20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. If you sail on an older ship in Vison class, Voyager class, Radiance class, or Independence class, youll receive perks from the Royal Suite Program. Maybe its because I tried to do it before the 24hr period and it locked me out. Boarding pass just says "suite". We enjoy being on the ship early to take advantage of as much time on board as possible. Cruisers who have reached Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club status in RCIs Crown & Anchor Society also already get many of these perks as well. This is usually balcony seating, so if you want seats right up front youll need to arrive very early to beat the crowds in the general-access seating. Bold vacations call for bold adventures, and Royal Caribbean International is delivering that and more at the new Thrill Island onboard Icon of the Seas. Well, after the specials and suite folks entered the terminal, they started off with the 10:30 times, that lasted about 5 minutes when that time slot was done and there was maybe 10 - 12 people waiting behind that. We were onboard at ~11:30am (1 hr before our boarding window started.). Four beverage vouchers to be used at any bar, at any time, including the daily Happy Hour and private destinations. Home. Since 2021, Royal Caribbean has mostly been enforcing check-in times, so it's important to get a good time as early as you can. I intend to cushion the drive heavily and in the absence of any on road issues we'll roll in well before even the earliest check in time. Initially, RCI set aside several one-hour blocks each cruise for VIP access to activities like FlowRider, rock wall climbing, ice skating, and the zip line. You will then go straight to the section on choosing your arrival time and pick the one you want. Your Key purchase is noted on your card by a special icon. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. We make sure to pack several items in our backpack, which I will include below: Youll notice that many of the items listed above are needed because our kids swim on embarkation day. All boarding is done based on the check-in time you selected. Read More Are Royal Caribbean Internet Packages Worth It?Continue, Read More Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbeans Junior SuitesContinue, Read More Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean Suite PerksContinue, Read More Guide to Royal Caribbean Ship Classes (2023)Continue, Read More How does Royal Caribbean Royal Up Work?Continue, Read More Oasis of the Seas Dining Options ExplainedContinue, Your email address will not be published. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. The Royal Loft Suite on Quantum of the Seas These are not the times you actually board the ship. You don't need the App to check for an earlier boarding time. 37 Cruise Tips: What to Do Before Your Cruise, The 19 Best Cruise Accessories You Need to Pack, Priority check-in and boarding on embarkation day, Carry-on bag drop off and stateroom delivery, Welcome lunch with a menu featuring Chops Grille on embarkation day, Private hours for onboard activities, including Rock Climbing, FlowRider and more, VIP seating for shows in the Main theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B, and Two70, Exclusive la carte breakfast on disembarkation day, Choice of departure time at disembarkation. Flexible Arrival is offered to Crown & Anchor Society Pinnacle Club members only. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Expand Do you have any experience with Bayonne and what they have for suites at the terminal? As for Royal Caribbean opening up additional earlier times, it's not usually the case. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. I hear that some people have managed to get earlier times by constantly checking via the RCL App. With additional perks such as concierge service, priority boarding and departure privileges, and dedicated entertainment seating, everything you need for a lavish voyage is at your fingertips. Port personnel continued to check our line to make sure only 12:00 to 12:30 passengers were in the line. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Either way, you should have plenty of time to enjoy all the entertainment and activities onboard the ship. Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society Program Updates. People are tired. Key members dont have access to the Diamond or Concierge Clubs, exclusive events, and behind-the-scenes tours. We use offsite, but it can cost an hour at disembarkation. ** Guests sailing in a suite aboard Allure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas will enjoy new benefits. Junior Suite guests receive the following perks: Youll receive many more perks if you upgrade to one of the Grand, Panoramic, or Owners suites. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. In the Royal Up email, you'll see a minimum bid listed for each cabin that's available to bid on. You cannot paste images directly. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Enrollment required. 12 days ago. In this note, Royal Caribbean reported it was "enhancing" some of the Crown and Anchor Society benefits for Diamond (and above . Its important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ab7857a3f319704cd9a34e8474660dd3" );document.getElementById("d5aa0859c9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. View All Cruises, We're having trouble retrieving these cruises. I boarded then too and they definitely were boarding by loyalty tier. . Another perk that has recently changed for Key members is the availability of private hours for several of the onboard activities. Some people just love the exclusive perks that the program includes, and the per-day cost is absolutely worth the money. Paste as plain text instead, In those situations they board by C&A levels along with Suites and the Key. You can always show up at the terminal early and hope they arent enforcing check-in times. Started August 27, 2021, By Then, we walked right into the suite waiting area. In 2018, Royal Caribbean rolled out "The Key." Ultimately, the value of this program is subjective. But, ever since RCI cut back on