30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
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- Опубліковано 10 тра 2024
- From arriving at the cruise terminal to making dining reservations, exploring the ship, and finding the best spot for sailaway, here are some of the best do’s and don’ts for the first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise.
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I'm a port agent and I have a couple of suggestions to make your check in time at the counter shorter: FIRST: People complain about having to retake the picture when they already downloaded it in the app. There is a guide line to take them the appropriate way: Pictures need to be a close up of the face, so take the picture only from the shoulders up and front face. - It cannot be a cut picture (when you're with somebody else in the original one). - No dark glasses, hats, pets or anything that obstruct some part of your face. - Smile is OK, is a happy picture, you're going on a cruise!. SECOND: Before you get to the counter, have your documents ready in your hands, not in your purse, carry on, or briefcase: Passports (or Birth Certificates and ID) and Set sails for every one in your party. THIRD: Agents usually can check just one room at a time, so make sure that the documents are not all in one person's hands, but they are separate by state rooms because is quicker when different agents check different cabins. I know when you're at the port you just want o get onboard as soon as you can. Happy Cruising!
Thank you for this!
Great tips, thanks.
Great Info thanks
Is it ok that it's an ugly picture😅😂 thanks for the info!
Thank you Maria 😊
Based on the thumbnail I think I've got the gist: no vegetables and fruit, just pizza. That's what I was going to do anyway.
🤣 this guy's got the idea!
Nailed it!
And coffee and orange juice 😂 man jokes aside royal carribean takes fruit PUNCH to a whole new level. Literally punching your taste buds out 😂
Kind of my motto anyway. Just take vitamins….
that is my son. we only cruise on ships that have 24/7 real pizza available. Forget dress-up (formal)night for us. lol
Went on my first cruise in the Spring of 2023. I wanted to do all the things that was mentioned here, but by the time I got to my cabin, all I really wanted to do was take a nap, so I did. Throughout the week, I was able to explore the ship, but even just listening to this video is making me tired. I'm a full time working mom and I was without my son on this trip. I took a nap on Embarkation day.
I'm a big "doer" on vacations but I also want to relax and do stuff at my own pace. Particularly the embarkation day and sea days, I'll do some exploration sure but the last thing I want is to feel rushed. If I want to chill in my cabin and/or take my time unpacking and "moving in" to my cabin I'll definitely do that too.
Do the complete muster drill process as soon as possible. It is mandatory by International Maritime Law and is not optional.
A fun activity is to randomly go from wherever you are to your lifeboat every day of your cruise. This insures you know where it is and how to get to it, if you ever have to do it for real. You don't have to rush. You can stop along the way. Adds to your physical well being.
Or, if cruising with family and friends, you can make a game of it.
brilliant! ty!
Great idea! Especially with kids!
Surely these modern cruise ships are unsinkable..why bother
@@bryans2790 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 Yes, yes they are!!! 👍
This is a wonderful idea to do with the family! Great suggestion
11:17 - That is a rule we followed also. We flew to Miami the afternoon before and stayed overnight at a hotel near the airport. And they also had cruise shuttles that picked us up and took us straight to our ship the next day. It really lessens the stress of rushing. Nobody wants a flight delay to cause them to miss the ship
Hi! Did you have to pay for the shuttle from the airport? I was trying to find information about the shuttle online and couldn’t find.
Thank you
@@gabrielcrsaldanha Oh, sorry, I don't remember. I was 15 and my parents paid for and arranged the vacation
@@gabrielcrsaldanhacheck with your hotel. They can tell you immediately. They’re used to having cruise people coming/going.
This channel has a great community of fellow cruisers helping out one another in the comments.
Thank You Matt, for sharing the “Do’s and Don’t’s of Cruising. I am so looking forward to cruising real soon!
Probably the best time to go to the windjammer is that breakfast time and be an early bird in other words I think they open their doors at 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning and a lot of cruisers are still sleeping from partying a little too hard the first night so you should be able to to not deal with a bunch of crowds have the freshest choices of food and be able to sit where you want to sit at the windjammer also remember the apps section of the windjammer usually has very good views and it's the least crowded
Exploring your embarkation port is probably the biggest recommendation for me - it always surprises me when people rock up in the city and their holiday doesn't begin until 3pm when they board the ship. I always aim to get out the hotel at the crack of dawn, to add 'day 1' to my holiday, instead of a lazy hotel day! Great video - some really great tips in here!
