My trick for Port & Starboard is: "The ship just LEFT the PORT"

The Vikings had a large paddle that they attached to the back of their longships which they used to steer. They called it the styrbord, which in English eventually became starboard. Since most people are right-handed, it was on the right side of the ship facing forward.

My wife and I have been on a three cruise’s and your advice Matt with new updates is very helpful to us. We just booked our 4 cruise with our two daughters on their first cruise on the oasis.and my wife’s and mine . We can’t wait! Thank you for your helpful advice Matt.

My favorite way to remember port and starboard is the first letters of each word in alphabetical order… LPRS Left port, right starboard.

Great info Matt, thanks. I might add that, if you are flying to a country to board a ship, and need a visa for said country, please present it to the airport staff at the time of check in for said flight. It speeds things up and prevents confusion. Visa information in whatever form is a crucial part of ones travel documents.

few things people dont think about: setting up excursions early. i schedule mine months in advance, because the big ones ALWAYS sell out. little known secret: if you have a drink package, you can go into the spa on board and get fresh squeezed smoothies, and theres almost never a line. If your flying in, spend the money for the air 2 sea transport. It guarantees you a ride ON TIME to and from the port, as well as complimentary baggage transport to your room. For most cell phone services, its cheaper to enable the over seas data feature than it is to use roaming. For ATT, its $10 a day i think , every time the phone is detected in a foreign country. IMO its worth it to be able to use GPS to keep yourself from being lost

One mistake made on our last Royal Caribbean cruise was to remove our sea passes from the plastic sleeve. When we arrived in Aruba, I sprayed my husband thoroughly with sunscreen and he placed his sea pass card under his shirt. After finishing our all day excursion, my husband presented his card to the guard at the port. All the information was wiped clean because of the alcohol in the sunscreen. 😮 It took about 45 minutes to get clearance to board the ship. Won’t do that again in June on our next cruise. 😂

One way I always remembered what port and starboard where was port was left and you never want to get left at port.

Appreciate the content. Going on my first cruise in the beginning of March with RC. These videos are super helpful in easing my vacation worries. Thank you!

I always hated digging around for my sea pass card. I’ve found that using a stick-on or magnetic wallet that attaches to my phone is so much nicer since it’s much easier to keep up with.

Going on a cruise soon and I worry I won’t remember or do something! Thank you! This helps a lot!! 😊

Honestly those are good tips!

great advice,thanks

The sunburn one is something everyone needs to remember. Every cruise I've been on I've seen people redder on the 1st day then the lobster at Formal Night. One even blistering. The spa does do some sunburn treatment. But it's expensive.

Great info! Could you do one, even a Short, on pets and the documentation for PSA and Service animals?

Congrats on your expanded subscriber list! Tony (LaLidoLoca) shared that.

Bring appropriate clothing and pack swimsuit in your carry on luggage. If you want to ice skate, you need long pants. (And no flip flops in the gym). On my last RC cruise, we drove to the port, and my luggage with my swimsuit got sent to the wrong end of the ship. I got my luggage near the evening. Will pack my swimsuit in a carryon.

Well done Matt

what a great video, soon we will be filming our videos over there :D

There’s a little red port left in the glass. Learned that when we first started sailing sail boats on White Rock Lake in Dallas 😎

I have my very first cruise in February and it just so happens to be with royal. I was so excited that I completely forgot about being sunburned, buying sunscreen now, definitely don’t wanna feel that pain starting on day 1 😂

I always found it odd that the “port side” is facing the ocean when you dock and you always get on and off on the starboard side which is facing the land.

Thank you for these first-time cruisers item!

What time of day does check-in begin? Like midnight or some other time during the day.

Left is four letters. Port is left. It's also how I remember the table settings. Fork (four letters) goes on the left.

Is the seapass card also used for in port excursion, by RCC?. Example Jet skiing is full online, but A cancellation may become available. Will I use my seapass car for this?

Great video 📹

Port and left have 4 letters. Starboard and right are longer words. The way my basic DI explained it.

The biggest mistake I think for people is bringing an iron or especially a portable mini steamer.. ya it sucks that your clothes might get wrinkled but the services on board are priced fairly to press any clothing u have

How do I get a copy of a past oasis of the seas cruise compass?

How many hours in advance should you return to the ship when it's time to leave?

The trick about Port vs Starboard... helpful!! Lol been on a few cruised and always forget.

Unfortunately you may also hear the term larboard, which also means left.

As a US citizen, do I need more than my passport and set sail pass to board the cruise ship?

If you haven't already, it'd be great to see a full video on nautical / cruise ship terms

A couple of clarifications to airplane mode: After you turn on Airplane mode, WiFi and Bluetooth will be disabled. While keeping airplane mode on, turn WiFi and Bluetooth back on. The RCL app needs WiFi on to work. If you paid for on-ship WiFi, go ahead and turn on WiFi Calling. You will be able to make and receive phone calls and text messages without incurring any additional charges.

what documents are required for a quantum ship?

Fire works, gosh, you made me laugh!

