Originally posted by:
maryred
Here's my advice for a first time cruiser:
Don't rely on your more experienced friends and family only for information regarding the cruise. All cruise lines, including Royal, have dramatically changed just about everything they used to do pre-Covid to conform to the multiple different national restrictions and protocols for their homeport and ports of call because of the Pandemic. So some of the most important things you will need to do for yourself is :
1) Read the FAQs at the cruise line's home page
2) Read any health and safety updates from the cruise line, as they may alter or contradict some of the FAQs which might be on temporary halt.
3) Make your own personal account at the cruise line's website, that you can make sure that all your passenger info has been entered correctly. Especially you email and text enabled mobile device as that is the way the cruise line will communicate any important information and reminders about the cruise.
4) Make sure you understand how to use the cruise line's Manage My Booking or Cruise Planner section on the website. This area is really important as it is were you will be doing your online check-in (about 30 days prior to sailing), downloading documents you will need to board the ship at the departure terminal, and make then get confirmations of purchases made pre-cruise. (Many add-on packages are much less expensive in advance than once on board.)
5) Verify that all you personal ID and nationality documents are in order and will not expire during the cruise. If you don't have a passport, several documents will be needed prior to even being able to fill out your online check-in like a government issued photo ID in the name on the booking, a legible copy of your dept. of vital statistics or health's birth record that shows whatever security validation your birth state uses, and any name change records if the birth name and photo ID name do not match Like marriage cert., divorce decree or adoption records). If any are missing you can obtain certain ones from https://www.vitalchek.com/ or by visiting your local DMV or county clerk.
6) Download the cruise line's free app to your mobile device. With Royal, unlike some other cruise lines, this is usable in place of a laptop or pc prior to boarding the ship to do things in your cruise planner including check-in and the uploading of your biometric picture and vaccine/health status. Once on board the app will allow you to access things like complete the new e-muster prerequisites, the daily activities sheet (Royal=Compass), dinner, spa/salon, activity, and show reservations, remind you of favorited activities or excursions times, see menus for various venues, and monitor your on board spending account. For a small (on Royal) daily fee an on board passenger to passenger (same booking) chat feature is available also, but only needed if you don't opt for an internet WiFi package.
Trust me after doing all of this "homework" it will go a long way to making the cruise that more enjoyable.