Normally a good idea but not in Miami, place is a shithole.
very helpful make everyday count!
I have been on 9 cruises and honestly I couldn’t come up with one tip lol good job!! Can’t wait for my next cruise I’m hoping for Jan 2023
Cheers and love from Canada 🇨🇦
Just wanted to say thank you so much for making these vlogs. I don’t have any family it’s just me for the holidays , which makes it so depressing this time of year. But watching your videos makes me so happy. You’re so fun and down to earth. My favorite vlogger by far.
I understand.
I understand as well. We 3 should meet up on a ship!!!
@@sacramentosistah Absolutely, that would be so nice.
Same here if you don’t mind a 4th. 😂😂😂
Aww Im down as a 5th Im heading on this cruise Navigator of Sea In February next year! First time too! Soo excited!
Do: pack an extension cord because there is not one by the bed if you have like C-pap machines or something that needs to be near you.
Excellent tips, thanks for the video! Long time subscriber. I’m from Orlando too, and I recommend booking a hotel for the night before the cruise if coming from up north to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale cruise ports to alleviate the stress since it takes 3-4 hours drive time. We’ve run into traffic and road work on the highway. One time we literally had to run after parking the car to get to the ship before it left. Yes you can leave earlier but we are always doing last minute things and always seemed to leave a little later then planned. Many hotels offer free parking for cruise guests and some have a free shuttle to cruise port. The extra cost of hotel is offset by the normal cost of cruise port parking, so it’s not like you add much more cost to stay that night. So now I have a rule that when we book a cruise down there we have to get a hotel the night prior.
My first cruise coming up in a few weeks! Thanks Matt
Call every bartender “Isaac”. They love this.
Thanks fo all the tips. We're embarking on our first cruise in next april (on the MSC Seashore) and it's so cool to get all those advices from experienced cruisers. Our first will only last for 4 days, so every info we can gather before (especially me, my wife and daughter sort of rely on me because... well... cruising is my dream to begin with), every info is welcome so we don't get lost or stressed when we arrive. I wish for them to cheer the experience, so that we will go back in the years to come.
So... Thank you again :-)
You will absolutely LOVE cruising
I have found myself in CruiseTube, and I'm not even planning a cruise. I think I might book one soon though, thanks to these videos. I went on one with my parents in the 90s...I think it might be time to revisit this kind of travel.
This video can be my check list ✅️ for embarkation day.
About to go on my first cruise in three days and I'm excited and anxious at the same time.
You'll love it
yes, you will love it. going on my 9th in 30 days. can't wait
You'll have a great time!
The only danger….it’s addictive! Have a wonderful time.
@@Silvares1 so dangerous 🤣🤣
As soon as we get on we get the lay of the land on the ship. Then we grab a light lunch and hit the hot tub right away because it’s always less crowded than sea days. Then run to change for dinner!
Great tips! We never go to windjammer on day 1. Cafe promenade for us!
Thanks for all the useful tips.
Very useful. Thanks for the reminders!
Absolutely agree with flying in early!!!!
the airline i used did not have any sameday flights with arrivals prior to embarkation time so that forced me to book a flight with arrival the prior day
Just finished my first cruise experience on Spectrum of the Seas. Was great!
When my wife and I sailed on the Mardi Gras.we stayed in the Orlando airport. So worth it
When you're in your stateroom check the patio door if you have a balcony check to make sure the TV runs through all the channels pick up the phone to make sure you get a dial tone also check the toilet pushed flush one time to make sure it functions turn on the hot and cold water to make sure you get hot and cold water out of the you know the proper knob same with the shower shut closet doors you know functionality of the cabin
Excellent advice. If you need to change a room for any reason, do it before you unpack and get settled!
I love how people say don't go to guest services but a lot of people do anyway. It's like when people see a "wet paint" sign but they still touch the paint.
I'm glad you mentioned the whole thing with cell phones. I used to work for a major cellphone carrier and handled their tech support and international suport calls pre-covid. There was several times where we would have to try and save some poor sap from $2000 phone bills all because they forgot to put their phone on airplane mode or do what i usually recommend because sometimes apps will be sneaky and take out the sim card all together. One guy that a co worker got rang up a $10000 bill because he was using his data on board just as if he were sitting in his own living room. My poor co worker went white as a ghost when he discovered he was going to have to tell that guy some not so great news. He was going to owe almost every penny of it because there's only so much our staff could have done.