those times, the value of this perk is less than it used to be. The largest suite on Royal Caribbean is the Royal Loft Suite on Oasis-class ships. Agree. This is understandable, since limiting super-popular activities to a small number of guests during the busiest hours could anger a lot of cruisers. In the event of rain (which happens frequently in Florida).too bad. Although RCI advertises the cost of The Key on a per-day basis, cruisers must purchase the program for all days of a sailing. Be sure to check out these resources when youre planning a Royal Caribbean cruise: Have you bought The Key on a Royal Caribbean cruise? I know I carefully pack my embarkation day bag with exactly what Ill need for the day plus any valuables I need to keep an eye on. The Key on Royal Caribbean is a for-a-fee program offering priority boarding, private hours at onboard activities, preferred theater seating, and more. Save up to 25%* on Close-In Sailings with Crown & Anchor Exclusive Rates. The porters will be there, but they're busy getting to departing passengers moved out. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) CC Help Jenn (Make sure you watched and marked off the Safety video in the app the morning of your cruise.). You could book a full suite, which is way out of the price range of the average cruiser. My January 6 Jewel cruise says Terminal 6. Royal Caribbean has four ships in Port Canaveral this year (yeah), sometimes two the same day. 61. r/royalcaribbean. When The Key program was first rolled out, one of the perks was an exclusive embarkation day lunch at Chops Grille or Jamies Italian specialty restaurants. It was almost as if it was pre covid on this one. Read reviews from Cruise Critic members who have already used The Key on their sailings. When The Key program first launched, RCI limited the passes to 100 passengers per cruise. How can I get my Royal Caribbean cruise boarding pass (SetSail Pass)? I have been on 12 RCI cruises this year and they have all boarded Diamond+ and Diamonds right after boarding Pinnacles. While outside in line lots of people were unmasked. But, since RCI allows passengers to carry on limited amounts of non-alcoholic drinks and bottled wine (see my post about carrying on beverages for their current rules), you probably wont want to be carrying those around with you all day. Grand suite with large balcony (one bedroom). VisitRoyal Suite Classto learn more. When we got to the pier there was already a long line. Not to mention, Star class is the only suite class where youll receive a free drink package. Once you board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, youll want to take care of a few chores. RCI currently offers The Key on all sailings on all ships except for Quantum of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas. Our driver dropped us off with the porters at the terminal who checked that all of our bags held luggage tags, which we had printed from our online account. what time is final boarding for carnival cruise. It's also when you answer your health questions and other things. This is by far the least crowded time to swim on the cruise ship. Without The Key, if youre late reserving tender tickets, the earlier times will probably be gone. Here are the best cards for making your trip more comfortable. Key members can drop those bags off with less worry about damage from rough handling. Some feel that offering many perks (that used to be exclusive to them) to anyone willing to pay a bit extra is essentially selling loyalty status. Royal Caribbean International Priority boarding Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard! Listen to this article On most cruise lines, there are only two ways to get priority status that lets you skip all of those long lines, enjoy exclusive dining, and generally be treated like the . royal caribbean junior suite priority boarding snoopy's breed codycross is it bad to eat an unripe nectarine royal caribbean junior suite priority boarding February 25, 2023 Posted by But on an RCI cruise, theres a way to get these perks without spending lots of cash on a suite or waiting years to build up your loyalty status: The Key! Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. So depending on your level it might get you on the ship 10 minutes earlier. Depending on the arrival time you chose during online check-in, you can show up at the cruise terminal as early as 10:00 am for your cruise vacation. You can even start using your drink packages right away to help you get into vacation mode even faster! See full disclosure for details. REWARD YOURSELF. But many kids wont use or appreciate most of the included perks. Health & Travel requirements READ MORE. We may receive compensation when you click on those links at no cost to you. But how early can you board the cruise ship? If you dont plan on using the pools, you may not need nearly as many items as we do. This benefit doesnt apply to docked ports, or for tendering back to the ship. Some benefits may not be available on all sailings. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. It has grown into a website full of information on family vacation tips, kid friendly activities, homeschooling organization hacks, and so much more! Spacious AquaTheater suite with large balcony (two bedrooms). After you book a Royal Caribbean cruise and you can access your Cruise Planner, youll see a link to purchase The Key for your cruise. " + cards[0]['totalGroups'] + " Itineraries" : "" }}, ABC Caribbean Islands: Cruise to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, Crown & Anchor Exclusive Rates - up to 25% off on close-in sailings, Matching Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club member benefits. The poor Windjammer bananas are now being used as chair-saving devices. Its the smallest but cheapest suite you can book. If you ask for rest room, they point you to left. Your previous content has been restored. We know youre eager to arrive at the cruise port for your Royal Caribbean cruise. Royal Caribbean does set some limits with this perk. Spend a long weekend exploring the pristine, white beaches of *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions, 2X