Royal Caribbean’s Optional New Fee Goes Into Effect

Four months ago, Royal Caribbean, the world’s largest cruise line, announced a new optional fee that will allow some guests who booked a guaranteed stateroom to receive their cabin assignment quicker than ever.

This new Early Assign program from Royal Caribbean officially kicked off yesterday for guests in eligible guarantee categories with available inventory.

What Is Early Assign?

Early Assign is a new Royal Caribbean program that only affects guests who book guaranteed staterooms. The cruise line said this new program will deliver added convenience and confidence as guests prepare for their cruise.

Guaranteed cabins are the cheapest in each category of staterooms where guests are not allowed to choose their exact stateroom.

Cruise lines normally give guests who book this cheaper fare their cabin assignment a few days before the cruise.

Now, Royal Caribbean will allow guests to choose their cabin up to 85 days before their cruise for a one-time $30 fee. This will allow them to stay in cabins that are in more desirable locations on the ship.

Early Assign will be offered to eligible bookings during the following pre-sailing windows:

• Cruises three to five nights: 25-70 days prior to the sailing
• Cruises six nights and longer: 45-85 days prior to the sailing

How Does Early Assign Work?

How does Early Assign work? Guests booked in guaranteed cabins will receive communication from Royal Caribbean when Early Assign opens for their booking. If a cruiser decides to pay the one-time $30 fee, their stateroom assignment will be instantly confirmed as soon as payment is made.

The $30 is a flat rate per cabin and is not charged to every guest staying in it.

One of the really nice features about Early Assign is that a guest can change their stateroom, as long as they move to another cabin within the same category, subject to availability.

This program is currently only available for U.S. FIT bookings in select guarantee cabins. Group bookings, individual-to-group transfers, and casino bookings are not eligible.

Eligible guarantee categories include WS, XB, XQ, XN, NQ, YO, YQ, ZI, and ZQ.

The $30 Early Assign fee is non-refundable, even if a stateroom change cannot be accommodated. Also, if a cruise booking is canceled, the Early Assign fee is forfeited and not refunded, regardless of cancellation timing.