The Key is an add-on program on Royal Caribbean cruises that allows any guest to obtain some VIP perks on board the ship. For a daily fee (paid in advance of sailing) cruisers who join the program will have access to several exclusive perks throughout their cruise vacation. But some Freedom Class ships that I've sailed on did just that. Insider tip: Watch online for discount options to reduce the cost of the price per day for this add-on. Since the program began in 2018, passengers have reported paying anywhere from $19.99 to over $35 per person per day. It's important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. Powered by Invision Community. I've seen it lower, and purchased once even lower than I've seen it. The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program - Cruise Critic Welcome to Chaotically Yours. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. I did not find that the time was convenient and I do not know how many people showed up. This option which is available 24 hours a day, every day has been recently offered in lieu of the complimentary embarkation lunch. Scoring an Early Boarding Time on Royal Caribbean On debarkation day, enjoy an exclusive la carte breakfast and choice departure. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-3','ezslot_15',606,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-3-0');This letter also contains your Key luggage tags, ensuring that any bags you put outside your door on the last night arrive in the designated Key section in the terminal for pickup. We can overlook the few miscommunications at the beginning of our cruise and say that overall, we really enjoyed being Key Guests during our sailings. 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. The Key advertises as offering guests that purchase special perks and access while onboard that would otherwise not be available to them. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Although the menu offerings for the new exclusive lunch are elevated compared to complimentary lunch menus, RCI no longer offers the chance for Key members to enjoy the ambiance of lunch at Chops (a benefit that normally costs $22.95 per person). The Key was something I've always purchased because I highly value these benefits: Either The Key used to include a 25% discount for specialty dining reservations --or maybe it was just some ships would add that as a benefit to boost dining sales-- but I haven't seen that in awhile. These extra benefits generally fall into the categories of saving money or time, exclusive access, or to create a sense of VIP status. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. * Carry-on bag drop off with delivery to your stateroom. However, if you check the cost which is calculated by the number of devices and which package the price of just buying VOOM as a stand-alone option is often close to the price of the entire Key package per day. However, some recent passengers report up to 200 passes sold on their cruises. You will each get one account. You aren't cheating the system, you are the earliest boarding time. Basically, it's your chance to get to the fun faster and receive VIP access to certain activities. yes, it's 1 device per key so yes, your wife will get to access 1 internet device and you will be able access 1 internet device. 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. That is a very long time to wait for a show. Here is a list of the benefits you get with The Key: The early check-in isbetween 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM. This benefit doesnt apply to docked ports, or for tendering back to the ship. Yes, for $2/day more than Voom, it's worth it because you get the boarding day lunch and debarkation breakfast. The only Key perk thats not included with any of these programs is the reserved hours for select activities. Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean The Key, with the different benefits and basics of the priority program. It is built around the. DBS MORNING SHOW & OBITUARIES 25TH APRIL 2023 APRIL 2023 - Facebook Lastly, Ive found that sometimes there are frazzled port workers who may not be familiar with the Key and just wave you into the regular line. I would also argue both attractions on Odyssey of the Seas with special times for guests with The Key have a limited appeal than other activities where it would be far more useful. There's no point arriving at the cruise centre ahead of your boarding time, because you can't board until your official time slot. *, Carry-on bag drop off with delivery to your stateroom. This was very helpful! They can frequently run in the hundreds of dollars. At tender ports, where the ship ferries passengers to shore using smaller boats, Key members can take advantage of priority boarding when going ashore. You cannot paste images directly. Some people just love the exclusive perks that the program includes, and the per-day cost is absolutely worth the money. Key members can drop those bags off with less worry about damage from rough handling. Boarding begins roughly between 10 and 11 a.m., depending on the ship's schedule and how long it takes everyone from the last cruise to debark. The Royal Caribbean Key Program guests each have a special key icon on their SeaPass card, indicating participation in the program. Full suite guests already receive many of the benefits of The Key program as part of their booking. But, be aware that all the following perks will not be available across the entire fleet. Is Royal Caribbean's "priority access" package worth the price? TPG Paste as plain text instead, 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. What's "The Key? Carry on luggage can be left in the MDR and delivered to cabin. If it seems too late in the morning, contact the cruise line to have it changed. The menu featured everything from an Express Breakfast for those in a hurry to Steak and Eggs for those who want to take a leisurely approach to their last meal onboard. Your previous content has been restored. A The Key Guests will enjoy the following exclusive benefits during their cruise vacation: Priority access during The Key designated arrival time (to be communicated via email). 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. So, check for overlaps to ensure you are not buying a perk twice! Royal Caribbean ships (especially the Oasis-class ships, like the Wonder of the Seas) are so packed with activities, restaurants, and more. Enchanted with cruising from my first voyage in the Bahamas on the SS Emerald Seas to Alaskas Inside Passage. All opinions are our own, and all costs were paid out of our pocket for this experience. Some ports may have The Key folks enter the same place as the suites. What is The Key on Royal Caribbean? Heres what The Key is (and why some cruisers like it), Royal Caribbean testing VIP guest access program. Getting an early check-in time is easy (and free) if you just. 