Cruise FAQ
 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Camera. Sunscreen. Swimsuit. Okay, now that we've got the basics out of the way, here are a few must-have cruise items that'll help make your vacation more comfortable, enjoyable and memorable.
On the first day...
For the first day of your cruise, pack a small carry-on bag with your travel documents, a change of clothes, bathing suit, workout clothes, and any medications you may need. That way you don't have to wait for your checked bags to arrive in your stateroom.
Onboard attire...
Shorts, t-shirts, slacks, trousers, casual skirts, blouses and sundresses are all perfect during the day, whether indoors or out.
For lounging by the pool, pack two bathing suits (an extra suit in case the other is wet) and a pair of casual shoes (e.g., flip-flops, sandals, sneakers). You'll also need some casual shorts and a couple of t-shirts or a cover-up for getting to and from the pool areas.
If you're planning to visit our onboard fitness center, be sure to bring extra shorts, t-shirts and socks that you won't mind working out in - plus a pair of tennis or running shoes/sneakers.

Dinner attire...
Meals in the main dining room follow this schedule:
bullet3-, 4- and 5-night cruises: one formal night; the remainder of nights are casual
bullet6-, 7- and 9-night cruises: two formal nights, one smart casual and the remainder of nights casual
bullet10- to 13-night cruises: two formal nights, two smart casual and the remainder of nights casual
bullet14+-night cruises: three formal nights, four smart casual and the remainder of nights casual

For formal nights you'll need cocktail dresses for women, suits and ties - or tuxedos - for men. And for the smart casual nights bring dresses or pantsuit for women, jackets for men.
Remember, shorts, T-shirts, and bathing suits are not considered appropriate attire in the dining rooms at dinner. Casual dress dining is available nightly in the Windjammer Cafe. And be aware you'll also need smart casual attire for some of our specialty restaurants.
We also offer tuxedo rentals for formal dinners and special occasions.

Onshore attire...
You'll need comfortable walking shoes, as well as a hat and sunscreen for protection from the sun.
If you are cruising to Northern Europe or Alaska, remember that nights on deck can be cool. Bring sweaters, jackets and long pants. And if you'll be touring any museums, cathedrals or churches, it's always wise to dress conservatively. You may also want to bring a raincoat, hiking shoes and a travel umbrella. And don't forget your swimsuit - it may be cool outside but it's always warm in our Solarium.
For fun... There are four very important types of books you'll want to consider packing:

bulletTravel guides - to help you explore new destinations
bulletPoolside pleasures - nothing beats a great read in the sun
bulletJournal - keep an account of your adventure for sharing and reminiscing
bulletAddress book - send your friends a postcard to make them jealous

Binoculars are another often forgotten, yet indispensable travel item. Be sure to pack a pair for magnified excitement onboard and onshore.
Save space...
Be sure to leave some room in your luggage for all those souvenirs and mementos. Some space-saving ideas include:

bulletBring shirts and pants/skirts that mix and match, turning three outfits into five or six.
bulletWear your heaviest shoes during embarkation and disembarkation so you don't have to pack them.
bulletPack small items inside larger ones (like jewelry inside shoes) for efficiency and safe-keeping.
bulletBring an additional empty bag for those acquired extras.
 
 
Directions to the Pier
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Port Everglades
1850 Eller Drive
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
Port Everglades website

Directions:
From Fort Lauderdale International Airport:
bullet
Exit Airport and follow signs for US-1 North/ Port Everglades.
bullet
Exit leads into Eller Drive.
bullet
Follow the signs to your ships terminal.

From Miami International Airport:
bullet
Take 836 East to I-95 North.
bullet
Exit I-95 North at 595 East.
bullet
Follow 595 to the end; then follow the Port Everglades signs.

Parking Information:
The guest parking facilities are located adjacent to the terminals at the Mid-Port garage and the North-Port parking garage. The parking fees are $12 per day for regular sized vehicles and $15 per day for oversized. Complimentary shuttles are offered for Pier 18 guests.
 
When can I board the ship:
The boarding time for your ship and sailing date is specified in your Guest Vacation Documents.  Please do not plan on arriving at the pier prior to the specified time as the ship will not be ready to board guests.
The latest a guest may board the ship is one hour prior to the scheduled sailing time.
 
