Sunday, March 31, 2024

Top Cruise Tips

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Practice taking pictures at home and watch a few beginner photography tutorials on YouTube to ensure you have the skills needed to take that perfect shot. Outside of clothing, there are other essentials you should pack for an Alaska cruise. While not required, bringing items like motion-sickness medication, binoculars, and cabin essentials like outlet adapters are helpful to have handy. Just as Alaska’s weather can be unpredictable in terms of rain and snow, you may also encounter surprisingly warm weather, particularly in the peak summer season.

Another con of cruising in July and August are the higher costs

Royal Caribbean shareholderscano receive onboard credit when they hold at least 100 shares of the cruise line. If so, you'll want to check in for your cruise as soon as the online check-in opens. If you notice that the price has dropped, simply give Royal Caribbean a quick call.

These are the recently added short segments of the Ultimate World Cruise in order of departure date.

What I had failed to realize was just how much was included in Virgin’s base fare. I had always figured that I could sail on one of my favorite Royal ships for much less than a Virgin sailing, and kept going back to what I knew. However, I did not realize that Virgin Voyages offers a more all-inclusive type of pricing, especially when compared to Royal Caribbean. I also appreciated the aspects of the cruise Celebrity excelled at, including the variety of food on its menus, as well as the seating around the ship. Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional and are subject to change at any time. All starting prices listed are per person, in USD, cruise only, based on double occupancy and are subject to change at any time.

Royal Caribbean is letting passengers vote on 9-month world cruise itinerary change

On Royal Caribbean ships, each balcony comes with dividers to help grant passengers some privacy. If you’re sailing with a group and have cabins that are located next to each other, it may be possible to remove the dividers to create a larger outdoor space. Instead, I was able to pour some wine while getting ready for dinner, as the cabin was always serviced by the time I returned from my afternoon activities.

royal caribbean cruise blog

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, is scheduled to enter service in July 2024. On Tuesday, Celebrity Beyond and Freedom of the Seas are scheduled to visit CocoCay. To avoid any problems when booking at NextCruise, watch out for these common mistakes. Note that it’s not possible on every ship, as some dividers are attached to the hull and cannot be moved. Additionally, if you think the provided ones aren’t comfortable, you can ask your steward if they have any different ones that they can bring you. Rather than drink the wine out of the cups provided in the bathroom, you may request fresh wine glasses daily.

Africa & Greece

However, sailaway times often overlap with the early dining time, meaning you’ll miss these scenic sailings if you're in the Main Dining Room. One must-do before you board an Alaska cruise in 2024 is to pre-purchase these add-ons. Speaking of excursions, it isn’t necessary to book excursions through Royal Caribbean. While booking shore excursions on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website is convenient, you might find more options (or lower prices) by booking through independent tour operators. It’s the first new build for the line that’s beginning with 3- and 4-night cruises, as transitioning from weeklong to weekend sailings is typically a hallmark of older vessels.

royal caribbean cruise blog

Although your cruise itinerary might say you arrive at 6AM on disembarkation day, this does not mean you can get off your ship at 6AM. It takes time for your ship to dock, get cleared by local authorities, and prepare for disembarkation. If all goes to plan, you could start disembarking by 7AM, but unexpected delays could cause a later disembarkation time.

Travel Journals Go Digital

Aside from the food, the rest of our day at this private destination was amazing. We got to enjoy the pool float party, where they threw about 50 inflatables into the pool for people to enjoy while the DJ kicked off the afternoon, as well as the beautiful beach. I am a huge fan of Perfect Day at CocoCay, as I enjoy the all-inclusiveness of the island, and not having to book an excursion to have a great time. I was hoping that this would be the same for The Beach Club, and we didn’t book any excursions for our day there. Though, to their credit Virgin Voyages did offer some unique areas that we weren’t expecting to see on an adults-only ship.

