Among the changes Royal Caribbean will have for guests sailing this summer on Adventure of the Seas from a new homeport is a different check-in area.
Adventure of the Seas will begin offering cruises from Nassau, Bahamas in June 2021, and this is a brand new offering for both Royal Caribbean and the Bahamas.
Traditionally, guests report to a cruise terminal for the check-in and boarding procedure, but it appears that will not be the case for guests on Adventure.
A passenger sailing on the June 12 sailing of Adventure of the Seas reported being told the British Colonial Hilton resort in downtown Nassau will be used as a staging ground for check-in and boarding.
Doug Swallow shared the information after talking to Royal Caribbean about purchasing airport transfers.
"The hotel is being used as the staging point for boarding the ship since there are no facilities currently at the pier," he posted on Facebook. "The hotel is one of the closer things to the pier itself."
Confirming the change is Michael Maura, the Nassau Cruise Port’s chief executive, who told The Tribune he is meeting this week with executives from Nassau Airport Development Company, the Lynden Pindling International Airport operator, to discuss the transfer of incoming cruise passengers to the downtown Nassau cruise port.
Mr. Maura said Royal Caribbean is planning to use a reception room in the British Colonial Hilton resort for check-in.
Passengers’ bags will go from there to the cruise port, where they will be screened before being placed on the vessel.
Luggage scanning equipment will be installed to screen passengers’ bags is due to arrive on New Providence in “the next couple of weeks”, according to Mr. Maura.
Nassau Cruise Port is working extensively with the cruise lines and Bahamian law enforcement to determine the flow, handling and other details required for this.
Bahamian companies, with manpower and forklifts, will be hired to deal with bags belonging to 1,500 Royal Caribbean passenger.
Adventure of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to sail from North America in well over a year, beginning with her June cruises.
Check-in process outline
During a webinar with Bahamian officials, Royal Caribbean's Associate Vice President, Gaming & Onboard Revenue, Elisa Shen, outlined the plan right now for guest embarkation.
Ms. Shen warned these are subject to change.
On the day of the cruise, Royal Caribbean will offer an opportunity for guests to drop off their luggage at the British Colonial Hilton before their official check-in time.
That way, guests can tour Nassau without being encumbered by their belongings while they wait for their official check-in appointment.
Check-in times at the British Colonial Hilton will range between 1pm and 7pm.
Ms. Shen added that guests at the airport on the day of the cruise could drop off their luggage with Royal Caribbean. Guests coming to Nassau a day or more prior to the cruise can drop off luggage at the hotel.
At their appointment, times guests will report to the British Colonial Hilton where they will get an antigen test. Upon testing negative, guests will then be taken directly to the ship.
