Royal Caribbean Blog

Happy Sunday! It is getting hot outside, and the Royal Caribbean news this week is equally heated.

Royal Caribbean launched an industry-first loyalty status match program for cruises.

Members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club and Silversea’s Venetian Society will attain equivalent tier status on any one of its brands to enjoy reciprocal benefits no matter which brand they sail with.

For example, a Diamond member of the Crown and Anchor Society will become an Elite Captain's Club member, and a Venetian Society with 250 VS days.

Royal Caribbean News

• Woman loses $15,000 cruise after posting reservation number on social media
• Can I cruise without a passport? I would think twice before trying
• Does check-in open at midnight? And 5 other Royal Caribbean check-in questions
• Passenger goes overboard on Icon of the Seas, world’s largest cruise ship

Things You Should NEVER TRUST on Your Cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Things You Should NEVER TRUST on Your Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

9 Things To Do As Soon As You Board A Cruise Ship

Your first hours onboard are some of the most important of your cruise vacation. They set the tone for the remainder of your sailing.

To ensure a smooth cruise, you'll want to start with a few important tasks.

Missing an item on this to-do list could ruin an ideal cruise, or even prevent the ship from embarking.

A performer on a mega cruise ship reveals what working at sea is really like

What is it like to work, live, and perform on one of the largest cruise ships at sea?

We interviewed Kristine Kugler, an Elite Dancer in the Theater Cast onboard Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas.

She shared what it's like to be a crew member onboard a cruise ship with Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 536th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, reviewing a cruise on Freedom of the Seas in 2024.

Matt took his first cruise redeeming a casino credit, sailing for 4 nights on Freedom of the Seas. 

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Why savvy travelers prefer staying on the cruise ship during port days

Experienced cruisers know the benefit of staying onboard the cruise ship and skipping a port day.

Many cruisers book a sailing for the destinations (and the food), but cruise ships also have a massive amount of attractions onboard.

Here are 7 reasons savvy travelers stay onboard the cruise ship.

Do you need a passport to go on a cruise? The answer depends, and could be yes and no.

Before you book that cruise you're eyeing and leave for your trip, it's important to make sure all of your documents are cleared for travel.

Can you cruise without a passport? What kind of birth certificate is required? Will an enhanced driver's license do?

You might be able to go on the cruise without needing a passport, but there are certain requirements to be able to do so. 

U.S. citizens can cruise without a passport and with just a birth certificate and photo ID, but only on certain cruises. It gets confusing for someone new to cruising.

Just because you can cruise without a passport doesn't mean you should, and there's plenty of misinformation out there about the identification needed to cruise.

Take this post as your informative guide to cruising without a passport—and if it's a recommended method.

Can I cruise without a passport?

United States citizens can cruise without a passport on certain sailings.

As proof of citizenship, they need to bring a state-certified, United States birth certificate, issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where they were born.

Additionally, cruisers aged 16 and older need a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or state ID that denotes the correct photo, name, and date of birth.

Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDL) are also taken as proof of citizenship and accepted in place of a birth certificate.

However, very few states currently offer enhanced driver's licenses, so don't assume that yours qualifies as proof of citizenship.

The only states that currently issue enhanced driver's licenses are Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington.

All documentation must have the same name, match the identification on the reservation, and be valid for the dates of the cruise. 

Guests who do not bring the required documentation will be denied boarding.

Read more: Guide to cruising with a birth certificate

Where can I cruise without a passport?

United States citizens can cruise without a passport, but only on specific sailings.

The only itineraries where U.S. citizens can cruise without a passport are closed-loop sailings departing from United States home ports.

Closed-loop sailings are round-trip cruises that embark and disembark from the same U.S. port. 

A one-way cruise that embarks from a U.S. port but disembarks in a different U.S. port does not qualify.

These ports must be in the U.S., and include the following:

• Baltimore
• Boston
• Cape Liberty
• Fort Lauderdale
• Galveston
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• New Orleans
• Port Canaveral
• San Diego
• San Juan
• Seattle
• Seward
• Tampa

United States citizens on these closed-loop cruises are required to travel with proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo ID.

Should I cruise without a passport?

Even though US citizens can cruise without a passport, we don't recommend it.

If you have a cruise coming up, I would think twice before trying to board with just a birth certificate and identification.

A passport is the very best option for any method of travel, including cruises.

Royal Caribbean's website also recommends that cruisers try to bring along a passport, writing: "A passport is the hassle-free, gold standard for traveling between countries."

A passport must be valid for at least six months after the last day of the cruise (it shouldn't expire anytime close to the date of travel).

The name on the passport must also match the name on the cruise reservation.

If you're planning a cruise, it's not too late to go ahead and renew or apply for a passport.

Even for guests who aren't required to, Royal Caribbean and veteran cruisers alike recommend that you travel with a passport.

Read more: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

The U.S. Department of State also recommends that everyone taking a cruise out of the United States have a passport in case of emergency, such as a medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port.

Why is it better to cruise with a passport?

Using a passport opens up the number of itineraries you can cruise on, and makes the process of boarding and disembarking through customs and immigration much faster.

Not only that, but a passport protects you in case of any travel issues or emergencies while exploring a foreign port.

Traveling to any foreign country (even on a closed-loop cruise) places you in the position of possibly needing a passport.

If you miss the cruise ship and are left at port or require emergency transportation back to the U.S., you'll be left in a stressful situation without a passport.

Read more: Will a cruise ship wait for me if I'm running late at a port stop? Here's what a captain has to say.

Both immigration at foreign ports and air travel back to the U.S. will require a passport. 

In the case of an emergency, you'll first have to travel to a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain a passport, further delaying your trip and increasing travel expenses.

A vacation could quickly turn into a nightmare if you become stranded in a foreign country without a passport.

Not only that but disembarking the ship once the cruise is over becomes much less of a hassle with a passport.

