9 things Royal Caribbean Pros do that you should do
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- Опубликовано: 3 июн 2024
- Planning a Royal Caribbean cruise? We've got 9 must-know tips and tricks that the cruise pros do -- and you should, too!
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Don’t forget your heavy duty magnetic hooks! 😂😂
I check in online as SOON as it allows me to BUT I like to get in the ship as LATE as possible. When I was a new cruiser I used to RUSH to get on the ship ONLY to be bored out of my mind waiting to get into my room which normally isn't ready until the afternoon. The first day is so crowded and chaotic that all I want to do is get on the ship, do my muster and go to my room. There's no rush to go to the bar or eat a hamburger or explore the ship. I have an entire week to do that. Plus, I am so tired after traveling. I travel solo so I normally have ZERO problems waiting to book dinner or shows after the crowd has died down.
I was on Mardi Gras end of February and I got FTTF. I was on the ship by 11 and was allowed to go to my room and drop off my backpack and grab my card. Just another tip
What is FTTF?
@judybrownlee481, it stands for "Faster to the Fun."
@@leslierurup3570 Not faster to make a point though with silly acronyms 😂
I joined a Facebook travel group that had a specific title for RC Wonder of the Seas and with my sail date. The people in the group were very helpful and shared great information for my cruise planning. The group was a life saver!
I like using Facebook specific groups too!
Can you name an example group?
@@MrDksmall Search for your ship name, cruise line and date.
I don’t have face book 😫
What day?
At 4:36, I see myself and my wife in the background in the pub. I cant believe it. Too bad I didn't see you. Thanks for the videos.
Next time!
Hey Matt, been on 60 RC cruises since 2001. Only need 200 points to Pinnacle. Love Royal..tried other lines, but stayed Loyal to Royal. The crew really go above and beyond 😂😂
Tips for cruising with a baby:
1. Bring a travel crib. The cribs provided by RC are absolutely terrible.
2. Request to have infant/babies gratuities removed (as suggested by RC).
3. Bring noise blocking headphones for your baby. All the shows are way too loud.
4. Some strollers such as Uppababy Vista will not fit through the cabin door, so you’ll need to remove a rear wheel every time you go in/out.
that slice of pizza at the start made me want to fast forward 15 days to my next cruise
I know right? I saw that slice of pizza and thought "hmm...I should probably go on a cruise" even though I could just have pizza delivered right this very moment.
Adventure of the seas?
I was able to book all my dining reservations before even boarding the ship in the terminal last year it was great!!
Book your next cruise while onboard! You get to pick your room and not pay for that, plus you will get some onboard stateroom credits along with a lower price.
Whattt. We booked with next cruise and they did not let us pick our room. Just got to decide if we wanted a balcony, interior cabin etc
@@rachellenale if u picked the cheapest option it’s most likely that RC would pick it room. But for sure if u look at some utube and find room and cruise ship u like u can pick it room . Going on 3 cruises and picked all my rooms after I saw videos of rooms. But a lot of time I just do the cheapest option. As long as I am cruising 😂
@@marinamattleman1136 oh ok, that makes sense! But yes, as long as I’m going on a cruise, I don’t care if I’m in the cheapest room. Haha. It saves so much money! I’d rather splurge on the refreshment package and excursions.
@@rachellenale for sure.. try Matt’s group cruise and his MIE travel group. Jenn saved me so much money and with the group cruise u get group rate. Doing new year cruise with them.
@@marinamattleman1136how to join or contact please? Thanks!
Absolutely 100% agree on all points..
Thank You for all your information so helpful, since I booked my first cruise, I will be sailing July5th Symphony of the Seas out of cape liberty. I booked it last year in March. Since then I’ve been on your page. I can’t wait I’m so excited. Thanks again
Hey Matt. I'm going on Harmony in 3 days! Super excited cause I will be hitting Diamond + after 2 days on it! Super excited!
As for a Tip. I'd say make sure to wear Sunscreen if you go outside to do anything. Every cruise, I've seen soo many people that have gotten such horrible sunburns on the 1st day.
