jim620

Thanks. If Canada Place would revamp the embarkation process it would make a great beginning to a cruise. The cruise itself was fantastic. We saw a bunch of whales coming and going, also a pod of dolphins about 40-50. On the way back we saw 2 sunfish. The only minor complaint I had was the food in the buffet tended to get a little repetitive but the food in the MDR was very good. The crew did an excellent job and we had a very enjoyable time.

We had a July 30 Embark on Brilliance and it was a tiring process. We were a family of 4 with my MIL using a walker to get around. Our time was 11am but nobody checked. We first went underground to drop off our luggage and then was directed upstairs to check in with RC. Since we couldn't use the escalators we had to wait for 1 elevator. This elevator was also used by those who finished RC check-in to come back downstairs for the US customs and security so the wait was very long. Once upstairs the RC check-in was relatively quick with each cruise line afforded their own area via separate entrances. Once RC was done we were given a colored slip to indicate what cruise line we were with. However no on from this point on asked us for the colored slip. We then went back downstairs via the single elevator for US customs/Security. On the way we were told conflicting information. One attendant told us to stay as a group, then further down the queue another told us separate with one person helping my MIL in one shorter line and the rest go onto another longer line. It took about 1 hour to snake our way thru the line to finally get to US customs where there was about 20 machines that scanned your passport and took your pics. My MIL and wife who had gone onto the shorter line was waiting for us once we cleared customs. My wife told me that the Customs agent told her that we should have kept together as one group since we were family but again we did what the line attendants told us. The custom agent told my wife that there were too many "bosses" with wrong info. All in all in was a very tiring experience and lasted about 1.5 hours. At the end we were just glad to get on the ship and relax and eat lunch. I wish that they would streamline the system a little better instead of having us go here and there. But we did enjoy our Alaskan cruise immensely.

Once you login to the RC website just select "View Boarding Pass" if you completed your checkin process. From there you can get your SetSail Pass with the barcode. Then use a QR/Barcode scanner app on your phone to read the barcode and the last 4 digits after the dash will be your tentative room number. You can also get the Setsail pass from the RC app.

Just wanted to share my experience with a GTY room. We are a family of 4, booked a GTY Balcony on Brilliance of the Seas Alaska cruise departing Vancouver. Savings was close to $600 for regular balcony. Did online check-in 45 days out and on SetSail Pass deck 10 muster station E16 but no room number. Did the bar code trick which showed room 1088, which is a spacious balcony cabin. Cross our fingers that it stayed that way. Today, 30 days out, received final documents with official room number 1088 category 3B. So booking GTY did save us a good amount of money, probably more than the $600 that was stated earlier since we got a spacious balcony vs. a regular balcony. Now deciding if we want to try and switch sides since 1088 is on the Port side and going up to Alaska I assume the scenery would be on the Starboard side.

I used a desktop computer to check-in. For some reason the app wouldn't let me do check-in as it keeps hanging while showing the RC symbol. This was on two different devices, a smart phone and a tablet. As such the check-in process is relatively short if you have all your info and documents ready, took me about 15 minutes.

Thanks for all the help!

So when I go to order a soda do I show them the seapass card?

How will they know if you have a Soda Pkg?

If we get the basic soda package do we bring the free style cups to the main dining room or does the main dining room provide us with soda in their own cups/glass? What about other restaurants and cafes? I assume their will be free style machines in the buffet? Sailing on Brilliance for Alaskan cruise. Thanks.

Sailing on Brilliance for Alaskan Cruise and was wondering if I get the internet package including streaming for 1 person will I be able to use the tethering function on my phone and allow other users to connect to the internet? Also when in port will we be able to connect to our cell provider (T-Mobile) while onboard the ship or will the our cell phone still try and connect to the ships roaming signal. Thanks.

I haven't received a room assignment yet so I just placed a bid for GS and JS. If I receive a room assignment and it's not a spacious balcony can I still bid for the spacious balcony?

My family and I are sailing out of Vancouver for an Alaskan cruise. Today while browsing the RC website noticed that there was an option for Royal Up. We didn't receive an email notifying us for Royal Up however. When would be a good time to place a bid? We had booked a GTY balcony. The Royal Up options are for a Spacious Balcony, Junior Suite and Grand Suite. Should place a bid for the spacious balcony or just the JS and GS? We are also a family of 4 but the Royal Up is based on double occupancy. If we win the upgrade will the room accommodate 4? Thanks.

Thank you for all the helpful responses. This will be our second Alaska trip, first one was with Holland America. We took our previous one about 15 years ago with our 2 oldest daughters. This time we are going with our 11 year son and MIL instead. Should be a fun and hopefully relaxing trip.

Thanks for all the help. I emailed RC and got the following response. We are happy to know that you are planning to be with us onboard the Brilliance of the Seas! Kindly note that you will want your mother-in-law’s name to match the document that she will use to board the ship, in this case her Alien Residence Card (ARC). It is a good idea for her to also have her passport from Mexico with her, though this cannot be substituted for her ARC. If you have further questions, please respond and let us know. For more immediate assistance, you may also feel free to contact Royal Caribbean directly at 800-327-6700. Our agents will be happy to help!

I assume that the passport surname is based on MIL birth name and the ID and Resident Card are based on marriage name. I'm not sure MIL has a marriage certificate since MIL was married in Mexico. If I change her name to Garcia then MIL can use the passport to board?