How do you use the app if you didn't buy a WIFI plan? There was sailor who Left-Port.

I use the two rr's in starboard so that's right

Left, port and even all have 4 letters so all the muster stations with even numbers are on the left side of the ship (port side)

Hey I’m getting married on the wonder of the seas on embarkation day in June, I couldn’t seem to find anything on your blog or KZfaq page with tips for getting married on a cruise.

Do you know what the weather is like in the Atlantic during mid April? Im doing a crossing next year.

Plus the crew will always, always tell you when leaving. They always mention on board time when leaving the ship.

What I find ridiculous is that on the app, and the RCCL website, when looking at a map of the ship, there’s NO directional terms, port, starboard, aft, forward, front, back, left, right…. WHY?

Royal Caribbean app keeps crashing. I have to keep deleting it & reinstall it, I should not have to keep doing that. So, what is the problem with the app?

Help! i have a question please. if i book a cruise for next year and go visit NextCruise next month on my already scheduled cruise, if NextCruise offers me a better price can they price adjust?

a cruise i want to take leaves Boston at 5 pm. when do they want me on board?

The one about the cell phone bill is crazy I work for billing for a carrier and I've seen bills for 10k from a cruise

The only reason my wife and I well the one of the reasons we booked our cruise on the oasis because there amazing activities on board for our girls. Carnival has nothing and has nothing fun for there first cruise. My wife and I don’t need any water slides or these activities when we plan our Alaska cruise next year

I accidentally packed my travel docs in the big suitcase so had nothing at US re-entry but they didn't bat an eye. I'm sure it happens a lot.

I booked the Internet package but I read somewhere the ship has free WiFi, is this true?

Port is a type of red wine, used in aviation and maritime. Port side beacons red, starboard green. Also, forecastle is pronounced “fokesole” for anyone interested.

Mistake #10-Expecting edible food at El Loco Fresh on Navigator of the Seas!😊

What's the most common strength of the sun blocker to use on Caribbean cruises?

Do you need birth certificate, license, passport and more or just a couple?

You should mention in this list....working for a cruise line myself...DO NOT PACK YOUR MEDICINES IN YOUR BAGS YOU CHECK IN..RESAON BEING, IF THERE IS A POROBLEM AND YOU SENT YOUR BAGS ON BOARD, AND FOR SOME REASON, YOU DON'T HAVE THE CORRECT DOCUMENTS AND YOU ARE DENIED BOARDING, YOU MAY NOT GET THOSE BAGS BACK BEFORE THE SHIP SAILS.

On my families first cruise, my brother in law has just started dating his now wife of more than 10 years. He called her everyday and they talked for hours each night. His phone bill was close to $1000!

Wepaaaaa

So I don’t need to carry my ID around? I’m 25 and we’re not buying the drink package but we’re gonna drink some

I disagree with the wallet tip completely. Yes if you have a money clip, but why buy that when I have a wallet with a built in money clip? I’m not carrying a wad of cash to the casino I’m much more likely to have something happen to that than the cash in my wallet. I keep my room key in my wallet it’s just convenient for me. As a never do, it doesn’t fit the list.

And those aren't decks where the majority of entertainment is; those are levels. The main deck and below are called decks. Walls are bulkheads. And those are ladders, not stairs lol.

Airplane mode on my phone cuts off wifi and Bluetooth also

Wallet... hm... I've gone back and fourth. Lately, I've emptied most of my wallet of non essential shipboard items into the safe, keeping my seapass card and some cash, along with medical insurance card, and leaving debit card, notes about where the car is at the airport, unusable gift cards... in short, everyday detritus from home in the stateroom safe.

THANK YOU FOR THE COMMON SENSE WHICH IS TRUELLY RARE. BE SURE TO BRING AN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT REPELLENT TO ALLERGIES...I AM ALLERGIC TO .... "STUPID PEOPLE " !!! 🤣 ELIJAH

He wanted some……So what’s in the red bag??

Will my Verizon Cell phone plan work in Mexico?

Re: Port & Starboard. NOT when FACING the front of the ship!!!! Your explanation was unintentionally misleading. When on the bow and facing forward port is on left.

I really don't like how popular cruising is becoming. Cruises are slim pickings now for prime times like summer, and the crowds have become insane, making veteran cruisers hiding in the stateroom a lot. I remember in January 2020 i was at cabbage beach in Nassau, and we basically had the beach to ourselves, went back January 2023, and it was freaking packed. Meagan's bay, same thing. So many noobs on my last cruise, really annoying. Used to be a nice hidden gem of a vacation, now... Idk anymore. The only place we can go to have a good time with out a massive freaking crowd now is the diamond lounge, and now even that is getting packed.

One cruise mistake easy to avoid is not subscribing to this channel!

Yea I told my husband lock your wallet up you don't need it well........He didn't listen lost the wallet and when it was found it was -$300.00. I was ready to throw him over board.

And it doesn’t matter if you have a CBD (aka “dope”) prescription from your doctor. Leave that crap at home or kiss it goodbye at the terminal.