 Cruise Documents
When will my cruise documents arrive and what should I expect?
Your cruise documents are sent to you (or your travel agent) 20-50 days prior to sailing, assuming your reservation is finalized and your payments have been made. Group documents and those that include air arrangements require additional steps and will be sent within 30 days of sailing. Documentation may not be provided in advance for reservations finalized the week of the sailing - guests will obtain pertinent details at the pier prior to boarding, and once onboard. If you have any questions, please contact your travel agent or Certified Vacation Planner directly.

Online Check-In

What do I need in order to complete the Online Check-In process?
In order to complete Online Check-In successfully, you will need the following:
bulletPersonal Information for each guest are checking in online
bulletIdentification Document information for each guest you are checking in online
bulletCrown & Anchor Society Membership Number (if you are a member)
bulletOnward Travel Plans
bulletOnboard Expense Account Information (i.e credit card and the reservation information that is authorized to charge against the account)

You will also need to establish an Onboard Expense Account via either credit card or cash

 
At the Pier:
Whether you're cruising for the first time or the millionth, you'll find a nugget of wisdom or two in this section. Check out the top ten things you need to know about those moments just before and after you hop onboard.
1. For the first day of your cruise, pack a small carry-on bag with your travel documents, a change of clothes, bathing suit, workout clothes and any medications you may need. That way you don't have to wait for your checked bags to arrive in your stateroom.
2. If you've never been to the departure port before, you can find and print directions here.
3. You'll need to give yourself at least 60 minutes to check in and go through security at the pier. If you have not checked in 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure, you will be considered a no-show, and your reservation will be cancelled and cancellation penalties applied.
4. Friends and relatives are welcome to come to the pier to see you off. However, for security reasons, they will not be allowed to board the ship at any port.
5. We now use single-color luggage tags for all ships in the fleet to help your bags get where they need to go. Luggage tags are now personalized with name and stateroom number. Tags for different ships are identified by bolded ship name for ease of identification.
6. If you're a Platinum, Diamond or Diamond Plus member of our Crown & Anchor Society, be sure to take advantage of priority check-in and the private departure lounge.
7. When you first come aboard, be sure to check out your stateroom. There you'll find our Cruise Compass with schedules for all the onboard activities. Crown & Anchor Society members will also find the Ultimate Value Booklet in their stateroom.
8. If you're traveling with family, be sure to check the Cruise Compass for the "Family Welcome Aboard Show" times. This entertaining performance will tell you all about the activities available for families and includes registration for our Adventure Ocean Youth Program.
9. If the spa or fitness classes are your thing, try to make your appointments on the first day, as the most popular treatments and times fill up fast.
10. Hungry? Head up to the Windjammer Café - they'll be offering snacks, sandwiches, salads, and more throughout embarkation.

Onboard Policies

What is Royal Caribbean's smoking policy?
For the comfort and enjoyment of our guests, smoking is prohibited onboard most areas of our ships. However, to provide an onboard environment that also satisfies smokers, we have special designated smoking areas in many of our lounges and on all open-air decks. On Alaska Cruisetours, smoking is not permitted on motorcoaches or inside traincars. On Canadian Rockies Cruisetours, smoking is not permitted on motorcoaches or anywhere on the traincars.

What items are not allowed onboard the cruise ship?
Aside from the obvious (and illegal) items not allowed onboard, there are other items we cannot accommodate onboard.
Prohibited items include:
bulletBicycles
bulletSurfboards
bulletSkateboards
bulletHockey sticks
bulletPersonal alcohol
bulletHAM radio equipment
 
What is Royal Caribbean International's Age Policy?
No guest under the age of twenty-one (21) will be reserved in a stateroom unless accompanied by an adult twenty-one (21) years of age, or older. This age limit will be waived for minor children sailing with their parents or guardians in adjacent staterooms or under-aged married couples (proof of marriage is required). Royal Caribbean International reserves the right to ask for proof of age. Royal Caribbean International's age policy for gambling and consumption of alcoholic beverages is as follows:

Please note: An individual's age on the date of sailing determines his or her status for the entire cruise vacation.
 
