If youre traveling with a group in more than one cabin, group members in another room that havent purchased The Key wont be able to join you for preferred boarding, exclusive dining, or in the preferred seating at shows. 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. We boarded on October 31, this year. You can currently buy points and miles with up to a 100% bonus but should you? You'll want to do this as early as you can in order to get an early check-in time and avoid wasting time in the cruise terminal. Another tip for securing an early arrival time is to book a suite. We completed our Muster Drill requirements immediately after boarding. As a Diamond member of the Crown and Anchor Society, you enjoy benefits and privileges not only when onboard, but also when youre on land. This is understandable, since limiting super-popular activities to a small number of guests during the busiest hours could anger a lot of cruisers. See what embarkation day was like for a Royal Caribbean cruise ship! So, Wonder and Indy have T1. Priority boarding By Reijo, December 12, 2022 in Royal Caribbean. Your link has been automatically embedded. Youll be able to stream or download movies and music, or make FaceTime or Skype calls on the ship and on RCIs private island CocoCay. AquaTheater suite with large balcony (two bedrooms). When embarking on our Dec 4th cruise on Allure out of Galveston (new terminal), they were holding all first time cruisers in the waiting area and only allowed repeat cruisers to board for a while. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. The program wont be available to buy once youre on board the ship. Clear editor. The Key is an optional add-on you can purchase to get VIP benefits, including an early check-in time. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. You can post now and register later. It's when you've actually entered the terminal and have gone through the security and luggage stuff. Again, boarding times may or may not be enforced, but they serve a purpose. This buffet wasnt crowded at all during these early hours, and it offered a large variety of food for our big travel group. When you book a suite on Royal Caribbean, youll receive several perks and benefits exclusive to suite guests. 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. The consensus seems to be that if you really hate lines and are going to purchase an internet package anyway, The Key is a nice investment. We had four people who were not part of the B2B simply step in front of us and go through. I've only been there prior to boarding beginning and at that time they had all the Key grouped in seats together and they escorted them by groups to board the ship. If youre already planning to buy WiFi, The Key might make sense depending on how many devices you want to activate. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Complimentary Dinner at Coastal Kitchen restaurant (reservation required, and drinks are not included), Royal Caribbean bathrobes for use onboard, In Room Lavazza espresso coffee maker and tea kettle, VOOM internet access (one package per person), All-day access to Coastal Kitchen (reservations are required, and beverages are not included), Early access to seating in select entertainment venues, Suite lounge access (with complimentary evening hors doeuvres and cocktails), Access to The Suite sun deck (The Balcony on, Complimentary dining in specialty restaurants (including Chefs table and la carte dining), Still and sparkling water (replenished daily), Complimentary gratuities (applies for the standard gratuity charges), Reserved best seats in the house in select entertainment venues, Priority access to onboard activities (excluding peak times between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on sea days), Complimentary mini-bar stocked with Coca-cola drinks and bottled water, Complimentary laundry and pressing services, Royal Caribbean bathrobe (for onboard use), Lavazza espresso coffee machine for use in your suite, Exclusive access to the Suite Lounge/Concierge Club Access (hors doeuvres and cocktails served each evening), An exclusive invitation to the Suite Party (on sailings of 5 or more nights), A behind-the-scenes tour of the bridge, galley, and backstage, VIP Pool Deck Seating (Voyager Class and Above, First Come, First Seated), Main Dining Room menu is available for in-suite dining (during regular hours of operation), Private lunch seating on ships without Coastal Kitchen (location varies by ship and sailing), Private breakfast seating is available on ships without Coastal Kitchen(location varies by ship and sailing), Reserved Section in entertainment venues- Main, Studio B, AquaTheater, 270 (where applicable), No sign-up fee for luggage valet service (where applicable), An officer will escort you onboard when you check-in, Main Dining menu available for in-suite dining (during regular hours of operation), Complimentary pressing on the first formal night. 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. jump pilot jobs caribbean jump pilot jobs caribbean. When I approach the terminal I drop my bags with porters is that right? Crown & Anchor Society Desk for membership inquiries (800) 526-9723. By Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Effective for Carnival cruises that depart on or after November 3, 2022, priority check-in and boarding for Diamond and Platinum guests has been reinstated across all of the cruise line's. Expand Do you have any experience with Bayonne and what they have for suites at the terminal? 