Another is get those gel pad insoles for your shoes. You will find yourself doing so much walking on it with all the activities and sights on the ship alone. They will help so much with all the walking you will do.
Too bad you won't be able to enjoy the Diamond+ perks until your next cruise !
and REAPPly SUNSCREEN after a few hours or even after you get out cruise pool
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
you should get a shure sm7b to improve your mic quality. i think it’ll increase viewership
I agree with all of these tips, except the TA. I prefer to manage it myself.
Make friends with a Royal employee and have them give you a friends and family discount code.. you get an additional 20% off after all other promos have been applied!!
1. Always purchase packages before cruises and be diligent about reading the RC emails for price drops.
2. When at port, find a good driver to take you to excursions and non mainstream restaurants/shops. A good driver knows the good places to go.
If you are in a suite, the Suite Concierge will make specialty reservations for you prior to embarkation day.
I prefer to book my own cruise. Everything else I agree with you on.
We have a Mediterranean cruse schedule for May and we have loved all your RV videos, tips, pros and cons. Its been a HUGE help to us. I am confused about a tip you stated in here regarding on line check in time. RC customer service told me that it is 45 days prior to boarding based on East coast time. You and others I have seen stated 45 days and the time was based on port of embarkation. Ours is Rome and we are in So Cal. Are you able to provide any added insight? Thanks for all you do and keep up the great work
so true about advance booking. i did my icon when it first opened. and it's half the price of what they are selling for now
I would be interested in knowing what you consider smaller ships. My view is Radiance Class, Voyager Class and Freedom class are smaller and provide a lot of amenities that the huge ships provide but with fewer passengers. And I second the advice to join the C&A Society as it is the best frequent cruiser club of all of the lines.
If you would like to get away from the crowds, on some ships (the ones I mentioned above), the heliport is open all day most days and it has 3 or 4 benches so you can enjoy some peace and quiet while you enjoy watching the sea go by. its a great place for entry and exit from ports.
Or Deck 5 on smaller ships.
Freedom class is by far our favorite, has almost everything an Oasis class has but almost half the people. So there's no need to reserve for theater, plenty of tables at the buffet, still has an ice show but no aquashow (only bummer) and best is the deals on rooms
These work for all cruises, in some different aspects but still valid.. IMHO.
Tip: Contact your bank/ debit cards and credit cards and let them know you are traveling. That way, you dont get a fraud alert when you try to go shopping in port. ((good for RC and other travel, as well))
That’s a good idea but also bring cash because sometimes you play it safe. If you have a app you can lock down your card to prevent any transactions from happening
I try to board as late as possible because I want to go straight into the room.
Great video ❤❤❤❤
Will you be going on Utopia before august and post a compass from that cruise
Ready for Bahamas next month.
We are almost opposite for some of the recommendations. We board at about 1pm so that we can go directly to our cabin and unpack (as we carry on our luggage). I get the concept of getting on, starting the "party" and exploring the ship- BUT- you STILL have your bag you carried on, so. On top of that, we notice that the first show on boarding day is generally light (even if it's a Broadway show) because people are unpacking. It's certainly not for everyone, but we also carry on for flights. So we pack super light.
Also, we never use a TA anymore- we did for our first few cruises, but since we cruise in suites, the normal "special" people get group rates for- we don't get. And when I recently shopped around, we still have not found a TA that would be an advantage. BUT that's also because we have been on over 70 cruises, so we know what we like to do, and know how to rebook for price reductions. Is it perfect? No. But we are comfortable doing it.
Other than that, we agree with the rest.
Costco Travel provides huge savings, credit card cash rebates and Costco shop cards plus traditional TA services
@@LawB3 thanks, but I can't see that being such a massive savings for what we get.
Agree. And I like yo gamble so most of my cruises are complimentary
@@alfamaizeIt can be. I usually book my own cruises, however I did book through Costco once, received decent OBC, some extras on the cruise and a Costco gift card for $800. This was an owner’s suite for 2 guests. The price of the cruise was the same as if I booked it direct with RCI.
