If
you never cruised before, you probably have LOTS questions about your upcoming
cruise vacation onboard 
Cruise Lines.
The travel professionals of BMD Travel and Tours would like to offer some "last minute" tips and information on some of the things you can expect during your upcoming cruise vacation!
As You Embark...
Luggage Delivery: Your luggage will be dropped off, curb-site at the port, upon arrival. The porters are there and available to assist you (NOTE: Please remember to reward them for their services). If you do not have your cabin number available, ask the porter for your cabin number, they have a cruise manifest available to gather the necessary information to ensure proper delivery of your luggage. Once you leave your luggage at curbside with the cruise porters, proceed to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal to continue with the embarkation process, as your luggage will be screened and process, then delivered directly to your stateroom. NOTE: Because the luggage delivery is a lengthy process, you may want to be prepared and carry a overnight bag with a change of clothes, necessary toiletries and any medication you may need.
Hungry???: The Windjammer buffet, usually located on Deck 11-Aft, is available from Noon - 4:00PM (for 5:00PM departures).
On-Board Shops: Once the cruise ship sets sail (i.e. departs from the port), all of the duty-free shops and boutiques aboard the vessel will be open for your shopping enjoyment and convenience. NOTE: All duty-free shops and boutiques are CLOSED whenever the ship is docked.
Cell Phones: Your cell phone may work, so you can make and receive calls or text messages while at sea! (GSM Phones only). While in port, or arriving/departing from ort, you may connect through the local service provider, if available. NOTE: For accessibility and coverage areas, contact your local service provider prior to departure.
Smoking Policy: For the comfort and enjoyment of all guests aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's vessels, all ships have been designated as non-smoking ships. However, in order to accommodate smoking guests with a satisfying onboard environment, the cruise line has designated smoking areas in many of their lounges and on all open air desks. Royal Caribbean International kindly asks all guests to place observe the non-smoking areas and to refrain from smoking pipes or cigars in any of the public areas. NOTE: Many of Royal Caribbean's ships are equipped to Cigar lounges. Check your Cruise Compass upon embarkation for more information.
$200
(per person) is the widely accepted "rule of thumb" for spending
money on a cruise vacation
"SeaPass"
is Royal Caribbean's cashless onboard credit program
which allows guests to charge their purchases directly to their personal
account for convenience throughout the cruise. Registration will take
place during the embarkation process or onboard at the Purser's
Office. The completed application form (to be included with your
cruise documents) must be presented along with a VISA, MasterCard, Discover,
or American Express. 
Guests may also use a checking account debit
card, as long as it is a registered VISA or MasterCard. Regular ATM debit
cards are not acceptable. Parents' credit cards are not acceptable, even
with the parents' written permission. All charges will be automatically
billed to the guest's credit card at the end of the voyage. On the final
morning of the cruise, a detailed statement will be delivered to the guest's
cabin. The total amount will be charged to the credit card presented during
registration. In addition, the Purser's Office can provide the guest with a
balance update at any time throughout the cruise. Guests who do not
wish to use a credit card may register for "SeaPass"
using a cash deposit. Please be advised, this minumum deposit of $200.00 can
be person or per stateroom. The "per stateroom" option is
convenient for families, and the "per person" option is usually
used for "room-mate" situations. The main thing to remember, is
each accout minimum deposit is $200. You are free to add more cash, during
the cruise, at any time by going down to the Pursar's Office to deposit more
money. If you make your deposit with your credit card, then your card will
be validated (but not charged) until the end of the cruise. If you get
carried away while onboard and you deposited a credit card, but you want to
pay cash for your purchases, you can still go down to the Pursar's Office to
pay cash prior to your credit card being purchased. It is just like checking
out of a hotel. Where on the final night of your stay, you are presented
with an invoice, detailing all of your charges. If you agree with the
statement/invoice and you deposited a credit card and want the charges to go
against your credit card, then you simply do nothing. However, if you
deposited a credit card, but want to pay with cash, you can go to the
Pursar's Desk or Guest Services Desk to cover the charges with cash. And, of
course, if your paid cash, and you didn't have enough charges to consume
your account funds, you will be notified of your credit (on your room
statement) and you will be instructed to report to the Pursar's Desk or
Guest Services Desk and pick up your credit.
