picture. I hope that if anyone wants a cruise compass, there is a way to get one.
It sure is! This video is coming up on it's year birthday if it hasn't already passed. RCL has made a few updates and might be worth re-recording and giving special detail to the messaging feature. I know it is a hot topic.
My pleasure!! I try to remember when I have "ah ha!" moments as those make the best videos. If I am still figuring things out, I am hopeful others will want to know!
Just tried on Freedom and it is free! I probably should make a new video of this one. The app has a slightly differnet layout. Same functionality just the filters are different and chat is now included!
@@TheWeekendCruiser If you plan another video,include how you download the app and how to access it with your account so its for your personal use. so many people are still not aware of that.
Here's a great tip if you book a Guaranteed Cabin: On Royal Caribbean, you can find out your assigned guaranteed room # right after you check in! You upload your RC Set Sail pass to your Apple Wallet and the bar code will show the numbers under the bar code. The last 4 to 6 digits is your room #!
Hi Manuel, of course they are there. You wouldn't be able to use these features if they were not on the app. Secret doesn't mean something doesn't exist, it just means people don't know about it. I use the app weekly and I didn't know these features were there for ages! Figured I would try to help others.
Haha this is what I thought until I started cruising other lines this year. Not saying their app is good by any stretch but it is better than the others 😂
I would encourage you to look at all the comments of people saying they learned something or didn't know a feature existed. It isn't that you hit a certain combo of keys and something magical happens (thinking of cheat codes in a video game) but just because features exists doesn't mean they are known. If you knew all of these items, then kudos, but I was not aware of many of these even after using the app many times.
@@TheWeekendCruiser You can try to justify it but you know the intent when creating that headline. Walk-through or similar would be a more honest appraisal.
Hey Brandon! Thanks for doing this video. I am a diamond plus that has no clue how to use that app. They have made it very confusing but I will refer back to this video when I’m on board. You’re obviously on freedom a lot and I’m on the West Coast in Cali so can’t go on that ship but at least they brought navigator out here for us❤️🛳⚓️
Hey Diane! My pleasure! I was actually on Navigator for 10 nights back in November I believe. Love Navigator as it used to do the weekend cruises several years ago. We go way back!
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For this with an iPhone, I believe you can also add your Sea Pass to the Wallet app.
Someone else mentioned that Michael. I actually tried it with my android just this morning and it did not work. (You know, it's Friday and I'm going on a cruise. Woot!)
Man this is sooo helpful. Thank you!! Finally know how to use the app right lol
We tried to get a paper copy and our state room attendant said he only gives them out to people over 50😂😂😂🙄🙄
Ask them if that means decibels! There are plenty of people that need/want paper as the daily planner is impossible to read for the day and print to take with you.
Cruise planner, boomer edition
@@EntropyGuardian Not really, I have a Masters in Computer Science and learned years ago a lot of things shouldn’t be automated! Besides the online planner is clumsier than carrying around a Farmers Almanac. A single page of paper is easier to carry and scan. It reminds me of what happens when you lose your place in a kindle book and aren’t synced and haven’t bookmarked your page.
Last sailed in April on Independence and our stateroom attendant automatically left us the paper copy which I prefer. In January on Odyssey we had to ask for it. However I do like the app, on Odyssey was able to use my phone to unlock the stateroom door instead of having to reach for the sea pass card
It varies by ship I am finding! I would hope you can walk to Guest Services and request?
Do you know that RCCL now allows guests to complete the Health and safety questions at least 21 days before your cruise? I enter the royal app today and be able to answer the questions but my cruise departs 09/11/22... It seems that rccl made and update or somenthing like that allowing guests to answer the questionaire in advance!!
Hey Kevin! I have not tried to do the health survey well in advance yet but let me try real quick (I might have a few cruises booked), brb. Okay, just went to my cruise for next week, and it does allow me to do the Heath Questionnaire. The 3 Questions are 1) Are you fully vaxed 2) have a booster, 3) 23 weeks pregnant are the updated "health screening" questions. Luckily, you should know all the answers well before your cruise and sounds like they have increased the timeline. Interestingly, I am still receiving app notifications the day before that I need to do my health questionnaire like I used to.
