Cruising the Canary Islands with Royal Caribbean

If there is no Solos Tour Leader on board due to low numbers, don’t worry you can join the Royal Caribbean-hosted meetups for solo travellers on the ship, which is a great way to meet others on board. Details will be posted at reception, on your Stateroom TV or in the daily newsletter, The Cruise Compass,  which is delivered each evening to your stateroom listing all activities for the following day.

Each guest is permitted to carry a reasonable amount of personal property (including luggage) aboard the vessel; however, for your comfort and convenience, it is recommended that you limit the number of pieces you take.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF YOU SRE ON A FLY-CRUISE YOU WILL BE RESTRICTED TO THE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE OF YOUR AIRLINE.

Each guest has the option to carry their luggage on board or check-in luggage prior to boarding. Luggage may include suitcases, trunks, valises, satchels, bags, hangers containing clothing, toiletries and similar items. Here are some recommendations for packing only cruise essentials.

We recommend that guests personally carry any boarding documentation such as passports, visas, citizenship documents and family legal documents plus all medications. To minimize the potential for diversion or loss of medications, we advise that all medications remain in their original, labelled prescription containers. It is also advisable to pack at least three days of extra medication in the event of an unexpected change in the itinerary of the voyage. It is also a good idea for guests to pack a small carry-on bag with a change of clothes, and bathing suit. That way they don’t have to wait for their checked bags to arrive in their stateroom.

Luggage may be locked only with a TSA approved lock.

Any carry-on luggage must be able to fit through the x-ray screening machines. These machines vary in size from port to port, however generally they are similar to those found at airport security check points. Guests wishing to carry their luggage with them during boarding should note that their stateroom may not be immediately available to store their luggage.

The Royal guest document (eDocs – electronic document) issued includes a bag tag specific to the guest ship, sailing date, stateroom and deck number. The bag tag also provides information on how it should be used. In addition, generic bag tags are available at the pier on the day of boarding.

When you’re onboard, the right look will vary by venue. But here are a few types of suggested attire you’ll see, grouped by item.

Casual: You’re on vacation – relax! Jeans, polos, sundresses and blouses are all the right amount of laid back. Please keep swimwear to the Pool Deck. Shorts are welcomed for breakfast and lunch.
Smart Casual: Think of this as a step up from your typical dinner wear. Dress to impress with collared shirts, dresses, skirts and blouses, or pantsuits. Jackets, sports coats and blazers are snazzy and welcomed.
Formal: Make it a night out in your best black-tie look – suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns. There can be 1-3 formal nights during a sailing and is at the ship’s discretion.
Formal nights:

3/4/5 night cruises – usually on Day 2
6 night cruises – usually on day 2 and 5
7 night cruises – are usually on Day 2 and 6
Oasis and Allure use Day 2 and 5 on Western itineraries and Day 2 and 6 on Eastern itineraries.

Please note that bare feet are not allowed at any time in any venue and tank tops are not permitted in the Main Dining Room or Specialty Dining venues for dinner.

In order to board the ship, guests will need to bring the following documents:

Health Status Questionnaire: to be completed on the Royal Caribbean app before you board.

Government Identification: Accepted forms of identification vary based on nationality, departure port and disembarkation port. See details below to learn what forms of identification are accepted.

Travel Visas (if applicable): Visa requirements vary depending on nationality and the country you are sailing from, see guidance here.

Accepted Forms of Identification

All guests will also need a form of identification to board the ship. Accepted forms of identification vary based on nationality, departure port and disembarkation port.

