Help Create a NEW "Cruising on Royal Caribbean FAQ"

[LauraS]

This FAQ is in the process of being created by our Royal Caribbean Community members. It should contain answers to the most commonly asked questions about cruising on Royal Caribbean ships.

Additionally, the following resources are available to you:

- Cruise Critic's Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Profile & Ship Reviews
- Member Reviews for RCI Ships
- Cruiser's Choice Poll Results
- Royal Caribbean's Website

The Rules Are Very Simple:

Please feel free to add content, making sure you are leaving your OPINIONS at the door, so to speak. In other words, back up your contribution with facts -- by linking to appropriate information.

NO discussion/questioning is allowed in this thread.

Post your contribution as a REPLY to this posting.

Community guidelines are in effect; this thread will be monitored and Cruise Critic reserves the right to remove any contributions without notice.
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This is meant as a way for you to contribute back to the Community. Please treat it with the respect that it deserves.

Questions/Comments/Concerns? Please feel free to send us an e-mail at: community@cruisecritic.com

[cruisingator2]

Johnny Rockets is on board the following ships.

Majesty, Voyager, Explorer, Adventure, Navigator, Mariner, Freedom, Liberty, Independence and Oasis of the Seas.

There is a cover charge of $4.95 per person. This fee includes all food ordered for dining in. Beverages such as milk shakes, bottled water and sodas are extra. Cover charge includes standard gratuity. The cover charge also applies to carry out but each person is limited to the amount of food that one can order.

Hours vary by day and ship. Oasis of the Seas currently offers breakfast with no cover charge.

[cruisingator2]

Royal Caribbean does not currently offer any self service laundry facilities on board any of their ships. They do have complete laundry service available.


Here is a link to the current laundry prices.

http://media.royalcaribbean.com/cont...yPriceList.pdf

[truffles2]

Internet charges were recently increased (early April) to $0.65/minute.
Packages are available.
60 minutes.....$35
100 minutes...$55
150 minutes...$75
250 minutes...$100
500 minutes...$150

[cruisenfever]

On Radiance class ships there is the SeaView Cafe. This restaurant is located on Deck 12 aft. There is no charge for food items, but there is a charge for soft drinks, beer, wine and alcoholic prepared beverages.

The menu which offers soups, salads, various sandwiches, fries, onion rings, salsa and chips, Nathan's hot dogs, fish & chips, chicken wings and a daily dessert is the same on Radiance, Serenade and Jewel. On Brilliance the menu is more Italian with many pasta dishes.

Hours during the day vary by port/sea day. The SeaView is opened daily from 9PM until 1AM for late night snacks. Dress is always casual.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findac...an0?exCode=540

[MrsFixitCT]

Beach and Pool Towels are available on the pool deck. You'll need to swipe your seapass card to get them. You can "trade" wet/soiled towels in for clean ones. Failure to return them results in a $20 fee (per towel) on your seapass account.

[aloha of the seas]

It is very common for passengers to use a CPAP and RCI will gladly help you. Generally there are no outlets near the night tables next to the bed. You will need an extension cord. Most times your cabin steward will provide it as soon as he sees that you have a CPAP. To be safe, you can always ask.

If you use Distilled Water for your Humidifier, it is best if you ask the Special Needs Dept ahead of time. They can best reached at special_needs@rccl.com or (866) 592-7225.

[lady_cruiser]

You will not be allowed to smoke in your "cabin" but will be allowed to smoke on your balcony. And in designated smoking sections which vary by ship. Generally, smoking is permitted outdoors on only one side of the ship; and smoking is permitted on all private ocean front balconies, including Loft Suite balconies on Oasis Class. To assist in locating areas where smoking is permitted, you will find visible signage posted within all smoking areas and ashtrays that are provided for your use. The location of all smoking venues can also be found in the daily Cruise Compass; or you may contact Guest Services once onboard.

[DataStar]

Every Royal Caribbean ship provides for friday night lay-led services. Typically, at the services, which are announced in the Cruise Compass (daily program of activities) Royal Caribbean provides prayer books, yarmulkes, electric candles, as well as challah bread and kosher wine.

On Channukah and, I believe, passover, there may be a rabbi aboard to conduct services. Last Chanukah aboard Legend of the Seas, for example, there were daily Chanukah services conducted by a rabbi. Aside from the challah and wine, the ship provided potato pancakes, applesauce and sour cream.

