The advice I share most often is to have a fully stocked carry on bag. We are going on our 14th cruise, in 4 weeks. Of all the cruises, our honeymoon, they lost our bags for almost the entire day. They didn't locate them until after 11pm. It really ruined that whole day because we had no change of clothes, nothing really. This was a long time ago, and how we learned. We spent the day becoming more convinced that our bags didn't make it on the ship. And as much as I like RC, they failed to respond accordingly. They just kept downplaying it, and gave us a bottle of wine. Me and my wife don't drink wine. So it did nothing. A bottle of Jack Daniel's maybe would have been more appropriate. So have travel bags that have bathing suit, change of clothes, toiletries, etc. Anything important. Imagine a day with nothing, what would you need or want? Pack that.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but if you kow you're going to book another cruise, head to the next cruise desk on the first day and book it. Not only do they give you an incredible amount of OBC for the cruise, my wife and I did that and we received a free bottle of champaign because we did it on embarkation day.

Most important tip--make sure that you have everything that you are going to need for check in handy! We were in line behind a couple that had left all their id's (passport/birth certificates) in the luggage they had given to the porters! Bless their hearts, it was a mess for them and the stress.....just double check that one of you or someone has it! Each one thought the other had it so neither of them questioned where it was. Don't assume!

Arrive to your cruise port a day early. Embarkation is so much more relaxed if you aren't trying to get to port on embarkation day.

Great video, One update I would say is many of the reservations you speak of doing on the first day after you board the ship can be done on the app prior to boarding. Some several days to several months. For example, my cruise on Allure is 4 months away, and I have already reserved my time for my time dining. Also, on my last cruise in December, I was able to book all my shows several days before sailing on the app.

One more day until Wonder OTS! We are checked in and ready to go. Thank you Matt for all the great tips.

Thank you for the great tips I cruise in February I will make sure to check in late December

My cruise is explorer of the seas for March 26 to april 1st , my first cruise trip and im so excited. This channel helped me a lot

We are sailing Royal Caribbean for the first time and found this video and all of your other ones to be Very helpful!!! Thank you for taking the time to do them!

We haven't been on Royal Caribbean in a few years. We appreciate the tips, in particular to obtain a check in time through the app about 45 days before our departure date.

We got on the Oasis before 10:30am. We were one of the first couple dozen people on the ship. It was like getting an extra at sea day.

Super helpful. We are cruising for the first time next week on MSC meragvilia.. I am glad we are going with our kids who have cruised before. There is a lot of information out there and this was really helpful.

Thank you!

I stressed so bad pre-cruise last year about not having an iron in my room and my clothes being wrinkled. (It had been several years since I’d cruised. Lol). I was thrilled to get on the ship and see the ironing special for the first day. I had all of my dresses ironed for less than $20!

These are great tips, thank you. I'm looking at going on my first cruise with my son this summer. This has been very helpful. So many things to think about.

Heading on LotS in 2 weeks! We're definitely going to take advantage of the waterslides on embarkation day!! Also definitely going to book the kids some time at Adventure Ocean and Royal Tots! We have a reservation at Sabor 🥰🥰

This will be my very first cruise. Mack thank you soo much. I got tired just watching all the fun and exciting things that are available and included. Thanks again. I've Subscribed and shared with my cruising party.

Super helpful! My family and I are going on the Oasis of the Seas next January and can’t wait!

Grateful for your tips! As we prepare to cruise Seas May 2023 incorporated many of your amazing tips! Thank you!

1:24 I agree completely about early check-in. Yesterday’s date was 46 days in advance of my cruise. I stayed up until midnight to do my check-in. At 12:15 am ET, check-in was available to me so I completed it. We snagged the first check-in time (10:30am for this particular sailing) and are very excited to have that time slot. We fly in a day or two prior to our cruise, so early embarkation is easy for us (and desired!).

I just can't wait to get on my ship. I'm so excited.

Harmony on the seas on March 25th!!! Excited for my first oasis class 🔥

Very Helpful suggestions. Downloaded the app while watching and awaiting the 45 day check-in date. Easy to watch and understand.