Very important to get comfortable using it because in some ships the activities like the North Star and the iFly fill up quickly - especially the free options. So fellow cruisers, get on the app asap after embarking and get scheduled :) But let me go first… LOL
That is a great point Gail! As soon as you check-in, those need to be your first stop in the app.
I took a screen shot of my boarding passes and saved them in my "wallet" on my phone. I do this for boarding passes when I fly as well. No fumbling around looking for screen shots.
Didn't know you could save a screen shot to wallet!
Thanks, Princess seems to be much better with technology than RC. Getting Crown points updated requires a couple tricky maneuvers that they recommended. Can't find the email they sent though.
Can you request a mattress topper and mini fridge or medical fridge thru app? I see where people say the request ahead of sailing but not sure how to do that? Thank you!!
I know you can request a medical fridge but not sure about the mattress topper, I believe I've heard this as well. There is a phone number to special assistants with Royal Caribbean but I don't have at my fingertips right now
My biggest wish for the Royal app is being able to input your own items into the calendar. Then I wouldnt have to keep track on a separate paper or alarms.
That is a great suggestion!
You’re actually able to do this now I watched a video on it
Very useful information. Thank you.
Do you need to have a purchased wifi package for this app to work onboard?
Hey Tammy, you do not. Once you select the wifi, it will give you the options to purchase an internet package or to continue without purchase to just use the app.
Hey WC! (weekend cruiser) I sent you a message asking about Mexico ports but i am not sure you received it.
Hey Lorrie, think I just got to it in the comments?
do you need to purchase the wifi package to access the app?
Hey Louisa! You do not need to purchase wifi to only connect to their app and all the features covered excluding texting via the Royal app. Just connect y to the wifi and it will give you an option to only use the app.
So question? Why do you go on a lot of 3 night cruises? Do you just love coco cay and Nassau that much or you just like cruising? Just wondering.
hahah I mean, CocoCay and Nassay aren't bad places to hang out! Though, the real reason is I have a full-time job and need to be in the office. So, I do what I can and say thank you for the weekend :-)
@@TheWeekendCruiser oh ok cool beans! Wish I could lol I do love coco cay! It’s a must on the itinerary anytime I book Royal lol I’ll be there in 2 weeks
What does it mean in activities "this is not a reservation"? I'm assuming you still have to show up early to get seating?
That is correct - though normally, those are not going to fill up. Outside of Oasis class, rarely do I see shows that fill up. If you show up 10 minutes early, you can have your pick of seating at most shows.
🎉 Thank you for making this video! Quick question for you: When will I be able to access all the onboard events, activities, and restaurant menus that will be available? As of today (sailing May 22nd) only one show is listed, a bunch of stuff for kids, and some restaurants still don’t have menus, just theme descriptions. It’s the entertainment I’m looking for early info on most…
Hey Amber! Rule of thumb is going to be 30 days prior to cruise... if your sailing is May 22nd, you should be able to see a good. A lot more features will populate once you board the ship and are fully checked-in.
I'm going on a cruise tomorrow and I actually brought my old color cruise compass. I never throw them out. I'm going to be disappointed if I don't get a new one to compare it with.
Why can't I add to my calendar before the cruise? Wouldn't that be the best time for me to do it?
It just doesn't work that way... I think this is to allow flexibility in scheduling and for the crew to easily be able to make last minute changes. Not ideal...
Thank You! i used the app a lot on my cruise earlier this year but i see now that i missed a lot of the capabilities and info. Appreciate all the helpful information
I'm going on Independence of the sea. Is there a good place to go with ping pong tables??
There is Joy! I have not been on Independence since pre-covid (she is my 2nd favorite ship) but traditionally, the ping pong tables will be towards the aft section of the pool heading to the sports court.
Sooo much more to explore on the app like all the menus, your on board spending account, unlocking your cabin door, TV remote and seeing the itinerary for other ships and sailings that you aren’t even booked on. The FB groups are overloaded with questions that can be easily answered in the app. A lot of potential though to make the app better.
Agree on all fronts! It has a TON of information but getting to that information or knowing it is there is the tough part. I have left many FB groups because I cannot handle the redundancy of the questions.
Wait! You need to tell us how to do all that stuff!
