Hate waiting in lines on embarkation day? Royal Caribbean is testing a new program what will allow for expedited embarkation Matt Hochberg at RoyalCaribbeanBlog is reporting.
The pilot program is being currently being tested by select individuals who qualify. Cruise lines will normally test new programs on a small scale before rolling them out fleetwide.
Passengers who qualify to test out this new expedited boarding will have “Expedited Arrival” on their mobile boarding pass. Once they arrive at the cruise terminal, they simply present their boarding pass, have their documents verified, and board the ship.
This new program being tested by Royal Caribbean sounds like it will help ease the process of embarkation day.
Over the past few years, cruise lines have begun new programs to make the boarding process easier for passengers. Carnival Cruise Line first tested staggered embarkation in October 2015 and has since rolled it out fleetwide.
Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line to drastically change the embarkation process when Quantum of the Seas debuted. On Quantum of the Seas, you could check-in online and upload a photo of yourself. When you arrived at the terminal, an agent verified your passport and boarding documents. Once you went through security, you could board the ship.
The new embarkation process was to get you from the curb to the ship in less than 15 minutes.
While Royal Caribbean has yet to release any information about this new expedited boarding program, it will likely be welcome news to frequent cruisers.
Recently did a cruise on the Allure out of Port Everglades. Registered on line with instructions just posted on Cruise Fever. Got to terminal. No one outside terminal to check our paperwork as was explained on our embarkation process. Went through standard embarkation process and when I asked about what I was told on line about new embarkation process agent said she new nothing about it. Obviously a lack of communication between corporate and local embarkation agents. Hopefully in future more communication will take place.