If you are wanting to maximize your suite benefits, this is a great way to do so, as evening gowns and suits usually cost between $7.50 and $15.00 per item for everyone else on the ship. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. (They do sell out.). Then, youll proceed to the check-in desk, where an agent will help you complete the process. TPG has answers: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. *with the exception of Vancouver, Canada and any Australian ports**limited to two pieces of luggage per guest; each bag must weigh less than 25 pounds. 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. A 3-night cruise would get you 6 points, while a 7-night would get you 14. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. (driving in so coming from parking deck). Since October 2022, at Cape Liberty in Bayonne boarding times are not being looked at much less enforced. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Royal Caribbean suitesprovide more than extra living space. If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean bathrobes (for onboard use only), Suite Lounge/Concierge Club access with horsdoeuvres and cocktails every evening), Priority dining, spa, and shore excursion bookings, Ability to order from the Main Dining Room for in-suite dining (during operating hours), Private breakfast and lunch seating (location varies by ship and sailing), Complimentary pressing on first formal night. Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean's Junior Suites All suite guests enjoy priority boarding, as well as luxury bathroom amenities, a Royal Caribbean bathrobe (for onboard use only) and an espresso coffee machine. Your link has been automatically embedded. This was super fast and easy as the Muster Stations were all clearly labeled and close to where we walked onto the ship. Since the Suite Lounge/Concierge Club is open during the day, it is a great place to escape for a little bit to recharge without returning to your stateroom. 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. My kids wear their bathing suits onto the ship underneath their clothes. They created a different line for the 12:30 to 1:00. 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. The Key passes are bought online before you board the ship; you can't buy them once you board. Apologies to everyone for going off topic a bit. 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. I pack my kids undergarments for them to put on after they swim. At 11:00, crew members instructed all of the suite guests to form a line. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. The Key access can also vary, depending on itinerary. What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships? When you get the terminal, be sure to tell the pier agent you are staying in a suite so you can be directed to the right place. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Another tip for securing an early arrival time is to book a suite. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. With The Key, you don't need to splurge on a suite or have Royal Caribbean status in order to get these perks. Alternatively, if you have upper-tier loyalty status, youre booked in a high-end suite or youve purchased one of several perks packages (like Carnival Cruise Lines Faster to the Fun, Royal Caribbean Internationals The Key or Norwegian Cruise Lines Priority Access), you can arrive at any time to take advantage of priority boarding or special embarkation lounge access to make your wait more comfortable. The Key is Royal Caribbean's way of giving extra benefits to cruisers who want a more VIP experience onboard (or simply want to make sure that they can skip the lines). 2023 Mom's Plan-it Vacation Blog - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Are the Royal Caribbean Drink Packages Worth It? First, if you miss The Key check-in window, you have to fall back to whatever time you had before. It's important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. A Grand Suite on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Wonder of the Seas departing in June 2024 starts at $7,145 per person, based on double occupancy. When they first called for boarding ~11am, they called for Pins and suite guests. Youll also find that the water slides dont have long lines at this time on embarkation day. Purchases made onboard over the initi *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year. Back whenfirst made Diamond in late 90's it meant something, Meet Capt and all Senior Staff each Sailing, was first on and off Ship with only Group before us was Wedding Parties. The cost of The Key can vary from ship to ship, as well as itinerary. After scanning carry ons, up another escalator and board the ship or wait to board? (The porters also have luggage tags in case you forget to print yours.). (Make sure you watched and marked off the Safety video in the app the morning of your cruise.). When something like this happens, I look for a Royal Caribbean employee and not one of temporary people scattered around the terminal. When you enter the terminal building, you must show your ID and boarding documents and proceed through a security check. We had somewhere between 1,800 to 2,000 passengers on this cruise. In addition to being able to utilize the concierge, you will also have access to a private onboard lounge. Most cruise ships require all passengers to be on board no fewer than one to two hours before the scheduled departure time, which is almost always in the late afternoon or evening. Unfortunately, it can vary from port to port and ship to ship, but I prefer arriving in the early afternoon, usually around 1 or 2 p.m. By then, the morning rush of me first passengers has usually died down, and it allows enough time between your arrival at the port and all aboard, the cutoff for when all passengers and crew must be on the vessel. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Onboard Oasis and Quantum Class ships, Grand Suites are considered to be part of the Sky Classtier of the Royal Suite Class. They come with a wide range of perks that are meant to maximize the value of your vacation through special privileges and upgraded amenities. How do I setup a Royal Caribbean SeaPass or Onboard Expense Account? What port was this? 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. The Key is an extra-fee program from Royal Caribbean that gives cruisers a host of perks, such as priority boarding and debarkation, reserved seating at shows, special access to onboard attractions and more. Before you head inside, leave large bags with the porters, who will make sure theyre safely loaded onto the ship. I dont understand why people get upset when RCI clearly states on multiple locations to show-up during your check-in window. If youre anything like us, we have a small family and always intend to spend 95% of our time out of our room. Pasted as rich text. Priority Embarkation for Diamond Members? - Royal Caribbean Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features.