Great information, my wife and i will be taking our 1st cruise on May 13th- 17th on royal Caribbean allure of the seas leaving out of cape Canaveral, I'm excited but also a little nervous. We did get an Oceanview cabin with a balcony and i can't wait to see what it's like. I've heard nothing but good things about cruises and especially RC cruises. We're on the 7th floor of an 18 floor cruise ship. I hope i don't feel too much moving around lol.
Enjoy! Book any extras before you board.
Getting on Voyager of the Seas next Wednesday March 28th!
I loved it, great ship
You nailed this!!!😂😂
My top tip is LISTEN TO MATT😂
😊 Indeed! His Monday livestream is GREAT!!
I normally book 1-2 yrs in advance. Only ONE time did I book last minute and that when my baby sister died and I really needed to get away. The Gods must've been on my side bc I got an INCREDIBLE balcony deal. One week on MSC for $399
I'm so sorry for your loss I hope the trip was amazing tho !
Hi Matt. Great content as always. Question…does Royal Caribbean supply water for CPAP machines? Thanks.
Yes, they do! One gallon of distilled water plus an extension cord. Just ask your stateroom attendant!
Yes they do. Fill out the special needs form pre cruise. Just Google Royal Caribbean special needs form and you’ll see it
Matt, I wanted to book the Teppanyaki at Izumi, but I found it is only offered on two ships in the fleet ( Odyssey and Spectrum OTS). I am going to write Royal and ask them to expand that option to more ships.
2 days till Symphony 😮💨
Eat at hooked, sit at the bar, ask for surf and surf (twin lobster), you're welcome!
Here's a interesting dilemma I've got. Taking Explorer in late October out of Piraeus, ending in Barcelona. Getting in to Athens on a Friday around noon, ship leaves on Sunday. So we've got about a day and a half to explore Athens.
Here's the question - Does it make sense to spend Sunday morning taking in just a little bit more of Athens before heading over to the port?
Do you have to pre-pay for your entire dinner when you make a dining reservation?
If you have a cruise booked that will occur after the next November (any year), look for savings for cruise add-ons like beverage packages, internet, excursions and dining in November. I saved a bunch the last two Novembers doing this. Cancel and rebook any extras that are lower at any time. Black Friday is the best it gets all year from my experience. - Are there other holidays or dates that offer the best discounts?
hi there! I agree with black friday but I also noticed that there are other holidays that can get you some sweet deals, like for pasta day I got a discount for a dinner at Giovani´s (I didn´t even know it was pasta day, it just so happened to open the RC app and saw the discount). I got a great deal on the key program some days before valentine´s day, and on new years eve as well
So if my cruise is out of Seattle, then the boarding time window opens at Midnight Seattle time or 3am EST time?
Hi, can you provide more details on booking dining before you board? We bought the 3 night specialty dining, but when I asked multiple agents, they all say you can only make reservations once onboard. Where can I find more info on booking before cruise day? Thanks!!
I'm going on Wonder on April 7th through 14th
Dang!!! Me too 😂
I am now a Diamond no Royal Caribbean. I know I don't get priority embarkation until I'm a Diamond Plus, so I purchased the Key. I booked the cruise last minute and got a later check in time. The Key gives me priority embarkation. Does that mean I can board earlier than my embarkation time?
We booked "Utopia of the Seas" as soon as it was available and got a great deal!
How much did you get it for?
$1,500 for a balcony for 2 people.
That’s good!
Curious…I’m booked for an airport to port transfer with Royal. Would I still need to book a check in time?
I’ve never received any benefits or discounts using travel agents and I’ve tried 6. If anything they have cost me money because they’re hard to contact in time to apply any price drops etc.
ive been many times and never used a travel agent
@bryanjamescruises is that you at 4:33 ? Blogs on blogs!
I said the same thing when I saw him!
We have the 3 night dining package. Can we use it for specialty lunch or does it have to be dinner?