On Oasis OTS, they directed us to our muster station immediately as we boarded. It was just off the Royal Promenade. We spent about 10 minutes there talking to the staff, who demonstrated the life jacket and the alerts, and checked us off. We were done within 15 minutes of being on board, except for the repeated announcements begging others to finish up so we could leave.

Thank you this was so helpful! We leave in 73 days for our first cruise and this video answered a lot of my questions.

Thank you!!!! I will be planning a cruise soon!!! You have some of the best tips to use to ensure the best cruise vacation!!!!!

Very good video. So many good reminders for that first day. 6 months until our Alaskan cruise with several first-time cruisers. This will be so useful. Thanks again 🛳️

Thank you! Good information. My very first cruise is coming up with my teenager-great tip regarding check-in. I just did it.

We set sail Saturday on the Wonder and it’s our group’s first time cruising. The amount of tips and advice online for first timers is overwhelming, however, your channel has helped me a great deal. Upbeat and straight to the point. Thank you! ☺️

3 months til my Harmony cruise. Thanks for the tips! Definitely excited that the whole pre-cruise covid test stressor is gone.

My husband sent me this video this morning. We’ve been on 5 other cruises but being reminded of thing since we haven’t sailed since September 2019 in Europe, it was great. Being partially deaf, in Europe, muster drill was fun where we went to the mdr and sat with people we didn’t know and made “friends” prior to sailing. The closed captioning on the tv’s was great for me!! Now I’m excited I can just watch a video that has closed captioning for muster! It would be amazing if RC actually emailed this video after bookings are made. I’ve had a few friends who didn’t research anything and ended up disappointed over many things.

My wife and I sail on Independence of the Seas in April. The first thing we do after getting on a Royal Caribbean ship is head to the Schooner Bar for a cocktail 🍷🥃then off to the Windjammer for lunch. A tradition of our for over 20 years.

Thanks, Matt - great tips! I've added these to my cruise preparation folder. We leave January 29th on Allure. First time on this ship & first time leaving from the new Galveston terminal. Excited for both!

Excited for my first cruise 9/11/23 🎉😊

Great info on the E-muster station! I will definitely knock that out the morning before we board!

excited for our cruise on feb 11 - thanks for the tips

Super helpful - we have our first Royal Caribbean cruise coming up next month and I get anxious about logistic stuff. Check-in just opened yesterday for our cruise (all done, and got a 10:30am check-in time), and now waiting for booking of shows to open (we are on Symphony of the Seas). I have a spreadsheet created for each day and filling in info from a past cruise compass as a starting point for what night what shows will be and then trying to line up plans for specialty dining (both my daughter and I have birthdays while on the ship so want something nice each of those days). But just having more clarity around what to do - and what order to do everything - helps so much! Thanks!

Can't until my cruise 6/30/23 🎉 yahoo.

I am heading on the Symphony of the Seas in 8 days... super excited! Thanks for all the helpful tips

Perfect! Just in time for my first cruise at the end of the month!!! I was starting to panic about boarding day 😅

Izumi Hibachi you have to go there and make the reservation. Also you have to do Chops directly to book as well. Learned that the hard way. So so Izumi first, then run over to Chops to do them and the other restaurants

Thanks Matt! You’re amazing with the information you give us. I’m looking forward to sailing on Harmony April 29th.

I didn't kno we had make reservations for shows...when me and mom went because she elderly we went right in and sat at the end and it was a great show. Nobody asked wat time or if we was sitting in some spot. Which me and both found great because we can't walk up down stairs

great video matt, thank you :) Ive actually written a few down in my ph diary to remind me to do on our first RCCL cruise in november :)

Thanks for info. As for the first two things to do after boarding, we think you have them reversed. We try to avoid specialty dining on a day we want to see a show. Sometimes shows occur once a cruise, so we head to the box office first to see if/which shows need reservations and when they occur to make our show reservations. With our show schedule in hand, we then work on the specialty restaurants.

This is one of the most in depth video. I truly appreciate it the contents of your video will come in handy

This is all so helpful! Thank you!

Always Book with your travel agent! Happy cruising😊

Your informational videos have been phenomenal. My wife and I booked a short one in a few weeks and I have not been on a RCC since 2014ish so it has been a HUGE help.