Thanks for the video, learned a few new things I wasn’t aware of. I don’t know if there’s a suggestion box somewhere but I really wish they had a search feature on the app. Like it would be great if there was a magnifying glass somewhere I can click and type in the word suite lounge or Sorrento’s, etc.
Great suggestion! Almost like an automated AI or chat bot.
Very helpful I see it gives you the option to add the perfect storm to your calendar. Do you really have to reserve it or is it just an option to add to calendar for planning purposes.
You do not need a reservation for the Perfect Storm. You do need to ensure anyone sliding down has been checked in and has a bracelet on saying they are old/tall enough to ride.
Great video! We just booked our first RC cruise for December on Symphony of the Seas. Looking forward to it!
Great information for the app, but I have a question…. How can I change my name on my reservation? I accidentally put my nickname that everyone calls me and not my legal name. Will that cause problems??
You need to get in contact with your Travel Agent or Royal Caribbean directly to fix. This will absolutely cause problems as it should match your identification you are using to board.
Can you please advise - i am travelling with hubby - do we both need to have the app on our phones to check in or can i just do this for us both on my phone - thank you. And thank you also for a beautiful run down on the app so very appreciative
My pleasure Tonia!! Yes, if your husband has the app and you are in the same cabin, when he goes to register into a restaurant or event it will give him the option to register for himself and for you. He just needs to select both names and proceed. 😀
so I was looking at my app as i watched this video. I'm sailing on WOTS in Sept. Many of the features show here aren't showing on my app. Is this because you are currently on board and the app adds things for you depending on the date of your sailing and how close you are to sailing or you are currently sailing? For instance, at the bottom, I do not have a 'boarding' button.
Hey there! You are correct! Various features load at differnet times and you will have the most functionality while on the ship. As your sailing is not until September, even the check-in feature is not open yet. Glad you are already researching and learning! You are ahead of the curve!
Good information before I leave July 11th.
I knew a lot of it, but this gives me even more. Thanks.
My pleasure Joyce!
Good information right here.....
I've just updated this video too! Check back next week for the latest version! They've made a few enhancements I wanted to showcase.
A lot has changed since I last sailed with RC. Which was only in 2018.
For the better, I am hoping!
@@TheWeekendCruiser mostly yes. I hope to sail again on a freedom class ship. Have you ever been in a suite on a freedom class ship? I wonder how the suite life is. The bigger ships look like they focused more on suites than on freedom class.
I’ve always wondered…..if you reserve a show then decide not to go, can you go into the app and cancel? At the end of our cruise I wanted to see a comedy show but the app said reservations were full. When I strolled past the comedy venue there were lots of empty seats.
Not at this time. Think that is a glitch they will hopefully fix.
Ok, but I need the info on using the app for my room key and tv remote! I can't find it anywhere on the app!
Also, what activities do you recommend booking as soon as you board?
Hey Amanda! Some features of the app are not available until check-in opens and you are able to get on the ship. Room key and TV remote would be one of those. Though, I didn't know the app worked for the TV too? Possibly on newer ships but I don't recall that. Watch your app for when the shows start to load. These will start to load about 30 days out. Sounds like you are going on an Oasis Class ship so make sure you book Aqua show for the first night it is available! It is an amazing show but if you book the last night of the sailing to see it and the ship rocks any, they will cancel and you miss it.
@@TheWeekendCruiser thanks for the info!
Valuable tips that will save time and make planning easier. Thank you so much.
My pleasure!
Which app? There is a few to choose from
Look for the one called "Royal Caribbean International" made by Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. It's their crown and anchor logo with a sea blue background.
@@TheWeekendCruiser Thank you
We are not planning to have Wi-Fi on board. Does that mean we will not be able to use our app then?
Great question! You will still be able to log-in to access the app features with no issues. Just select that when initially logging in.
If you have the internet pkg and friends have the chat will you be able to text them?
The Royal App chat function has to be purchased separately. If everyone just gets the internet package, you can just text them normally with wifi-calling turned on or via a texting app like WhattsApp
Do u have to be on the Wi-Fi to use the app, for example to reserve a show time or schedule speciality dining?
You just need to be connected to royals wifi but you do not need to purchase an internet package.
@@TheWeekendCruiser Thank you so much, happy cruising
Thank you for sharing. I didn't know they now charge for the chat feature. That was free last time I cruised with them.