When cruisers exit the ship into the cruise terminal, there are separate lines for passengers with U.S. passports and passengers with birth certificates.

Cruisers traveling with a U.S. passport merely have to take a photo for security and facial recognition. The process takes less than two minutes, and there are usually multiple lines to choose from.

In contrast, cruisers with a birth certificate are delegated to just one or two lines, where they must wait for a security officer to thoroughly look over their documentation. This process takes anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.

In case of emergency, it's much better to travel with a passport to speed up the travel process and open up a wider selection of cruise itineraries and international ports.

Once you get onboard a cruise ship, every moment counts.

First-timers especially need to be mindful of their next steps—whether it's your first cruise, your first vacation with Royal Caribbean, or your first time onboard a particular ship.

When you first step up the gangway, there will be an overwhelming amount of new sights and sounds.

The following hours will be some of the most important of your cruise, setting the tone for the entire vacation.

If you don't do some things within your first few hours onboard, you'll risk ruining your ideal cruise.

A mistake during embarkation day could delay the ship from leaving port or cause you to lose your place at a specialty dining venue.

From meeting your stateroom attendant to completing the muster drill, here are the top 9 things you should do as soon as you board a cruise ship.

Read more: 25 things you need to know for your first day on a cruise ship

1. Find your muster station

Royal Caribbean's e-muster allows you to complete the majority of the safety process online.

Anytime before boarding on embarkation day, you can navigate to the safety section on the Royal Caribbean's app to view the muster drill lessons.

First, watch a short video on how to put on the lifejacket. Then, listen to the sound clip of the emergency horn sound, which shows you how to identify it.

The last step happens in person, once you get onboard the cruise ship.

As soon as you can, locate your muster station, which will be assigned according to your stateroom location and indicated on the SetSail pass. You can also see the location of the muster station on the app.

At the muster station, you and your party will check in with a crew member.

They will scan your SetSail or SeaPass to ensure that you've completed the e-muster drill.

Read more: Royal Caribbean: "we have no intention of moving back" to old muster drill

After this, you're finished with the muster drill!

This is an essential step to do as soon as possible because the vessel cannot leave until every passenger has completed the muster drill.

2. Explore the ship

This is one of my favorite tips for orienting yourself to a new cruise ship.

Especially on Royal Caribbean's larger vessels, such as the Oasis Class and above, you should get the lay of the land right away.

Start by exploring different neighborhoods, or simply travel the decks from bottom to top and bow to stern.

This will make your entire cruise go more smoothly. You'll know where to find activities and venues right away, and you won't become one of those lost souls staring desperately at the maps in front of the elevators.

This is something I make an effort to do as soon as I get on board and finish the e-muster.

In fact, on the one cruise I did not tour the ship right away, I later found out that I missed an entire section of the ship—the part that held Schooner Bar!

I ended up neglecting several days of fun activities and nightlife, all because I hadn't explored the ship beforehand.

Read more: I've never been on a cruise, but spent a week researching what I need to know. My top 11 important lessons I think I learned

3. Eat lunch

If you're ready for a bite to eat when you get onboard, there are plenty of dining venues to try.

For complimentary lunch, more cruisers prefer the Windjammer, which has a varied buffet of food and drink options.

There's certain to be a dish for everyone, but it will get crowded around lunchtime on embarkation day.

For less-crowded complimentary venues, you can look for Park Cafe, Cafe Promenade, Cafe Latte-tudes, Sorrento's Pizza, or El Loco Fresh.

Guests who have purchased The Key can dine in the Main Dining Room, where they'll receive a free specialty lunch from Chops Grille.

Some specialty restaurants onboard will also have their doors open for lunch on embarkation day.

You won't need to make reservations beforehand, so these venues will be first-come, first-served.

You can dine at Playmakers, Sabor, Johnny Rockets, Giovanni's Table, Jamie's Italian, and Chops Grille.

4. Check on your stateroom 

When I get onboard a cruise ship one of the first things I do is check on the status of my stateroom.

Not only do you get to tour the room while it's all clean and fresh, but you also can set down your carry-on bags instead of lugging them all over the ship.

It's also worth going to your stateroom to check when it will be open.

Since staterooms are usually being cleaned from the last cruise of passengers, they aren't open right away on embarkation day.

A sign will inform guests when they can expect to access their staterooms; usually around 1:00 or 1:30 P.M.

Once the staterooms are open, you can grab your SeaPass card outside the door and use it to enter. 

Just like at the airport, when you go straight to the gate to confirm its existence, checking on your stateroom is an essential task when you first get onboard a cruise ship.

5. Change your clothes

Now that you've entered your clean stateroom, you'll also have a chance to change out of your travel clothes.

I usually wear long pants and sneakers for the boarding process, when I expect to be on my feet for at up to an hour.

But once I get onboard and the vacation has truly started, I want to change into shorts and sandals right away.

Those travel clothes can get sweaty and dirty, and start to feel uncomfortable onboard the cruise ship.

Since your larger luggage usually won't be delivered at this point (bags arrive later in the afternoon), this is one reason why we recommend you pack a change of clothes and a swimsuit in your carry-on bag.

Read more: 15 things to pack in your cruise carry-on

6. Meet your stateroom attendant

On your first day of the cruise, you should also make it a priority to meet your stateroom attendant.

Your cabin attendant is responsible for cleaning and restocking your stateroom once a day (twice for suites). 

Read more: 16 things to ask your cruise ship cabin attendant

Typically, they will stop by your stateroom on embarkation day to try to introduce themselves. 

They will ask what time you prefer to get your room cleaned, usually a morning or afternoon time slot.

I find this to be a key moment for embarkation day—you'll want to choose a time that works for your schedule.

Read more: Why you should get your cruise cabin serviced in the evening instead of the morning

Don't forget to also learn their name, so you can properly thank them for the work they'll do.