Accepted Identification for International Guests (non-U.S. Citizens):

Europe sailings: National ID cards issued in the European Union (EU) & European Economic Area (EEA) are accepted for travel to Schengen countries only and must be valid for at least three months from the return date. Some itineraries may include a port of call outside the Schengen area. For those sailings, national ID cards will not be accepted, and passports are required for travel.
EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

UK citizens (including children and infants) must have their own full 10 year (5 year for children) passport with at least 3 months validity from the end of the cruise on sailings in the EU (Schengen area). On sailings leaving the EU (Schengen area): passport must be valid for 6 months after return home.
For further passport, visa and health advice for your destinations please visit the FCO (UK) or DFA (Ireland) websites, have a look at our visa page* or refer to our Booking Conditions.

EEA countries: The EEA includes EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland is not an EU or EEA member but is part of the single market.

For US Sailings: Non-US Citizens will require a passport valid at least 6 months after your cruise ends and the necessary visa for entry into the United States. On Transatlantic and Transpacific sailings European and Chinese guests will require ESTA (Europe) and EVUS (China). ESTAs are mandatory for everyone travelling to the US. You must apply for an ESTA no later than 72 hours before departing for the United States. Real-time approvals are not available and arriving at the airport without a previously approved ESTA will likely result in being denied boarding.

For International Sailings: Non-US Citizens will require a passport book valid at least 6 months after your cruise ends and the supporting visa for entry and exit from the country, if applicable.
For cruises departing Australia calling into only Australian ports, Australian citizens require either a valid passport or government issued pictured and laminated ID card to be used as identification. Children aged 17 years and under will require a passport or Birth Certificate to travel or government issued photo ID. Children under 16 years of age, who do not have a passport or Photo ID, must have a copy of their birth certificate or their parents Medicare Card.
For all other nationalities, a passport (plus visa if needed in Australia) is required.

Your cruise documents will be released from 50 days prior to sailing, but it can depend on all parts of the booking being correct and, if not, they may not be released until nearer the cruise. As you have reserved your cruise through Solos, your cruise documents are sent to them, assuming your reservation is finalised and your payments have been made.

Yes. Just like some land-based hotels, guests can expect to see an initial $99.75 pending charge or authorisation on their credit card. This pending amount is used to secure funds for anticipated onboard purchases. Purchases made onboard over the initial $99.75 will generate additional holds. While the holds aren’t charges, they do reduce your available credit. Most holds are released by the time your cruise ends and final charges are settled; however, some may take up to 30 days. Royal Caribbean International® doesn’t control how long the holds remain, your bank or financial institution determines the duration of these holds. If you register a card and change to another card or cash during your sailing, you may still see holds on the original card.

An Onboard Expense Account, also known as your Seapass® onboard account, is the cashless system used for all onboard purchases and services. Depending on your ship, SeaPass cards are handed out at the pier or will be in your stateroom waiting for you.

The account can be set-up with either a credit card, debit card or as a cash account during check-in or at the pier. For each purchase made onboard the ship you will receive a receipt. A preliminary statement will be delivered to your stateroom on the day prior to the final morning of your cruise vacation for your review. A final statement will be e-mailed to you shortly after departing the ship on the last day of your cruise.

If you set up your account with a card, shortly after departing the ship on the last day of your cruise, Royal Caribbean International® will automatically post the final charge to your card on file. Guests on a cash account will need to settle their statement onboard prior to disembarking.

Important Information:

Throughout the cruise, daily authorisations (holds) will be placed on your card to ensure funds are available for your purchases. If you register a card and change to another card or cash during your sailing, you may still see holds on the original card. While the holds aren’t charges, they do reduce your available balance. Most holds are released within 3 to 5 business days, however, depending on your bank this may take up to 30 days. Royal Caribbean International does not control how long the holds remain as the length of time is determined by your financial institution.