There are usually "duty free shops" onboard the larger cruise ships. They sale everything from souvenirs, film, and clothes, all the way to hygiene products. Their is usually even have a "small" gift shop to purchase Alcohol (all of course, tax free).
Casual
attire is the order of the day, both on board and ashore. For one night of
the sailing (on 4 & 5 day voyages, a dark suit or formal or semi-formal
attire is 
suggested.
The dress code for other evenings ranges from sport coat and tie to casual
resort wear.
Note: Shorts and T-shirts are not permitted in the dining room area during dinner.
Guests
are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board the ship in the
port of embarkation (with the exception of wine and/or champagne). If the
wine and/or champagne are brought to the Dining Room for consumption, a
$10.00 corkage fee will be charged to the guest. Otherwise, the guest may
drink the wine and/or champagne in the privacy of their cabin only. 
It
may not be brought into any public lounge or room. Alcoholic beverages
purchased in any port-of-call will be
appropriated at the gangway and stored onboard until the last night of the
cruise, upon which it will be
delivered to the guest's cabin. Alcoholic beverages of any kind purchased in
the ship's gift shop will also be stored onboard and delivered to the
guest's cabin on the last night of the cruise. The minimum age for the
purchase and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages while on board is 21
years of age. In the event that Bar/Restaurant/Gift Shop Staff are in
question that the guest is under 21, they shall request picture
identification prior to serving said guest.
Beverage Programs:
The Adult Non-Alcoholic Card program is available to all guests nineteen (19) years of age and up and may be purchased at all bars and lounges. This entitles the holder to twelve (12) non-alcoholic drinks; fountain sodas, juice, mineral water and mocktails only. Charge per card is $29.95 inclusive of service charge.
The Royal Cocktail Card program is available to all guests twenty-one (21) years of age and up and may be purchased at all bars and lounges. This entitles the holder to twelve (12) house/call brand cocktails, domestic beer and house wine by-the-glass. Exclusions: Premium brand and super premium brand liquors, full bottles of water, liquor and wine, cabin sales. Non applicable to mini bar consumption, room service and Champagne bar. Charge per card is $39.00 plus a 15% service charge.
The Adult Fountain Soda Package program is available to all guests nineteen (19) years of age and up and may be purchased at all bars and lounges. The cost is $15.00. A 15% gratuity is automatically added to the total price of the soda package. Soda packages are accepted at all food and beverage outlets, including the dining room and private destinations.
The Children's Beverage Program program consists of young cruisers having their choice of two packages: Fountain Soda Package and Adventure Ocean Potions.
The Fountain Soda Package is ideal for guests eighteen (18) years of age and younger to enjoy as many soft drinks as they like for a fixed price for the duration of the cruise. This can be purchased throughout the ships' lounges and beverage service counters. The cost is $9.00 per person.
Iced water, iced tea, lemonade, brewed coffee and hot tea are complimentary in the ships dining rooms. Fountain soda is offered at $1.25 per glass, with complimentary refills during the meal. Can soda is offered at $1.50 per can.
Personal
items such as stamps, souvenirs, etc., are not included in your fare.
Drinks, sodas, and cappuccino from the bar are also not included, nor is use
of the beauty salon, barber shop, or spa
services.
Cables and ship-to-shore calls are extra, as are photos taken by the ship's
photographer, medical attention, shore excursions, port charges and
gratuities. Naturally, participation in the casino, horse racing or bingo
for cash prizes will be at your own expense.
Transfers...Ground
Transfers for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines are purchased through your travel agent.
At the time your transfers are purchased, your agent will provide the cruise
line with your full flight itinerary. Royal Caribbean will need this information in
order to "meet" you at your arriving GATE,
as you disembark the aircraft. 
