Agenda

Monday, December 21, 2026 — Embarkation Day

Tuesday, December 22, 2026 — Competition Day

Wednesday, December 23, 2026 — Finals and Awards

Thursday, December 24, 2026 — Return to Miami

Schedule Note:
This agenda is tentative and subject to adjustment based on final team count, ship operations, field setup, safety requirements, and Royal Caribbean venue availability.

Volunteer

The Anchors Aweigh VEX Open will need adult and student volunteers to help provide a safe, organized, and high-quality competition experience. Volunteer roles may include check-in, inspection support, queuing, field reset, scorekeeping, judging support, pit administration, and general event support.

Expected volunteer needs may include:

• Scorekeeper Referees
• Judges
• Robot Inspectors
• Team Check-In Volunteers
• Queuing Volunteers
• Field Reset Volunteers
• Pit Administration
• Emcee
• Safety / Flow Volunteers

Adults traveling with participating teams may be asked to assist with volunteer roles. Volunteer assignments and training information will be sent before the event.

Because this event takes place aboard a cruise ship, all volunteers must also be registered travelers within the official Anchors Aweigh cruise group.

Emergency/Bad Weather Policy

This event takes place aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas. Safety procedures, emergency instructions, venue access, and weather-related decisions will follow Royal Caribbean ship policies and instructions from ship personnel.

In the event of severe weather, itinerary changes, venue changes, medical emergencies, ship operational changes, or other safety concerns, the event schedule may be modified, delayed, relocated, or canceled.

Teams will be notified by email and/or onboard announcements if event changes are necessary.

Because this event is held on a cruise ship, the Event Partner will coordinate with ship staff regarding:

• Venue access
• Electrical safety
• Field setup
• Crowd flow
• Emergency procedures
• Weather-related changes
• Schedule adjustments

All participants are expected to follow instructions from Royal Caribbean staff, event staff, referees, inspectors, and safety personnel.

Refund and Payment Policies

Registering for this event is a commitment to attend and compete. Unpaid teams have 2 weeks after their registration date to make payment on events.vex.com.  Teams who fail to pay 2 weeks after registering, will be moved to the waitlist and lose their reserved spot. Contact the event partner immediately if there are payment concerns. 

If the Event Partner cancels the event: 

The VEX Events registration fee covers team entry into the robotics competition only. It does not include cruise fare, taxes, port fees, gratuities, transportation, hotels, excursions, drink packages, internet, or personal expenses.

Event registration fees paid through RobotEvents/VEX Events are subject to the refund policy listed on this page.

Team registration fees are refundable until September 30, 2026, minus any non-refundable RobotEvents/REC Foundation processing fees, if applicable.

After September 30, 2026, team registration fees are non-refundable because event planning, awards, field logistics, staffing, and ship coordination will already be underway.

Refund requests must be submitted in writing to the Event Partner.

Cruise Fare and Deposit Policy

Cruise deposits, cabin payments, cancellation penalties, travel insurance, and final payment deadlines are handled separately through Sunrise Love Travel and Royal Caribbean group booking procedures.

Cruise payments are not controlled by RobotEvents/VEX Events.

Royal Caribbean cancellation policies, group terms, and travel insurance options will apply to cruise reservations.

Travel Insurance

Travelers will be given the option to purchase travel insurance through Royal Caribbean. Travel insurance may provide future cruise credit or other benefits depending on the selected plan, timing of cancellation, reason for cancellation, and Royal Caribbean’s insurance terms.

Families should carefully review insurance details before purchasing.

If a Coach/Mentor completes registration for the event then chooses to withdraw or not attend:

The team registration fees are non-refundable because event planning, awards, field logistics, staffing, and ship coordination will already be underway.

Health and Safety Policies

The safety of students, coaches, families, volunteers, and spectators is a top priority for the Anchors Aweigh VEX Open.

Because this event takes place aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, all participants must follow the health, safety, security, and emergency procedures established by Royal Caribbean, PortMiami, the REC Foundation, VEX Robotics, and the Anchors Aweigh event staff.

General Safety Expectations

All participants are expected to:

• Follow instructions from Royal Caribbean crew members, event staff, referees, inspectors, judges, and volunteers.
• Act responsibly and respectfully in all competition, pit, dining, ship, and public areas.
• Wear closed-toe shoes in the pit area, field area, inspection area, and any robot work area.
• Keep walkways, aisles, entrances, exits, and emergency access paths clear at all times.
• Use tools, batteries, chargers, and robot equipment only in approved areas.
• Supervise students at all times according to each school’s travel and chaperone policies.
• Report injuries, unsafe conditions, damaged equipment, or concerning behavior to event staff immediately.

Cruise Ship Safety

All attendees must comply with Royal Caribbean’s onboard safety procedures, including the required muster drill, security screening, emergency instructions, and any shipwide announcements.

Participants may not enter restricted crew-only areas, backstage areas, technical spaces, or any event area that has not been approved for team use.

Royal Caribbean crew members have final authority regarding ship safety, venue access, emergency response, and onboard procedures.

Student Supervision

Each team is responsible for providing appropriate adult supervision for its students during the entire trip, including embarkation, competition activities, meals, ship activities, shore time, and disembarkation.