Very informative video! I’ve cruised many times in the past, some things have changed.

This was SO incredibly helpful! We haven't cruised since pre-Covid so I'm glad to have the reminders as well as updates. We're booked on Oasis in May! And the porters must love us as this Canadian typically tips far more than what you recommended. I still will as it's part of what I budget for cruises. :)

Thank you so much! I’m getting ready to book are first cruise! Single mom with two teenager girls. You just helped me so much with that information!!!!!

Thanks first cruise since aus shutdown coming up on ovation and one thing we didn't do on our first cruise years ago was not meet the room attendant and our air-conditioning wasn't working properly and didn't get fixed till the next day in our inside cabin cause we didn't know what to do

Thank you, value, added!

I embark on Monday!! I'm so excited 🤩

This is so helpful, thank you!

I'm a retired travel agent and a seasoned cruiser. I appreciate the tips. It's great information for first time cruisers.

If I ever get the chance to splurge on a Star Class suite, I will definitely do so. I was on the fence about it, but after seeing this video, I must double my efforts at winning the lottery! 😁😁

thanks so much for info very informative!!!!

We just did a last minute cruise in Dec. Your tips were right on. The only issue that I had and most will probably won't experience this was the check-in. My passport was expired and was in process (online) before I booked the cruise. I have Global Entry which is a valid document you can put under your profile via the App and web site during check in. I brought my expired passport anyway assuming my Global Entry was just as good. Well they did not accept my expired passport and told me that they would not accept Global Entry as a valid form of ID. They asked if I can get a photo of my birth certificate. Luckily my daughter was home and was quickly able to text it to us. Once I received it, I connected to their WiFi and sent the photo of my birth certificate to their printer. Once it was printed, they approved it and allowed me on my way So they accept a print out of a "photo" of my birth certificate. They couldn't tell if it was valid or in the format of the state I was born in. But they would not take a Government ID in which I had to go through a background check and finger printing for? That did not make sense. And guess what I used when we returned to port and going through customs; my Global Entry :)

Matt you’re tips are so helpful . This is our first time on the oasis. We’ve been watching your vedio’s trying to learn as possible. Now my wife just downloaded royal ‘s app last night. We have carnival’s app and the helped. Where taking our two daughters on their first cruise. This will be my wife’s and I 3rd cruise.

Ty for the tips! AT January 9 i will go to the cruise!

Important to have knowledge on safety procedures. Knowing what to do with that video and follow up steps, is good.

Thank you. This is very helpful ❤

Thank you so much! You answered all my questions. Even my question about ice for our room. I am going on a cruise next month and I can’t live without my ice lol great video thanks again

Thank you ..great tips

Can’t wait till my next cruise trip to Australia/ New Zealand.!❤

So helpful! Thank you!!

So helpful! Finally booked my first ever cruise. Will be going in June! I’ve been watching your videos nonstop to prepare myself! Lol

Going on my first cruise ever in February. Harmony of the seas western caribbean.

i board next week on the navigator of the seas, this was much needed, thank you!

Great video Matt! Not sure if you've ever done a video explaining the differences of the classes of ships. People have asked me which ships have this and which ships have that? Maybe an explanation of what the differences between the classes are would be helpful. Such as which ships have toddler pools, Promenades, private suite areas, MDR dining lunch only on sea days, and complimentary breakfast at JR, etc. Just a thought if you haven't already done that! Cheers!

Was able to do vsafety, muster video and I’m going in 2 weeks. Saving time now only checkin at muster station!😊

I’m going on oasis this Friday and I’m so excited lol thank you so much

Matt said it best to have LUNCH!!!!! If you have the ultimate dining package hit up a specialty restaurant. I just started cruising with me Fiancee (our first cruise was an 11 night southern Caribbean cruise on Anthem), you have to go to Jaime's. The pasta is so good and then hit up chops for dinner. We both are so excited for our nest cruise in 2024, another 11 nighter :D Try the Solarium Bistro also for a quieter place.