Note that there is a sign-up book for Friday night services (often at the Guest Relations desk) that while optional is, I was told, used to give the Hotel Department an idea of attendance, so that they can have enough bread and wine for the expected number.

[DataStar]

When you check in shoreside for your Royal Caribbean cruise, you will receive what the company calls a "SeaPass Card", which is a combination room key, onboard credit card and which is needed to board and depart the ship. Once you have the card, during the boarding process, it will be put into a machine, at which time your photograph is taken and associated with the card. Every time you leave and return to the ship, the card is scanned, and the security officer can see the original photo, thus assuring that the person presenting the card is the person to whom it was issued.

If you want to wear the card on a lanyard, just stop at the Guest Services desk and they can punch a hole in it in a location that will not interfere with either the bar codes (used by the security system when you enter and leave the ship) or the magnetic strip, used to unlock your cabin door, and when using it as an onboard charge card. It's also used as a loyalty card in the onblard casino slot machines (with prizes provided based on your level of play.)

The card does not have your complete room number on it for security reasons. It does indicate your dining assignment (dining room, time and table.) It also contains your Folio Number, which you need in some circumstances (arranging onboard to prepay gratuities, for example) and appears to have space for a number that will be associated with a future system that will let you see the photos taken of you by the ship's photographers on display screens and to order those you want. This system is not currently in general use, and this FAQ item should be edited when such a system is operational.

Try to avoid keeping the card in any magnetic field. If you discover that it stops working, it's not a problem. Head to the Guest Services desk 24 hours a day, and they can create a new one for you.

There are four kinds of SeaPass cards. There is a special design for children. Most passengers receive a standard card, which is currently blue in color. Guests in Junior Suites receive a silver colored card, while guests in suite accomodations (Grand Suites and above) receive gold colored cards.

Finally, remember that when you are leaving the ship at the end of your cruise vacation, you will need it to leave the vessel. So don't pack it away. You can keep it as a souvenir.

[FloridaPalms]

RCCL's alcohol policy states "Guests are NOT allowed to bring alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use" - this includes WINE, beer, liquor and any and all other alcoholic beverages. (RCCL no longer allows you to bring wine onboard and pay a corkage fee). You can purchase bottles of wine onboard, or pre-cruise through Gifts and Gear, and have it delivered to your stateroom or the main dining room. You can purchase a bucket of beers and bring them to your stateroom. You cannot purchase bottled liquor for consumption in your stateroom.) Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports-of-call or from Shops On Board will be stored by the ship and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the sailing. Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned.

RCCL's alcohol policy further states "Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Guests who violate any alcohol policies, (over consume, provide alcohol to people under age 21, demonstrate irresponsible behavior, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage check points or any other time), may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy. Guests who are under the permitted drinking age will not have alcohol returned to them. Please Note: All guests must comply with TSA guidelines for transporting liquids."


You ARE allowed to bring non-alcoholic beverages onboard for personal use. This includes bottled water, soda, juice, etc. Although the water on the ship is fine to drink, many cruisers (this poster included) have purchased a case of bottled water at the departure port, put a luggage tag on it and dropped it off at the pier with it safely delivered to their cabin later in the day. For soda and juices, you might want to pack them in a garbage bag inside a duffel bag or small suitcase. Bear in mind, again, that Security may inspect the containers. Further, it has been posted on this board that RCCL may restrict this policy during spring break. So if in doubt, call ahead and check.

[dramaqueen4lyfe]

The options for dining times in the Main Dining Room (MDR) are as follows:

Early Dining: 6:30pm on most itineraries. *
Late Dining: 8:30pm on most itineraries. *
My Time Dining: You may choose your dining time and make reservations at the desk set up for this purpose usually outside the dining room and frequently on Deck #5. You must pre-pay your gratuities in order to take advantage of this option.

* On some itineraries especially the Far Eastern and South American cruises, the dining times are later to accomodate the culture of the area.

[cruisenfever]

Luggage Valet is another service offered by Royal Caribbean in certain ports and with certain airlines. A sheet is provided midway through your cruise detailing this service.

There is a $20 fee per person for up to 2 check bags each and your scheduled flights must leave no earlier than 11:30AM and no later than 11:59PM. You will also receive your boarding passes and airline luggage tags. This service eliminates checking in at the airport with your airlines. You can proceed directly through security and then on to your gate of departure.

In ports that participate you leave your luggage outside your cabin the night before debarkation, making sure that both your colored tags from the ship along with your airline tags are attached. You will not see your luggage until you pick them up at your final destination.

