First time on Royal Caribbean

[aprild3]

Hello. I’m heading out in a few weeks on my first Royal Caribbean cruise to Cuba on Majesty of the Seas. Any tips/tricks for cruising with RC?

 

 

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[emory2001]

Here are my top tips:

 

I use these waterproof covers for my cruise luggage tags, to protect them and make sure they don't get torn off my luggage before the luggage is delivered to my room: https://www.amazon.com/Caribbean-Celebrity-Easy-Read-Register/dp/B011S5GO6Y/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1530485302&sr=8-6&keywords=royal+caribbean+luggage+tags&dpID=41dwDQ2jWUL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

Be sure to tip the porters who take your luggage when you arrive at the port.

 

When they announce that the muster drill "will be" in 15 minutes, the general consensus is you should start heading to your muster station then, and be there before the actual drill sirens blow. If you wait for the actual drill and leave your stateroom (or wherever you are) at that time, and get to your station 5 minutes later, there will legit be passengers upset with you. Once I even saw crew members aggravated with those people and they started marking them absent. It's counter-intuitive to me, because in a real emergency you're not moving toward to your station until you hear an alert, but whatever - muster drill is over faster if everyone goes early.

 

Have a great trip!

[Clarea]

Hello. I’m heading out in a few weeks on my first Royal Caribbean cruise to Cuba on Majesty of the Seas. Any tips/tricks for cruising with RC?

Yesterday's "First Time" thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2650905

[Merion_Mom]

Yesterday's "First Time" thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2650905

[cb at sea]

Majesty is an older, smaller ship...the standard cabins are teensy weensy...so be prepared for that! Other than that, there is nothing about cruising RCI that won't apply from any other cruise you've taken!

[Smiley525]

 

When they announce that the muster drill "will be" in 15 minutes, the general consensus is you should start heading to your muster station then, and be there before the actual drill sirens blow. If you wait for the actual drill and leave your stateroom (or wherever you are) at that time, and get to your station 5 minutes later, there will legit be passengers upset with you. Once I even saw crew members aggravated with those people and they started marking them absent. It's counter-intuitive to me, because in a real emergency you're not moving toward to your station until you hear an alert, but whatever - muster drill is over faster if everyone goes early.

 

Have a great trip!

 

Yes! We were one of the last ones at our drill-I was like how did all these people get here already!

[ThankfulJoyful]

Just finished our first cruise on Liberty of the Seas. It was amazing! Here are some tips I just wrote down to save for our next cruise (in no particular order):

• Can't speak for Majesty of the Seas, but on Liberty of the Seas there was a lot more storage than I expected. Take nesting suitcases and store them under the bed. Store all your stuff in the cabinets.

• Take the two bottles of wine you can bring onboard, and then take them with you to dinner. The staff will serve them to you, and even store the remainder for the next night.

• Unless you plan to drink more than 5 drinks per day-- every day including port days-- per person, don't buy the drink package. Instead, wait until they offer the 10 drink punch cards (around the third or fourth day). Those can be shared between people and will save you a little money.

• If you want to book a non-RC shore excursion, DON'T do it on a day when you are tendered (instead of docked). The tendering process can be a mess and you might not make your reservation. That day, use an RC excursion only.

• Let them take pics of you at every opportunity. You don't have to buy them, but you'll have more selection if you want to do so.

• Take cash if you want to play in the casino. They have a service charge to charge it to your SeaPass.

• Take and use lanyards.

• I didn't plan to use the specialty restaurants, but really enjoyed them. Sabor was especially enjoyable. Next time, I will buy the specialty dining package. Lunches in the specialty dining room are much cheaper than the dinners.

• Go to the street parties. They are fun!

• Take a journal and record your day at the end of each day. There is so much to do that if you wait a couple of days, you WILL forget!

• Don't overpack. It just makes things harder. If you need something other than prescriptions or prescription glasses, you will likely be able to get it onboard or onshore.

• If you take an excursion, make sure to read the requirements. Some require closed-toed shoes, for example.

• Carry your own bags off the ship on the last day if you can. It goes very smoothly.

• Don't participate in ANYTHING just for a prize. Other than the welcome aboard thing, the gifts are lousy (single use highlighter pen, anyone?)

• Earplugs are a plus if you have sensitive ears. You can use them in the nightclubs, shows, street parties, etc. if it gets too loud.

• You can review your bill each day on the TV, and should.

• If you go to Cozumel, Mr. Sancho's beach club is awesome (this is not a RC shore excursion).

 

• Be sure to put phone in airplane mode so you don't get charged for roaming.

• Take a pedometer. It's fun to see how many steps you are walking each day (it will be a LOT!)

• 5:30 is a great time to eat in My Time Dining. There are few people there, and you are finished in time to make either the early or late shows.

• If you want a massage, they are cheaper on early bird or late night specials, and on port days.

• If you want to ride the Flow Rider, slides, or sit by the pool without 10k people around, come back early from shore excursions and do it then -- NO lines.

• Things in the stores are discounted on the last day.

• Pack (or buy onshore before you board) a package of extra plastic clothes hangars. Comes in handy.

[reallyhooked]

Hello. I’m heading out in a few weeks on my first Royal Caribbean cruise to Cuba on Majesty of the Seas. Any tips/tricks for cruising with RC?

 

 

Enjoy.

[DrD]

Yesterday's "First Time" thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2650905

 

 

And if you click on the link, be sure to check out the 5 links to other "first time" threads.

[DrD]

• Unless you plan to drink more than 5 drinks per day-- every day including port days-- per person, don't buy the drink package. Instead, wait until they offer the 10 drink punch cards (around the third or fourth day). Those can be shared between people and will save you a little money.

 

Or you can do what I do, first buy the drink package, then plan to drink more than 5 drinks per day!