10 things Royal Caribbean Rookie Cruisers Should Do! 

One that I would add is that they should look up their port, especially if they're driving. Sticker shock is a real thing when you find out how much it cost to park for the duration of your cruise.

10:53 as a travel agent my office has a saying: “A guarantee cabin means ‘We guarantee your cabin location is going to suck.’”

You should add one more. Inform you're credit card you are leaving the country. They may put a stop on your card when they see charges not normal.

Matt, as usual I enjoyed the video and learned quiet a bit. Our last 30 cruises have been in a Grand Suite simply because we enjoy the accommodations and the amenities which go with it. We always watch your RU-vids when were going on a new ship so we're familiar with it when we finally get aboard. Thank You.

Love this video. Our very first cruise was last August on Adventure of the Seas and these videos helped us so much. I would add, do not plan anything with anyone or going anywhere a couple weeks before you cruise. Avoid the chance you will be exposed to a cold or flu and do what you usually do to boost your immune system and get a ton of rest.

Another thing to take, along with meds, is band aids and an antibiotic ointment. My daughter burned her hand on a curling iron and we bought them out of the vending machine. Would've been much cheaper to bring!

We leave now in Oct 31st for our 3rd Royal Caribbean cruise. I love this cruise line. Up to now wonderful experiences. Next year’s cruise already booked as well. We always book travel insurance. You never know.

Your page rocks! First cruise on wonder of the seas next weekend. You got me well prepared!!!

Another thing to add before your first cruise is watch all Royal Caribbean Blog videos to get familiar what to expect and prepare, I was overwhelmed right before my first cruise this summer by all the planning and advance reservations/booking (check in time, shows, dining and drinking packages, excursions, etc.)

Not my first RC or any cruise but always look to you for advice. Cruising Dec 8th and then again in March

29 days to my next Royal Caribbean cruise. 3rd with Royal, my 10th overall I think. I love cruising and excited to go on a non Oasis class ship with Royal this time.

ALWAYS get there a day ahead. I Fell at the Airport in Vancouver the day before and dislocated 2 fingers. The doctor kept saying "Don't worry you will make your cruise' which we did. Also no painkillers so the Drink package got used 😁

Will be going in my first Cruise Liberty if the Seas Dec 4th. I like to plan ahead, so I’m watching videos so I know what to expect.

Great info! Thanks a million

First RC cruise super bowl weekend 2024 on navigator of the seas on a 3 night Ensenada cruise. Wife’s first time cruising ever. Let’s gooooooo

This is great information. This year will be my first time cruising and I am trying to ensure I am not missing anything.

I think you should add about printing out your bag tags for boarding the boat. I found this out at the last minute and adapters for charging electronics because they only have a few American sockets.

I learned the hard way, in reference to the very first advice. I booked my flight the day OF my cruise and out of all flights, that was the first flight I ever had with delta that was almost a 2 hour delay. I was rushing to get to the port AND complete check-in. I was so discombobulated the first couple of hours after boarding. Ever since then, I’ve booked my flights the day before and just stayed at a nice hotel, lol. That was my first cruise with Royal, now I’m a PRO! 😂💪🏾❤

Thanks for the info! This will be our first Royal Caribbean cruise we're used to DCL so trying to figure everything out for this one

Can’t wait for your Icon of the seas tour🙏🏾

Have the most necessary things in your carry on bag in case your luggage is late. Include swimwear to enjoy the less busy time at the pool on that 1st day. Mine once got put by someone else’s door on another deck. I played sleuth & found it fortunately.🕵🏽‍♀️

Great advice for first time cruising and even veteran cruises.

1:26 Yeah, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, and you show up to a land vacation the next day, your hotel doesn't SAIL AWAY. My first cruise, if I had waited until the day of the sailing, I would have missed it due to the airport closing in a snowstorm.

We buy extra toiletries at the sailing port the morning of the cruise while we’re waiting for the transfer. The Hotel San Juan has a CVS around the corner.

Hi Matt many cruise lines look the other way when it comes to the corkage fee because they are fighting for as many tips as possible you give the best experience better the chance at bonus tip amounts plus if the cruise gives that nickle and dime feeling like charging to open a wine bottles may leave a bad feeling for the passenger

Matt, I would start with number one tip for someone planning to go on their first cruise is to book through a good travel agent.

