Credit: Ty Messier
Before you step aboard a cruise ship, there are several steps you’ll want to check off your list first to ensure your time sailing is as relaxing as possible.
If you complete these steps ahead of time, as soon as you step on board, you’ll be able to get your vacation started.
Purchase Wi-Fi and beverage package of choice
Before going on your cruise, you’ll also want to think about whether you want to purchase the Wi-Fi and drink package. These two packages often come at cheaper prices if you buy ahead of time. Plus, buying in advance will give you access to drinks and the internet as soon as you board.
As far as the internet goes, I would recommend purchasing it for at least one of your devices, especially if you have a long cruise with multiple days at sea. Even if you just use your Wi-Fi to communicate with others you’re traveling with, it is definitely a good thing to have.
There are several different drink packages you can purchase on a Royal Carribean cruise. The first tier is the soda package. With this package, you’ll get a souvenir cup that you can fill up at the many beverage stations throughout the ship. You can refill your drink as much as you’d like throughout your vacation.
The next level up is the refreshment package. This comes with the refillable souvenir cup and also allows guests to get premium coffee and teas, freshly squeezed juice, bottled still and sparkling water, non-alcoholic cocktails as well as milkshakes from Johnny Rockets.
The most expensive option is the deluxe beverage package. This package includes everything that the refreshment package does, as well as cocktails, spirits, liqueur, beer and wine.
The price of each of these packages will vary depending on the length of your cruise. Of course, even if you don’t have the deluxe drink package, you can still purchase an alcoholic drink, it will just be charged to your seapass card.
Get a lanyard for your seapass card
Your seapass card is going to be very important for you to keep safe throughout your trip. It’s not just the key to get into your room, but you’ll also use it for any purchases you make on the ship, as you’ll need to connect it to a credit card. You will also need to have it scanned when you get on and off the ship at stops.
Before you leave for your trip, consider buying a lanyard to hold your seapass card in. I found it extremely useful to have my seapass card in a lanyard because I didn’t have to worry about carrying around a clunky wallet. You can also buy lanyards on the ship if you’d like, but buying them ahead on Amazon will be one less thing you have to do once you board.
Make dinner reservations
Before your trip, you’ll also want to schedule dinner reservations. Each night, you can enjoy a three-course meal on the cruise ship at no additional cost. When you book ahead of time, you not only secure your seat, but you’ll likely have the same wait staff throughout the trip.
Make reservations for shows
Other reservations you’ll want to make are for the shows that are happening on board. If you don’t have reservations, you’ll have to wait in the stand-by line, and oftentimes, there aren’t many seats left when this line is let in.
Keep an eye on the Royal Caribbean app, and make reservations for you and your party for the shows that you’d like to see while you’re traveling.
Royal Caribbean is home to so many amazing shows, from ones on ice, on stage and in the Aqua Theater on select ships.
On the Royal Caribbean app, you’ll be able to see every event that is happening during your cruise. One of the many great things about a cruise is that there is always something to do. When you go through the app, you can put events that you want to do in your Royal Caribbean calendar to keep your plans organized.
Check-in to your cruise early
Also on the Royal Caribbean app, you’ll want to check-in to your cruise as soon as possible.
Checking in is super simple. All you need to do is scan your passport, take a security photo and fill out the cruise ticket contract as well as health acknowledgements. Everyone in your travel party will need to do this.
Credit: Ty Messier
Once this is done is when you can choose an arrival time to head onto the ship. Of course, you want to make the most of your vacation and get the earliest time possible. If you wait to check-in, all the early times will be filled and you’ll have to wait until later in the day to get on the ship.
When you board the ship, especially if you get on early and want to explore, lugging your suitcase with you can be a pain.
To avoid this, print out the luggage tags provided by Royal Caribbean before your trip. Once you get to the cruise port on departure day, attendants will take your bags for you and deliver them to your room. The luggage tag lets them know where to bring your bag, so it’s important that you print them out and attach them to your bag before arriving at the port.
After you’ve completed these steps, you’ll step on the ship ready for an unforgettable vacation.
Happy cruising!
Signed,
Ashlyn
