Royal Caribbean The Key - What Are the Benefits? The letter said we had early access to reserved shows and to make a reservation for the shows wed like to see. September 2, 2010. nj. 37 Cruise Tips: What to Do Before Your Cruise, The 19 Best Cruise Accessories You Need to Pack, Priority check-in and boarding on embarkation day, Carry-on bag drop off and stateroom delivery, Welcome lunch with a menu featuring Chops Grille on embarkation day, Private hours for onboard activities, including Rock Climbing, FlowRider and more, VIP seating for shows in the Main theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B, and Two70, Exclusive la carte breakfast on disembarkation day, Choice of departure time at disembarkation. There will be food options when you board. All rights reserved. Weve always enjoyed this luncheon. If youre already planning to buy WiFi, The Key might make sense depending on how many devices you want to activate. In order to be a Key Guest, anyone over the age of six in your stateroom must buy this benefits package. Final Notes on Royal Caribbean - The Key The Basics of Royal Caribbean - The Key This cruise line's optional add-on called The Key is a relatively new program. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? I take that to mean if you have a 12 pm boarding time, you'll "jump ahead" of others with a 12 pm boarding time. You could book a full suite, which is way out of the price range of the average cruiser. A full list of benefits will be given to you once you board the ship with ship-specific benefits. It is way overpriced. **, Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring The Key signature menu.***. Be sure to check out these resources when youre planning a Royal Caribbean cruise: Have you bought The Key on a Royal Caribbean cruise? However, some RCI ships have started offering Fast Track boarding when returning to the ship, and Key members are eligible. If you dont see it, ask your Stateroom Attendant or go to Guest Services to apply the icon. Harmony of the Seas | Boarding the Ship & The Key Program | Royal I see that with The Key, the boarding time is between 11:30-12:30. Key guests are asked to be at the terminal early, so as not to miss the embarkation lunch. Crew often opens up the VIP seating area to all passengers a few minutes before the show begins. The Key - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic Community Then again, Royal Caribbean wants you to arrive45minutesearly to the theater, which seems to negate the point of having a reserved seat, in my opinion. RCI currently offers The Key on all sailings on all ships except for Quantum of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas. We got really lucky on the Allure last fall where the Key was $16.99 pp so we got it. It changes just like everything else. Does the price ever drop or does it stay the same? All opinions are our own, and all costs were paid out of our pocket for this experience. This option which is available 24 hours a day, every day has been recently offered in lieu of the complimentary embarkation lunch. Complimentary room service for your entire cruise, along with 25% off all onboard dining purchases. It is only sold to a limited number of passengers ahead of time for reasons we will explore below. The VROOM Surf & Stream package and a meal at Chops Grille are the only two benefits that are eligible for purchase individually. But, (and this is an important one!) When you get to the port there will be plenty of signs and dedicated lines for the Key. Passengers can drop off up to two pieces per person, and items cant weigh more than 25 pounds. Holding at $35.99 for our upcoming 6 night! I almost got shut out, as they do have a cap, and it sold out. So for a 4 day cruise, to purchase the Key Package for two people, you can expect to spend around $200. 1 hour ago, madoris said: I have a 4 day cruise booked for nov. , the price for the key $36.99 per day. This benefit came in SUPER handy with the kids. Playing the "waiting game" for a price drop can be dangerous if you really want The Key. You could book the cheapest inside guarantee stateroom, but have access to lots of the benefits that suite and high-level loyalty members enjoy. The steepest discounts come closer to sailing IF bookings are soft and they want to fill space. Erin103 The program wont be available to buy once youre on board the ship. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_11',603,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Additionally, the private hours take place during off-peak times. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Posted on Last updated: September 25, 2022. On debarkation day, enjoy an exclusive la carte breakfast and choice departure. Worked out to be about $80 more than what I had paid for a 2 device internet package. The Key is a program that provides Royal Caribbean International guests with premier access to exclusive experiences during their cruise vacation. Carryon has the things I absolutely need to survive just in case my other portered luggage goes swimming, or on a different ship than me for some reason. Royal Caribbean ships (especially the Oasis-class ships, like the Wonder of the Seas) are so packed with activities, restaurants, and more. Doesn't giving the luggage to the porters outside the ship do the same thing, only better since you'd drop off your luggage earlier in the process. (Bring your receipt, just in case). However, this benefit has recently changed. Apparently on ships that require reservations for show, guests are allowed access early to pick their seats. There are several reasons cruise lines offer a list of add-ons to passengers. Once purchased, you will see a special image of a key on your SeaPass when you check-in for boarding. We even had an entire Key Program booking canceled and our money refunded to us before sailing with no explanation. I also agree that its best to eyeball the dedicated security lines as you enter the terminal. Select from a menu of (typically three) appetizers, entres, sides and desserts. According to one R&M Manager (that's the person on board responsible for overseeing The Key Program) being personally escorted to the front of the disembarkation line --literally to the Security Officer who scans the SeaPass-- was never a benefit. On the flip side, you should always keep in mind that these benefits are subject to change at any time, and frequently do for any number of reasons. This cruise lines optional add-on called The Key is a relatively new program. Hi! Carnival Cruise Line Explains Controversial Beverage Policy Can we use whichever one is better? But, given that many of the Key perks are also shared by suite and elite loyalty members, they might adjust the number of passes based on how many of those passengers plan on sailing. We are sailing out of Galveston so I wonder if anyone knows how they do it there. For the FloRider, only about five or six Key Guests were taking advantage of the reserved hours, our son got to experience it over and over again with very little wait time. Royal Caribbean's The Key review | Royal Caribbean Blog While this may not occur during your particular cruise, everyone will be glad of this benefit if it does. Since we were all going to purchase the surf + stream internet packages, my parents purchased everyone The Key. Pricing for the Key starts at $24.99 per guest per day, depending on the ship. On our first sailing with the Royal Caribbean Key Program, there was a designated area for Key guests to wait in the terminal for their turn to board. You will get an email with instructions, usually anyone with the Key can arrive between 11:00-11:30 no matter what your boarding time is. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. Once you've done these things, sit back and enjoy your cruise! But, cruisers who buy The Key dont have access to lots of perks that elite loyalty members have. On debarkation day, enjoy a private la carte breakfast and choice departure. It had its pros For my next cruise in July I decided to cancel the key because I did not feel that it was worth that much money as we would not need to use priority boarding or disembarkation. What did you think of the perks? Some of the updated information had changed, like the location of our welcome lunch, but other instructions were just flat out incorrect. I really hope you didn't buy The Key just for the. Politics latest updates: NHS 'on the brink' says nursing union; 10% Many benefits can be obtained in a different way, but without having to spend extra for it. One thing I wonder about with The Key. I tried The Key out again on an Odyssey of the Seas cruise in 2021 to get a sense of what to expect for anyone sailing in 2022 and beyond. There are only a certain number of days and many fun things to do on board the ship and, standing in line is certainly not one of them! Purchasing the extras that come with this program can be added to any number of other add-ons to create just the right cruising experience for you and your family. The VOOM family plans come with a significant discount if youre purchasing for three or more devices, so it may be cheaper to just buy the WiFi. Other benefits may apply at specific ports. Manage Settings Guests could choose an appetizer, an entree, a side, and a dessert. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! Or is the only benefit: priority embarkation mean you have your own line to enter terminal as opposed to the masses. Don't forget you have to buy The Key for all guests in the room over the age of 6, whether they will use all the benefits or not. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. On my canceled October 2020 repositioning cruise aboard Brilliance of the Seas, RCI was running a 45% off sale. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. I think with a little bit of footwork, you can get similar results on your own and save money on your cruise vacation. Does this mean that it doesn't matter what our boarding time we get when we check in? With scheduled boarding times the key check in process is the same time wise as regular boarding. It is available on most of the ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet with the current exceptions of Majesty of the Seas, Voyager Class Ships and Quantum Class Ships. As for food, c'mon.its a cruise.you are not going to starve. Nobody likes lugging their carry-on luggage around the ship after they board while waiting on their state room to be ready. And wine. During our cruise, there was a reserved section for Royal Caribbean Key Program Guests. . If youre traveling with a group in more than one cabin, group members in another room that havent purchased The Key wont be able to join you for preferred boarding, exclusive dining, or in the preferred seating at shows. There's no point arriving at the cruise centre ahead of your boarding time, because you can't board until your official time slot. On 3/5/2022 at 10:58 PM, brillohead said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Special Event: Q&A with Rudi Schreiner, President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner - AmaWaterways River Cruises, Q&A with Avoya Travel: Learn How to Turn Your Passion into Success by Becoming an Independent Travel Advisor. Full suite guests already receive many of the benefits of The Key program as part of their booking. Where to Get Coffee on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Having the higher end internet package included with the Key program is one of our favorite benefits. When The Key program was first rolled out, one of the perks was an exclusive embarkation day lunch at Chops Grille or Jamies Italian specialty restaurants. Much, much better value for 2 extra dollars per day! Thank you so much for taking the time to share. What are the Benefits of The Key Program? | Royal Caribbean Cruises Think of it like a way to pay extra to get VIP treatment, faster access, or otherwise nice to have extras. Keep in mind, though, that there will not be an option to get Royal Caribbean The Key when you board or at any time during your cruise. (Family plans are available at a discount for additional devices.). For example, if VOOM by itself is around $20/day (for one device for one person) and The Key is $25/day (for the same) and you definitely need WiFi, then you are getting all the other Key perks for only $5/day in our example. Cruisers looking to skip the long lines, especially for tender ports, might get a lot of value out of the package. The Key certainly sounds like a good investment for a lot of cruises, especially those new to Royal Caribbean, because it offers benefits and access that might not otherwise be available to them at all. A couple reasons, first off, I needed the internet since unfortunately need to work a little bit during the week. There is a wide variety of entertainment options to enjoy during your time at sea. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_18',609,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');Royal Caribbean hasnt announced a current policy for how many passes theyre now offering on any given sailing. You will get an email with instructions, usually anyone with the Key can arrive between 11:00-11:30 no matter what your boarding time is. Rock climbing was also at 9am. For a prepaid fee, guest can access benefits that are usually reserved for suite guests or member of Royal Caribbean's loyalty program. I really hope you didn't buy The Key just for the earlier boarding time it's really not worth the money, IMO, unless the price for The Key was within a dollar or two of the price for Voom. As for Sales/Price Drops, as with most other add-ons, there's no reason for RCI to drop prices for cruises far in the future: However, when there's a big sale on everything, The Key will be discounted, though not necessarily a great discount. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, the lunch by Chops during embarkation day (this way underwhelming), luggage drop off at main dining room during embarkation day, Room service (according to the letter this was free), Priority Time at activities- these were at 9am, which is not a time that I normally wear a bathing suit to ride some waves. I'd want to keep that stuff with me. I bought The Key for my upcoming sailing on Harmony 5/1. But our sailing wasnt taking reservations for shows at all, so there was lots of confusion among Key Guests about this.