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Review the Checklist below to see if there is anything you need to handle so your cruise experience can be as stress free as possible.
It is highly recommended that you cruise with a passport, though not strictly required for U.S. residents sailing from and returning to a U.S. port.
All guests (U.S. Citizens and non-U.S.), please review the requirements HERE
Review your passport documentation and confirm expiration date and that the name on your passport matches the legal name listed for your booking.
Review the How to Join Spiel@SEA for instructions on purchase of badges, cabins, etc. to get booked for Spiel@SEA
Before August 1, 2023,
Review the Extras to review Travel insurance, Port Transfers, Wifi, Drink/Dining Packages, and Excursions. Final opportunity to purchase these items through BGG is August 1, 2023.
We have a group contract set up at the Hyatt Place London City East - close to the train station and fun things to see and do. Our group rate is £230/night and that includes VAT, as well as breakfast each morning.
We are arriving Thursday afternoon and obviously checking out Sunday morning, getting on a pre-arranged bus for the 1-2 hour ride out to the port in Southampton.
You may leave your vehicle at the Southampton's monitored parking lot during the week. There is a fee that is handled through the port, not the cruise line. For this cruise, the Port of Southampton will have information regarding this.
We will also be arranging a shuttle transfer from our group hotel, the Hyatt Place London City East, to the port. As soon as we have the details, you will be able to purchase this directly through the Merch Link. We will not however be arranging a group shuttle after the cruise. We anticipate most will want to go straight to the airport, and that can be accomplished by purchasing a Departure Transfer via RCCL. If you need to get to another destination you will need to arrange your own taxi / Uber / Lyft.
If you are flying in the morning of embarkation you can purchase a Royal Caribbean Shuttle directly from the airport out to the cruise port here: Port Transfers
It is helpful to review the weather forecast for our port destinations, as well as the nature of your excursions to plan your packing. You may want to consider packing layers to allow for all kinds of weather and room temperatures.
Also, because this is a weeklong cruise, the cruise ship generally schedules 2 "formal" nights. On formal nights, dress recommendation is much nicer than normal - suits and ties, cocktail dresses, tuxedos, formal wear, etc.
Dress recommendations for other nights are slacks/pants, casual, business casual, but no shorts/swimwear in the dining rooms. RCCL Dress Code
Games - We will have many of the latest and greatest games from SPIEL with us onboard to get them ready for BGG.CON. If there are additional games you would like to play you are welcome to bring those yourself.
Food/Drink: What kind of food or drinks am I allowed to bring onboard? | Royal Caribbean Cruises
Prohibited Items: What Items Are Prohibited Onboard A Cruise Ship? | Royal Caribbean Cruises
Special Needs If you have any special needs that will need accommodation from the cruise line, please see here: Guest Special Needs | Royal Caribbean Cruises
We strongly recommend getting the Royal Caribbean App installed on your phone. The app provides the required emergency drill information, an up-to-date calendar of ship activities, stays on "ship time", has a map of the ship, the ability to help you book some excursions, and has a chat feature that can be used with members of your group on the cruise ship so you don't have to use cell phone data.
The Royal App is also the preferred method for "check in" beginning 45 days before (and no later than three days before) your cruise. You can review the following Royal Caribbean FAQ's regarding the check-in process:
If you have never cruised with Royal Caribbean before, please create an account on the Royal Caribbean site. The account will allow you to add your booking number (added to your badge information when we receive it). Once your cruise booking is attached to your account, you then have access to purchasing dining/drink packages, excursions, purchasing wifi packages, etc.
Your account will also have a Crown & Anchor Society number tied to it. As you cruise, you accumulate points that will increase your status and privileges in the Royal Caribbean system.
If you have any questions not answered through any of the links on this site, email us directly at events@boardgamegeek.com.