Embarking on your first cruise can be thrilling yet overwhelming, especially when planning a family vacation. Royal Caribbean is a fantastic choice for families, offering a wide range of activities and amenities designed to keep everyone entertained. To help you navigate your first Royal Caribbean adventure like a pro, we’ve compiled a list of essential tips for first time cruisers to ensure your trip is smooth sailing from start to finish. Get ready for a boatload of fun (pun absolutely intended).
- 1. Book Early for the Best Deals and Cabins
- 2. Choose the Right Ship for Your Family
- 3. Download the Royal Caribbean App— Your New Best Friend
- 4. Pack for Formal and Theme Nights
- 5. Arrive a Day Early (At Least!)
- 6. Bring Your Own Refillable Water Bottles
- 7. Pack Magnetic Hooks
- 8. Book Excursions and Activities Early
- 9. Sign Up For Kids' Clubs ASAP
- 10. Complete Check In As Soon As It Becomes Available For Your Cruise
- 11. Ducks and Door Decorations
- 12. Choose Your Dining Time Early
- 13. Be Careful in the Arcade
- 14. Have a Plan For Messaging
- 15. Pack Medications You May Need
- 16. Pack a Separate Bag For Embarkation Day
- 17. Join a Facebook Group For Your Cruise
- Final Thoughts for Your Family Cruise
1. Book Early for the Best Deals and Cabins
Gone are the days of those ultra-low last-minute cruise fares. Ships are sailing at full capacity and waiting to snag a deal is no longer the best strategy. If you wait too long, the cruise may sell out. Instead, book your cruise well in advance. You’ll have the best selection of cabins. And first dibs on the cool kids’ perks, like free kids’ fares or discounts—which Royal Caribbean is known to offer! Plus, booking early means all the excursions and ship extras won’t be sold out.
How far in advance should you book a Royal Caribbean cruise for the best price?
You should book your cruise 6-12 months in advance for the best price. Prices may rise as sailings fill up, so generally earlier is better. Keep an eye out for special promos, such as kids sail free, and take advantage of them when available. These deals and promos can save you a lot of money.
2. Choose the Right Ship for Your Family
Royal Caribbean’s fleet is like a choose-your-own-adventure book. For rock climbing, ice skating, and skydiving simulators, go big with an Oasis or Quantum-class ship. To experience the largest waterpark at sea and the largest cruise ship in the world, splurge on the Icon of the Seas. Smaller ships might be cozier but could lack some epic amenities, aka the epic pool slide. Research different ships to find one that matches your family’s interests and budget.
If you aren’t sure which ship it right for you, The Points Guy put together a handy guide breaking down Royal Caribbean’s different classes.
3. Download the Royal Caribbean App— Your New Best Friend
The Royal Caribbean app is a game-changer and as a first-time cruiser, it can be your biggest asset. The app allows you to manage your itinerary, make reservations, and check out dining menus. Use it to book activities like ice skating or rock climbing as they become available, and to stay updated on daily events. The Royal Caribbean app is completely free and only requires a connection to the ship’s Wi-Fi.
4. Pack for Formal and Theme Nights
Formal Nights
Check how many formal nights your cruise will have and plan your outfits accordingly.
Here’s what Royal Caribbean has to say about their formal night dress code:
Make it a night out in your best black-tie look – suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns. There can be 1-3 formal nights during a sailing and is at the ship’s discretion.
In reality, you’ll see a little bit of everything – people dressed to the nines in tuxedos and evening gowns, summer maxi dresses, khakis, buttoned down shirts.
If you welcome the opportunity to go big, by all means. But don’t put too much pressure on the formal night outfit. It’s a pain in the ass to pack a garment bag, especially with all the kid things you have to bring. Just sayin’.
Theme Nights
Your cruise will likely also have theme nights. In order to find the theme nights on your cruise – join a Facebook group for your specific cruise or the ship. It’s usually discussed in those groups.
Common theme nights may include Black & White, 70s, 80s, or Caribbean. Optional of course, but always fun to join in.
5. Arrive a Day Early (At Least!)
Nothing ruins a vacation faster than missing the ship. You’ve probably heard horror stories of delayed flights or cancellations that caused someone to miss sail away. Don’t put yourself through that. Arrive at the port city the day before or even two days before. It will give you some serious peace of mind.
6. Bring Your Own Refillable Water Bottles
It’s much easier to stay hydrated when your bottle is within arms reach. If you get a beverage package, water bottles are included. But refillable water bottles are more eco-friendly and convenient. Water machine cups are small. And I don’t know about you, but it requires some serious activation energy to get out of the pool for a water refill.
We never leave home without our Yetis – they keep water colder than anything we’ve ever tried. It doesn’t hurt that they also make a kids yeti.
You’ll likely be in the sun often and getting dehydrated is easy. Drink up to stay healthy. Plus, it’s an excellent way to smuggle your daiquiri into port. (Just kidding, don’t do that.)
7. Pack Magnetic Hooks
Many first-time cruisers don’t know the walls are magnetic until they get there. But Magnetic hooks are a must. Cabin walls are metal on Royal Caribbean ships. Use this to your advantage and create extra storage space. Hang bags, hats, swimsuits, whatever. They entertain kids. They double as a place to hang a shower curtain for a makeshift wall. There’s really no downside here folks. Best $8 you’ll ever spend. Just make sure you get the heavy duty ones!
8. Book Excursions and Activities Early
Full capacity ships also means excursions are selling out early these days. So if you have your sights set on swimming with pigs in the Bahamas, snap it up early. This also extends to onboard activities that may require advance reservations – spa visits, specialty dining, ship tours, cooking classes, wine tastings, escape room, and so on.
