Harmony of the Seas Docked on an Eastern Caribbean Pier

YOUR ROYAL CARIBBEAN SET SAIL GUIDE

Find out everything you need to know for your upcoming Royal Caribbean vacation.

Published on November 8, 2022

One of the great things about cruise vacations is that many of the details are already taken care of for you. That said, a little preparation goes a long way, especially for international travel. Here you’ll find all the essential pre-cruise planning info — including documents you’ll need, tips about check-in, shore excursions and more.

ITINERARY UPDATES
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & MORE
CHECK-IN
CRUISE PLANNER
SHORE EXCURSIONS
WHAT TO PACK
LUGGAGE & BAGGAGE TAGS
PORT SHOPPING
FOREIGN CURRENCY
NEXTCRUISE
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL APP

ITINERARY UPDATES

We’ve got you and your travel crew covered with real-time updates on any type of event that may affect your cruise. From weather advisories to Royal Caribbean breaking news to any operational changes that may alter your travel plans — you can always check back here for itinerary updates. It’s up-to-date and reliable, so that you can be prepared and plan accordingly. And of course, if you need further assistance, you can always call us at (866) 562-7625 or email us at web_reservations@rccl.com with your questions.

REVIEW ITINERARY UDPATES

DOCUMENTS & MORE

While you’re packing your bags for your cruise adventure, it’s important to ensure you bring all the necessary travel documents. Depending on your nationality, age (whether you’re a minor or adult) and the country you’re visiting, the requirements may vary. Here, we make it easy for you with a clear, seamless and — most importantly — accurate guide for each port of call and country of origin. This way, you can clear up any questions you have about the valid travel and health documents, including passports, visas and vaccination certificates that you’ll need while abroad. We answer the most detailed frequently asked questions and include links that take you straight to the original source — like The Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization — so that you’re fully prepared for the best vacation ever.

LEARN ABOUT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

CHECK-IN

Getting ready for your cruise adventure? Check-in speeds up the process at the port so you can get to the thrills onboard faster. It’s easy to do and you’ll get to skip filling out forms at the pier. Up to 72-hours before your sail date, you can check-in online or with the Royal Caribbean International app* with the 6 items listed below. The system will time out after 30 minutes, so double check that you have everything below for each guest in your group before starting. On your actual day of sailing, you and everyone in your group will only need your signed SetSail pass, identification documents and the credit card that you registered with to board — it’s that easy.

*Check-in via app is available for select ships.

CHECK-IN CHECK LIST

Ship name, sailing date and Royal Caribbean reservation number.
Passport or proof of citizenship and identification
Home address
Emergency contact name with phone number
Travel plans before and after your cruise
Credit card to use for your onboard expense account
Don't have the App? Learn more here.

LOG INTO CHECK-IN

CRUISE PLANNER

If you’re looking to score the biggest savings available for all your cruise essentials — Cruise Planner is for you. This easy-to-use online portal is where you’ll make all your pre-cruise purchases, including shore excursions, specialty dining, beverage packages, internet, spa services and more. It’s user-friendly and you’ll score the best pre-cruise prices on all your vacation add-ons. You can even customize your trip to fit your travel style with the Cruise Planner calendar. Broken down by location, date, arrival and departure time — it automatically populates as you make your selections. Plan before you board your cruise and start saving today right here.

VISIT THE CRUISE PLANNER

SHORE EXCURSIONS

Close your eyes and imagine your ideal vacation day. Maybe it’s snorkeling along the Great Barrier Reef in Australia — or kicking back in a private cabana at Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Whatever type of travel you seek and whichever destination you’ve chosen to explore, you can delve deeper into discovery on a shore excursion. Search by port of call, region, ship or sail date. And choose from all kinds of adventures, like scuba excursions, off-the-beaten path adventures, local culinary classes or a curated Royal Private Journey tour by clicking here.

BOOK YOUR SHORE EXCURSIONS

WHAT TO PACK

“What should I pack?” That’s a common question we all ask when preparing for any vacation. While onboard, the right look will vary by venue, and you can check out our quick cheat sheet that breaks down the difference between casual, smart casual, formal and more. In general, make sure to pack deck-friendly shoes that are low-heeled and comfortable walking shoes for your days ashore. Also, pack a few swimsuits so you’ll always have a dry-one handy. And we always suggest that you carry all medications in their original prescription bottles in your carry-on just in case — along with 3 days of extra medication in the unlikely event of any type of unexpected change to your itinerary. After all, preparation is key to a fun and safe adventure.

LEARN WHAT TO PACK

LUGGAGE

Now that you’re all packed, you probably have some questions about what to do with your luggage. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered here too. You have the option to carry your bags onboard or check it in before you sail. For an additional fee, we offer Luggage Valet Program so you can skip traditional airport check-in. Your bags will be seamlessly transported directly from your stateroom to the airport and onto your flight — meaning you barely have to lift a finger. You’ll also be able to check in for your flight onboard and receive your airline boarding passes, luggage tags and baggage claim checks in your stateroom. This option is available for international and domestic flights, with the exception of Delta Airlines international flights.

DISCOVER THE LUGGAGE VALET PROGRAM

BAGGAGE TAGS

To keep boarding day running smoothly and get your luggage delivered to you, we issue baggage tags and instructions electronically ahead of your sailing through The Royal Guest eDocs. They are ship specific and include your sailing date, stateroom and deck number. To expedite your check-in at the port, we recommend securing your luggage tags before you leave your house. However, if you have misplaced your tags Royal Caribbean Porters at the pier have additional generic tags available for your convenience.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LUGGAGE TAGS

SHOPPING

It’s never too early to start thinking about which vacation keepsakes you’ll bring home from your trip. If you’re looking to gear up before your journey, check out Royal Gifts for apparel that will keep you looking sharp and ready to set sail. Choose from tote bags, pool essentials, plush towels and fashionable sarongs. Or if you’re celebrating a special occasion, make it even more memorable with room decorations, personalized shirts, in-stateroom sweet treats and more.

VISIT THE ROYAL GIFTS

CURRENCY

One of the most common questions people ask about is currency. While onboard, you’ll have an Onboard Expense Account linked directly to your SeaPass for any purchases or services. SeaPass cards are administered at the pier or will be in your stateroom upon arrival, depending on your ship. For more information about setting up your SeaPass, click here. While you won’t need cash onboard, we do have ATMs on each ship along with limited currency conversion services for your days ashore. For foreign currency, we use the daily market rates published by the New York-based financial service company, Bloomberg.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SEAPASS

NEXTCRUISE

As you’re getting ready for your upcoming cruise, maybe you’re already dreaming about where to go for your next Royal Caribbean vacation. We get it — and even better, we give you a reason to turn those daydreams into reality. NextCruise lets your plan a future cruise and score up to $500 in onboard credit — right onboard your current sailing. You’re guaranteed to lock in the richest offer on any sailing with a deposit as low as $100 per person on select fares. There are other benefits too, including the option to pay now and choose your actual itinerary at a later time, along with savings of up to 10% on future shore excursions. You can also book up to three cruise rooms for yourself, friends or family with the same benefits — right onboard — look out for the NextCruise Desk onboard or call us for more information.

EXPLORE THE NEXTCRUISE PROGRAM

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL APP

Seamless adventures are now just a tap away for guests with the new Royal Caribbean International app. The app packs a list of features that make it easier for guests to plan and manage their vacation, including access to daily plans and deck maps, reservations for dining and shore excursions, and more. The Royal Caribbean International app is free to download and use for both iOS and Android devices – no internet package is required.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE APP