With all the discussion about what one can do with a cell phone enroute to or onboard, my question is >>> do cruise ships now REQUIRE passengers to carry smartphones? Or, is a smartphone optional? If optional, are there substitute ways to find out the important things one needs to know before boarding or while on the ship?
That's what I do at Baltimore MD and I'm familiar with Baltimore after I got on the ship I had a drink special and then took a tour of the ship had lunch in the Windjammer and then the cabin or stateroom
Thank you, Matt!! One of your very best!
Thanks for watching!
Great reminders! Thanks for sharing 🛳🛳
Just returned a couple of days ago from a family cruise on Symphony of the Seas. I've taken over twenty cruises, but this was only my second one on RC. You're suggestions make sense and are generally what I do. When I was on Navigator last December there were several announcements made for passengers to complete their muster drills, no issues on Symphony. Several folks, including our party, had issues with the specialty restaurants. They had been given different instructions online and discovered one or more reservations had disappeared. I have a family member who does not drink, so we were delighted by the number of mocktails available. I even tried a few at the Bionic Bar, which were really good. The app was a pain, as I had to continually sign back into the wifi to check messages from my family. I'll be sailing on RC again as everyone had such a great time.
Which drink(s) was/were good at Bionic Bar please? Going in December. Thanks!
A Must to book dinner & entertainment the 1st day. I started my cruise on Wonder of the Seas in Rome in July, but it the cruise actually started in Barcelona. Many reservations were taken already. If I had waited another day, my unlimited dinning pass would not have been worth it.
Wow, didn't know you can now bring your own water and soda! Just returned from Odyssey of the Seas and I could've saved $20 on purchasing 12- 8oz cans of water provided by RC. Definitely bring your own water/soda.
We made our Uzumi reservation with the manager at Chops along with the rest of our reservations for our dining package.
Having worked on cruise ships I always suggest going to introductions which can be very informative.
1. DO NOT allow wait staff to hand you a "souvenir" drink unless you want to spend $15.-$20. Nothing is free on the ship, it will get charged to you.
My last cruise we forgot to check the fridge was working the first day; took until the afternoon of day two to get a working fridge.
This was very helpful, I am going on my 1st cruise in February and trying to learn as much as possible 🙂 Thank you!
you're going to LOVE it!!! have a great time!
@@AndreaShink Thank you!
Me too
Have a great time! Buffets are great do not forget to try one or maybe two! And Have Fun!❤
@@gulnursarinzhieva3055 We're in the same boat then...maybe literally 🤣
Having my first “getting on board beer” is priority #1 🤪🤪🤪
You touched upon it Matt regarding the shore excursions. When we went to Hawaii, we wanted to go see the Waimea Canyon, but no excursions were posted before hand. We checked at the excursion desk after dinner the first day and sure enough RC just made the Waimea Canyon excursion available to book. Will definitely check with RC on board in the future regarding new excursions to book.
You should be able to watch and complete the muster checklist in the app while riding the bus or cab to the cruise port. I did it my last cruise and when I got on board I went directly to the muster station where the app was ready for the staff signoff.
Hellos thank you. From where I can download the muster drill app. Going in December.
I laughed at the first tip! We usually leave out of Los Angeles, literally a shipping container dock, nothing to explore! :)
Yeah there will be no wandering about Long Beach.
Nearby there's the aquarium, Queen Mary, among other destinations. I didn't mean it has to be within walking distance of the terminal.
LOL...isn't that the truth! I literally find a spot to relax and read a book until booking.
I loved Cafe 270 for lunch on Quantum
Watched your vlog several times. As a first time cruiser it has been beneficial. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
For me is a no to drop off luggage! I prefer to take it myself, i feel like it’s faster! If you wanna change or take a shower or Settle in you don’t have to wait for your bag to arrive!
I agree
Thank You..... All your videos have been very helpful
Glad to hear that!
CONNECT SEPARATE ACCOUNTS VIA CUSTOMER SERVICE BEFORE EMBARKATION.
If you booked separately for a family trip (my bro and wife booked, my mom and dad booked, and then I booked same trip, Different accounts) make sure you call and connect yourselves through CS! We were not linked on RC side even though we connected via the app. And would not have been seated together for dinner. All parties must verbally OK the connection, so a conference call of some sort would be helpful.