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. I almost got shut out, as they do have a cap, and it sold out. While Royal Caribbeans Key Program doesnt give you access to any kind of upgraded WiFi or internet experience, the daily price of the VOOM package alone is well more than three quarters of what you pay for the Key program. But, (and this is an important one!) 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. ** Hi! Some are ship or itinerary specific; and others are specific to the port of embarkation. No, I bought it, mainly to cut the time I will spend on lines, for back and knees. Video: Is Royal Caribbean's The Key worth it? If one person in a stateroom buys The Key, all other passengers in that stateroom age six and over need to also purchase the 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. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Key guests are then called to get on the ship quite early in the boarding process, with just two or three VIP groups called first. There are several reasons cruise lines offer a list of add-ons to passengers. On this sailing, the price per person per day would have been a little over $12, the lowest price Ive ever heard of for the program! The other benefit is that they give you lunch at chops on boarding day and deliver fruit to your room. 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. One of the nicest benefits of the Royal Caribbean Key Program is early access or reserved seating at these shows. Also, if you are booking a suite on any of the ships, many of The Key extras might be included during your itinerary. 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. #5. Many benefits can be obtained in a different way, but without having to spend extra for it. One note about this perk: It only applies in one direction from the ship to the shore. The Key is only sold to a limited number of guests per sailing, keeping the program quite exclusive. 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. When you get to the cruise terminal, and subsequently onboard the ship, there will be special signs to indicate where guests with The Key can go. Select from a menu of (typically three) appetizers, entres, sides and desserts. On our last two cruises with Royal Caribbean, we purchased the Key Program. Join Sean and S. But it was a one and done for us. The Key could be better in certain situations, such as when sailing on Oasis or Quantum Class ships, which havemore entertainment venues where the Key can help with seating. There is a wide variety of entertainment options to enjoy during your time at sea. Our assigned boarding time is listed as 3:30, With the Key can we go earlier? Not to worry. It is $42.99/pp/day for my 5 day cruise. Matt recently did an updated review of The Key, in our post-Covid cruising world. Apparently on ships that require reservations for show, guests are allowed access early to pick their seats. We found they were never more than a handful of other guests participating in these reserved hours, and our kids got to spend a ton of time doing their favorite activities with little or no wait time in between. One of the really nice benefits of the Key Program is that you dont have to do that. If you purchased the program on a previous RCI cruise, be sure to carefully read the updated explanations of each perk listed below before you buy it for your next sailing. Arguably the most valuable perk included with the program, unlimited VOOM packages normally go for $17.99 per day for one device when purchased separately. That is, you cannot cancel it, but the cruise line can. 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. Like what you see? During our first experience with the Key program, we were with a large group and had a table to ourselves. you would have to share a device throughout the cruise. If you buy the Key for both, each person gets internet. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. We are headed out on the Oasis of the Seas from Miami on Sunday. Thank you so much for taking the time to share. Another perk that has recently changed for Key members is the availability of private hours for several of the onboard activities. The Key on Royal Caribbean is a for-a-fee program offering priority boarding, private hours at onboard activities, preferred theater seating, and more. Guests need to purchase The Key before the cruise begins on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website. VOOM Surf & Stream 1 of Device high speed internet per person who purchases the package. It takes a lot of cruise days sailed to reach these high levels. Embarkation day is here, and you arrived early at the terminal port, excited to set sail on your cruise vacation. Is the Royal Caribbean Key Program a must-do or a hard pass for your next cruise? That said, it's not worth it to me at full price. But, ever since RCI cut back on those times, the value of this perk is less than it used to be. September 2, 2010. nj. I just purchased The Key and am wondering if that will push my boarding time up. Private hours vary by ship and sailing, and the schedule is delivered to your stateroom on embarkation day. It changes just like everything else. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Royal Caribbean Key Guests get to avoid the crowds and the waiting, and experience these attractions during hours reserved exclusively for the program. Whether you need to communicate with home or you just want to use social media while youre onboard, its pretty likely that youre going to purchase an internet package during your cruise. We are sailing out of Galveston so I wonder if anyone knows how they do it there. This is just my own personal theory! 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. Posted 1 hour ago. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. What did you think of the perks? This benefit came in SUPER handy with the kids. Since we were all going to purchase the surf + stream internet packages, my parents purchased everyone The Key. The Key - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic Community Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. I think with a little bit of footwork, you can get similar results on your own and save money on your cruise vacation. With a lot of guests, the price tag for The Key could add up quickly. Your bags will be tagged and whisked away into your stateroom (rather than left in the hallway hours later). I sailed the first time with Royal Caribbean on the Oasis of the Seas this past March. If a large group of Key members and suite passengers enter just before you, it might be quicker going through a regular security line. While you may have to adjust your schedule around this, it will be worth it for the kids. I also agree that its best to eyeball the dedicated security lines as you enter the terminal. Guests could choose an appetizer, an entree, a side, and a dessert. In my experiencethe Key has always had a boarding time of 11:30 or earlier. 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. Since the cruise line requires that this program be purchased ahead of time, this can be a real money saver. Does this extra cost amenity make sense to get for your family? i always try to get the earliest boarding. The 19 Best Cruise Accessories You Need to Pack in 2023, 12 Amazing Cruise Line Private Islands to Visit in 2023 and Beyond, Royal Caribbean Caf Latte-tudes Full Menu (With Prices), Carnival Firenze Inaugural Season Opens For Bookings, Princess Cruises Announces Lavazza as Official Coffee Partner, Disney Cruise Line Announces Inaugural Sailings to Lighthouse Point, Norwegian Cruise Line Will Debut Beetlejuice The Musical Aboard Norwegian Viva, Cunard Sea Views Photo Exhibition Captures 100 Years of Cruising, https://shouldbecruising.com/privacy-policy/. All you need to know about Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas On the Cruise Critic boards, people have reported paying between $19.99 to $29.99 and even up to $37 per day for each. Lets take a look at what this program offers, and see if its worth booking for your next Royal Caribbean cruise. Also, think about the cost of excursions. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-2','ezslot_12',605,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-2-0');Cruisers who purchase The Key can enjoy unlimited high-speed internet throughout the voyage. Clear editor. The first stop you will make is to a designated drop-off room for your carry-on luggage (usually in the Main Dining Room). 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. You will have priority departure from the ship to the shore at tender ports of call. If Royal Caribbean cancels it for any reason, of course you can expect to get your money back. Rock climbing was also at 9am. Or, you might have small bags that could be damaged by the porters (have you ever watched them load up those big carts with suitcases?). Although youll be able to bypass the long lines at check-in, youll be boarding the ship (and waiting for those notoriously slow embarkation day elevators) along with everyone else. Thankfully, someone must have canceled, as I got a spot-- at full price. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. you still select a boarding time at check in but a couple weeks before the cruise you will get an email that tells you you can board with the Key at (usually 11:30 after suite guests) or keep your scheduled time. Is The Royal Caribbean Key Program Really Worth It? Boarded Wonder of the Seas almost a year after our first sailing on her. 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. What this means is that hundreds of passengers will be disembarking around the same time after the ship docks. 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. The lunch is usually served through 1pm. The priority for tendering is largely useless since Royal Caribbean ships rarely ever tender, thanks to more and more ports having piers. Dedicated seating at shows in the Main Theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B, and Two70.****. The Key includes Voom Surf and Stream access for each person, which arguably makes up the bulk of the daily cost. Since we arrived before 2 pm, we had to wait for boarding to commence at 2 pm. If you want to get your vacation started ASAP, this is an amazing perk. But I only paid an extra buck for it so no big. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. Royal Caribbean The Key solves this challenge. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. This can be confusing for guests, since Royal Caribbean indicates in several places that Key guests get priority access during their designated boarding window. These windows can range in start times from 10 am to 3 pm. If you are Diamond or higher in Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society and/or a suite guest, some benefits overlap with The Key, further reducing The Key's value. ** Carry-on luggage drop-off service is limited to two pieces per guest and can weigh no more than 25 pounds per carry-on. So if we get an earlier check-in time through the app we can opt to use that or we can use the key if it's the earlier of the two? Its quite subtle, but this tiny icon gets you all the benefits listed below. By Jodi Grundig Are Royal Caribbean Cruises All Inclusive? Early access at shows in the Main Theater on Deck 4, however a reservation is needed so don't forget to book once you're onboard. If . Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society What You Need to Know. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. I'd want to keep that stuff with me. (asking about suite too because we may upgrade to a suite and drop the key). Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Great price, I'd likely jump on it at that price too! Cruisers who have reached Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club status in RCIs Crown & Anchor Society also already get many of these perks as well. There were no lines for the water slides during our reserved hours. If youre already a suite guests or a member of the loyalty program, these perks might not be up your alley since you already get so many. Cruise terminals, as we learned during the pandemic, are . 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. New to Royal Caribbean. Also, you should be able to see when and how often the locations are reserved for Key Guests. Or the benefits are simply not as lucrative as it sounds. That is why this is our first stop). Think of it like a way to pay extra to get VIP treatment, faster access, or otherwise nice to have extras. Or, in the alternative, Royal Caribbean may offer free room service for the entirety of your cruise along with a percentage off the cost of all onboard dining.
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