I'm sure this is impossible, but I'll ask anyway!

[esbie11]

We are getting married on a cruise next year and we have several friends and family sailing with us. I will be making up "welcome/thank you for joining us" bags for all of our guests. Ideally, it would be nice to have these in their cabins so they are there when they first enter their cabin. I know you can buy decorations, etc through RCCL to be placed in rooms ahead fo time, but I am assuming there is no way for me to provide these welcome bags ahead of time for them to be placed in the rooms, correct? My other idea was to hand them out at the first night of dinner, however I don't know how I could carry all of these bags to the dining room!

[temple1]

The Royal Caribbean Website has a "Royal Romance" guide with info. You might want to download that and then give their customer service folks a call.

[Terpnut]

We are getting married on a cruise next year and we have several friends and family sailing with us. I will be making up "welcome/thank you for joining us" bags for all of our guests. Ideally, it would be nice to have these in their cabins so they are there when they first enter their cabin. I know you can buy decorations, etc through RCCL to be placed in rooms ahead fo time, but I am assuming there is no way for me to provide these welcome bags ahead of time for them to be placed in the rooms, correct? My other idea was to hand them out at the first night of dinner, however I don't know how I could carry all of these bags to the dining room!

You're not specific about what "ahead of time" means, but if you board early enough, and you know everyone's stateroom numbers, there's no reason you can't get your welcome bags to the respective stateroom attendants to have them placed in the rooms. If you're going to do this, I would have a carry on with all your bags and items packed unassembled. Then, as soon as you board, put your bags together and distribute them.

 

If your goal was to ship them out to RCI for them to handle all this, then I would ask your RCI wedding coordinator.

[esbie11]

The Royal Caribbean Website has a "Royal Romance" guide with info. You might want to download that and then give their customer service folks a call.

 

Thanks for your feedback. I have already tried to work with Royal Romance for the planning of my wedding, and they planned it in a country where weddings no longer take place! Oops! There incompetence is astounding! Needless-to-say, trying to get assistance from them is impossible.

[hvyhttr]

1. Call RCCL and ask them if it is possible to have the items put in the rooms before all parties arrive. It is very doubtful though, because usually the rooms are not ready until 1 or 2 pm...most of your party will be onboard before then...

 

2. If you want to hand them out at dinner, go to the customer relations desk and ask for some help from the crew. Most of the time they are more than willing ot help out with requests like that, especially if you are a large party of people. If they do this for you, be sure to tip appropriately.

[esbie11]

You're not specific about what "ahead of time" means, but if you board early enough, and you know everyone's stateroom numbers, there's no reason you can't get your welcome bags to the respective stateroom attendants to have them placed in the rooms.

 

If your goal is to ship them out to RCI for them to handle all this, then I would ask your RCI wedding coordinator.

 

Yeah I guess i wasn't specific, was I? I guess it is because I really don't now how to go about doing this. We (myself and all of our guests) will likely be boarding at the same time. Although I guess even if the bag isn't in everyone's cabin when they walk in for the first time, I could still give it to their attendant and have him/her place it in there later. Our guests would still be surprised to walk in their room and find a gift, even if it were later in the evening! I am not using RCCL's wedding coordinators (I struggle to even call them wedding coordinators after my experience with them), so they are not an option:)

[Terpnut]

Yeah I guess i wasn't specific, was I? I guess it is because I really don't now how to go about doing this. We (myself and all of our guests) will likely be boarding at the same time. Although I guess even if the bag isn't in everyone's cabin when they walk in for the first time, I could still give it to their attendant and have him/her place it in there later. Our guests would still be surprised to walk in their room and find a gift, even if it were later in the evening! I am not using RCCL's wedding coordinators (I struggle to even call them wedding coordinators after my experience with them), so they are not an option:)

Yes, if you can't beat everyone onboard the ship, then I'd assemble the welcome bags sometime after boarding, and sneak them to the respective stateroom attendants for the first or second evening. Just remember the stateroom attendants are off during the afternoons, so you'd need to catch them during the early evening or morning-time. Good luck and congratulations! :)

[pmfan]

Maybe it would be easier to have them delivered when everyone is at dinner. Just a thought.

[MA cruisers]

Why don't you see if you can speak with the Loyalty Ambassador who may be on board your ship for that sailing. If you are a crown and anchor member they may be able to help you.

