Top 4 ways to start planning the best Royal Caribbean cruise!
I just booked a 5-day cruise with Royal Caribbean that leaves in two months, which I am stoked for! As I prepare for my trip, there are some key things I do to plan the best cruise ever. Here are the top 4 ways to start planning your next cruise with Royal Caribbean.
1.Excursions
After booking your trip you'll gain access to see what excursions will be available through the Royal Carribean website. Go to 'Manage my Cruise,' then 'Cruise Planner' where you can sign in or create an account, and then link your upcoming reservation to view all the pre-boarding options you can book. This can include snorkeling, catamaran rental, or even a day at a private beach. The selection varies depending on your specific cruise and destinations. Be sure to book excursions before boarding to get extra savings and to ensure you get a spot before they fill up! If you feel comfortable with it, you can also book excursions on your own and not through the cruise line which can sometimes be more budget-friendly (just keep in mind, with that, you lose some of the ease of having the cruise staff coordinate certain details such as transportation to/from the excursion site for you).
Want an even easier way to book excursions while getting amazing savings?! Book them through Vacays with Kay to get the best deal and have a travel agent do all the leg work for you! Fill out an inquiry at vacayswithkay.com
2. Research your Ship
Royal Caribbean has multiple ships in their fleet, so be sure to check out all the features and special offerings unique to the ship you will be cruising on. Doing so will not only make you more excited for your trip, but it will also help you further plan things such as packing. For example, on my upcoming cruise from Galveston, I plan to pack mostly summer casual clothes, but I know that on my ship (Voyager of the Seas) there is an amazing ice-skating rink with open skate sessions offered, so I want to be sure to pack some long pants (which are required) and socks to skate. You can find what your cruise ship has to offer by going to the Royal Caribbean website, click on 'Ships,' select the specific ship written on your booking confirmation, and then 'Things to do' to find out all the details about your ship!
3. Add-ons
While a lot of fantastic things are included in your cruise package with the purchase of your ticket, some key elements come with an extra charge. To maximize savings, check out these extras before sailing to get special pre-boarding discounts. Included in your cruise ticket you have access to tap water, coffee, lemonade, iced tea, milk and some juices included. Other drinks are an additional charge. You can pay per drink on board or purchase a drink package. For my upcoming cruise, I can take advantage of a pre-boarding buy one get one half off the deluxe beverage package discount which includes various alcoholic options as well as non-alcoholic such as sodas and bottled water. You can choose from different levels of drink packages including a classic soda package which is the cheapest drink package add-on and gives you unlimited sodas. Keep in mind you'll want to evaluate your beverage preferences for your trip as the packages are priced per person per day which sometimes is not as cost effective as paying per drink on board. Other add-ons to check out before boarding include wi-fi packages, photo packages, and specialty dining options. Just login to/create your account, click on 'Plan my cruise' for the desired reservation, then you'll find all the options available for your trip.
PRO TIP: If you don't want to purchase a drink package you are allowed to bring one sealed 750mL bottle of wine or champagne on embarkation day (be sure to bring a bottle opener and open it in your cabin as they will charge a fee to uncork the bottle for you). You can also bring non-alcoholic beverages as part of your carry-on to the ship (you can't bring more than 12 standard (17oz) cans, bottles or cartons per room). Also, milk or distilled water for infant, medical or dietary needs are allowed. Remember, this only applies to when you first board the ship. Any alcohol purchased at a port stop will be stored by the ship and returned to you at the end of the cruise when you get off.
4. Packing List
Regardless of when your sailing date is, it's never too soon to start planning your packing list. If you are flying to your port to board your cruise, please follow all airline guidelines and regulations. When it comes to boarding the ship, you can brink carry-on luggage and check luggage as well just like at an airport. I highly recommend bringing a carry-on bag and pack essentials like all medications, boarding and travel documents, toiletries, a change of clothes and a bathing suit. Any luggage you check will likely not arrive at your cabin until late afternoon or even the evening, so you don't want to spend all day having nothing to change into for the pool or to get ready for dinner. Per the Royal Caribbean guidelines, all carry-on bags must fit inside the x-ray screening machine (the size of the machine can vary by port but typically is like those at airport security). You'll also benefit from having a carry-on bag for the end of your cruise. The night before you get off the ship your luggage will be collected by staff, so you will want a bag to keep toiletries, pajamas, and your next day's clothing with you. Remember to bring your non-alcoholic drinks in your carry-on as well if you plan to take any! For any questions about what you can and cannot bring onboard, be sure to contact Royal Caribbean directly for the most up to date guidelines.
*** For a complete suggested packing list, keep an eye out for a blog post where I will be sharing my own personal list for my cruise in May! ***
Extra tips!
If you are going on your first Royal Caribbean cruise, after your first trip with them is complete you will be automatically enrolled in their Crown & Anchor Society program. This program will give you access to start gaining points for every booking you make with Royal Caribbean. These points will allow you to gain some amazing perks, and it's totally free!
Planning to fly to your port of embarkation for your cruise? Fly in the day before your sailing date so you don't have to worry about flight delays making you miss your cruise! I can personally share my experience of running through the airports and being the last ones onboard the ship because of airline troubles the day of my cruise, so avoid the stress and the risk and fly in a day before!
Finally, 30 days before your sailing date you may be able to place a bid for a stateroom upgrade. Go to the Royal Caribbean website, then click 'Manage my Cruise,' then 'Cruise Planner,' then under 'Explore More' click on 'Royal Up.' Once there you can enter your last name and reservation number and see if your cruise is eligible for an upgrade! If it is, you'll be able to look at stateroom upgrade options and place a bid. If it's accepted, you'll receive an email notifying you and be charged for the upgrade.
For the Royal Caribbean website go to royalcaribbean.com
Want help planning the best cruise from start to finish? Use a travel agent! For worry-free planning and sailing, a travel agent can coordinate your entire trip from start to finish while you get to focus on relaxing, having fun and making memories!
For a high-quality travel agent, go to vacayswithkay.com
Fill out a travel inquiry form and let them curate the best cruise for you!
If you find any of these tips helpful or have some of your own be sure to leave a comment below! And subscribe to stay up to date on all future blogs!
Thank you for the tips :)