Anchors Aweigh event staff and volunteers are responsible for running the robotics competition. They are not responsible for serving as school chaperones or supervising individual students outside of official event activities.

Teams should establish clear expectations for curfew, buddy systems, room checks, shore excursions, meals, and student movement around the ship.

Pit and Competition Area Safety

The pit and competition areas must remain organized, safe, and accessible.

Teams should:

• Keep robot parts, tools, bags, batteries, and personal items inside their assigned pit space.
• Charge batteries only in approved charging areas.
• Use only approved chargers and power connections.
• Avoid running, horseplay, throwing objects, or unsafe behavior in pit and field areas.
• Secure loose wires, sharp edges, and robot mechanisms before inspection and matches.
• Follow all robot inspection, field access, and queuing procedures.

Any team creating an unsafe condition may be asked to stop work, leave the area, or correct the issue before continuing.

Tools, Batteries, and Electrical Safety

Teams must follow all Royal Caribbean and event-specific rules for tools, batteries, chargers, extension cords, and electrical equipment.

Power access may be limited and will be subject to ship approval. Power strips, high-draw tools, soldering irons, open flames, heat guns, and other restricted equipment may not be allowed.

Final approved tool and battery guidance will be sent to registered teams before the event.

Teams should plan to bring robots fully assembled, inspected as much as possible before travel, and packed in a way that minimizes the need for major repairs onboard.

Medical Needs and Emergencies

Royal Caribbean provides onboard medical services, but teams and families are responsible for managing their own medications, medical conditions, allergies, and travel health needs.

Coaches and parents should make sure students have any required medications, medical forms, allergy information, and emergency contact information available during the trip.

In the event of an injury, illness, or emergency, participants should immediately notify Royal Caribbean staff and Anchors Aweigh event staff.

For serious emergencies, Royal Caribbean’s onboard emergency procedures will be followed.

Illness and Communicable Disease Policy

Participants who are experiencing symptoms of illness should not attend competition activities until they are cleared according to Royal Caribbean guidance and applicable health procedures.

Symptoms may include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, persistent coughing, contagious rash, or any condition that may place others at risk.

Teams should use good hygiene practices, including handwashing, hand sanitizer, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact when sick.

Royal Caribbean health protocols in effect at the time of sailing will apply.

Shore Excursions and Port Safety

Shore excursions and time in port are separate from the robotics competition. Teams, schools, parents, and guardians are responsible for supervising students during shore time and excursions.

Participants should follow all Royal Caribbean port safety instructions, stay with approved groups, and return to the ship before the required all-aboard time.

Anchors Aweigh is not responsible for independent shore excursions, missed boarding times, or activities arranged outside of the official event schedule.

Behavior and Code of Conduct

All participants must follow the REC Foundation Code of Conduct, Royal Caribbean guest conduct policies, school conduct expectations, and event staff instructions.

Unsafe, disrespectful, disruptive, or inappropriate behavior may result in removal from competition areas and may be reported to the appropriate school, parent, guardian, Royal Caribbean security, or REC Foundation representative.

Safety Statement

Participation in this event requires cooperation from every team, coach, parent, student, volunteer, and spectator. By registering and attending, each participant agrees to follow all posted safety rules, ship policies, event procedures, and staff instructions.

The goal is simple: compete hard, travel smart, and make it home with great memories, working robots, and everybody accounted for.

Date: 21-Dec-2026 - 24-Dec-2026

Travel Info

The Anchors Aweigh VEX Open will take place aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, departing from PortMiami.

Sailing Information

Ship: Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas
Departure Port: Miami, Florida
Sailing Dates: December 21–24, 2026
Itinerary: Miami, Florida → Perfect Day at CocoCay → Nassau, Bahamas → Miami, Florida

Cruise Booking Requirement

All students, coaches, family members, and spectators attending the onboard event must be booked on the official Anchors Aweigh cruise group through Sunrise Love Travel.

Teams should first register for the robotics event on VEX Events. After registration, teams will receive cruise booking instructions.

Only the cruise deposit per person is needed at the initial cruise booking stage.

After the deposit is made, travelers will be connected to the official Anchors Aweigh group.

Required Travel Documents

All travelers are responsible for meeting Royal Caribbean’s documentation requirements. Families should review passport, birth certificate, government ID, and minor travel documentation requirements well before sailing.

Because this is an international cruise itinerary, teams should not wait until the last minute to gather documents. Last-minute paperwork panic is not a strategy. It is a full-contact sport.

Flights and Arrival

Teams traveling by air should plan to arrive in Miami early enough to board the ship on embarkation day. Flying in the day before sailing is strongly recommended for teams traveling from outside South Florida.

Hotels

Pre-cruise hotel information may be provided later for teams arriving before the sailing date.

Webcast

N/A

Judging Format

Digital Engineering Notebook Submissions / In Person Team Interviews: Team interviews will be conducted in-person at the event. Engineering notebooks will be submitted digitally for evaluation  via a link found within the "My Account" panel of the team contact on RobotEvents. A submission deadline that may be scheduled ahead of the event date.