7. Make reservations

If you've purchased a specialty dining package, such as a 3-Night Dining or Unlimited Dining Package, you'll need to make your venue reservations once you get onboard.

You can go to any specialty restaurant to request your reservations. 

Just keep in mind your top picks and the times you'd prefer to dine.

We recommend doing this as soon as you board the cruise ship so that it's early enough to get your desired reservations.

Specialty restaurants can fill up fast, especially on Royal Caribbean's larger ships.

When I sailed on Wonder of the Seas, I rushed to book specialty dining as soon as I boarded and still had to be put on a waitlist for Izumi Hibachi.

Royal Caribbean has announced that guests will soon be able to book specialty dining through the online Cruise Planner. 

At the time of this article, that has not yet been made available.

8. Switch on airplane mode

Now that you're onboard, don't forget to switch your phone to airplane mode.

If you've purchased VOOM WiFi, this is a great time to log in and get your devices set up.

If not, you can connect to free ship WiFi which allows you to access the Royal Caribbean app.

Either way, you'll need to keep your phone on airplane mode as the ship begins to sail away from land. 

Keeping your phone on a cellular network will rack up insane roaming charges. 

9. Join the sailaway party

With all your logistics taken care of, it's time for the cruise vacation to begin!

Royal Caribbean ships will have a sailaway party as the ship begins to leave shore.

You can find information on the Royal Caribbean app or your Cruise Compass, but it usually takes place in the early afternoon on the pool deck.

A live DJ will play music, while crew members encourage everyone to dance and party.

Nearby bars will be open, with waiters taking drink orders around the deck.

It's an infectious moment of fun and the perfect way to set the tone for your cruise vacation. 

Read more: The best spot for sailaway on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Consider this a warning to any cruiser not to share your cruise documents online.

A Carnival cruise line passenger shared on social media that her $15,000 cruise was unexpectedly canceled just two days before the sail date. While this happened to a Carnival cruiser, it could have just as easily happened to someone going on Royal Caribbean.

While emergencies happen, hearing that the online system canceled the reservation is a much rarer way to lose your vacation.

Tiffany Banks, a naturopathic doctor and mother of four from Lexington, Kentucky, posts to TikTok under the username @thathippiedoc.

On May 12th, she took to the social media site to share her story and call out Carnival Cruises.

While this didn't happen to a Royal Caribbean cruiser, it turns out that Banks made a crucial mistake that anyone could have made.

This one slip-up led to the cancellation of a cruise the family had been looking forward to for over a year.

As first reported by Cruise Radio, Banks shared online that she had booked the largest stateroom, the Presidential Excel Suite, on Carnival Celebration. 

The cabin cost a total of $12,000, and the family invested over $15,000 into their cruise vacation, including excursions and WiFi.

Although they'd had the cabin booked for over a year, she discovered that the reservation was gone when she received an email that her shore excursions had been canceled.

Since she had just booked their Internet package that morning—and was planning to fly to Miami the next day—Banks had no intention of canceling the cruise.

She immediately called Carnival to resolve the issue.

After spending two and a half hours on the phone, she learned that the online reservation had been canceled.

A lead at Carnival offered her compensation in the form of two interior rooms on the same cruise.

Banks was livid that she would not be receiving any refund: "I just can't even fathom how they think that's right."

She declined to accept the two interior rooms, as they are the cheapest onboard. 

This is in stark contrast to the original suite the family booked, which is the most expensive stateroom on the Carnival Celebration.

Banks' original TikTok, posted on May 12th, has over 160,000 views and hundreds of comments.

Most of the commenters support Banks in criticizing the cruise line and their lack of a refund.

User TC commented: "If the room was just canceled, it should still be available. Are they double-booking those rooms?"

User Jerica also believes there's something corrupt about the booking.

"It was canceled and immediately booked by someone else? Definitely fishy!!!"

Carnival told Banks that the room was booked within 3 hours after the initial cancellation.

"I find it interesting that they would send you a notification about the excursion cancellation but nothing about the trip cancellation. They know they are in the wrong," commented SimplyAmber. 

Banks also replied to comments suggesting she hire a lawyer to sue the cruise line.

"We are looking for an attorney," she wrote.

Cruise fares are usually not refunded as late as two days before the cruise.

After a guest makes their final payment, cancellation penalties apply.

Per Carnival's cancellation policy, cruises canceled 15 days or less before the sailing have a 100% cancellation penalty.

No refund applies 15 days before the cruise.

Passengers agree to the cancellation policy when they book the cruise, so be sure that you know what your cruise line's rules are before making that final payment.

At first, Banks assumed the cruise was canceled due to a glitch in Carnival's computer system. 

However, she shared in a TikTok posted on May 14th that the cruise line informed her she'd been a victim of a form of identity theft.

Banks's husband had shared the booking number on Facebook, and someone created a profile on the Carnival website.

After adding the booking number and name, this anonymous user was able to cancel the cruise.

Despite Carnival telling Banks that she had been a victim of identity theft, they still did not offer a refund for the cruise.

Instead, she stated that Carnival offered her $10,404 in future cruise credit, as long as she posted on social media that the company positively resolved the situation.

She declined, saying that she has no interest in booking another sailing with Carnival.

Banks continues to fault Carnival for this cancellation, saying that not sharing the booking number "is not something that every single traveler knows."

She even stated that Carnival encourages guests to post a cruise countdown tracker.

Commenters surmised that, instead of posting the sharable cruise countdown, Banks screenshotted the email itself and shared it to Facebook without removing the confirmation number.

The comments on the rest of Banks' TikToks became more critical after she revealed that her husband had posted the booking number. 

"I don't think Carnival owes anything," annamarie4568 wrote.

"You can't post your booking info. This could happen on any cruise line, that is how you add your cruise."

"It's unfortunate, but you have to accept some of the blame here," commented Ruthie, "It would be like posting your credit card number and someone using it. I'd definitely pursue this legally though to at least force Carnival to update their processes to protect their customers."

