Tips for the NEW CRUISER!
ROYAL CARIBBEAN (RCCL)- Home Link
NEW TO CRUISING- RCCL Link
ONLINE CHECK-IN- RCCL Link
Guests are requested to complete Online Check-In no later than three days prior to the cruise
in order to expedite the pier check-in process.
We now use single-color luggage tags for all ships in the fleet to help your bags get where they need to go. Luggage tags are now personalized with name and stateroom number. Tags for different ships are identified by bolded ship name for ease of identification. You can order luggage tags up to two weeks prior to sailing.
NO CONFIRMATION? Get with the agent-ROCK
Rock Johnson
Travel Counselor
Vacations To Go
rockj@vacationstogo.com
US and Canada: 800-514-9986 ext. 7536
UK free phone: 0800-098-8546 ext. 7536
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm (CST)
Date is 1-18-14 ::::Ship is BRILLIANCE of the SEAS
PRE-CRUISE PLANNER- RCCL Link--Select from delicious dining options, wine and beverage packages, or fun excursions.
You can preplan- Drink packages, excursions and other amenities. Don’t worry, you can book that too once you are onboard.
TRAVEL DOCS- RCCL LINK-- Passport or Birth Certificate (and other papers) also see FAQ on this website, VTG website or RCCL website.
INTERNET ACCESS-RCCL Link--
Is Internet access available from the ship?A: Yes, depending on the ship there are two options for staying connected while onboard.
Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi)
There will be six designated *"Hot Spots" which vary from ship to ship.
To use our WI-FI access, you'll need:
A laptop
Windows operating system
802.11b Wireless networking capability
The cost for Wi-Fi access through your own laptop is:
Base rate is $.65 per minute or choose from one of our prepaid packages:
$35 for 60 minutes
$55 for 100 minutes
$75 for 150 minutes
$100 for 250 minutes
$150 for 500 minutes
All prices are subject to change without notice.
The Internet Cafe/Workstation
These stations provide access to e-mail and the Internet, plus direct connections to favorite websites for stock, sports and entertainment updates. You can also send virtual postcards while at sea, and in ports-of-call worldwide. If you don't have an e-mail account, you can also establish one onboard.
The cost is $.65 per minute or you can choose a prepaid package:
$35 for 60 minutes
$55 for 100 minutes
$75 for 150 minutes
$100 for 250 minutes
$150 for 500 minutes
NEW TO CRUISING- RCCL Link
ONLINE CHECK-IN- RCCL Link
Guests are requested to complete Online Check-In no later than three days prior to the cruise
in order to expedite the pier check-in process.
We now use single-color luggage tags for all ships in the fleet to help your bags get where they need to go. Luggage tags are now personalized with name and stateroom number. Tags for different ships are identified by bolded ship name for ease of identification. You can order luggage tags up to two weeks prior to sailing.
NO CONFIRMATION? Get with the agent-ROCK
Rock Johnson
Travel Counselor
Vacations To Go
rockj@vacationstogo.com
US and Canada: 800-514-9986 ext. 7536
UK free phone: 0800-098-8546 ext. 7536
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm (CST)
Date is 1-18-14 ::::Ship is BRILLIANCE of the SEAS
PRE-CRUISE PLANNER- RCCL Link--Select from delicious dining options, wine and beverage packages, or fun excursions.
You can preplan- Drink packages, excursions and other amenities. Don’t worry, you can book that too once you are onboard.
TRAVEL DOCS- RCCL LINK-- Passport or Birth Certificate (and other papers) also see FAQ on this website, VTG website or RCCL website.
INTERNET ACCESS-RCCL Link--
Is Internet access available from the ship?A: Yes, depending on the ship there are two options for staying connected while onboard.
Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi)
There will be six designated *"Hot Spots" which vary from ship to ship.
To use our WI-FI access, you'll need:
A laptop
Windows operating system
802.11b Wireless networking capability
The cost for Wi-Fi access through your own laptop is:
Base rate is $.65 per minute or choose from one of our prepaid packages:
$35 for 60 minutes
$55 for 100 minutes
$75 for 150 minutes
$100 for 250 minutes
$150 for 500 minutes
All prices are subject to change without notice.
The Internet Cafe/Workstation
These stations provide access to e-mail and the Internet, plus direct connections to favorite websites for stock, sports and entertainment updates. You can also send virtual postcards while at sea, and in ports-of-call worldwide. If you don't have an e-mail account, you can also establish one onboard.
The cost is $.65 per minute or you can choose a prepaid package:
$35 for 60 minutes
$55 for 100 minutes
$75 for 150 minutes
$100 for 250 minutes
$150 for 500 minutes
Barbs Tips-
Be at the PORT EARLY for check in. This Cruise starts boarding at 10:30 am. Cut off is 2:30pm, AFTER 2:30 you won’t be able to board and sail with us! YES REALLY!
SECURITY and CUSTOMS
It is like going through the TSA. Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Guests who violate any alcohol policies, (over consume, provide alcohol to people under age 21, demonstrate irresponsible behavior, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage check points or any other time), may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our guest conduct policy. Guests may bring personal wine and champagne onboard only on boarding day, limited to two (2) 750 ml bottles per stateroom.