A
Royal Caribbean representative will confirm
your identity and escort you to the "shuttle bus", which will
take you to the pier. At the end of your voyage, a shuttle bus will be
awaiting your disembarkation from the cruise ship and escort you back to the
airport. NOTICE: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' transfers will NOT be
sold to guests with flights arriving AFTER 2:00 PM on the day of departure
or flights departing prior to 12:30PM on the day of arrival.
Some
purchases
you will most likely end up making onboard the ship (with your "Sea Pass" cards are as follows:
Photos (of almost every move you make). The smaller of the 2 sizes offered, usually run $9.95
per photograph, while the larger size, 8X10, usually run $19.95.
Alcoholic beverages
Carbonated beverages (i.e. Coca-Cola, Sprite, etc)
Room-service
The most important thing is to...have the time of your life!
As You Disembark...
Luggage Tags:
Remove ALL old tags from your luggage, except for personal identification tags.
Make sure you have the appropriate Royal Caribbean luggage tags on your luggage (NOTE: The appropriate color-coded tags will be delivered the last evening of the cruise by your stateroom attendant).
Place each piece of luggage outside your stateroom/cabin between 7:00PM and Midnight on the last night of the cruise. NOTE: Make sure you have your luggage outside of your door, no later than Midnight, the last night of the cruise!
Make sure your do not pack your flight tickets passport/proof of citizenship, medication, and that you keep some clothes (and toiletries) out for the following day of disembarkation!
WARNING: If you have an early flight out on the day of disembarkation, you MUST notify Guest Relations at least 48 hours prior, in order to receive an early departure from the ship
SeaPass Accounts: SeaPass accounts are automatically billed to the credit card provided. A statement of your account will be delivered to your stateroom by 6:00AM, on the morning of disembarkation. If you have any questions regarding your account, please contact the Guest Relations Desk before 8:00AM. Remember: You can review, and settle your account (folio) at any time prior to the disembarkation process by using the RCTV system in your stateroom. WARNING: Hold on to your SeaPass card until you exit the cruise ship. Your SeaPass card MUST be presented to the officials IN ORDER to depart the ship at the gangway.
Gratuities: Gratuities for your Head Waiter, Waiter, Assistant Waiter, and Stateroom Attendent may have been pre-paid and included in your cruise price (check with your agent for verification). If your gratuities have been pre-paid, for your convenience, on the last evening of your cruise, your stateroom attendant will deliver vouchers AND envelopes labeled for the appropriate staff. These vouchers can be inserted into the appropriate envelopes at the end of the cruise vacation. NOTE: At our discretion, you may provide additional gratuities for your group of service staff personnel. Your generosity for their efforts is GREATLY APPRECIATED! REMEMBER: They all work extremely hard to make your cruise most enjoyable, with their renowned, Gold Anchor Service.
Disembarkation: Departure from the ship normally begins around 7:30AM, on the morning of disembarkation. PLEASE LISTEN FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH YOUR LUGGAGE TAG COLOR, as this will notify you when it is your turn to depart the ship. WARNING: The color tag announcements may not be heard very well while in your stateroom. So, in order to ensure you don't miss your "color", make sure you are in a common area (i.e. lounge, dining room, Windjammer, etc)!
Crown & Anchor Society (Royal Caribbean's Past Guest Program): Regardless if this is your first or 100th cruise with Royal Caribbean, you will be inducted into their Crown & Anchor Society, which will allow you to receive specials, coupons, and past guest promotions in the mail. In addition, the more you sail with Royal Caribbean, the better the onboard amenities. On your next cruise, remember to provide your travel agent with your Crown & Anchor number, upon completing your reservation. Upon check-in, you may be eligible for a coupon booklet, with significant discounts and offers to be used throughout the cruise! NOTE: Approximately 2 to 3 weeks after you return home, please call the Crown & Anchor department at 1-800-526-9723 to make sure your account is activated and reflects your recently completed cruise!