"This is like posting your Credit card number or SSN," Southern_Lady_Talk added. "I would feel more empathy for her if she took more responsibility for how this happened."

However, some commenters continued to side with Banks, saying that Carnival should still refund the amount of the cruise.

"It doesn’t matter if the booking number was posted. She called as soon as she got the cancellation email and said it wasn’t her and they refused to do anything for her," user Paige wrote.

Heather added her perspective as a frequent cruiser: "The fact that it is that easy to cancel someone’s booking makes me very hesitant to book another cruise."

Since the flights were already booked, Banks and her family still flew down to Miami.

They went to the port to see if they could find a resolution in person but discovered that they weren't on the ship manifest.

Despite having the initial booking confirmation, boarding passes, and payment summary, the cruise was canceled for good.

"We had to leave," Banks said in a follow-up video that she captioned with the hashtags '#carnivalsucks' and '#dreamcrushers.'

To try and salvage their remaining vacation time, the family reserved an Airbnb and spent a few days in Florida. 

They visited Discovery Cove to swim with dolphins and rented a cabana.

Banks said the experience was fantastic and "better than Carnival."

As for the experience with Carnival, Banks said that "this has been [an] emotional roller coaster. At this point, there is no resolution."

While some commenters suggested she try a different cruise line, Banks replied that the experience had been so disappointing, the family would not be going on another cruise.

Starting June 5, Royal Caribbean Group's new Loyalty Status Match program will allow members of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea's programs to enjoy reciprocal status regardless of which brand they sail with. 

With more than 50 ships sailing to nearly 1,000 destinations across the globe, shared status means that you can enjoy the perks and privileges equivalent to your tier status no matter where your travels take you. 

"We strive to provide guests with experiences within our portfolio of brands that meet them for all of life’s moments,” said Jason Liberty, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. 

“Each of our differentiated brands have passionate fans who take pride in the status they’ve achieved through repeat sailings. In a first for the cruise industry, our new Loyalty Status Match program rewards guests traveling across our brands, and this is one more step in our journey of transforming a vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations."

Whether you're a Pinnacle Club member within Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society or have accumulated 350 Venetian Society days within Silversea's program, you'll enjoy the same recognition across all three brands. 

Seamless Status Recognition and Effortless Tier Matching

Members of the Crown & Anchor Society, Captain’s Club, and Venetian Society qualify for a one-for-one status match across all three brands after enrolling in each of the brand programs, as loyalty status and tiers remain equal across the board. 

If, for instance, you're a Diamond Crown & Anchor member, you'll automatically become an Elite Captain's Club member and Venetian Society member with 250 VS Days once all of the accounts have been connected. 

Guests currently enrolled in two or three of the loyalty programs (i.e., Crown & Anchor and Captain's Club or Captain's Club and Venetian Society) will have their status automatically matched within seven days. There's no need to sit on hold with customer service to receive your appropriate loyalty status. 

If you aren't enrolled in one or more of the programs, you'll have to enroll before your status is matched. Once enrollment has been completed, your status will automatically be matched within seven days. 

When sailing on each sister brand within the Royal Caribbean Group, passengers can enjoy the onboard benefits offered for their tier status within the line's respective loyalty program

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have had a status match program for a while; however, the highest tiers guests could match into were Diamond and Elite, respectively. 

Now, passengers holding the highest status within each program can match into the corresponding tier across all three brands. This is a huge upgrade, especially for those who hold top-tier status, as Pinnacle Club members can now hold Zenith status within Celebrity's Captain's Club and vice versa. 

What guests shouldn't expect, however, is equal benefits. Rather than daily drink coupons, for instance, Celebrity's Captain's Club has a daily happy hour with complimentary drinks. Moreover, whereas Celebrity offers a complimentary bag of laundry for Elite cruisers and above, only Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members are eligible for a free bag when sailing on voyagers that are 5+ nights. 

Read more: I reached Diamond status with Royal Caribbean: here's why this loyalty tier matters

Though cruisers won't get equal benefits, the higher their status, the more perks they will receive when cruising on sister brands. Elite Plus members, for instance, will now receive Diamond Plus benefits when sailing on one of Royal Caribbean's ships, including the brand-new Icon of the Seas. 

To become an Elite Plus member within Celebrity's Captain's Club, you must have 750 Captain's Club points, which are earned based on the category of room you sail in, as well as the duration of your cruise. 

Instead of four daily drink coupons per day, they'll get five. Additionally, they'll get a 30% discount on the Deluxe Beverage Package and two free days of Surf + Steam Wi-Fi. 

When cruising onboard one of Celebrity's upscale ships, Diamond Plus members will have access to exclusive amenities like a 15% discount on the cover charge at specialty restaurants, 240 complimentary minutes of premium Wi-Fi, and two free bags of laundry, that weren't attainable with the previous status match. 

Unlike Celebrity's Captain's Club, Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society has a more streamlined earning process process. All cruisers earn one point per night onboard, with those in suites or sailing solo earning two per night. 

Some benefits are still excluded

Certain loyalty benefits are reserved for members who attain the status based on accumulated points and nights sailed within each brand, meaning those who match into the tier aren't eligible for certain perks, as points are earned at the individual level and cannot be combined.

Moreover, the Status Match program doesn't apply to status held with other cruise lines, such as Carnival, MSC, or Norwegian. 

Crown & Anchor Society:

• Complimentary Pinnacle Club milestone cruises
• Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club amenities
• Single supplement cruise fare reduction
• Cheers with an Officer onboard event
• Milestone recognition (Crystal Block)
• Upgraded bathroom amenities
• Pinnacle Club milestone kits
• Chef’s Choice amenity

Captain’s Club:

• Complimentary Zenith cruises
• Zenith milestone kits
• WWF® donations
• Retreat Lounge access when not staying in the Retreat (Status match members will only be permitted to access the Retreat Lounge when not staying in the Retreat based on availability and at the sole discretion of Celebrity Cruises)

Venetian Society:

• “Sail with Us” referral offer prior to your first Silversea voyage
• Complimentary cruises
• Milestone recognition during the Venetian Society Party

What do you need to do before getting onboard a cruise ship?