Spot on! Great job!
I was surprised that you didn't mention that booking a shore excursion ahead of time guarantees you a slot but if you get on board and decide you no longer want to do it (for whatever reason) you can cancel up to 24 hours (and I've seen that be quite flexible) before the excursion for no penalty. And the money is, I believe, refunded to you as On Board Credit meaning you have more money to enjoy specialty dining, shopping, drinks or pay-to-play activities!
Even if you have the barcoded boarding pass info on your cell, keep a printout handy just in case.
I usually bring my suitcase to my room myself. That eliminates dealing with the porters.if my room isn't ready, I just leave the suitcase in front to the door.
I loveeee flying in the same day as my cruise, the adrenaline is fun. Ha ha. I only do it when I'm not flying far (a couple hours max) and when I've booked through a travel agent, that way it's their job to sort it out if it goes wrong. If I book it myself or fly far I always stay a night. :-)
Today's Jeopardy question: "What are preventable problems solved by a cheap hotel stay?"
Why bother with the stress if something DOES go wrong with your flight. Its not worth it. Dont be a cheapskate.
I enjoyed my day at the port in Vancouver. They have boat tours and poutine. What more could you ask for.
I am binging your videos and LOVING it!
Glad you like them!
This is good even if you're not cruising on Royal
Thanks Matt for tips 👍
Thanks for watching!
Absolutely Spot On!! Awesome 😎 Job Matt!!! 😍👍🤩
Thanks so much!!
Excellent job Matt
Thanks!
cant wait to board the pacific encounter to PNG on 7th June this year!!
This content is beneficial! Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I was planning to see the Tampa Aquarium on embarkation, however was unable to drop off luggage as planned because the ship got in late which meant ALL the porters were like 2 hours late, and there was no place to check luggage at the aquarium, you will not be able to keep your carry on wine with you if you plan to keep your backpack with you and you can't leave it in your checked luggage, so you have to check with your planned AM excursion to see if carrying wine in your backpack is cool. It was not at the Aquarium. Also, these venues open LATE, like 10 AM. Other than that it is a good idea to do something on the AM of embarkation day, just be discerning about what you plan to do that morning.
Thanks so much. Great information.
Thanks for watching!
Helpful ... thank you!
When my wife and I sailed on the Mardi we do order as much we can in the main dining room
My familly love it ❤❤❤❤
Are reservations made in the app, TV, or at the guest service counter? For instance for north star reservation. Where is that made? Thanks for all the tips. I’m saving this to rewatch before I leave for my cruise.
I'm going on my first cruise (and first plane ride for that matter lol) next April. We're going on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise, the Mariner of the Seas cruise ship. Thanks for these helpful videos!
Thanks for watching!
I'm going to be on Mariner for the High Seas Rally in 2 days. Congratulations for you first 2. Upgrade your dining before you go and get excursions now. Check back with me in 2 weeks for my review.
I'm sailing the mariner of seas April 1st , I'm so anxious 😟
I LOVE the Mariner of the Seas!
@@vmaine94 why are you anxious? 🤔
thank you for these videos going on our first cruise in aug. what about tips
I booked the ultimate dinning package for my family cruise in October so we’re not planning to go to the MDR for dinner. But we’d like to enjoy it for breakfast each morning! Should we make reservations for breakfast?
If you want to carry a bit of cash for your destination country, do the exchange before you leave home. It costs heaps to do it on the ship.
Just got off a cruise at Bahamas🌺😁
Most of the time as a kid and being sent to those cruise day cares. Yeah...I stayed for 30 minutes, found out we were coloring then doing face painting. I just left the group and went to the pool. Much better crowd and I had fun compared to some coloring books XD I was 13,15,16
Hey Matt, I have a question about specialty dining. Are we able to order multiple dishes there also or are we relegated to just 1
For the escape rooms will they still have reservations open when you get on the ship? I checked the app and website and they're all sold out. I just want to make sure if it's a possibility or not.
You’ve got to be kidding! You have it right! But the buffets are grand!❤
I'm definitely hitting up Guy's Burgers within minutes of embarking. Then, I'll head to my muster station. It's my routine 🤣
Thank you!