The times are a changing! Small fee but still a fee.
The fee might depend on ship/class. We just did a 10day on Adventure OTS. Didn't purchase internet & no daily fee for the chat function on the app. We used it a lot!
how did you book the ice show for 7:30pm when you have a dinner at 7:00pm (2hrs) for Chops?
The app isn't smart enough to know when you are doable booked and I probably just forgot what time dinner was or made it after the fact. Oops 🤫
Thank you for sharing this. So if you don't have the internet package do you just leave it on Airplane mode and connect to the local wifi? Just want to avoid any roaming charges.
Yes, definitely go into airplane mode and then turn your wifi on to connect to ROYAL WIFI.
Just downloaded the App and have booked our dining reservations and four excursions. Easy and fun 🥳
Great video Brandon. The Royal app is great once you know how to use it. They do not label it well.
This is awesome knowledge for any one new to the Royal app, it will give you a big head start.
Thanks for sharing brother, hope to see you on Freedom sometime this summer ✌🏻
Thanks Gary and same here!
hiii, i was wondering, for the chat app, do you have to be in the app to get the notifications or do notifications pop out as long as youre connected to royals wifi, without Internet access?
Hi Shireen, I have actually never used the texting feature but I would assume you have app notifications as any reservations or dinner plans will pop out as a notification.
I didn’t receive any notifications for the chat messages. Turned on all notifications (sounds, alerts, etc) but nothing popped up. I kept having to check the app constantly throughout the day to make sure I didn’t miss a message from my group. Very annoying!
@@dfw.hannah5313 The apps is certainly not perfect! Sorry you have not received any notifications!
Very informative video Brandon. thanks for sharing.
My pleasure as always Judi!
Great video. Thanks!
I have a question. We are going in a 4 night cruise on Adventure of the Seas out of Galveston in Nov. 2022. There is only 1 formal night and I doubt they will be serving lobster tails on that night. Can I order 2 lobster tails even if they're not listed on the MDR menu? Would it cost extra? Thanks so much for your assistance.
Hey Pamela, you are correct, no lobster night on a 4 night sailing. I forget the number of nights you need for lobster but I assure you it isn't the 4 nighter. They will have lobster listed every night but for an additional charge. I want to say $32? This lobster would be much larger and bigger than the lobster night would be.
Awesome tutorial
Thanks Lisa! Hope it helps on an upcoming cruise!
hey ! do i need to have a reservation to use the app ? it won’t let me in for some reason
Hey! Great question! I always have a reservation, so this has not been an issue for me. Though, all the details are specific for a cruise. You probably can only access your profile page but would need to select a reservation to see more.
Great video..! Great info..!
Thank you!
Love this video. Thank you!
Thanks Tracy! Glad you liked it and found it helpful!
I downloaded the app, but only my reservations are showing up. My husband is on checkin but not on any of the reservations (meals and excursions). How do I add him? I’m confused, we’ve always been on one account inthe past
Hey Lin, sounds like when he was checking in, he only added himself to the reservation. I believe (but don't hold me to this) that if you go into the reservation you should be able to add him. Fingers crossed!
Very helpful! Thanks!
They need to make sure the app is working properly , I see my cruise but when I try to make dining reservations it tells me I need to link my reservation
Believe it or not, this is one of the better cruise ship apps lol I used to complain about it all the time till I went on other lines and they are 10x worse 🤣. With that said, yes, the app is still bad and buggy. Just the best of the bad 🤷
I hope they bring back the ability to book entertainment and dining pre cruise. I like to book shows and my dining time accordingly and don't want to deal boarding day
I need to learn from you! Can't tell you how many times I book dinner and a show where they overlap.
Hey Brandon,
Would you interested in coming on my live show Tuesday? I can tell you more about topic if so. Hope you’re available thanks
Hey Brad! Send me a note to my email account if you would. theweekendcruiser@gmail.com with the topic and time you want to go live. If after 5pm, I should be able to make it.
You didn't say how to make a reservation vs. add to calendar
When you make a reservation, it should automatically be added to your calendar. Unfortunately, you cannot just add items to the calendar ie: get ready for dinner at 7pm.
one thing i wish you could do is make payments towards a balance from the app. It isn't a huge deal to have to get onto a computer and do it, but it would be nice if i could just do it from the app.