Boarding a Royal Caribbean ship is different from other boarding processes, like on an airplane.

You're not just getting ready to ride a mode of transportation, but also entering your home for the length of the cruise.

There are a lot of moving pieces to ensure that passengers get on safely and quickly.

In general, you can expect embarkation day to go smoothly, and run a lot quicker than at an airport.

However, that doesn't mean it doesn't take preparation and effort to embark on your cruise.

If you're concerned about what to expect, this guide serves as your walkthrough of the entire boarding process.

From your online check-in to stepping onto the gangway, here's how embarkation day works.

Read more: How long does it take to board a cruise ship?

Check-in online

About 45 days before your cruise, check-in will open online.

Royal Caribbean’s app and website provide an efficient guide to checking in online. 

Similar to how airlines provide online check-in, you can prepare for your cruise completely online.

Simply create an account on the app or website, and use your information to prepare for the cruise.

Check-in will involve entering identifying information, scanning your passport or ID, and taking a security photo. 

You will also add an emergency contact (someone who is not traveling with you) and a payment method for any onboard expenses.

Online check-in closes 48 hours before embarkation day. 

You can still check in at the terminal, but it is ultimately quicker and easier for you to complete it online.

Choose an arrival time

Once check-in is completed, you can choose an arrival time to enter the terminal.

The arrival times will be listed in half-hour slots, usually ranging from 10:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.

These arrival times are first-come, first-served, so the earlier you check-in, the more time slots will be available.

Most cruisers prefer to select the earliest time slot offered, as it gets them onto the ship faster.

Read more: 15 Royal Caribbean boarding process tips for a fast embarkation

Complete the health questionnaire

The health questionnaire, also known as the wellness check, will open on the app the day before the cruise.

A notification will pop up on the screen, and you can open up the wellness check by clicking on it.

These health questions vary depending on the requirements of the port you’re sailing from, but you should be sure to answer them truthfully.

Being dishonest can delay your boarding process or expose others to disease.

The questions at North American ports usually involve some variation of the following:

• Will you be 23 or more weeks pregnant at any point in your cruise?
• Have you experienced any of these symptoms within the past 24 hours: Fever Chills, Muscle Aches, Fatigue, Sore Throat, Nasal Congestion, Runny Nose, Cough, Difficulty Breathing, New Loss of Taste or Smell, Nausea, Vomiting, or Diarrhea?

After completing the wellness check, you'll have access to your SetSail pass, the digital pass that allows you to enter the ship on embarkation day.

From here, you can add it to your Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Pay for quick access.

If you are completing check-in on the Royal Caribbean website, you can also print out your Set Sail Pass.

Arrive at the port and hand off your luggage

Now you've reached embarkation day!

In preparation for smooth boarding, we recommend getting to the cruise port the night before your cruise.

That way, any traffic or delayed flights won't affect your expensive vacation.

As you reach the cruise port, remember to check which terminal your ship is located at. Royal Caribbean uses 1-2 different terminals, depending on the port.

When you arrive at the terminal, you will see porters outside accepting luggage.

If your bags already have printed luggage tags on them, you can simply hand them off.

If not, the porter will be able to add luggage tags that tell staff where to deliver your suitcases.

Porter services are free, but passengers are expected to tip $1-5 per bag.

After handing off your larger luggage, make sure that you have your travel documents readily available.

This will ensure a speedy boarding process when you enter the terminal.

Enter the cruise terminal and go through security

Next, enter the cruise terminal to begin boarding. Make sure that you enter the right queue for your stateroom—usually, there is a separate line for suites and a standard line.

After entering these lines, you will go through a series of security checks.

The number of security checkpoints varies depending on the terminal. 

At each one, they will usually check your passport or ID and your SetSail pass (located on your phone or printed).

Next, passengers go through a security scan. This operates much like the TSA checkpoints at an airport, but it is a little less intense.

You won't have to take off your shoes or take out liquids.

Simply send your carry-on bags through the X-ray scanner and walk through the magnetometer.

After this security check-in, you'll go through one less documentation checkpoint.

Here, staff will take another security photo of you if the one on the app seems outdated.

After this, you'll be good to board the ship!

Complete the e-muster

After you board the cruise ship, don't run off for a cocktail immediately.

Every passenger has to complete a safety drill, called a muster drill before the ship can leave.

The first part of this muster drill can be completed on the app anytime on embarkation day.

You'll watch a tutorial on how to put on a lifejacket and listen to a sample of the emergency horn.

For the second part of the muster drill, you'll need to find your muster station and check in with the staff there.

You can find your muster station on the app or your SetSail Pass.

If you have any further questions, Royal Caribbean staff will be everywhere onboard, ready and able to help you.

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Have you ever wanted to know what working on a cruise ship is like?

Kristine Kugler, an Elite Dancer in the Theater Cast onboard Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas, has been with the company for about two years. 

Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum Class ship initially launched in 2016. Now, the 168,666 gross registered ton vessel splits its time between Alaska and Australia/New Zealand before sailing year-round from Asia beginning in April 2026. 

From live music in the lounges to high-tech shows in Two70 and original production shows in the main theater, there's plenty of entertainment for guests to enjoy. 

Kugler also shares her experiences on her YouTube and Instagram accounts.

In an interview with Kugler, which has been edited for length and clarity, we spoke about what it's like to be a crew member on a cruise ship. 

Kugler grew up in Florida and always wanted to be a performer

I am originally from Miami, FL [and had] always wanted to work on cruise ships from sailing with my family at a young age, so I geared my dance training towards this professional route. 