Great vids... I have a question I hope someone can answer. I have been on 2 Royal Caribbean cruises.. both on Adventure of the Seas.... and had a great time in the Imperial lounge for game night. I have an upcoming cruise on Allure of the Seas. Does Allure of the Seas have the same game night in any of the lounges? Name of the lounge?
When eating at complimentary resturents, can we go for a second or third round of food ( or more ) and does it affect the booking ( do i have to go back to the line to refill my plate? )
towards the end of this video, it showed beautiful mountain views. What country was that at?
You made me hungry showing all that food and I wanted a drink.
I've found out you can often avoid the line at guest services by calling with your stateroom phone.
True, although I find the wait times quite long too on the phone
Me watching this video, even though I'll probably never go on a cruise
I always do speciality dinning on the first night, I find the MDR menu on the first night to be lackluster on most cruises and there are always lines on the first day.
DO: Have patience, cruise ships will have lines and borderline over crowded especially if a portion of the ship closed / is being repaired
Hi, Matt! Nice video, as always. I will take a 9-night cuise from Miami on Grandeur of the Seas. It will be my first Royal Caribbean experience. I was considering going to guest services as soon as I board in order to inquire about bargain last-minute cabin upgrades. What do you think about it?
Casino slots are very loose day 1. Then they tighten up especially as the cruise goes forward.
I agree about the embarkation drink, but unless you dont care about saving money or you had a stressful trip getting on board and you need one right away to relax, wait a couple hours to have the first one to avoid state and region taxes on alcohol. Knowing these policies would be helpful in international ports of call, but be aware DRINK BILLS SHOULD BE CHEAPER ON INTERNATIONAL WATERS DUE TO LESS TAXING. Don't necessarily refrain completely from a first day embarkation drink but try to wait until you are on the sea. The only possible exceptions to keep in mind for this advice is pre-registered drink packages or if you have a specialized waiver from this problem written in your booking contract with your cruise company. In my experience though, this is golden advice that I wish I knew.
For us: Do ask for the refrigerator to be emptied. We don't want those tiny bottles of not our flavor of liquor, soda & waters. Not there no chance to be charged for something. We take a little treat for out cabin steward (s). A high end chocolate seems to be a favorite .
I love the info on this site. It is alot of great tips. I can't watch these videos because the announcer is talking way too fast. I can't keep up.
I hope someday I get to go on a cruise
Hey Matt- where is the best place on the Wonder to make your show and dinning reservations when you board? Love all your content. Johnny🎉
Look for a booth on the promenade as you board (probably near Sorrento's)
Matt, are stateroom attendants allowed to receive gifts? What if we wanted to bring some chocolate or small item from our home town?
Awesome tips
Glad you liked it
Wait… so we don’t have to physically muster to our special locations anymore? It’s been a hot minute since I’ve cruised. This is exciting!!
You do have to still go to your muster location but you only have to check in and tell them you watched the video on the app. Takes less than a minute. Hard to believe they are still calling for passengers hours after they get on.
It's such a big difference!
#1 DONT - fly in same day as cruise… I arrived 4days ahead to also visit family in FL and the group chat created by the trip agent/director had a woman frantically trying to catch a flight the night before. There was a BIG storm and allll flights on the east coast were cancelled that night. She couldn’t even fly in early the next morning in time.
11:58 An add on, it you have a legitimate problem (example- heat/air doesn't work), or even a question, if at all possible, find someone in that department, and talk to them about it. They are probably more familiar with the situation. Not always, but there tends to be staff in all the areas available to talk to. It is even a good time to meet the staff in the dining room, spa, etc.
Moreover, if you have a legitimate complaint about you room, talk to you steward. They are probably already know about that kind of thing, and if it's not something petty, there is a good chance to get an room upgrade for free. It's the number one way to get a free upgrade. But remember: 1) It needs to be legit; 2) You can't be petty; 3) You have to go in not expecting an upgrade.
(Bonus: Make a habit of giving the steward a good tip up from, say $100 cash. If you have an issue, they are even more likely to go above and beyond their normal high lever of service. Have some tack though. Don't just do it to get something extra. Do it because these people are getting extremely low pay, but watch what they will do for you!)
Please consider making a PDF list of this. Getting ready to plan my 1st cruise and having a printout of this would be even more helpful. Still a great video!
Great idea!
Jonathon Tso just made a nice summary.
Just write it down as you watch the video.