Lunch on sea days
Book early AND register with cruise price drop websites. Even after payment is due, if a price drops getting an on-board credit or other perk might be a possibility.
What are some of the cruise price drop websites. Would you please share. Thank you
Hi. I've searched the RC website FAQ's for this, but can't find an answer. We've booked and paid for a 7 night cruise on Harmony in May. My app says 0 C&A points (we've never cruised RC). At what point in time do we see points to use for benefits that require points? Since it is 1 point per night, will points begin accumulating after 3 nights, or do those points get distributed at once upon check-in?
Thank you - love your videos!
I have found that my points are added to my account a week or two after I have sailed.
Points come up around 14 days after your trip is completed.
Cruise points are added to your account well after your cruise is over. But, not to worry as there is no benefit to getting your first points soon. The one benefit is when you cruise Royal the SECOND time you'll get an invite to the welcome back party which will get you a couple free drinks, and that's about all of a Gold membership.
I have an upcoming cruise on icon of the seas in about a year. I have noticed that the beverage packages and dining packages are not available for purchase yet. In your experience, when do these normally become available?
I noticed they were available like 6-5 months before my cruise sail date, but it could have been earlier than that really. By that time I wasn't really checking actively
I booked mine about 10 months out on icon which was less than half of normal pricing.
I don't see the need to use a travel agent unless it's to fly directly into a destination where you have NO idea of where to stay, what areas are good/bad, excursion planning, flight transfers. But for a cruise... I can book that myself online/directly through the cruiseline. I've used TA in the past for cruising and have seen NO difference in price OR perks have I done it myself and I hated the fact that I had NO control over my OWN booking. The only time I could see using a TA for a cruise if it's for a large group booking and I was getting a perk such as a free cabin stay from booking a certain amount of cabins. I used a TA for my bday once for a group of 10 and there were NO special perks OR pricing. Everything was the same had we booked it ourselves individually online. We had to hunt the TA down every time we needed to make a payment.
Can't wait until next week...
Jewel of the Seas b2b San Juan/Fort Lauderdale/Southampton
Small ship... Great!
San Juan Puerto Rico? When is that I live in PR and have been looking for ships but I can only find the Rhapsody of the Seas!
@@rogerayala6878 March 30, as far as I remember
Are there any vending machines at the port before checking in? Planning on buying sodas before getting on the boat 😅
Nope
Cruised with Royal last year. The only thing that upset me was that if you had premium dining package you could NOT pre-book dinner reservations prior to embarkation. If you were paying for dinner reservations OUTSIDE of dining package you were free to book prior to embarkation. We were shut out of dining options when we got on board. It’s a clever business practice but I think it sucked quite frankly.
You have to check in at midnight 45 days out, board the ship by 10:30-11AM then run to a restaurant to make your bookings (a horrible, stressful start to any vacation) which is why Royal Caribbean will be changing the process soon.
Which Is why I just purchased/reserved specialty restaurants ahead of time. Saved $ and no stress reservation wise.
1. Any Royal Caribbean employee can supply you with a Friends and Family discount code which is 20% off the entire cruise price after promos have been applied (taxes fees and gratuities are not discounted)
2. Set expectations and boundaries with your fellow cruise group.
3. Apply the “it is what it is” approach. Royal will do everything they can to accommodate and make your experience as memorable as possible. In the event something goes wrong, don’t let it ruin your total experience spending hours in a customer service line. If the issue is severe enough, you see an officer walking through the promenade, pull them aside and make them aware of the issue and attempt to schedule a time to remedy the situation.
Travel Agent? Only a travel agent or a very old person would recommend one. Been on a dozen cruises and booked them all through apps or in person at Next Cruise. Pre-Internet travel agents would do things that an average person couldn't do, I see that but its 2024 and everything that you need is right at the tip of your thumbs on your smart phone.
Where do you find the previous cruise compass?
Royal Caribbean blog
@@marinamattleman1136 The last compass was for December on Enchantment of the Seas. Talks a lot about New Years. I'm going early next year.