[temple1]

Don't know what your miscommunication was about the country where you want the ceremony to take place, but they should be able to tell you the procedures for onboard.

[Amlee]

The key is to get to the terminal EARLY. Before the cabins are open to the general public. Then armed with my items and cabin list, I go to the cabins. I explain to the cabin attendant what I'm doing and they are ususally fine with it.

[AllieInMD]

Read all the responses, this is what I would do.

 

Bring all the gift bags onboard packed up. When you get to your stateroom, assemble and label (or pre-label) with last name and cabin number. When your stateroom attendant comes to introduce himself, ask him if he and his colleagues can get all the bags delivered while your whole group is at dinner. Given dinner is almost 2 hrs long, and your steward will be able to call stewards from other areas of the ship where your group has cabins - shouldn't be a problem. And no doubt they will be happy to do it for a nice tip :)

 

 

We are getting married on a cruise next year and we have several friends and family sailing with us. I will be making up "welcome/thank you for joining us" bags for all of our guests. Ideally, it would be nice to have these in their cabins so they are there when they first enter their cabin. I know you can buy decorations, etc through RCCL to be placed in rooms ahead fo time, but I am assuming there is no way for me to provide these welcome bags ahead of time for them to be placed in the rooms, correct? My other idea was to hand them out at the first night of dinner, however I don't know how I could carry all of these bags to the dining room!

[esbie11]

The key is to get to the terminal EARLY. Before the cabins are open to the general public. Then armed with my items and cabin list, I go to the cabins. I explain to the cabin attendant what I'm doing and they are ususally fine with it.

 

And they allow you to do this? Are the cabins locked? And if so, the attendant will unlock them for you? Have you done this before? So since the cabins usually aren't ready until 1 or 2pm, you track down the attendants before then and have them place the items in the cabin then, before anyone is even allowed in their own cabin? Can the attendants be found easily around that time?

[wingnutphl]

The key is to get to the terminal EARLY. Before the cabins are open to the general public. Then armed with my items and cabin list, I go to the cabins. I explain to the cabin attendant what I'm doing and they are ususally fine with it.

 

No one can get into the cabins before 1pm. They have the fire doors closed. I personally would wait and put them in at a time when the cabins are open to everyone. The cabin stewards have enough to do. They don't need to be escorting people around the ship.

[gerif]

The key is to get to the terminal EARLY. Before the cabins are open to the general public. Then armed with my items and cabin list, I go to the cabins. I explain to the cabin attendant what I'm doing and they are ususally fine with it.

 

As I recall from my last few cruises, the doors to the hallways are locked until 1 p.m., so I don't see how this is possible. Also, the stewards are very busy at this time rushing to get all their cabins cleaned and ready as well as greating new guests. I think it would be pretty presumptuous to expect them to drop everything to run around and deliver my personal items as well. JMHO

[esbie11]

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I think I will ask the stewards to place them in the cabins sometime during dinner. I realized that it isn't as important that the bags be there when they first enter their cabins. They will be equally surprised if it "magically" appears in their cabin later that night after dinner. :D I didn't realize that this was something the stewards could do at all, so the timing isn't important. I am just thankful there is a way to do this!

[sas80]

Your TA should be in contact with the on board group coordinator from the ship. Perhaps you could talk to this person via email and ask them to arrange having the room stewards place the items in your guests rooms while you are all at dinner if you drop the "big box" of items off at the guest relations desk soon after you board...?

 

Otherwise, I was going to suggest that you talk to the maitre'd about placing them at each table setting prior to having your group arrive to dinner the first night.

 

Good luck!

[sas80]

As I recall from my last few cruises, the doors to the hallways are locked until 1 p.m., so I don't see how this is possible. Also, the stewards are very busy at this time rushing to get all their cabins cleaned and ready as well as greating new guests. I think it would be pretty presumptuous to expect them to drop everything to run around and deliver my personal items as well. JMHO

 

Actually, typically the doors are closed, but I have never found them to actually be locked.

 

On two occasions I took it upon myself to barge in and go to my room before 1 pm. The first time was when I had my own wedding dress in tow as a carry on, the second time was when I was carrying on an exersaucer.

 

Both times the room stewards saw me and realized that I just needed to put something "away" and then I would be out of their way.