When it’s time to check in, we recommend you use the Royal Caribbean app to check in. The app provides a quick and easy check-in process so you can start your vacation sooner. Updates include:

Your arrival time at the terminal – a scheduled arrival time at the terminal on your sail date
The required Health Questionnaire – only available in advance in the app
Our reimagined Safety Briefing – Simply tap the Safety icon on the homepage to launch the Safety Briefing, whether you’re in the terminal or you’ve just stepped onboard, to complete the first steps of the Safety Briefing before heading to your assigned Assembly Station. Remember all guests must complete the Safety Briefing before the ship can sail.
Extended app check in window – Check in using the app until 8am the morning of your sailing
As before, guests may also check in using our website up to 48 hours before sailing. Guests must complete check in, however, using the app or at the terminal. We highly recommend completing check in using the app for the easiest, fastest, and complete check-in experience.

Royal Caribbean International requires guests to be checked in no later than 60 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time*. Guests arriving late will not be permitted to sail.

Once you have completed the Check-In process at the terminal, your SetSail Pass will become activated in the App for boarding.

Yes, each one of our rooms is provided with a hairdryer to style your hair.

Yes, you can bring along your curling irons and hair straighteners, so you can choose between the tousled beach look and smouldering poker straight hair.

On sailings from the UK there’s a kettle in your stateroom. We also include tea bags and milk. Coffee is available to order from room service.

For safety concerns self-service laundry facilities are not provided onboard our ships, but we do offer washing, pressing and dry cleaning services. We do not provide irons in the staterooms as they constitute a fire hazard.

We also run wash and fold specials during the voyage. This is an additional service offered beyond our regular laundry service. Guests can now send smaller clothing items to be washed and folded for the fixed amount of $34.99 per bag. Fit as much as you can into the bag provided for you and we’ll take care of the rest. Please ask your stateroom attendant for more information. Availability may vary.

* All prices are in US. Dollars and are subject to change without notice.

There are 2 options to stay connected while onboard.

1. VOOM Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi) All you need is a wireless device with wifi capability.

2. Wired (iCafes) Internet stations are available onboard, the location of which vary depending on the ship.

VOOM is available onboard all ships fleetwide. Prices for internet access vary and are subject to change. Log on to the to the network “”royal-wifi”” using your device, open your browser and follow instructions to log on.

All Royal Caribbean ships are equipped with North American standard, 110 volts AC and standard European 220/230 volts AC plug outlets.

The Cruise Compass keeps you in-the-know about everything there is to see and do both onboard and off. Think show times, restaurant open times, when and where bingo will be played, and what shops have sales. It also provides details about the amazing ports you’ll visit and so much more. Don’t leave your stateroom without it! It’s easy to pack into your bag or pocket so that you don’t skip a beat! Plan your cruise your way and enjoy everything your ship has to offer. The Cruise Compass is placed in your stateroom each evening for the following day.

Also, on select ships, your Cruise Compass will be loaded onto the Royal Caribbean International App. This way you can plan your time onboard straight from your mobile device! Check out the App Store or Google Play to download the app.

Here are some things you need to know about those moments just after you hop onboard.

Head to your Assembly Station to confirm with the shipboard team that you have successfully completed your mandatory safety training on our Royal App. If you did not complete it prior to embarking, we will make a simple and easy demonstration so you can begin your vacation as soon as possible and feeling safe.

Enjoy a meal at our different available venues before heading to your stateroom.

If the spa or fitness classes are your thing, we suggest making your appointments on the first day, as the most popular treatments and times fill up fast.

Quench your thirst onboard with a beverage package. The ultimate in convenience and value, pay one set price and enjoy a vacation of endless refreshment.

If specialty dining is more of your thing, check out our dining packages where you can experience several unique restaurants and enjoy great savings.

Why spend your time at the airport when you can continue your adventure onboard? With our new Stay Awhile program, extend the last day of your cruise and remain on the ship enjoying all your favorite amenities, making even more vacation memories.

* The Stay Awhile program is available on select Europe sailings only.

There are limited currency conversion options onboard, however we do accept most major currencies and convert them to US dollars with applicable conversion rates, and at a limit of USD $950 per person per day. There are not always exchange facilities available or open in the ports.

NB: CURRENCY ON BOARD IS USD.