MyCruise Points on qualifying Royal Caribbean purchases, 1 point per $1 spent on purchases everywhere else, For a full list of your benefits, click here, Exclusive perks with MGM Resorts International, View All{{ cards[0] && cards[0]['totalGroups'] ? " On my canceled October 2020 repositioning cruise aboard Brilliance of the Seas, RCI was running a 45% off sale. At 10:00, the doors to the terminal opened, and the suite guests were escorted to an elevator that took us to a separate security line. If you are driving yourself, they may not let you enter the parking if you are too early. After scanning carry ons, up another escalator and board the ship or wait to board? Arguably the most valuable perk included with the program, unlimited VOOM packages normally go for $17.99 per day for one device when purchased separately. Plus Ups are excluded. Many new passengers were going around the rope, going under it, and sitting with us B2B passengers. They also re-wear their embarkation clothes since this first day is typically not dressy at all. Being able to drop those off would be super-convenient. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. She said you should have called him before entering the terminal. Once we walked to the entrance of Terminal Building A, we saw two separate lines: a LONG line on the left and a short line on the right. Enjoy special savings on base rates and free upgrades* with Hertz Car Rental. For a full list of items that my family and I pack on a cruise vacation, you can check out my Cruise Packing List article. Powered by Invision Community. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. We booked a cruise for Oct. 24th and was given a 3:00pm check in time. 27 de fevereiro de 2023 | usssa baseball tournaments 2022. Since we were in a suite, we were able to stand in the super short line on the right. Suite guests receive a complimentary VOOM internet package, and concierge service, among other special perks. Youll also find that the water slides dont have long lines at this time on embarkation day. Royal Caribbeans internet service, known as VOOM, is well-known for being very fast. Priority boarding from a TA usually means nothing. You can post now and register later. Up until August, there were specific lines to get in based on check in time. Crown & Anchor Society Desk for membership inquiries (800) 526-9723. Royal Caribbean International Priority boarding Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard! The added perks may not seem like much, but they provide a sense of luxury when you embark on your Royal Caribbean cruise. It is my understanding that with the exception of suite guest, who can check in up to an hour ahead of their scheduled time, priority boarding is not being used during COVID. Each cruiser scanned his/her SetSail Pass (from the Royal Caribbean app) and was permitted to board the ship. At Port Canaveral we had to clear security before checkin. I'm Shari. Heres what The Key is (and why some cruisers like it), Royal Caribbean testing expedited boarding, Video: Mistakes to avoid on the first day of your cruise, What to expect on embarkation day on a Royal Caribbean cruise, The best spot for sailaway on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship. It takes a lot of cruise days sailed to reach these high levels. is a journalist specializing in luxury family travel and the blogger behind The Daily Impressions. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. If you already get a host of perks through being a high-status Crown & Anchor member or will be getting benefits through booking a suite, it might not be worth the money. While showing up early can be a problem, coming in later is not as much of a concern. LauraS If you do choose to have the exclusive breakfast, a crew member should be available to escort you and your bags off the ship right from the restaurant when youre done. Take one 10 night cruise solo in a JS and you will be. For our four-day itinerary out of Miami on Navigator of the Seas and a family of three, the total cost for our package (two adults) was around $159. We assumed we would need to wait. Posted on Last updated: September 25, 2022. Get there before 11am and you will wait upstairs until the ship is cleared and boarding starts at around 11:30. On most cruise lines, there are only two ways to get priority status that lets you skip all of those long lines, enjoy exclusive dining, and generally be treated like the VIP you know you are. Their job is to make your stay as enjoyable and relaxing as possible. Now, the welcome lunch is in a main dining room with a menu featuring items from Chops Grille. The Key program is Royal Caribbean's initiative to give guests access to premier and exclusive cruise services and activities while on board for a small additional fee. Once you've booked a cruise, go to Royal Caribbean's site, log in to your account and click on "Cruise Planner." See what embarkation day was like for a Royal Caribbean cruise ship! Clear editor. Rude woman at the terminal said nope that line is full and we have to go into the long zig zagging line. So, now that youve got all the facts, youre probably wondering how much these benefits cost. You earn 1 Cruise Point for every night you sail with us, and DOUBLE the points when you book a suite. The Redmonds are an active-duty military family, living in Las Vegas. And perhaps the most luxurious benefit is access to a Royal Genie. It debuted as a pilot program on Liberty of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas in late 2018. Most cruise terminals enforce the boarding times, but occasionally you find situations where a particular pier agent doesn't pay attention to the check-in time or say anything about it. Yes. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Apparently no more. Embarkation day is often full of a lot of chaos and stress, especially if you are a first time cruiser. You can read more about me here- Meet Shari. We will also provide tips for scoring the earliest boarding time on Royal Caribbean based on our recent experience on the Oasis of the Seas at the cruise terminal in Port of Miami. 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