I started dancing when I was 2 1/2 and continued competing in dance throughout my high school years. In university, I studied Business Management & Entrepreneurship, while simultaneously training at a dance academy to keep up with my artistry and technique.

Auditions for parts on a cruise ship are competitive

It is very difficult and can often take many auditions to be considered for a contract. I auditioned for Royal Caribbean for the first time at 18 and received a contract when I auditioned at 22! 

The audition is physically and mentally challenging because we have to quickly learn the choreography and perform it in front of the panel of judges. 

The casting directors are also always looking for what you can personally bring to the table, as well as your attitude during the audition! 

It can also be difficult because they are not only looking at your technique and style as a dancer, but your [appearance] and height to fit in with what they are looking for in specific shows on certain ships.

Her job is more than just performing in shows

An average week is different on every ship and itinerary! We are currently sailing in Alaska on 7-day cruises, so we can expect to perform two shows a night for two nights of the cruise! 

On the first day of the cruise, we participate in the muster drill, which entails giving guests their safety briefing when they first arrive on the ship. We also have one mandatory dance class weekly from a volunteer cast member, so it’s something new every week! 

We can also expect 1-2 safety drills to ensure we are proficient in our safety duties. Other responsibilities we can expect in our weekly schedule are to spotlight shows in the 270 theater, dressing room cleaning, cabin inspections, and tech runs on show days.

Working on a cruise ship means seeing the world

My favorite things about the job are the people onboard and the travel. I have met some incredible fellow crew members from all over the world and listened to stories about people’s home countries and childhoods that are so different from how I grew up. Yet, we have many similarities that caused us to end up on this ship together!

Through this career, I have been able to sail around the Caribbean, Mediterranean, New Zealand, Alaska, and more places around the world. It’s created a strong motivation to see as much of the world as I can in my lifetime. 

I am so blessed to have a career that not only continually inspires me, but also pays me to have experiences I never would have before. 

Kugler loves the opportunities being a cast member provides

The greatest benefit to being a performer on a ship is to have a career I am passionate about. We have worked our bodies and so much time during our childhoods to work on improving our craft as a dancer. Being on a Royal Caribbean contract feels like a full-circle reward for all our hard work. 

Another huge benefit is our time off to explore destinations around the world. We spend so much time perfecting our shows throughout the rehearsal and installation period that once we get settled into the routine of performing shows, we have lots of free time to ourselves. 

Since we perform shows at night, we can often explore a port during the day before we have to be back for our shows. I understand that is not a perk many other crew members get, so I take full advantage when we are given a day off.

Time off is spent reading and working on social media

During my time off, I am usually filming or editing a video! I have a YouTube channel where I share videos of the behind-the-scenes of the shows, living my life on the ship, and my travels every week! 

I am also an avid reader who has an endless list of books I want to dive into! Spending time on these hobbies never lets me get bored on the ship.

How do you check in for a Royal Caribbean cruise?

While the process is easy, there aren't tutorials immediately available.

Plus, you may not know the hacks to get the earliest boarding times and step on that gangway faster.

To begin your cruise vacation as soon as possible, you'll want to have an efficient check-in process.

Here are all your pressing questions answered in one handy guide.

How do I get the earliest boarding time?

Boarding early means that you get onto your cruise ship earlier and can begin your vacation right away.

You can get the earliest boarding time by checking in early.

Check-in opens online 45 days before your cruise and closes the day before.

Cruisers can check in online, either through Royal Caribbean’s app or website. 

Check-in will involve entering identifying information, scanning your passport or ID, and taking a security photo. 

Cruiser should also add an emergency contact and a payment method for any onboard expenses.

Once check-in is completed, you will be able to choose an arrival time to enter the terminal.

The arrival times will be listed in half-hour slots, usually ranging from 10:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.

These arrival times are first-come, first-served, so the earlier you check-in, the more time slots will be available.

Does check-in open at midnight? 

If arrival time depends on when you check in for your cruise, how early can you check in? 

Online check-in opens 45 days before your cruise and is available on both the app and the website.

If your cruise leaves from the United States, online check-in will open at midnight in the time zone of the departure port.

While you can use both the app and the website to check in, the app provides a few more benefits.

In the Royal Caribbean app check-in, you can scan your passport, upload a security photo, and answer required health questions to receive a mobile boarding pass.

This saves you time at the cruise terminal since the terminal agent just has to verify your travel documents and scan your mobile boarding pass.

Of course, you still have to bring travel documents such as your passport and Set Sail Pass.

But, ultimately, checking in on the app as early as possible means you'll spend less time boarding, and more onboard the ship, beginning your vacation!

When are Royal Caribbean luggage tags available? 

Luggage tags are available before your cruise, usually at the 30-day point when your vacation documents are available.

To access them, go to the Royal Caribbean website, log into your account, view your cruise, and select "view more details."

Cruise documents and luggage tags will appear under this toggle, and you can download and print the luggage tags from there.

These tags ensure that porters and cruise ship staff know where to leave the luggage on embarkation day, and that no bags get lost.

To save time at the cruise terminal, guests can print out their luggage tags beforehand and affix them to their larger bags.

When you get to the port, it will be a quick hand-off of the bags to terminal porters.

Do I need my travel documents to complete check-in?

In order to complete check-in online, you will need your passport, birth certificate, or other ID.

Passengers will also be adding their Crown and Anchor number and a payment method.

Additionally, snapping a security photo will make the boarding process go smoother at the port.

Because of these requirements, it's best to check in while at home where you have access to all your essential documents and a plain white background.

Read more: 15 Royal Caribbean boarding process tips for a fast embarkation

Can I check someone else in?

Guests can check-in for any other passengers on reservations linked to their account.

The check-in page will list the reservation with all added guests sailing on the same cruise.

You can click on their name to begin the check-in process.

However, keep in mind that you'll need their travel documents on hand, and it's best if the passenger is available to take their security photo.