Your luggage gets checked at PORT and will arrive HOURS later in front of your cabin-late afternoon/early evening---so plan accordingly! They have over 4000000 pieces of luggage to deliver so be patient. We have carry ons with bathing suits, meds, sunscreen, hat, book or anything you may want before DINNER the 1st night. In our 3 cruises, baggage arrives a little later than mid-afternoon, in PLENTY of time to change into your dinner clothes! We check out our cabin, change, grab the itinerary and head up to the FOOD to grab lunch. We like to get out of the Staffs way as the ship is boarding.
SEA PASS- This is your ID as well as your way to PAY for things while onboard.
This is the ships currency.
BE PREPARED to have a CASH DEPOSIT, a Credit Card or a DEBIT Card (NO HOLD) once you BOARD. This will “load” your SEA PASS. Your SEA PASS is the ONLY thing you will need to carry onboard for purchases etc. One cruise, we used CASH, never spent a dime, and it was refunded at the last night, we paid our tips (gratuities) and that was it. You can be on a budget and STILL have a SUPER TIME!
The last night will have your itemized statement delivered to your cabin. Look it over, and charges will be put on the payment you put on file.
If I remember right, you may want cash for the tips/gratuities as they get put in envelopes for each Staff. So the wait staff, the Dinner staff and the room attendant. Bring the $60 (plus, as you may want to tip more than the minimum) in small bills.
AFTER BOARDING, locate your cabin, check it out, change clothes if you wish
and EXPLORE the SHIP!
I find a MAP of the ship and study it! We tend to walk the Ship a lot and get familiar with every nook and cranny, scoping out quiet reading spots to neat places to hang out.
DRILL- Every cruise has a mandatory on deck outside drill by the lifeboats. That will be announced soon after you board. It is mandatory and if you do not show up, you are booted from the ship, yes really.
Prepare for lots of pictures! The Ship Photographers will have back drops as well, so take advantage of the free photo SHOOTS, and then the photos will be FOR SALE. GREAT way to capture memories! There is no obligation to purchase the photos. There will be a dressy dinner or two, and one of them is when they pull out ALL THE STOPS and provide an opportunity to be all gussied up for a photo shoot. Many people love this as they look their best, no photographer "sitting" fees, and you can opt to buy the photos if you like them! You may want to bring a favorite outfit just for that.
PORT DAYS are the cheapest SPA days and the SHIP is quiet, so if you come back early, you can have the ship to yourself.
We pack a night light, especially useful if you have an inside cabin.
Don’t overpack! Make a list and stick to it! CASUAL for daily, business casual for the workshops, and dinner is 2 nights of “formal”, so a sport jacket for the guys over a polo or dress shirt and tie, and us ladies, something comfortable, dress it up with scarf or jewelry. The other dinner nights are say polos and dockers for the guys and nice for the ladies. Do not forget windbreaker, sweat shirt and a “fancy” wrap or jacket after dinner to sit up on deck at night. It can get chilly but you do NOT want to miss out on the star gazing!
We pack light so we can BUY cheap tees and other stuff to remember our cruise by. PLAN to wear it on your current cruise too, saving more space in your luggage!
If you plan on snorkeling in Port, bring a long sleeved dress shirt as protection to swim in over your bathing suit as well as sunscreen. Barry wears a baseball cap too, to protect his head from sunburn.
Pack clothes that are wrinkle free, or supposed to look wrinkled, LOL, as there are no irons allowed. Shower with your dress shirt and the steam will de wrinkle it!
We will meet up in the DECK 11-The WINDJAMMER Cafe, where the LUNCH buffet is located. This way everyone can have lunch after they check in with the ship and find their way to eat. We will have ‘our check in” there. NOON (or earlier) to 3pm sharp. PLEASE pick up all your crise purchases-tees you PRE-ordered and badges etc BEFORE 3pm.
see "Cruise Attendees" tab for more info.
You can gain access to your STATEROOMS after 3pm-4pm--- There you'll find our Cruise Compass with schedules for all the onboard activities. Crown & Anchor Society members will also find the Ultimate Value Booklet in their stateroom.On the last night of the cruise, you will leave you packed luggage outside your cabin for pick up after you disembark and clear customs the next morning. Have your overnight bag ready!
On the last morning of the cruise, be prepared to be booted from your cabin bright and early (8am is typically the hour). Cruise lines want you to skedaddle so that the cleaners can tidy up your room ASAP for the next round of passengers who will board an hour or two after you leave. Even if your ship hasn't been cleared by customs, or hasn't even hit docks yet, passengers are asked to vacate their room early and hang out somewhere else on the ship to play the waiting game. No fun. SOME cruiselines let you WAIT in your CABIN, with the TV/intercom letting you know what decks are being cleared. Last 2 cruises we waited in our cabins. You will want to grab breakfast early, early that last morning!
I'll add more tips as I think of them, and PLEASE, if you have TIPS you can add, send them to me!!!!
Avongogetter@gmail.com