Because a Royal Caribbean cruise is so personalized, there are important things to always ask when you sail.
Royal Caribbean places such a high importance on guest satisfaction, and often you'll hear crew members asking if everything is as you expected it. This is why I think it's in your best interest as a vacationer to speak up and ask.
I understand no one wants to be a burden or be a problem for the crew. But the questions I think every passenger should ask aren't out of the realms of reasonable. It's about ensuring you're getting what you want, the way you want it.
On a recent cruise, my wife remarked to me there was an item on the Main Dining Room menu she wanted, but she didn't want anything else that came with it. I told her just ask for that one item, and sure enough, they were happy to serve it.
Here is my list of the nine questions you should always ask during your cruise to make your vacation better.
Can you help me with a problem?
Occasionally, something doesn't work the way you expect. Or there's a problem with someone or something on the ship. If that's the case, you should speak up and ask for help.
If you're disappointed with something, I'd reach out to a crew member and ask for help in remedying.
More often than not, I see people just accepting the issue as something they have to live with. A warmer-than-expected cabin, rude guest, missing amenities, or another unwanted situation is worth talking to a crew member about.
I think it's a mistake to "suck it up" and let it potentially ruin your cruise.
What you should do is try to find the crew member who can help directly with the situation. Guest Services is always a solid back-up option if you're unsure who would be best to contact.
When something breaks or you have a problem with something that's happening, this is when it's important to ask for assistance.
Can I have my food with (or without) that?
Within reason, you can have the food you order served the way you prefer it.
Food allergies and dietary needs are always a top priority for Royal Caribbean. It's why you'll be asked when you sit down at any restaurant if you have any of those requests to ensure it's taken care of immediately.
But what about if you prefer not to have gravy served on your potatoes? Or you want extra cheese spread all over your pasta? Yes, you can get those requests too.
Since many dishes in restaurants are prepared freshly, you have the opportunity to get it customized.
There is a limit, so don't expect a completely new dish option. But the crew will work very hard to ensure they can accommodate you in any way they can.
Can I reprice that because it's cheaper now?
Saving money on your cruise feels almost as good as actually going on the cruise. It's why I'll watch the price of my cruise and add-ons like a hawk.
In this age of AI pricing algorithms, Royal Caribbean's pricing can change daily. This is especially true of pre-cruise add-ons.
Luckily, you can re-price a lot of things if you're vigilant about checking for price drops.
The easiest are the pre-cruise add-ons in the app or Cruise Planner site. Drink packages, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and more can all be cancelled and rebooked up until a few days before your cruise begins.
For my upcoming cruise on Utopia of the Seas, I've saved hundreds of dollars on repricing the Royal Beach Club in Nassau with this strategy.
You should also be asking your travel agent if you can reprice your cruise fare. Depending on which country you live in, you could take advantage of a price drop before the final payment date.
Repricing is easily the top way to save money on any Royal Caribbean cruise, and it's a question I'd ask myself or my travel agent often.
What other dining choices do I have right now?
Instead of defaulting to eating in the Main Dining Room or Windjammer, always ask what else is open that you could eat at too.
On any ship, there are alternative restaurants open that could be less crowded or offer different cuisines.
An easy example is on embarkation day, when the Windjammer gets busy with everyone headed there. Instead, you could go to a specialty restaurant and have lunch there. Or grab a slice of pizza at Sorrento's, or a crepe at Aquadome Market.
You can ask a crew member for what options are available, or consult the Royal Caribbean app for a list of dining choices.
My three favorite alternative places to eat are Aquadome Market, El Loco Fresh, or Park Cafe.
All three are complimentary, rarely have lines, and offer good food without much of a wait.
Read more: 7 Royal Caribbean foods that cruisers call the line's best-kept secrets
Should I come back another time?
I freely admit patience isn't a virtue I have a lot of, so waiting in line isn't something I like to do on a cruise. To that point, I'll question if I'm better off returning later to avoid a wait.
In some cases, waiting in a line is unavoidable. If I need to be somewhere, like a shore excursion, then I'll wait my turn.
But if my plans are more flexible, I'd recommend thinking twice about leaving to return a different time.
A great example are the water slides. If the line is quite long, consider coming back in the late afternoon or evening. Or better yet, come back to the ship early from a shore excursion and take advantage of a likely less crowded ship.
Another situation that I'll spin around and try again later is if there's a line at Guest Services. You can bet any line there will eventually subside, especially during dinner or in the evening.
In some cases I'll go to a nearby bar and grab a drink and wait out the line so I can enjoy a cocktail while keeping an eye on how long the wait is.
You cannot avoid every wait on a cruise, but you might be able to have less of a wait if you're willing to reconsider when you get in line.
How are you?
Equally important to asking for help is also connecting with crew members and guests alike.
When I'm on a cruise, I'll run into my stateroom attendant, bartender, and activity host almost every day. When I do, I like to ask them how they're doing because striking up a conversation with crew members can be quite interesting.
There are a number of rockstar crew members out there, but you won't discover them without chatting with them. Not only that, I find it really interesting to hear their experiences and share in an anecdote from their day.
Crew members work hard every day, but they're not robots. They're there to greet you and provided they aren't too busy, getting to know them could be a great opportunity.
You should also feel open to asking your fellow passengers how they're doing, because making friends on a cruise ship has been quite rewarding for me over the years.
There's something communal about a cruise that lends itself to being social, and I've found a friendly question or two to spark a conversation sometimes leads to a new friend onboard.
Are my travel documents up to date?
Even before you book a cruise, you should ask yourself if you have all the proper documentation.
The first thing I check is if my passport is not only valid today, but will it expire before this cruise I'm about to book. Double check the expiration date that it will not expire before your cruise ends.
If you don't have a passport, I'd go and get one immediately.
The reason this question is important to ask is because not asking it could result in discovering all too late that your passport is expired or you don't have the right paperwork to board.