 

If you ran around, you, yourself could put the gifts into the rooms or enlist the room stewards to help you. This may be as simple as enlisting the help of a friend ton convince everyone that they are really hungry and need to go to the buffet while you make the excuse that you need to go talk to the on board coordinator for a bit and would be right back.

 

Have a map of the ship handy and I think you could pull it off, no prob!

[jealdaka]

Since you have several friends booked with you I assume you are part of a "Group Booking". If this is correct then you can ask the Groups Coordinator onboard to help with this. Did you book with a TA or direct? Either way, you will want the coordinator to know ahead of time what you need.

[worktocruise08]

I am assuming that you are getting married while taking a cruise on one of the islands that you are arranging your self?

 

First- you wont be able to board first thing if not going thru RCCL for the wedding, you will have to wait your turn. your family might be curious as to why you want to board first and then you will need to explain or lie. lol

 

Second. cabins have to be ready for guests by 1pm, another poster has been quit lucky but everytime i have tried to get back to simply drop something off i am stopped. good luck if you go that route.,

 

there is also other things these room stewards must do to prepare for a whole new cruise so worrying about your welcome bags might be just a little trying for them.

 

My suggestion is that it is more simple to go to the dining room and talk to the head waiter, ask him if he can have these bags set up for your dinner sitting. im sure they would be just as surprised at dinner as they would be in there cabins. I would make sure that all ressies are linked so that you all are at the same seating area to make it easier for the wait staff. Your task if you accept it would be to make sure you have all table numbers for the head waiter so he knows where to have them placed.

 

i would also speak to your TA and ask them to contact the group department to ask if you could email the coordinator on the ship to assist you.

 

when you board to take a cruise its hectic and confusing and everyone is going different ways including the staff.

 

Congrats on the wedding. I myself got married in San Juan on board ship and believe me it all turned out good but there was mass confusion that first day

[AllieInMD]

I did the same - went to my cabin and dropped my laptop and carryon in the closet soon as we boarded - steward didn't mind as long as I wasn't expecting the room to be all set up and ready - just dropped the stuff and told them we'd be back after 1pm

 

Actually, typically the doors are closed, but I have never found them to actually be locked.

 

On two occasions I took it upon myself to barge in and go to my room before 1 pm. The first time was when I had my own wedding dress in tow as a carry on, the second time was when I was carrying on an exersaucer.

 

Both times the room stewards saw me and realized that I just needed to put something "away" and then I would be out of their way.

 

If you ran around, you, yourself could put the gifts into the rooms or enlist the room stewards to help you. This may be as simple as enlisting the help of a friend ton convince everyone that they are really hungry and need to go to the buffet while you make the excuse that you need to go talk to the on board coordinator for a bit and would be right back.

 

Have a map of the ship handy and I think you could pull it off, no prob!

[sunnysideup]

Sounds just like our wedding cruise (Nov 2004).

 

We booked with an independent wedding company for our island wedding. We made up gifts for the stateroom. We used sand pails and filled them with what we affectionately called "bucket crap" and personal notes to our guests.

 

We were at the pier early (flew the day before). I was carrying a wedding dress my soon to be DH was lugging the box of bucket crap. Room attendant was very nice. We left all of our things in the cabin even though it earlier than the official tiem to enter the cabins.

 

We assembled the buckets and delivered them to all of cabins before our guests arrived. We were leaving from San Jaun, so our guest flights were afternoon arrivals. The room attendants were all very willing to let us in each of the cabins to deliver our gifts.

 

We still laugh about the adventures of that first day on the ship and the mention of bucket crap brings a grin to both of our faces

 

THANKS FOR THE REMINDER

 

Congrats on your wedding---have a wonderful time!

[TEXASMUNK]

Count on your cabin steward to sort and give out to other stewards!!!!!!!!

 

Get hold of the Head of Houskeeping...via the purser's desk....this is the person that can make it happen..with good sized gratuity!!!!!!!!!

[jessicarwills]

I was married while on a Voyager cruise in 2005. We had 38 people join us and it was a blast. RCCL gave us a free private party on board. I arranged to have it night 1, so I could thank everyone for coming, introduce those that did not know each other, and hand out gifts. This included unlimited drinks for an hour, (anything anybody wanted):D . It was perfect. Jessie

 

Oh I also made a sheet up for everybody, with all of our names and staterooms , so we could all find each other.

[pamssanity]

That;'s what you tip your steward for-- he'll take care of it for an extra tip.