If these are unavailable, you can enter in some of the information and have your fellow guest complete the rest later.

Do I need a check-in time if I bought The Key?

The Key is an optional, extra-cost add-on that Royal Caribbean offers for embarkation and debarkation day.

Cruisers can purchase The Key before their cruise on the Cruise Planner website and receive special access and VIP perks while boarding.

Here is a list of the benefits you get with The Key:

• Early access at the terminal (between 11:00-11:30 A.M.)
• Drop off your carry-on luggage in the Main Dining Room
• Carry-on luggage is hand-delivered to your stateroom
• Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring the Chops Grille menu
• Complimentary room service for your entire cruise, along with 25% off all onboard dining purchases
• Private time at some of our onboard activities such as rock climbing, FlowRider, etc.
• Priority departure from ship-to-shore at tender ports
• Early access to shows in the Main Theater
• VOOM Surf & Stream package, now including high-speed internet, for one device (1 package per guest)
• On debarkation day, enjoy a private á la carte breakfast and choice departure

If you have The Key, you aren't required to select a check-in time at all. Before the cruise, guests with The Key will receive an email with instructions for boarding day.

The add-on includes a VIP early check-in time that usually runs between 11:00-11:30 A.M., the same as the earliest time available to other passengers.

To take advantage of the free Chops Grille lunch and less crowded amenities, Royal Caribbean does recommend arriving at the terminal before 12:00 P.M.

However, if a guest can't make the early access window, they can arrive during a selected appointment time and still receive priority access to the terminal.

Read more: I tried The Key on an Oasis Class ship to see if it's worth it

You could disembark your cruise ship while in port for a tour, or stay on board and enjoy a relatively empty ship.

The destinations a cruise ship visits is a major reason why people book a cruise. Destinations are one of the top two reasons people book a cruise (along with food).

Because of this, it might not make much sense when you see cruisers choose to stay on board and not visit the port of call for the day.

However, there are great benefits to staying on board during a port day.

Not only is cruising one of the most affordable forms of travel, but the cruise ship can also become a destination in itself.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships are built with countless amenities, activities, and forms of entertainment: from pools to shows to casinos and food venues.

Because there's so much to see and do on board, some cruisers choose to skip certain ports and stay on the ship for the whole day.

If you're wondering why this is a smart decision, here are seven reasons to stay on board when your cruise ship stops at a port.

Take time to slow down and relax

Especially on port-intensive cruises, it becomes easy to cram your schedule full of activities. 

From morning stretches to afternoon short excursions to evening shows, there will always be something to do on board the ship or offshore at the port.

If you don't intentionally plan a time to rest, you could become burned out. Overbooking yourself could lead to a less-than-pleasant experience if you or your fellow travelers become tired and cranky.

Skipping one of the port days on your itinerary is a great way to schedule some relaxation.

You could read a book, rest by the pool, take a nap in your stateroom (or any other quiet place!), and sit at a bar and have a drink in peace. 

As long as you are intentional about making yourself relax, staying on board is a great way to take advantage of a quiet day.

Read more: How to de-stress on a Royal Caribbean cruise (without alcohol)

Skip the lines

When other cruisers visit a popular cruise ship port and you remain onboard, you'll find fewer people remaining.

This is a great opportunity to avoid lines at more crowded locations, such as the Windjammer, where it can be hard to grab a seat and find a quiet place to eat.

You'll also find shorter lines if you need assistance at Guest Services, or want to try an onboard attraction.

With access to adventures like zip lines, sports centers, ice skating, laser tag, the FlowRider surf simulator, water slides, and dry slides, there are endless activities to try.

By waiting until a port day, you'll give yourself extra time and also avoid a long wait in line.

Get discounts on spa treatments

Getting a deep tissue massage or facial on a cruise ship sounds like an amazingly luxurious experience.

Royal Caribbean's Vitality spa offers amazing treatments like collagen facials and seaweed massages, as well as couple's services.

However, these treatments are an extra-cost add-on, and these spa package prices run quite high. 

One of the best ways to get a discount is to wait until a port day. 

The Vitality spa often offers discounts on port days, as well as the first and last day of the cruise.

If crew members at the spa see that the ship is not booking enough appointments they may offer more discounts on board. 

Since port days are less busy at the spa, they're likely to offer good discounts for treatments and salon services.

You won't get bored of popular ports

If you're a frequent cruiser to a certain region (like Alaska, the Caribbean, or the Mediterranean), you've probably visited some common ports more than once.

As someone who has taken a lot of Caribbean cruises, I've frequently stopped at Nassau, Bahamas, or Perfect Day at Cococay. It's easy to get tired of visiting these ports. 

Although many of the areas have rich cultures and histories to explore, a port is only one small location.

There's only so far you can explore and travel within the eight hours a cruise ship stops there. 

If there are ports that you frequently visit, you might be better off staying on board the ship rather than repeating a tourist excursion.

Take full advantage of your drink and WiFi packages

Royal Caribbean's drink package is a popular add-on for a cruise. By purchasing the package, you receive unlimited drinks per day for one set price. 

The deluxe drink package, which includes unlimited alcoholic and specialty drinks, costs $56 to $105 per day, per person.

If you visit the port, however, you'll pay extra for alcoholic drinks no matter where you go.

Similarly, WiFi is a common add-on that people pay extra for.

Royal Caribbean's Voom Wi-Fi costs about $20 to $30 a day per device.

The only port where you can still use these packages onshore is Perfect Day at CocoCay, where you'll still have a valid drink package and access to WiFi.

At such a high cost per day, it makes sense that you'd want to stay onboard the ship to take full advantage of these packages.

Since you're already paying per day of the cruise, but can't use them onshore, staying onboard for at least one port day gives you extra time to take advantage of your packages at no extra cost.