I've been watching your videos since before my first cruise last November on Liberty. Always helpful and informative. Now my wife and I are looking forward to our third cruise Oct 31 on Liberty again. One thing that would be good to mention is that sometimes things can be a little overwhelming, and that is OK. There is a lot to do and first timers do not have to try and do it all. Do not have FOMO when you decide to spend the day in the hot tub with your D.B.P. It is OK to sit back and relax.

Make sure you bring your travel documents such as passport. Much higher consequence than missing toiletries.

Going next march good tips

Great video, taking notes of everything. One question: how much time in advance do they allow us to start boarding ?

Going on quantum of the seas in 2 months! Wish me luck!

You have a great voice - very interesting things and done in a fairly rapid succession so I didn't get bored listening to you. You didn't fumble for words or keep saying, um, um, uh, um. If you lose this job, find another one as an announcer. Have a good life!

Matt, even with watching Cruise vlogs for the last 3 years before we finally cruised, our first day was little stressful. As a rookie last month, it would have been good to have some ‘one’ to help us sort out how to find the Muster video on the app, and how to connect to the app. How to connect to the WiFi that we paid for, and same person to help book our speciality dining and rearrange our MDR times. We went to 4 different places to get these sorted out and it didn’t help that it was hard to hear anything as they played the music soo loud on the royal promenade on embarkation day.

First cruise tomorrow, liberty of the seas. Super excited.

I wanted to add my 2 cents on booking a “Guaranteed” cabin. We booked a GTY Balcony cabin on our last cruise and it was worth it. It worked out that way, because it was significantly cheaper than an ocean and indoor balcony room. We ended up getting a “Boardwalk Balcony” on the 8th deck of Oasis. We were disappointed at first thinking we would get an ocean view, but we actually enjoyed it. We were afraid it was going to be too loud and it wasn’t. We were able to pay for an excursion with the extra money. Point is, weigh your options. If you are picky about your cabin location AND the cost is not that significantly cheaper…then definitely choose your own cabin.

Sail out Sunday, on the oasis of the sea!

Yea Matt at ''''LEAST A DAY EARLY '''' and maybe a Day after if Flying We have had the same Agent for the last 22 Years and ALWAYS Travel Insurance and We have been Cruising since 1973 .....

This turned in to a sales video pretty quickly. Travel Agents are not for everyone. If you like to research and plan your cruise, going through an agent makes it impossible to manage your own cruise. Buying travel insurance is normally a terrible idea. If you do, you already start in the hole and are betting that you will not be able to go. Everyone is different, but math and statistics do not lie. Don't be fooled, only use or purchase services that you will actually use.

Our fifth cruise, first on Royal Caribbean. The first time using a travel agent, an absolutely waste. She done nothing that I would have done. Maybe we just didn’t have a good agent, or maybe we was expecting a little more.

Agree with traveling the day before. We just went on a cruise from Cape Liberty and we were fortunate. The flight was delayed just not enough to make us miss the ship. The flight was booked through the cruise company so they would have got us to the next port but we would have missed 2 days of the cruise. That would have been a disaster. Only time I will ever go same day now is if we are going out of a Florida port, even then if it’s Fort Lauderdale or Miami I will still go the day before.

How would you rate specialty dining vs Main room dining?

Just an FYI, carnival has disabled Wi-Fi calling. They are the only line I’ve found that does that.

Can anyone answer this - Can I find Macallen 18 on Wonder of the Seas anywhere - for consumption, i.e at one of the bars or specialty restaurants?

Agreed with most of it. Never bought travel insurance for any trip, including the stupid DCL cruise we took. But we've been to Europe and Asia and Caribbean as well as to many places in the states. In over 20 years, never used it or needed it even once. But it does require better planning, and unless I'm hospitalized, I'm going no matter what.

Hi Matt 200 Days till me cruise on Wonder… As a first time cruiser I was wondering, How do I do WI-FI calling?

Hi there. Subscribed. Can you let me know how many ml is a standard bottle of water to take onboard. And is that 12 bottles per person?