You can tick off several bucket-list places in one vacation, and leave the logistics to us. If you’re not exactly sure where to begin, here are our top 10 tips for choosing your itinerary, finding the right accommodations, and packing everything you’ll need. Loyalty Benefits worked slightly differently, as Spectrum of the Seas was built to cater directly to the Asian market. Because of cultural differences, some of the onboard amenities were not free. For example, the North Star onboard Quantum-class ships is usually free for North American sailings on sea days.

There have also been reports of guests fighting onboard and visa issues for later destinations. You will have to enter different ports of call and find transportation to your tourist destinations. As your ship sails away from each port of call in Alaska, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Inside Passage, and you won’t want to miss sailaway each evening.

If you are sailing on Oasis Class ships, you can actually eat at Johnny Rockets for free during breakfast! Though it is a specialty restaurant, Johnny Rockets serves a classic American breakfast free of charge on Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, and Wonder of the Seas. This can offer a great option for breakfast to switch it up from the Windjammer or Main Dining Room each morning. The helipad is located on the bow of the ship, and during sail away, Royal Caribbean permits guests to access to the helipad. You can usually access the helipad throughout the week, too, but it is dependent upon the weather conditions. If you are into financial investing, consider adding RCL to your portfolio.

The Best Mobile Apps For Every Cruiser - Royal Caribbean Blog

The Best Mobile Apps For Every Cruiser.

Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:52:41 GMT [source]

While the corkscrew won't be anything fancy, it'll get the job done, and you will be sipping on your wine in no time. Once you accumulate 30 cruise points, you’ll reach the Platinum tier of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society. While this level doesn’t get you as many perks as Diamond cruisers, you’ll be able to request complimentary bathrobes during your cruise. Unlike sister brand Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean staterooms don’t come equipped with bathrobes. Though Royal Caribbean no longer leaves physical Cruise Compass’ in cabins each evening, you can request copies from your stateroom attendant.

Cruise Deals: Best Discount Cruises & Packages

royal caribbean cruise blog

Utopia of the Seas will be the first new Royal Caribbean's ship that offers shorter cruises first. It's one of the most important personal hygiene tasks you can do on a cruise ship. Unlike the scorching 90 degree days of August, you’ll find the weather more pleasant in the fall. Temperatures in Mykonos, as an example, are around 70 degrees in October compared to the mid-80s in August. Aside from the cost of your cruise fare, airfare prices peak in the summer. A roundtrip flight to Rome, for instance, might cost $900 in May, but could skyrocket to $1,500 in July.

Unofficial blog about Royal Caribbean cruises - Royal Caribbean Blog

Unofficial blog about Royal Caribbean cruises.

Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The worst months to cruise to Europe

If you want to try a little of what Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants have to offer, look into the "Taste of Royal" lunch. Those considering specialty dining will enjoy this feature because it allows you to better curate your schedule to fit your dining needs. Compared to other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean doesn't have as many quick-service complimentary dining options.

Don’t forget to pack short sleeve shirts and sunscreen

But if you're at home, it's still a good idea to book as early as you can to lock in the lowest price. Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom. Ideally, you want other staterooms on either deck and not public venues like pools, restaurants or other public venues.

royal caribbean cruise blog

Ultimate India, Sri Lanka & Malaysia Cruise (15 nights)

Instead of transporting your luggage to the airport yourself, bags are collected outside your stateroom door in the evening prior to disembarkation. The bags are then delivered and checked onto your flight on disembarkation morning, meaning you won’t see your bags again until you arrive at your home airport. Instead of getting upset over a cold, rainy day in port, maintain a positive attitude. Find a cozy saloon to enjoy a warm Irish coffee, or bundle up in your rain gear and make the most of the day. Nonetheless, it’s helpful to know the basic rules of photography before setting sail.

By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. It can, however, still use its WiFi and Bluetooth connections to stay connected, if you so choose. Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise. There are discounts, vouchers, and even freebies anyone can take advantage of once onboard. Dress codes look imposing, and you might feel like you need to have more outfit changes in a single day than most celebrities at an awards ceremony, but the reality is it's not nearly that stringent.