Grab a space at the pool deck

A huge benefit to staying onboard while other cruisers disembark to explore is avoiding the typical cruise ship crowds.

On sea days, you'll commonly fight to find a chair at the popular pool decks. Large groups and chair hogs tend to take over and reserve the majority of the pool chairs.

If you enjoy soaking in the hot tubs, you'll also notice how quickly they can fill to capacity. It's hard to find areas with any free space!

On port days, however, you'll find a quieter atmosphere to relax in.

This is especially advantageous if you're traveling with children. They'll be able to splash and play in the water while you watch from a chair close by.

Save money by enjoying what's on the cruise ship

While port adventures can include enriching experiences, the cost tends to add up.

Once you exit the ship, you could end up paying for shore excursions, beach access and chairs, museum tickets, souvenirs, and food and drinks.

Especially in tourist-heavy areas like cruise ports, there are constant sales and marketing attempts.

If your goal is a budget-friendly cruise, staying onboard the ship can make that happen.

Your cruise fare, once paid, includes access to your stateroom, free meals, amenities, pool chairs, beach towels, entertainment, and complimentary games and activities.

Why explore somewhere else, when there's lots to do onboard for free?

Read more: 15 free things to try on your next cruise

An unidentified guest has gone overboard while cruising onboard the world’s biggest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. 

Passengers onboard the 7-night sailing reported the incident on social media as the events unfolded on Sunday, May 26, 2024. Icon of the Seas departed the day prior on May 25, 2024 from Miami, Florida for its current voyage. Guests sailing on the brand-new ship were enjoying a day at sea when the man went overboard. 

According to online reports, Icon of the Seas was sailing to its first port of call, Roatan (Honduras), when the man went overboard. The ship was reportedly sailing north of Cuba when the man plunged into the Gulf of Mexico, around 300 miles from Miami.

(Video shared by @davidcanter on X)

The incident allegedly took place in the morning on Sunday, prompting an immediate rescue mission from the vessel. According to guests onboard Icon of the Seas, a small rescue boat was launched from Icon of the Seas to search for the overboard guest.

(Video shared by @oliveblend to TikTok)

Based on reports from guests onboard, Icon of the Seas' captain made an announcement to guests regarding the overboard incident. Many guests onboard Icon of the Seas were just beginning their mornings when the rescue operation started, with some guests waking up to the captain's unfortunate announcement.

Guests online stated that Icon of the Seas halted its course for approximately two hours to complete the search and rescue mission. Crew members took swift action while the ship maintained its location for the duration of the rescue mission. 

Guests onboard Icon of the Seas were then notified by the captain that the man was successfully recovered, with reports that he was in the ship’s medical center receiving immediate care. 

(Video shared by @davidcanter on X)

The current status of the individual is not clear at this time, as reports online are differing. The captain reportedly told guests the overboard man was "recovered" due to the quick actions of the ship's crew members. 

Videos surrounding the incident from guests currently onboard Icon of the Seas were shared to social media, namely X and TikTok. Footage shows Icon's rescue crew sailing around the nearby waters in a small boat while attempting to locate the man. One video shows guests on their balconies looking out into the Gulf of Mexico trying to help locate the overboard man.

Notably, videos shared to TikTok and X appear to show fairly calm seas and clear weather when the search and rescue mission took place. Overboard incidents that take place at night or in rough sea conditions are not often successful. In this case, favorable sea conditions could have contributed to a successful recovery mission by the crew members. 

(Video shared by @GenAIChad on X)

Details surrounding the incident are limited to onboard reports from guests and the identity of the guest has not been announced. It is unclear at this time why the male passenger went overboard and Royal Caribbean has not commented on the incident. 

According to guests onboard, Icon of the Seas’ itinerary has not been altered due to the unforeseen incident. The ship’s location on CruiseMapper shows the vessel is en route and on-schedule to arrive in Roatan, Honduras on May 27, 2024. 

Overboard incidents are rare, but do happen ocassionally. According to data from the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), guests that go overboard from cruise ships are unlikely to be rescued. 

In a publicized report from CLIA regarding operational instances from 2009 to 2019, there were 212 identified overboard incidents from cruise ships for either crew members or passengers. Of these overboard incidents, only 48 (or 28.2%) individuals were successfully rescued. Based on these findings, around 71.8% of people who go overboard from cruise ships are sadly never recovered or located. 

However, the CLIA report also shows an overall decline in overboard incidents throughout the 10-year period. The overboard incident rate decreased 64% from 2009 to 2019, with an incidence rate of 0.00004 overboard reports per active lower berth in 2019.

The report states, “When compared with the growth in capacity in the industry over the study years, man overboard incidents continue on a downward trend.” 

Additionally, the report states that all overboard incidents are thoroughly investigated to determine cause or motive. According to the CLIA report, “In every case where the cause of the man overboard (MOB) was established following a careful investigation, it was found to be the result of an intentional or reckless act. There were some instances, however, which were impossible to determine a motive.”

The operational report also shares that 66% of overboard instances were from passengers while 33% of reported instances involved crew members. This was also based on the 10-year period of operational data from the cruise lines.

While overboard incidents statistically result in unfavorable outcomes, there have been success stories in recent years. For example, a 28-year-old man survived a harrowing fall from a Carnival cruise ship in December 2022. James Grimes went overboard from a Carnival cruise ship and tread water for 20 hours in shark-infested waters. He survived the incident with a stunning rescue, but doesn’t recall why he went overboard.

Icon of the Seas is currently sailing on a 7-night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day itinerary. The voyage includes two sea days and four port stops: Roatan (Honduras), Costa Maya (Mexico), Cozumel (Mexico) and Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas). The ship was on the second day of its itinerary - a sea day - when the man went overboard.

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024 as the world’s largest cruise ship. The massive vessel can hold 5,610 guests at double occupancy capacity, along with 2,350 crew members. This is the first known overboard incident reported for the new Icon of the Seas.