 Onboard Extras
How do I pay for onboard purchases?
All of Royal Caribbean International ships operate on a "cashless" system, meaning your boarding card, (also known as your SeaPass card), will be used as a charge card to make all onboard purchases. Normally to activate this SeaPass account, most guests provide a credit card, (American Express, Optima, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and Diner's Club), to have these purchases charged to at the end of their cruise. Additionally, the SeaPass system may be activated with traveler's checks, debit cards or cash.

A running tab of all your purchases will be kept under separate folio numbers for each guest and an itemized statement left in your stateroom the night before disembarkation. If you provided a credit card and there are no discrepancies, the amount will be charged to your account on the morning of disembarkation. If you have used traveler's checks or cash to activate the account, you will need to settle the account at the Guest Relations desk, (to either receive a reimbursement of the unused amount you originally left or to pay the balance of what you have charged over the amount of what you originally left).

Please note:
We require guests to place a deposit if they are paying for their SeaPass account with cash. There is a $500 daily limit on cash accounts for 7+ night sailings and $300 for 2/3/4/5 night sailings. Once the daily cash limit is reached, we will call the guest and inform the guest that the limit has been reached.
 
 
 What are gratuity guidelines for cruises?
So that you can thank those who have made your cruise vacation better than you could have imagined, we've developed these gratuity guidelines: (This is ultimately left up to your discretion) 
Suite attendant: $5.75 USD a day per guest
Stateroom attendant: $3.50 USD a day per guest
Dining Room Waiter: $3.50 USD a day per guest
Assistant Waiter: $2.00 USD a day per guest
Headwaiter: $.75 USD a day per guest
Note: These gratuities apply to guests of all ages.
Gratuities for other service personnel are at your discretion.  A 15% gratuity will automatically be added to your bar bill or wine check when you are served.
bulletPre paid by having them added to your reservation by your booking agent.
bulletAdded to your onboard SeaPass account.
bulletPaid in cash at the end of the cruise
Envelopes for gratuities will be provided in your stateroom on the last night of the cruise. Gratuities may be paid in the following ways:
 
Can I contact people back home from the ship?
Your friends and family can contact the ship by calling (888) 724-SHIP. Or from outside the U.S. they can call (732) 335-3285. The cost is $7.95 USD a minute and can be charged to their American Express®, MasterCard®, Visa®, Discover® or Diners Club®. From outside the U.S. additional long distance charges will also apply.
You can make ship-to-shore calls from your stateroom, 24 hours a day. The cost is $7.95 USD per minute and will be automatically charged to your SeaPass
SM account.
You can also use our onboard Internet Cafés, stateroom Internet connection, or Hot Spots to send an e-mail to your friends or family for a minimal fee.

 

 Onboard Extras
Are laundry services provided?
Self-service laundry facilities are not provided onboard our ships, but we also offer full laundry and dry cleaning services. However, we do not provide irons in the staterooms as they constitute a fire hazard.
SHIPBOARD LAUNDRY SERVICE
* All prices are in US. Dollars and are subject to change without notice.
 
MEN   WOMEN  
Shirt/T-Shirt: $2.50 Blouse: $3.50
Shirt (dress): $3.00 Dress (wash): $5.00
Underwear: $1.20 Skirt: $3.50
Jeans: $3.00 Nightgown: $3.00
Pajamas: $4.00 Swimsuit: $2.00
Handkerchif: $0.75 Slip: $2.50
Shorts: $2.50 Housecoat: $3.50
Bathrobe: $3.50 Hosiery: $3.50
Pants (wash): $3.50 Slacks: $3.50
Sweatshirt: $3.00    
Socks: $1.00    
Suit: $7.00 Evening Gown: $8.00
Pants: $4.25 Dress $7.00
Jacket: $4.50 Silk Blouse: $5:00
Sweater: $4.00 Silk Dress: $8.00
Coat: $7.00 Skirt $4.50
Tie: $2.00 Suit: $7.50
Shirt: $3.50 Blouse: $4.00
Shorts: $3.00 Scarf: $2.50
Vest $2.50    
Silk Pajamas: $4.50    

PRESS ONLY - 50% of cleaning prices.

 

 

 

 

  To Book call us @ 336-887-1485, email jharris115@triad.rr.com.com
 

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