9 things Royal Caribbean Pros do that you should do

Planning a Royal Caribbean cruise? We've got 9 must-know tips and tricks that the cruise pros do -- and you should, too!

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[gytano]

At 4:36, I see myself and my wife in the background in the pub. I cant believe it. Too bad I didn't see you. Thanks for the videos.

[chelleychelle]

I joined a Facebook travel group that had a specific title for RC Wonder of the Seas and with my sail date. The people in the group were very helpful and shared great information for my cruise planning. The group was a life saver!

[mariesheriff]

Hey Matt, been on 60 RC cruises since 2001. Only need 200 points to Pinnacle. Love Royal..tried other lines, but stayed Loyal to Royal. The crew really go above and beyond 😂😂

[Bionicbabyy]

I prefer to book my own cruise. Everything else I agree with you on.

[angelaharrison]

I check in online as SOON as it allows me to BUT I like to get in the ship as LATE as possible. When I was a new cruiser I used to RUSH to get on the ship ONLY to be bored out of my mind waiting to get into my room which normally isn't ready until the afternoon. The first day is so crowded and chaotic that all I want to do is get on the ship, do my muster and go to my room. There's no rush to go to the bar or eat a hamburger or explore the ship. I have an entire week to do that. Plus, I am so tired after traveling. I travel solo so I normally have ZERO problems waiting to book dinner or shows after the crowd has died down.

[rustynail]

Book your next cruise while onboard! You get to pick your room and not pay for that, plus you will get some onboard stateroom credits along with a lower price.

[AshleyTravis]

I was able to book all my dining reservations before even boarding the ship in the terminal last year it was great!!

[StanleyLamar]

1. Always purchase packages before cruises and be diligent about reading the RC emails for price drops.
2. When at port, find a good driver to take you to excursions and non mainstream restaurants/shops. A good driver knows the good places to go.

[ModernMyths]

Hey Matt. I'm going on Harmony in 3 days! Super excited cause I will be hitting Diamond + after 2 days on it! Super excited!
As for a Tip. I'd say make sure to wear Sunscreen if you go outside to do anything. Every cruise, I've seen soo many people that have gotten such horrible sunburns on the 1st day.
Another is get those gel pad insoles for your shoes. You will find yourself doing so much walking on it with all the activities and sights on the ship alone. They will help so much with all the walking you will do.

[chezniki]

Tip: Contact your bank/ debit cards and credit cards and let them know you are traveling. That way, you dont get a fraud alert when you try to go shopping in port. ((good for RC and other travel, as well))

[Masterchief]

Don’t forget your heavy duty magnetic hooks! 😂😂

[band]

that slice of pizza at the start made me want to fast forward 15 days to my next cruise

[laughremixsquad]

I agree with all of these tips, except the TA. I prefer to manage it myself.

[alfamaize]

We are almost opposite for some of the recommendations. We board at about 1pm so that we can go directly to our cabin and unpack (as we carry on our luggage). I get the concept of getting on, starting the "party" and exploring the ship- BUT- you STILL have your bag you carried on, so. On top of that, we notice that the first show on boarding day is generally light (even if it's a Broadway show) because people are unpacking. It's certainly not for everyone, but we also carry on for flights. So we pack super light.

Also, we never use a TA anymore- we did for our first few cruises, but since we cruise in suites, the normal "special" people get group rates for- we don't get. And when I recently shopped around, we still have not found a TA that would be an advantage. BUT that's also because we have been on over 70 cruises, so we know what we like to do, and know how to rebook for price reductions. Is it perfect? No. But we are comfortable doing it.

Other than that, we agree with the rest.

[shyrahhall]

Thank You for all your information so helpful, since I booked my first cruise, I will be sailing July5th Symphony of the Seas out of cape liberty. I booked it last year in March. Since then I’ve been on your page. I can’t wait I’m so excited. Thanks again

[billeger]

If you are in a suite, the Suite Concierge will make specialty reservations for you prior to embarkation day.

[RoyalCruiseNews]

Make friends with a Royal employee and have them give you a friends and family discount code.. you get an additional 20% off after all other promos have been applied!!

[edwesby]

I would be interested in knowing what you consider smaller ships. My view is Radiance Class, Voyager Class and Freedom class are smaller and provide a lot of amenities that the huge ships provide but with fewer passengers. And I second the advice to join the C&A Society as it is the best frequent cruiser club of all of the lines.

If you would like to get away from the crowds, on some ships (the ones I mentioned above), the heliport is open all day most days and it has 3 or 4 benches so you can enjoy some peace and quiet while you enjoy watching the sea go by. its a great place for entry and exit from ports.

[scotsmuscle]

so true about advance booking. i did my icon when it first opened. and it's half the price of what they are selling for now

[angelaharrison]

I normally book 1-2 yrs in advance. Only ONE time did I book last minute and that when my baby sister died and I really needed to get away. The Gods must've been on my side bc I got an INCREDIBLE balcony deal. One week on MSC for $399