What time can you go to your room on Royal Caribbean?

By 1pm, your stateroom will be ready and that means you can check out your new home, drop off any carry on luggage you brought and start enjoying the benefits of your room.



That’s an excellent question, as it’s one of the first things guests want to know on embarkation day. The timing depends on whether you’re talking about Embarkation Day (the first day) or any other day of the cruise.

1. On Embarkation Day (First Day)

This is when the timing is most specific and important.

  • Your stateroom will typically be ready by 1:00 PM. This is the standard time Royal Caribbean aims for across the fleet. They announce this over the ship’s intercom and in the app.
  • You can board the ship much earlier (usually starting between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM, depending on your scheduled check-in time). However, you cannot go to your room immediately.
  • What to do until your room is ready: You are free to explore the ship, have lunch at the Windjammer buffet or other open venues, sign up for activities, or relax by the pool. Your carry-on luggage will be with you during this time.
  • Announcement: An announcement will be made ship-wide once all staterooms are ready for guests. Hallways to staterooms are often closed with signs until this time.

Pro Tip: Download the Royal Caribbean app before you sail. It will have your specific boarding time and will notify you when staterooms are ready.

2. On All Other Days (During the Cruise)

Once you’re settled in, access is 24/7. Your room is yours for the duration of the cruise.

  • You can come and go as you please at any hour.

People Also Ask

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Reserved exclusively for guests of Grand Suite-level accommodations and above, the Suite Lounge serves complimentary continental breakfast and evening drinks.

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Priority embarkation But don't expect to wait there long. As a suite guest, you'll be among the first passengers to board your ship. That means you'll be able to start your vacation earlier than almost anybody else on your cruise.

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Whether you splurged on a luxe two-story suite, have multiple connected staterooms with your family or just want to check out the views from your balcony, your stateroom will be ready by the early afternoon. This is a great time to unwind and unpack—which you only have to do once on a cruise.

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The best time to board a cruise ship is obviously when there are few lines and short waits. The trick is knowing when that will be. Unfortunately, it can vary from port to port and ship to ship, but I prefer arriving in the early afternoon, usually around 1 or 2 p.m.

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Technically, you can..... but the cruise line will discourage it for obvious reasons (if the A/C or heat is running, you get the idea). If you leave the door open, your cabin steward will keep shutting it.

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A courtesy hold is a complimentary 24-hour period where you can lock in your desired stateroom and price without putting any money down. It assures you that your cabin and price will be saved for exactly 24-hours to give you some more time to decide without missing out on what you found.

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No, all packages are for single guest use and cannot be shared by multiple people. Our Deluxe Beverage Package Policy requires all guests wishing to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package or the Deluxe Beverage Package and Internet (Sip + Stream) to do so for ALL guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom.

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All suites in the Royal Caribbean Suites program have access to certain benefits. Our Junior Suites, Grand Suites, Ocean View/ Panoramic (No Balcony) Suites, and Owner's Suites all receive priority boarding, and our Royal Suite and Villa Suite guests are escorted onboard by an officer.

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However, as a general rule of thumb, you can expect the earliest embarkation time to be four to five hours before sailing. As most cruise lines leave port at around 4:00 pm or 5:00 pm, in most cases, you can anticipate the earliest time you can board to be at around noon.

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If you do not arrive at the port before the boarding window ends, the cruise ship will most certainly leave without you. Even if you are standing at the pier, waving frantically. That's because a cruise ship's departure time is carefully planned and more than just your vacation is at stake.

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From the final payment date to 56 days prior to sailing, the penalty is the standard deposit amount. From 55 days prior to sailing to 30 days prior to sailing, the penalty is 50% of the total fare or the standard deposit amount, whichever is greater.

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What to Do If You Miss the Ship
  1. Find a port agent. Most cruise lines have port agents stationed in the port area to assist if your ship has left without you. ...
  2. Make phone calls. ...
  3. Make travel arrangements. ...
  4. Retrieve your belongings. ...
  5. Try to relax.


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