@@sharonh5399 .. ohh than I don’t know. I look as similar . They don’t really change that often .
Top tip? 🤔..... Never, and I mean NEVER, slap Tony Diaz. 🤣
That’s excellent advice 😂😂😂
Don't blindly book the first check-in time of the day. Find out when the ship is typically boarding, then book that time so that you skip the wait in the terminal before embarkation begins. For example, at Cape Liberty you can book (typically) as early as 10 am, but boarding doesn't begin until around 11 am usually. Passengers in the 10 am and 10:30 am slots get to sit and wait until the ship is ready while 11 am (typically) gets to head directly to the ship.
Take a look at the deck plans before boarding to get an idea where everything is, possible routes between locations (can you get from A to B with X in between, where X can be an ice skating rink) and are there's any deck limitations with different elevator banks alongside what's accessible once off the elevator.
The ship's entertainment and event schedule can change even after boarding. Plan ahead, but don't expect the schedule to be set in stone. There's a greater likelihood of the schedule mostly being finished by the end of the first day aboard.
UP NEXT
The Royal app will tell you what events are planned for your particular cruise…
Reddit royal Caribbean group, great tips and ideas😊
Years...That would be great. I need to book my 2029 cruise (45th Anniversary) but they refuse to let me.
I see 2029 cruises on my app
@@reenakemp9132 Nothing ion the website to book. My TA can't even see 2029.
@@edbloom4897 I'm showing Bahamas cruises showing up already for 2029. That's it though
It's all Coco Cay trips they are showing. Pass lol. That's all I'm seeing posted for 2028 also.
I got in touch with a travel agent one time. A very popular one here on RUclips. After they found out i wasnt getting a suite they pushed me off onto a smaller agency....TURNED OFF immediately! Will never use one again...
Great April fool’s prank: can anyone find me a old Compass for my cruise on Utopia 😝
We went on Grandeur last Oct and never ever ever again on that size. Horrible!
How come? We’re going on a smaller one soon
I wanna hear why. I took it in August as my 10th cruise and had the best time!
Years !!!!!! I do Europe or Mexico at 6 to nine months but years!!!!!! Nope life is not like that anymore
Always bring a pair of closed toe shoes, a shirt that covers your shoulders, long pants, and a sturdy bathing suit so you can partake in all the onboard activities!
Not gonna say this is all false. But a lot of it is. “Royal Caribbean pros”… Idk what they mean by that. I’ve been cruising since I was born, been on around 50 cruises with RC, and by now we don’t check cruise compasses, we know the ports by heart, we know the ships, their amenities, and we know what to book without researching at all. We just pick a ship we like, a date we can work around, and an itinerary with ports we like. That’s it. Travel agents, research, cruise compasses, all that is not done by most people who actually travel lots.
Had a very disappointing first cruise just two weeks ago on Freedom of the Seas. From rude employees embarking to less than good dining experiences. Won’t cruise with Royal again.
Wow. I'm sorry to hear that! But I wouldn't give up on another cruise because of one trip. I suggest booking again on an Oasis Class or Quantum Class where there are more options. I would have definitely contacted the hospitality officer whilst I was on board. I know RCCL takes notice when they are made aware at the time of the incident.
Agree with Sandra. They really care about what you think of their cruise line. It should be noted so they can take care of you better next time.
We just got off RC smaller and older ship and I can’t say another good things. I feed bad for people that have bad cruise
@@sandrawhite8295 We actually went to guest services and requested a printed copy the Compass. The agent was very curt stating that we should ask our stateroom attendant for it…. I said I gladly would but we had no idea who that person was…. this was the evening of our second day…
@@Nodizzle97 … we did go to guest services
Taking a cruise with Royal Caribbean in August for the first time…on Liberty of the Sea…should there be any concerns traveling on this ship ??
I liked this ship when my family cruised on it but that was 5 yrs ago.
Oh no… the up next is gone
I knew something felt off 😂