What is the largest size luggage (unit) you can take with you?

The stores that are on board selling alcohol, when we buy it can we drink it on board or does it get held untill the cruise is done ?

Someone told Matt to slow down for the newbies. 👍

Big family trip in July 2025 to Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. Is the internet package worth it? What about the beverage packages? We are all moderate alcohol consumers. Any advice for that specific trip is greatly appreciated.

I board my cruise in three weeks exactly

who is going to the 2023 Key West Fantasy Fest? This year‘s theme is “Uniforms and Unicorns” 200 years of sailing into fantasy. The theme reflects the Florida 2023 bicentennial. It’s to celebrate 200 years of the United States Navy in the Florida Keys

I would like info on the wifi? I hate that you have to pay for it from what I understand.

My issue with an upcoming cruise is trying to plan out my days not knowing the calendar. For example, I want to book Izumi but don't want to do that on the lobster night in the MDR. I believe shows are available to book on the first day of the month preceding the sailing but when do they release the MDR dining menu days?

but can you go on social media with the ship's wifi?

I have a travel agent telling me their office charges $125/person. Is this normal?

First comment and going on my first cruise next week

I bring two prestige bottles of Champagne every cruise and drink them on my balcony.

Is the travel insurance from Royal Caribbean the travel insurance you are talking about or an insurance in addition to the insurance purchased through RCI?

I always bring 12 monster energy drinks!

Very true! If you’re new to cruising, it is not easy, and RC doesn’t realize this. Plus, all the staff barely speak English, and near impossible to understand.

I'm a travel agent, and I just want to say, thank you for mentioning using a travel agent.

Hi Matt can I get insurance now even if I had payed my cruise off already?

Bringing in your own cans and water bottles is that 12 per person allowed? Or per room?

Is the soda you can bring on the ship 12 cans per person or per cabin?

These are mostly cruise tips; very little info relating to Royal except to get the app on your phone way ahead. I am cruising Royal soon and I still don’t know when I will need to check-in or chose show times. So many days prior to sailing but have no idea. Not very communicative on their part.

Is the insurance the cruise line offers while booking all I need?

Do cabins have a mini fridge for your wine or soft drinks? How about ice buckets?

I have a question that I’m hoping someone can answer: I’m going on my first cruise in October. One of the ports will be at Falmouth Jamaica. We did not book an excursion for that one but would still like to go to the beach. I was told there is a beach 4 miles from port, but you have to take a taxi. Does anyone know how much they cost?

Can you do monthly payments if you use a travel agency?

Is it too risky booking an 11am flight out of Miami airport on disembarkation day? I'm curious if that flight time is too early

Hi. You’ve said that every adult can take a bottle of wine into the cruise. Do I have to dispatch it in my suitcase or can I take it with me in my hand bag when boarding the cruise chip?

UP NEXT!

Matt, how does RC handle distilled water for CPAP machine users? Are we allowed to bring a gallon on board?

what is the port in that very last shot?

Does wine have to be in carryon

Guaranteed room vs work 😂

Matt as an avid RCL cruiser i enjoy your content with one exception. As a former major airline employee and travel industry executive, I take exception to any travel agent recommendations. Having dealt with them for years, few have any real knowledge about real customer service and indepth knowledge about the products. A few of the cruise specialty agents have legitimate experience but it's a very small amount. Stick to the informative content.

I’m going on Cruise next week. I know that gratuity is taken off per day for each person. We would like to give our stateroom attendant extra. What is a good tip $100? Are there hangars in the closet?

Bring lots of rubbers

Photos of crowds like the thumbnail, and the overall sense there are "tricks" you have to master to avoid rookie mistakes make me completely uninterested in taking a cruise on a megaship.

Have to post about Royal Caribbean. Navigator of the seas! If I could save one family from this ship it's worth it. Terrible! I was just on this ship with my family. Huge disappointment! Overcrowded! Below average food! Very few food options. Boring! So disappointing. Waste of money. $8k down the drain. This guy reviewing the ship obviously works for them or gets a kick back.

Seriously, change your microphone or audio setup! This sounds horrible. Your videos used to sound a lot better.

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