Just two weeks left till I cruise on Odyssey…your videos are always very helpful

Cursing tomorrow. Health check: done. Thanks for the reminder ✅

thank you for all your ideas/suggestions - I have a list - excited for August - glenda

Thanks for the pertinent info.

thanks for many information!

This video was very helpful this will be on first cruise on Royal so this helped I got everything done but this video helped me double check everything

Birding the Wonder on January 15….can’t wait!

Had to take a super short 4 day this winter due to scheduling problems, THANKS RENEE (not) so I am treating Tampa like an excursion, probably the Aquarium. It looks walkable...

Doing your online check-in at work😂😂😂

Very helpful, thanks

Yes we were shocked and caught off guard when we had my time dining for our last cruise. Thought that my time dining was simply we showed up at say 5:15 5:30 and we could get a table possibly shortly. No not the case you had to have a reservation the matri took care of that for us for the entire cruise after our first day. But when you hear my time I would assume that it show up when you're hungry and or buddy to eat. Otherwise it's still like going to the main dining room where you have an assigned time and table. Because we had the same table every night at the same time.

Perfect timing! I board Wonder of the Seas in 2 days! Thanks for all of these tips!

My last cruise I left my luggage with the porters @ 11am and boarded the ship. I walked back to my cabin at 4pm and noticed other luggage was dropped off for other passengers but my luggage was missing. I finally went walking around and found my luggage about 10 cabins down sitting outside door. Always makes me nervous

Great Information thank you so very much!

Great advice. I can’t wait to cruise again

Loved the video, very helpful

Matt you are the man!

Matt, anything special for boarding in San Juan, PR? Love the content you put out! We are traveling with 4 first time cruise couples. So we are being asked multiple questions and this sit has helped immensely! Thanks

Geeeeze Loueeeese! I godda do all.... what? Just kidding. Although, I was thinking about running through the video and making a checklist with a time line. Key takeaways I got were, if you have a large group, it might be helpful to get Everyone to do the early check in and the Lifeboat app around the same time. Also, the dining and entertainment that everyone wants to attend along with the pre stuff that can be done before boarding day. Great video. First time cruiser here for an Alaska cruise in June. All help appreated!

For me the first day is a whirlwind of a day and rest Is needed.

Brilliant advice! I've added some reminders on my phone.

2023 Critical Things RC should do on the first day 1. How do you make sure there is a wheelchair there when you arrive at the ground-level terminal entrance? Last cruise in November, lots of confusion and I was no longer to walk even with rollater. My scooter was at the room that was not available until 1pm. 2.The drop off cruise terminal was chaotic if you needed assistance. Can you leave your bags with any porter in front of your ship? 3. It would be helpful if cruise management took a look at how the airports assist handicapped passenger. Miami, Charlotte, and Chicago Amtrak meet passengers at terminal entrance, wheel or drive to checkin, TSA, a central place for disabled to congregate (hub) while waiting and porters come in time to board at your gate. They communicate using computers, walkee talkees, and phone. Charlotte in particular is a well oiled operation based on airport (hub and spoke model). 3. We loved the VIP and relaxing lunch. We have ordered it for our October cruise. 4. In another RCBlog, it was mentioned that there was a need for more free-food finger food kiosk like Carnival = pizza slices, popcorn, nachos, wraps and such. It is a long-time between 1pm lunch & 7/8 pm dinner. On Carnival we ordered a welcome snack plate of chips & cookies. It's a vacation so I don't want to pack snacks like the train or drive. 5. RC should do an embark/first day walk through on several different size ships. GEMBA Walk is a management/leadership technique for continuous process improvement advocated by Bezo (Amazon) & late Mike Dell (Dell Computers). 🔗www.leanblog.org/2009/03/jeff-bezos-at-gemba/ We Baby Boomers are aging and more likely to need assistance. 6. Warning: if you want the early VIP checkin, don't use the RC shuttle. It starts after VIP lunch or RC arrange with the shuttle company to run a mid-morning not early afternoon. 7. FYI: The bar heights don't have part of the counter that is ♿ height; you have to yell to get the bartender's attention. Thank you. 🐦

Went from the new Galveston terminal allure of the seas in dec best cruise liner

very helpful- first time cruiser here

Great tips TFS 😊