Some activities are free, but require a reservation. Reservations will pop up for various activities like rock climbing or laser tag. Sign up as soon as you see those slots before they fill up.
9. Sign Up For Kids’ Clubs ASAP
Register your kids for the kids’ clubs as soon as you board to avoid lines later in the day. For babysitting specifically (infant age), the time slots fill up fast. If that’s a service you’re planning to utilize, reserve a time early.
Be sure to check the Royal Caribbean app for a list of kids club activities. That way your little ones can pick and choose.
10. Complete Check In As Soon As It Becomes Available For Your Cruise
We all want to be first in the pool sipping on a cold Pina Colada. Royal Caribbean operates on a timed boarding process. They will give you a scheduled arrival time and this is when you show up to the cruise terminal on your sail date. For instance, if you are given an arrival time 12pm – 1pm, you’ll be able to start the boarding process at this time (which includes security and document checks).
How early can you check-in on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
Online check in through Royal Caribbean’s website and app will be available 45 days prior to sailing. During the check-in process you will be able to select your arrival time. If an arrival time fills up, it will not show up on the list and you will only be shown available arrival times. For that reason, it’s best to check in right when the window opens so you can select your optimal arrival time.
Pro Tip: hit the buffet right after boarding before it gets filled up.
11. Ducks and Door Decorations
How do you make your cruise vacation quirky? You add rubber ducks and door decorations. Really, this is a thing and people get way into it.
Hiding these little duckies around the ship is a fun cruising tradition. Many folks will bring rubber ducks to hide for their fellow cruisers to find. Make sure to add a little tag to let everyone know who it came from! Take things next level with an assortment of rubber duck styles, rubber ducks with sunglasses, or the trendy tiny ducks.
It’s a fun way for both kids and adults to pack even more fun into your cruise vacation.
As for your stateroom door, give it some personality with magnet decorations—a “splash” of color, a funny sign, a personalized design, or a duck-themed display. Get creative—people love to wander and look at all the personalized decor.
12. Choose Your Dining Time Early
Decide between “My Time” dining (flexible hours) or traditional dining (set times) early in the booking process. Much like everything else, times fill up early. If you have a preference, don’t hesitate!
What is the difference between my time dining and Traditional dining on Royal Caribbean?
My Time Dining is the flexible option. You won’t have an assigned time slot in the Main Dining Room. Instead, you show up anytime you would like during dining hours. If you opt for traditional dining, you’ll have the same table and same dining time for your entire sailing. The traditional dining times are typically 5:30 pm and 8 pm.
The benefit of traditional dining is that you’ll also have the same waitstaff for your entire cruise. Often you get to know each other and they learn your food preferences. The benefit of My Time dining is flexibility to show up whenever. If you want to spend more time in the pool – no rush to get to dinner.
While booking your cruise, you can select from My Time or Traditional Dining. If you go the traditional route, dining times can fill up and you may be left with early or late dining (whichever happens to be available).
13. Be Careful in the Arcade
Speaking from experience on this one. Your kid’s SeaPass card will be linked to your credit card, and that can be dangerous. There is an option to turn this off (highly recommend for littles). Or there is an option to set daily limits (also highly recommend for littles). You can do either through customer service.
If you keep your credit card connected to your kids’ SeaPass card, all they have to do is tap it on the machine for arcade games. Convenient, yes. Friendly on the wallet, no. Kids love to tap tap tap and it’s hard to track the charges racking up. So be careful and come up with a strategy.
14. Have a Plan For Messaging
Essential. If you and your cruise companions don’t have the internet package that is. How do you stay in touch after the ship departs and you lose cell service? Log on to the Royal Caribbean app. What time are you going to breakfast? Is the toddler asleep yet? Did Dad return the towels? It’s crucial for coordinating plans without cell service. Unless of course, you want some peace and quiet, in which case, carry on.
Can You text for free on Royal Caribbean?
Yes, the messaging feature on Royal Caribbean’s app is free to use. All you have to do is connect to ship wifi and you’ll be free to send each other messages.
15. Pack Medications You May Need
Cruise ships stock basic medications – Tylenol, cough syrup, Benedryl. But they are wildly expensive. And outside the basics, if you need anything you’ll have to see the onboard doctor (which can be expensive) or wait until you get to port. Pack any medications that you or your kids commonly take. You’ll be one step ahead if someone starts to feel a little under the weather.
16. Pack a Separate Bag For Embarkation Day
When you first board the ship, a porter will take your belongings and deliver them directly to your stateroom. You won’t see your bags until your cabin is ready (around 1 pm) or even slightly after. Pack a carry-on bag with the essentials for the first few hours of the cruise- swimsuits, sunscreen, phone charger, medications, etc.
17. Join a Facebook Group For Your Cruise
Search Facebook for a group dedicated to your cruise ship and dates. You’ll find valuable tips, meetups, and advice from seasoned cruisers. Here’s where you can ask all your burning questions.
You can also find more general Facebook groups for your ship. Here are a few popular pages for some of Royal Caribbean’s ships:
- Icon of the Seas
- Odyssey of the Seas
- Anthem of the Seas
- Oasis of the Seas
- Harmony of the Seas
- Wonder of the Seas
- Independence of the Seas
This list only scratches the surface, but it should give you a good start.
Final Thoughts for Your Family Cruise
A Royal Caribbean cruise is what you make of it. Whether you want to relax by the pool, try every activity, or indulge in all the desserts, the key is to relax, have fun, and create lasting memories with your family.
With these tips, you’ll be a cruise pro in no time. Enjoy the planning and have a fantastic adventure!