That is a great suggestion!!
Hey Brandon, it appears you do number of cruises on Freedom OTS. In a month or two can you do a recap of how you experience Starlink WIFI that was installed as a test to give thoughts and opinion of if you notice any increase performance of the WIFI. As someone who always works when onboard, reliable WIFI is important to us!
Hey Brian and completely agree on reliable WIFI! Just scripted a video today of my overall thoughts. Stay tuned!
@@TheWeekendCruiser Perfect! Just booked 4 night cruise on Freedom for September and would love for much improved WiFi for working onboard.
Thanks. I didn't know a few of these !!
Hey Rhonda!! I am part of your FB Fan Club now!
We cruised at the end of April. The texting app worked when we were in port but once we left the port, it wouldn't work. It really messed up our plans since we were relying on using it to keep in touch with people in our party.
If you were on the ship's wifi or satellite, I would not have thought it made a difference. Could just be the satelite was no good? Good to know for those looking at this as an option!
Wow I thought I knew the app but this is really helpful!
Thanks Andrea!! Yes, it has a lot of nooks and crannies!
Where in the video did you discuss the "Hidden Features" of the app?
Hey Echo, these were not hidden in the sense you press a secret combination of buttons and you are transported to a private section of the app. They are hidden in the sense that the user interface is not intuitive and many people are unaware of the features discussed Take for instance, double clicking on the ship icon on the top. If you are already in thebshio menu, why would you double click it to see the ships schedule?
I just got off a RCCL ship Harmony of the Seas last week. I found the app very useful and pretty self explanatory. I figured it out.
Very good to hear! Sounds like you might be better with technology than I am!
@@TheWeekendCruiser Oh no, trust me! I downloaded the app on my phone when I booked the cruise 11 months in advance. I just had all that time to play around with it and learn it. R.C. was new to me so I watched a lot of R.C. you tubers as well and studied the ship! I new exactly what I was walking into, except for the no life vest in the room part!
That's awesome! Love how prepared you were!
Amazing video. Im from singapore and i love cruising. Fell in love with going onboard cruises from the first cruise i went to on April of 2022. Since then i went once on October also so accumulated a total of 8 points so far 😂 nothing compared to your points right now 😢 Trying to work my way to platinum. Been on spectrum of the seas twice! It was huge with tons of activities. Really looking forward to trying out other ships when they are available here. Your tips has helped alot. Much love from Singapore ❤
Thank you!
I do not see the boarding button in the App.
This button will be available the day before the ship sails
Im looking at my app. Dont have the boarding picture
Hey Gary, the boarding picture of you? This will populate once you start the check-in process for your cruise. Though, there is no way to see it after you are checked-in.
I miss been able to wright my own info in the calendar like we used to be able to.
Love this tip video! 👍🏻
Thank you Ram! Figured if I am still learning things, others might need some help too!
Is all this application information also in Spanish?
That is a great question and I honestly do not know the answer. It looks like if you have an IPhone and the system is set to Spanish, it will automatically have the app in Spanish. Could not find anything for Android.
It is really a good app ... thank you for the video!!
This was helpful! This app is not intuitive at all. Has a lot of potential, but Carnival's Hub app is WAY better. Royal needs to catch up lol.
It really isn't lol
If you have the internet package, can you just send Facebook messages to chat instead of paying the extra fee?
You sure can! You can use any data texting app like WhattsApp, Instragram messages, etc. If you have wifi-calling enabled, you can also just sent normal text messages.
My question remains Are they supplying the phones that will run their app? Seriously, assuming everyone has access to cell coverage or smartphones is annoying to say the least. I don’t carry anything in my hands or pockets, if they exist.
Btw, the app won’t work on the iPod either.
There's a certain amount of this aw shucks type thing that works sometimes in real life, but if you have hundreds to thousands to cruise and it is 2022, you're going to own a smartphone unless you're intentionally obstinate.
@@EntropyGuardian Why? We have no cell coverage at home and only need a cellphone for emergencies on the road. We’ve had free phones since we got our Analog phone. Since then the carrier has upgraded it when they’ve changed their services such that our old phone won’t work. The most recent was a flip phone which works just fine, we’ve never used nor needed data on it either. We were the only ones at the scene of an accident that could even get a signal, and that included the Sprint van that stopped. We were the only ones able to call 911!