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. Learn more. Is there any special line at this point for The Key? On the Cruise Critic boards, people have reported paying between $19.99 to $29.99 and even up to $37 per day for each person in the cabin. Additionally, Star Class suites include complimentary gratuities, specialty dining and premium alcohol beverages. How to Get a Free Casino Cruise on Royal Caribbean Plus Free Perks! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_18',609,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');Royal Caribbean hasnt announced a current policy for how many passes theyre now offering on any given sailing. This didnt take long at all, and our whole group was onboard the ship shortly after 11:00. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); High Seas Cruising was founded by couple Marcello and Victoria to share travel tips and insights from over two decades of cruise vacations. You will have priority check in.but not boarding.boarding starts with Wedding parties, Pinnacles, Suites, D+..Diamond.and down the line.Gold boards just before 1st time cruisers..or. Hi I will be cruising out of NJ on the Explorer of the Seas in May. Then, we walked right into the suite waiting area. 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. From onboard coupons to exclusive invitations and events: These are just some of the onboard perks you'll receive as part of your Crown & Anchor Society membership. Absolutely no one asked for times. Plus, save up to 25% off Close-In Sailings. Royal Genies can assist with making dinner reservations, escorting your luggage on embarkation and disembarkation, planning special events, and delivering coffee. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Carnival VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Cruise Loyalty Program, Holland America Mariner Society Cruise Loyalty Program, Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club Cruise Loyalty Program, Regent's Seven Seas Society Loyalty Program, Seabourn Cruises' Seabourn Club Loyalty Program, Cunard Line's Cunard World Club Cruise Loyalty Program, Costa Cruises' Costa Club Cruise Loyalty Program, How to Navigate the Airport on Cruise Turnaround Day, Club Orange, Holland America's Priority Program, Royal Caribbean Orders Third Icon-Class Ship (Photo: Royal Caribbean International). mimi217, October 3, 2021 in Royal Caribbean International. Parking depends on port. If you do not complete check-in online, you will be required to complete this process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing time. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. On the cruise they didnt enforce check-in times there was less than 1000 passengers on the ship. So, continue reading below to find out everything you need to know about how to get an early boarding time on Royal Caribbean, so you can get started on your vacation as soon as possible! I pack sunscreen to apply before swimming, and we carry on other essentials that we need before dinner. The perks include free WiFi, exclusive lounges, priority boarding, upgraded mattresses, in-stateroom coffee makers, and more. 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. Royal Caribbean International Priority boarding Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard! Priority boarding By mimi217, October 3, 2021 in Royal Caribbean International. I think the number of passengers determines how strictly they enforce the check-in times. Booking a suite on any cruise doesn't make sense for us. Onboard Offers are preloaded to your SeaPass card. Read reviews from Cruise Critic members who have already used The Key on their sailings. Check here before booking an award fare. RCI actually claims that its six times faster than any other WiFi at sea! Suites, Pinnacles, D+ and D were announced. 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. Why Do Cruise Ships Have Helipads? 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! December 10th by giving away free meals to the first 50 Perks Concierge / Priority Check In / Priority Debarkation / Priority Tender Boarding . #104. Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first 90 days and redeem for a $100 statement credit, gift cards, or travel. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Our hotel (Intercontinental Miami) was a short 15-minute drive to the Port of Miami. I couldnt imagine why anyone would carry on a bag, only to check it soon after boarding! Learn more. When something like this happens, I look for a Royal Caribbean employee and not one of temporary people scattered around the terminal. These are not the times you actually board the ship. This benefit might not be as valuable to you. When they first called for boarding ~11am, they called for Pins and suite guests. what is category 4v on royal caribbean. Royal Caribbean asks its guests to arrive within their check-in window to avoid crowding in the terminal. A second way to grab an early port arrival time is by purchasing The Key. Signage for The Key will usually be found at the terminal where you embark and also at various points around the ship. Rewarding yourself is simple. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). We like to carry a backpack onboard the ship on embarkation day. Guests in a suite, and those who are Diamond level or above also might not need to purchase The Key because many of the benefits are already included. And perhaps the most luxurious benefit is access to a Royal Genie. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. One of the Royal Caribbean suite perks is that suite guests are permitted to enter the terminal one hour before their official port arrival time. An interesting perk with The Key program is the ability to drop off carry on luggage (usually in the theater until 1:30 PM). So, I walked over to one of the attendants and asked if we had to wait till noon to enter the terminal since there was nobody in line. It was a new "guest priority" package available to all cruisers who were willing to pay for it. Just go into that room to sit and wait. When you complete online check-in, you will be assigned a check-in time. Much of the value of the program is in the unlimited internet. Some families prefer to arrive in the afternoon, so they dont have to navigate crowds at the terminal. 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. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. Cruisers who have booked any suite category (except Junior Suites) will already enjoy priority check-in, embarkation and tendering, private breakfast and lunch seating, reserved theater seating, and priority disembarkation. Maybe its because I tried to do it before the 24hr period and it locked me out. Priority check-in and boarding on embarkation day* Carry-on bag drop off in the Main Dining Room with stateroom delivery** In 2018, Royal Caribbean rolled out "The Key." So the answer appears to vary. I want to try to avoid the long lines. There are many young children onboard this bus, most of whom have behaved very well thus far. 19 Secret Codes on Cruise Ships That You Need to Know, Virgin Voyages Partners with Sustainable Marine Fuel Providers, D23: Disney Treasure, Lighthouse Point, and Australia, Carnival Celebration Begins First Set of Sea Trials, Oceania Cruises New 180-Day World Cruise And Grand Voyages. 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. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. First, if you miss The Key check-in window, you have to fall back to whatever time you had before. TPG values it at $1,600. You earn 1 Cruise Point for every night you sail with us, and DOUBLE the points when you book a suite. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) A All suites in the Royal Caribbean Suites program have access to certain benefits. At 11:00, crew members instructed all of the suite guests to form a line. From onboard discounts to member-only events, being a member just keeps getting better. The Key is available on all Royal Caribbean ships. Bypassing the parking deck on the way in will let you not have to worry about bringing down your luggage from the parking deck at Terminal A. 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 We use offsite, but it can cost an hour at disembarkation. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. A couple in front of us said they had the Genie and she said well it's too late. Also, more importantly, what has happened to times to arrive for check-in? Since the online check-in time usually opens up at midnight (EST) 45 days before your cruise, youll want to login at this time. HEIC is not a standard web format. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. If one person in a stateroom buys The Key, all other passengers in that stateroom age six and over need to also purchase the program. Here are the best cards for making your trip more comfortable. The largest suite on Royal Caribbean is the Royal Loft Suite on Oasis-class ships. The Key program is controversial among some high-level Crown & Anchor members. However, the extra space and full-sized bathtub might make it worth the upgrade. You don't need the App to check for an earlier boarding time. If youre only comparing the value of the included perks, booking a suite is not worth the price. Whoever pushed the hardest got on the soonest. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Tendering operations can often take hours to get all the passengers to shore, so this is a valuable benefit if your itinerary has multiple tender ports. Ultimately, the value of this program is subjective. Its important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. It's available for a small additional cost without the need of booking the type of suite that offers similar perks. How early is too early for the porters to be there? Thanks, I didn't even think of that. By Priority boarding from a TA usually means nothing. The one exception is the Panoramic suites which feature floor-to-ceiling glass windows that provide a panoramic view of the horizon. If youre thinking about purchasing the program, its a good idea to check around this time because it does tend to sell out. suites, Key. So depending on your level it might get you on the ship 10 minutes earlier. Royal Caribbean suites offer several perks for guests. Additionally, priority check-in and boarding are not available in Vancouver or at any ports in Australia, so keep this in mind if youre cruising from these locations. Edited September 9, 2021 by TheBucketLister. At that price, the perks dont justify the cost of booking a suite. YOU HAVE THE POWER OF WOW I use the Ziploc bag to hold wet swimsuits until our room is ready, so you wont need this item if you dont have a wet bathing suit to store. Early check-in time I will be cruising when they first called for boarding ~11am they. We carry on other essentials that we need before dinner program, its a good idea to check an... Busiest hours could anger a lot of cruisers n't make sense for us with making dinner reservations escorting... Readers with expansive coverage of all aspects royal caribbean priority boarding the horizon Free Casino cruise on Royal Caribbean employee not! Large balcony ( two bedrooms ) it was a new `` guest Priority '' package available to once! 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