Top do's and don'ts for boarding a Royal Caribbean cruise
I just went on a 5-day Royal Caribbean cruise on the Voyager of the Seas out of Galveston with my family. I was shocked at how smooth our check-in and boarding process was. To help make your arrival and check-in for your next Royal cruise as smooth and quick as possible, check out these top do's and don'ts.
Before arriving for embarkation day
Do: Download the app or check-in online ASAP to get the best selection for your boarding time. Depending on when you book your cruise, the online check-in may not be open yet, but if you login/create an account on Royal Caribbean's site or app and add your reservation number, it should tell you when your online check-in opens. Be sure to fill out all the requested information to make your boarding process smoother (if you forget to take the picture it asks for, you can take it at the port terminal like I did, it was done super quick and easy by an employee with their check-in tablet).
Don't: Fly in the same day of your cruise departure date. Flight delays and cancellations can cause you to miss your cruise altogether, so get to your port city a day early if possible and book a nearby hotel like we did in Galveston at the hotel pictured above.
Do: Pack a carry-on to bring with you on to the ship with essentials like boarding documents, medications, and clothes for your first day on the boat (i.e., bathing suit, sunscreen, dinner clothes) as your checked luggage may not arrive to your room until the evening that first day.
Don't: Forget to check all requirements for your boarding documents such as your passport, ID, birth certificate (specific requirements vary based on the departure city and arrival city so check the requirements for your specific sailing).
Do: Plan out your transportation to and from the port itself. If you're driving, look into the various parking lot options there at the port (be sure to reserve in advance, if possible, to increase your chance of getting your preferred lot). We actually chose to park our car at a nearby hotel that had parking and shuttle services to the cruise port terminal at a lower cost than to park at the port itself. Other options for transportation can include taxi or Uber/Lyft. With so many options, take the time to compare pricing and timing to determine the best form of transportation for you.
Arriving at the port terminal
Do: Arrive on time for your check-in. If you show up too early, you may or may not be told to wait until your scheduled check-in time (there is a waiting area if you do arrive early, and they don't let you on yet). If you show up late you may have a longer wait time as they try to make the crowds more spread out by using different check-in times. Be cautious with arriving late as there is a cut-off time for all passengers for checking in and getting onboard and they will not let you on if you arrive past that time (usually that time can be found on the app, or you can contact Royal directly to confirm).
Don't: Ignore the bag porters outside the port terminal building. They're ready and waiting to help you with your larger checked luggage items and will ensure your bags get delivered to your stateroom later that day. It's such a relief to drop off the heavy bags right away and fly through the rest of the check-in and security with ease. Pre-printing and attaching your luggage tags which can be found online or in the app can make this step even easier.
Do: Prepare to go through security. Similar to an airport security screening, your carry-on items will go through an x-ray machine for screening. You will need to empty all pockets and walk through a metal detector. Thankfully, unlike at the airport, shoes do get to stay on. The specific security measures at your departure terminal may look different, but this was my experience at the Galveston terminal.
Don't: Make your boarding documents hard to get to. You will need to show your travel documents and Set Sail Pass first thing before going through security. You'll show your Set Sail Pass again when it comes time for actually boarding. Keep a printout version or save the mobile version of the Set Sail Pass for easy access. This pass can be found online when you log in to your account or in the app in the same section that you found the online check-in.
Do: Be patient for your time to be called as you wait in the waiting areas. Be courteous and kind if any delays happen that pushes the check-in time, especially if you are one of the first ones to board. Often, these ships are being turned around the same day as they just let passengers off earlier that morning from a prior cruise, and it takes a lot to get the ship ready for the incoming passengers.
Boarding the Ship
Do: Listen to all overhead announcements as they will let you know when it is your time to board the ship. At the Galveston terminal they separated all passengers into different seating sections. They then called for all pre-boarders such as the Key upgraded passengers and those with priority boarding. Then, they called out the passengers based on their Crown & Royal Anchor Society level (the free rewards program Royal offers to give people perks for their continued loyalty as passengers book more cruises with them). After, they go by seating section number for all other passengers.
Don't: Leave behind any bags or important documents in the cruise terminal waiting area. Make sure to have all your belongings with you before preparing to board the ship.
Do: Stop to take a picture at one of the photo stations set up just before getting on the ship. While you may think you will not want the photo, it never hurts to just take it and decide later if you wish to buy it. My parents purchased our boarding photo from the first cruise they took my sister and I on, and it's still one of my favorite vacation photos, especially since it was from our first ever cruise.
Don't: Bring your worries and cares from land with you. You're about to board a ship filled with so many fun and relaxing opportunities. This if your chance to unplug and have an amazing time on your vacation. Leave the work stress and any other worries behind and enjoy your cruise!
These do's and don'ts are based on my recent experience checking in and boarding the Voyager of the Seas out of Galveston. Your ship and your departure terminal may change some of the specifics for what your check-in process looks like, but overall, these tips should help make the experience smoother and easier the next time you board a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you have any more do's and don'ts for the check-in and boarding process, please leave a comment below!
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