If you don’t have a smart phone in 2022 you are part of a small minority. No judgement, I just mean the cruise line probably caters more to the probably 95-99% of us that do have one.
@@glopez1849 I know several serious cruisers that at best share a smartphone thus making some apps unavailable to the other. Many others have older phones that while smartphones can’t be updated to versions required by newer apps. I also know many many women who just don’t like having a phone in their hand constantly, especially on vacation, even if they would have a hand free. On our last Royal cruise we found several people who had flip phones without much effort trying to find them. My last cruise, Oceania has no app and seem to have no interest saying their clientele don’t want them.
For the record about half of my neighbors don’t have electricity, but you are right they aren’t cruisers either!
I totally get it. They painted with a broad brush and not everyone fits into their picture. I hope that if anyone wants a cruise compass, there is a way to get one.
the rccl message app is free as of jan 2023
It sure is! This video is coming up on it's year birthday if it hasn't already passed. RCL has made a few updates and might be worth re-recording and giving special detail to the messaging feature. I know it is a hot topic.
So much helpful info!!! Thanks so much!
Star link is on the way.
Super excited for the possibilities!
Man excellent video. Our first cruise out of this awful pandemic is late July on Adventure. The app is cool but I learned a lot here. Thanks.
My pleasure!! I try to remember when I have "ah ha!" moments as those make the best videos. If I am still figuring things out, I am hopeful others will want to know!
@@TheWeekendCruiser Well you're doing an excellent job. We are loyal to Royal like you so we learn a lot from your vids.
so helpful for a first-time cruiser... and oh so handsome
Thank you Sabrina!!! Welcome to the channel and glad the video helped!
I think this is free now. The chat feature!💖
Just tried on Freedom and it is free! I probably should make a new video of this one. The app has a slightly differnet layout. Same functionality just the filters are different and chat is now included!
@@TheWeekendCruiser If you plan another video,include how you download the app and how to access it with your account so its for your personal use. so many people are still not aware of that.
@@justwatching190 Great suggestion Ruth!
Not known for their technology is a huge understatement. Their web site is the worst!
hahaha, I was trying to be semi-kind lol
the chat app is now free
Thanks Anna! This video is a bit dated but there is a more recent one letting folks know it is now free. Thanks for keeping me honest!
Here's a great tip if you book a Guaranteed Cabin: On Royal Caribbean, you can find out your assigned guaranteed room # right after you check in! You upload your RC Set Sail pass to your Apple Wallet and the bar code will show the numbers under the bar code. The last 4 to 6 digits is your room #!
I don't thin I even knew this! Thanks for sharing!
❤
I don't understand what are those "hidden features" you mention, it's just all the features that are there, nothing hidden, don't lie
Hi Manuel, of course they are there. You wouldn't be able to use these features if they were not on the app. Secret doesn't mean something doesn't exist, it just means people don't know about it. I use the app weekly and I didn't know these features were there for ages! Figured I would try to help others.
Their app sucks..
THEY HAVE THE WORST APP.
Haha this is what I thought until I started cruising other lines this year. Not saying their app is good by any stretch but it is better than the others 😂
SECRETS..... HIDDEN FEATURES ???????? Baaaaaahahahahahahaha Clickbait much ?
I would encourage you to look at all the comments of people saying they learned something or didn't know a feature existed. It isn't that you hit a certain combo of keys and something magical happens (thinking of cheat codes in a video game) but just because features exists doesn't mean they are known. If you knew all of these items, then kudos, but I was not aware of many of these even after using the app many times.
@@TheWeekendCruiser You can try to justify it but you know the intent when creating that headline. Walk-through or similar would be a more honest appraisal.
Thanks for sharing your opinion but we are going to disagree here.
Hey Brandon! Thanks for doing this video. I am a diamond plus that has no clue how to use that app. They have made it very confusing but I will refer back to this video when I’m on board.
You’re obviously on freedom a lot and I’m on the West Coast in Cali so can’t go on that ship but at least they brought navigator out here for us❤️🛳⚓️
Hey Diane! My pleasure! I was actually on Navigator for 10 nights back in November I believe. Love Navigator as it used to do the weekend cruises several years ago. We go way back!