Extra towels

When two people have different preferences or budgets for a vacation they’re both looking forward to, they’re likely to clash. You might be used to your own habits, but they can be jarring to someone who’s never shared a home or cabin with you before. Welcome to a new week of Royal Caribbean news, which has a few tidbits and updates you should know about. Stay up-to-date with all the Royal Caribbean news from this week with our roundup of all this week's news. It's incredible to see how much progress Royal Caribbean has made in less than a year with its restart plans, but there are still a handful of issues the cruise line is working through. It appears the collision of Harmony of the Seas was due to the harbor pilot.

Don't book a cabin one deck above or below a public space, such as a pool, dining room, or bar. The benefit of doing this is you get to "meet" other people on your sailing, which may result in new friendships, or saving money on a shore excursion or other activity that has a group discount. The Windjammer on Radiance and Quantum class ships offers an area at the rear of the ship to enjoy any meal with a fantastic view of the ship's wake.

I'm going on Royal Caribbean's first world cruise for 274 nights: Why I booked and what I'm expecting - Royal Caribbean Blog

I'm going on Royal Caribbean's first world cruise for 274 nights: Why I booked and what I'm expecting.

Posted: Thu, 09 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Stressing over making it to the airport in time is not worth it; instead, the general rule of thumb is to avoid booking flights before noon. When scheduling your return flights, don’t book a flight too early on disembarkation day. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the best free and low-cost activities to do in each Alaska cruise port, which should help give you some ideas. It’s not uncommon to see admission to the waterpark starting around $150 per person, with overwater cabanas sometimes costing upwards of $4,000 or $5,000. Though CocoCay has complimentary beach chairs, a large freshwater pool, and plenty of dining options, the island is known for its paid activities, ranging from Thrill Waterpark to the upscale Coco Beach Club.

These are the recently added short segments of the Ultimate World Cruise in order of departure date.

Visiting the remote islands of Hawaii and French Polynesia offers passengers the chance to discover the cultures and landscapes in these destinations. Whether snorkeling the reefs of Moorea or visiting Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii, this transpacific itinerary is unlike any other segment of the World Cruise. Although Royal Caribbean just released itineraries for shorter segments of the World Cruise, the World Cruise has been available to book for over a year.

Similarly, sanitizing wipes are something else to bring that you can use to wipe down surfaces in your stateroom. When you get the receipt to sign, look for the line item that indicates if an automatic 18% gratuity is already included. If it is, you should feel confident that the proper gratuity is being given to that crew member.

Easier said than done, but you probably won't need all the clothes, shoes, and outfits you think you might need on a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you want to try FlowRider, rock climbing wall or zipline, take advantage of lower waits on the first day of the cruise. If you are on a Radiance or Quantum Class ship, be sure to enjoy your meals outside while at the Windjammer. If you are in My Time Dining for dinner, your best strategy is to make reservations either before the cruise, or during the cruise. Just like dining, you can reserve shows in advance by going to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. Once logged in, navigate to Onboard Activities and select the show you wish to reserve.

Even if you have an international cell phone plan, cruise ship cellular coverage is rarely included. In addition to being able to use your drink package benefits nearly anywhere onboard your ship, Royal Caribbean also extends the benefit to Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti. One of the best cruise ship cabin hacks is to bring magnets with you on your cruise. What you want to do is look at what the ship you're considering has to do onboard, and ensure it has the most important options that you want to experience.

Even if you're cruising outside of hurricane season, flexibility is of utmost importance, as you never know when your ship might miss a port or two. Even though the latter half of the section option is considered port-intensive, the first half would mainly be spent at sea, with five days spent in port between May 9 and June 7. "We are so excited onboard for this opportunity to visit Africa in this way," she says. Guests onboard Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise were alerted with their new cruise itinerary after it was announced that they'd no longer cruise through the Red Sea due to unrest in the area.

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