One of the great things about cruise vacations is that many of the details are already taken care of for you. That said, a little preparation goes a long way, especially for international travel. Here you’ll find all the essential pre-cruise planning info — including documents you’ll need, tips about check-in, shore excursions and more.
We’ve got you and your travel crew covered with real-time updates on any type of event that may
affect your cruise. From weather advisories to Royal Caribbean breaking news to any operational
changes that may alter your travel plans — you can always check back here for itinerary updates.
It’s up-to-date and reliable, so that you can be prepared and plan accordingly. And of course,
if you need further assistance, you can always call us at (866) 562-7625 or email us at
web_reservations@rccl.com with your
questions.
REVIEW ITINERARY UDPATES
While you’re packing your bags for your cruise adventure, it’s important to ensure you bring all
the necessary travel
documents. Depending on your nationality, age (whether you’re a minor or
adult) and the country you’re visiting, the requirements may vary. Here, we make it easy for you
with a clear, seamless and — most importantly — accurate guide for each port of call and country
of origin. This way, you can clear up any questions you have about the valid travel and health
documents, including passports, visas and vaccination certificates that you’ll need while
abroad. We answer the most detailed frequently asked
questions and include links that take you
straight to the original source — like The Centers for Disease Control and World Health
Organization — so that you’re fully prepared for the best vacation ever.
LEARN ABOUT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Getting ready for your cruise adventure? Check-in speeds up the process at the port so
you can get to the thrills onboard faster. It’s easy to do and you’ll get to skip filling out
forms at the pier. Up to 72-hours before your sail date, you can check-in online or with the Royal Caribbean International app* with the 6
items listed below. The system will time out after 30 minutes, so double check that you have
everything below for each guest in your group before starting. On your actual day of sailing,
you and everyone in your group will only need your signed SetSail pass, identification documents
and the credit card that you registered with to board — it’s that easy.
*Check-in via app is available for select ships.
If you’re looking to score the biggest savings available for all your cruise essentials — Cruise
Planner is for you. This easy-to-use online portal is where you’ll make all your
pre-cruise
purchases, including shore excursions, specialty dining, beverage packages, internet, spa
services and more. It’s user-friendly and you’ll score the best pre-cruise prices on all your
vacation add-ons. You can even customize your trip to fit your travel style with the Cruise
Planner calendar. Broken down by location, date, arrival and departure time — it automatically
populates as you make your selections. Plan before you board your cruise and start saving today
right here.
VISIT THE CRUISE PLANNER
Close your eyes and imagine your ideal vacation day. Maybe it’s snorkeling along the Great
Barrier Reef in Australia — or kicking back in a private cabana at Perfect Day at CocoCay in The
Bahamas. Whatever type of travel you seek and whichever destination you’ve chosen to
explore,
you can delve deeper into discovery on a shore excursion. Search by port of call, region, ship
or sail date. And choose from all kinds of adventures, like scuba excursions, off-the-beaten
path adventures, local culinary classes or a curated Royal Private Journey tour by clicking
here.
BOOK YOUR SHORE EXCURSIONS
“What
should I pack?”
That’s a common question we all ask when preparing for any vacation. While
onboard, the right look will vary by venue, and you can check out our quick cheat sheet that
breaks down the difference between casual, smart casual, formal and more. In general, make sure
to pack deck-friendly shoes that are low-heeled and comfortable walking shoes for your days
ashore. Also, pack a few swimsuits so you’ll always have a dry-one handy. And we always suggest
that you carry all medications in their original prescription bottles in your carry-on just in
case — along with 3 days of extra medication in the unlikely event of any type of unexpected
change to your itinerary. After all, preparation is key to a fun and safe adventure.
LEARN
WHAT TO PACK
Now that you’re all packed, you probably have some questions about what to do with your luggage.
Not to worry, we’ve got you covered here too. You have the option to carry your bags onboard or check it in before you sail. For an additional fee, we offer Luggage Valet Program
so you can skip traditional airport check-in. Your bags will be seamlessly transported directly
from your stateroom to the airport and onto your flight — meaning you barely have to lift a
finger. You’ll also be able to check in for your flight onboard and receive your airline
boarding passes, luggage tags and baggage claim checks in your stateroom. This option is
available for international and domestic flights, with the exception of Delta Airlines
international flights.
DISCOVER THE
LUGGAGE VALET
PROGRAM
To keep boarding day running smoothly and get your luggage delivered to you, we issue baggage
tags and instructions electronically ahead of your sailing through The Royal Guest
eDocs. They
are ship specific and include your sailing date, stateroom and deck number. To expedite your
check-in at the port, we recommend securing your luggage tags before you leave your house.
However, if you have misplaced your tags Royal Caribbean Porters at the pier have additional
generic tags available for your convenience.
LEARN MORE ABOUT LUGGAGE
TAGS
It’s never too early to start thinking about which vacation keepsakes you’ll bring home from
your trip. And with so many places to shop in port, we decided to create Royal
Portfolio, a
convenient port shopping guide now available for the iPad, too. This downloadable app makes it
easy to go from ship to shore to store. Filled with interactive maps, bonus content and more —
you can plan your shopping expedition or just take a sneak peek of what awaits.
If you’re looking to gear up before your journey, check out Royal
Gifts for apparel that will
keep you looking sharp and ready to set sail. Choose from tote bags, pool essentials, plush
towels and fashionable sarongs. Or if you’re celebrating a special occasion, make it even more
memorable with room decorations, personalized shirts, in-stateroom sweet treats and more.
VISIT THE ROYAL PORTFOLIO
One of the most common questions people ask about is currency. While onboard, you’ll have an
Onboard Expense
Account linked directly to your SeaPass for any purchases or services. SeaPass
cards are administered at the pier or will be in your stateroom upon arrival, depending on your
ship. For more information about setting up your SeaPass, click here. While you won’t need cash
onboard, we do have ATMs on each ship along with limited currency conversion
services for your
days ashore. For foreign currency, we use the daily market rates published by the New York-based
financial service company, Bloomberg.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
SEAPASS
As you’re getting ready for your upcoming cruise, maybe you’re already dreaming about where to
go for your next Royal Caribbean vacation. We get it — and even better, we give you a
reason to
turn those daydreams into reality. NextCruise lets your plan a future cruise and score up to
$500 in onboard credit — right onboard your current sailing. You’re guaranteed to lock in the
richest offer on any sailing with a deposit as low as $100 per person on select fares. There are
other benefits too, including the option to pay now and choose your actual itinerary at a later
time, along with savings of up to 10% on future shore excursions. You can also book up to three
cruise rooms for yourself, friends or family with the same benefits — right onboard — look out
for the NextCruise Desk onboard or call us for more information.
EXPLORE THE
NEXTCRUISE PROGRAM
Seamless adventures are now just a tap away for guests with the new Royal Caribbean International app. The app packs a list of features that make it easier for guests to plan and manage their vacation, including access to daily plans and deck maps, reservations for dining and shore excursions, and more. The Royal Caribbean International app is free to download and use for both iOS and Android devices – no internet package is required.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE APP