In certain ports (i.e. San Juan) you must claim your luggage in the terminal and then hand off to the airline representatives after going through customs and before exiting the terminal.

Here is the link http://www.airportbags.com/bags/cruises/ of the company that handles the Luggage Valet Service for Royal Caribbean. Check it out to see if your next cruise destination/airline is covered by this service.

If you have any questions/concerns you can email/call them directly.

[crusinmama06]

The Royal Caribbean kids club is divided into the following ages:
3 - 5, 6 - 8, 9 - 11, 12 - 14, 15 - 17

Schedules for the kids clubs are similiar fleet wide and can be found here...(compliments of the CC family board members)
http://s204.photobucket.com/albums/b...ass/?start=all

The Kids Menu...(and yes, the kids can order off of the adult menu in the main dining room)



To use the pools, a child must be potty trained.

However, on the Freedom Class and Oasis Class ships, there is a Baby Splash Zone. Children who are not potty trained are welcomed to use this area.

In Cabin Sitting is available on the RCI ships for children 12 months and older. Reservations are first come first serve and are not guaranteed.

Oasis and Allure have a nursery for children 6 months and older.

My Time Family Dining is an option for parents who wish to have the Adventure Ocean counselors come to the dining room to pick up the kids instead of the parents having to leave the dining room to sign the kids into Adventure Ocean.

Adventure Ocean provides dect phones (or pagers) for the parents of the younger aged children (ages 3-5). If you are the parent of an older child and you would like one, ask the counselors to see if there are any more available.

Diaper delivery service is available on RCI ships. You can pre-order diapers and have them waiting for you in your cabin.

Royal Tots and Royal Infants are 45 minutes sessions/play groups on RCI ships. They are informal play sessions for parents and kids ages 6 months-18 months and 18 months - 36 months.

RCI has a toy lending program. You can go to Adventure Ocean and ask about this free service. They will give you a bag of toys to take back to the cabin.

[cb at sea]

Know that when you board the ship, and you encounter a waiter with a tray of "Welcome Aboard" drinks...they are NOT "free"....it's better to head to the nearest bar and order something you really want!

[cruisenfever]

There is a charge of $3.95 if you use room service between the hours of 12 midnight and 5AM.

[twiggers]

You can order an entire pizza at Sorrento's and take it back to your room.

You can also take your drinks/beer bottles back to your room too.

Your room steward will empty out the fridge upon request.

[cruisenfever]

The Table Service Specialty Restaurants are available on the following ships:

Chops Grille - Royal Caribbean International

Freedom of the Seas
Liberty of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
Radiance of the Seas
Serenade of the Seas
Enchantment of the Seas
Independence of the Seas
Oasis of the Seas
Allure of the Seas

Portofino - Royal Caribbean International

Freedom of the Seas
Liberty of the Seas
Adventure of the Seas
Explorer of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas
Voyager of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
Radiance of the Seas
Serenade of the Seas
Independence of the Seas
Oasis of the Seas
Allure of the Seas

[cruisingator2]

Royal Caribbean has different classes of ships.

Sovereign Class
Monarch of the Seas
Majesty of the Seas

Vision Class
Legend of the Seas
Splendour of the Seas
Granduer of the Seas
Rhapsody of the Seas
Vision of the Seas
Enchantment of the Seas

Radiance Class
Radiance of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas
Serenade of the Seas

Voyager Class
Voyager of the Seas
Explorer of the Seas
Adventure of the Seas
Navigator of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas

Freedom Class
Freedom of the Seas
Liberty of the Seas
Independence of the Seas

Oasis Class
Oasis of the Seas
Allure of the Seas

[cruisenfever]

For those that feel one cruise is not long enough you may want to become a Consecutive Cruisers. There is no discount for booking two cruises consecutively (or as we all still like to call it a b2b).

Each cruise is handled separately with it's own booking number. At the conclusion of the first cruise your SeaPass Account will be closed and a new account started for the next cruise. A meeting is usually held the day prior to the end of the first cruise giving you all the necessary information about what to expect on turnaround day.

It is best to book early to ensure that you can have the same cabin for both cruises. However, if not, your cabin attendant will move your clothing hanging in the closet plus all loose items that have been packed into your luggage on the morning of turnaround day.

The best part of a consecutive cruise is when all the pax have disembarked and you are waiting for the new pax to board and you have the entire ship to yourself. This is definitely the best time to take those pictures of the ship that you couldn't take the first week......and maybe do your own private cabin crawl.