When The Key program first launched, RCI limited the passes to 100 passengers per cruise. Luggage dropped with the porters curbside can arrive to room as late at 7pm, and there's a greater chance it's mishandled or misdelivered. 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. ", https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-key-program. 20% off at all specialty restaurants, when you make the reservation on Day 1 of the sailing. Does this extra cost amenity make sense to get for your family? Even if you have an earlier time, still use the key lines. We are so excited . We had it in January because it wasn't too much more expensive than the internet and we enjoyed having it. * Priority access will not be offered in Vancouver, Canada, or at any ports in Australia. What we did find was that the meal was quite good. Activities like the FlowRider, the rock climbing wall, water slides, and such often involves SUPER long lines, and cruisers only get to experience them once or twice during their open hours. An attendant will place a special luggage tag with your stateroom number on it to make sure it gets placed in your room. Youll be able to stream or download movies and music, or make FaceTime or Skype calls on the ship and on RCIs private island CocoCay. Additionally, priority check-in and boarding are not available in Vancouver or at any ports in Australia, so keep this in mind if youre cruising from these locations. Hi! One of the nicest benefits of the Royal Caribbean Key Program is early access or reserved seating at these shows. Choose to upgrade the complimentary continental breakfast; order a light lunch; and, have an entire dinner sent to your room. But I only paid an extra buck for it so no big. Just by flashing your SeaPass, Key members can take advantage of lots of benefits that the vast majority of RCI cruisers dont have. My assigned boarding time is 1:00. It is only sold to a limited number of passengers ahead of time for reasons we will explore below. On the final day of the cruise, you will notice folks demonstrating some of the same hectic and hurried behaviors that you saw on day one. Since 2018, when The Key was rolled out as a pilot program on select ships, some benefits have been modified. Upload or insert images from URL. The Key - Boarding Time Question - Royal Caribbean Discussion - Royal Why would someone want to drop their carry-on luggage off at The Key location? Rather than queuing for (possibly) hours, you will be taken to an exclusive area reserved for Key Guests, loyalty program members and those who booked suites. With a lot of guests, the price tag for The Key could add up quickly. The first stop you will make is to a designated drop-off room for your carry-on luggage (usually in the Main Dining Room). So you'll want to spend some time exploring the different things you can experience while onboard. There is a wide variety of entertainment options to enjoy during your time at sea. Please Note: The Key may not be available during all sailings, and some amenities/benefits may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. But if youre booking shore excursions directly through RCI, youll already have priority tendering for those excursions. This benefit only applied to the main theater and the ice show. The latter is the only circumstance where you will receive a full refund. I just bought is for $22.99. We were surprised that Royal Caribbean didnt take the time to avoid this confusion by simply updating this letter for their Key guests. Welcome to Chaotically Yours. Suites were told they have a one-hour leeway on either side of their schedule arrival time. If Royal Caribbean cancels it for any reason, of course you can expect to get your money back. Royal Caribbean's The Key review | Royal Caribbean Blog That is why this is our first stop). But, cruisers who buy The Key dont have access to lots of perks that elite loyalty members have. Not sure if even the most vocal supporter of the VIP pass would say it makes sense financially at that price. But on an RCI cruise, theres a way to get these perks without spending lots of cash on a suite or waiting years to build up your loyalty status: The Key! Access to the fast lane at onboard activities (activities vary by ship)and private time at the Flowrider. In addition, your SeaPass card will have a special sticker to easily identify yourself as having The Key. I know I carefully pack my embarkation day bag with exactly what Ill need for the day plus any valuables I need to keep an eye on. (2023). You might not be interested in trying the FlowRider at 9 AM, or climbing the rock wall at 5 PMbut those are common times for Key private hours. Ultimately, the value of this program is subjective. Powered by Invision Community. Carry on luggage can be left in the MDR and delivered to cabin. Enchanted with cruising from my first voyage in the Bahamas on the SS Emerald Seas to Alaskas Inside Passage. This is understandable, since limiting super-popular activities to a small number of guests during the busiest hours could anger a lot of cruisers. There is currently no special seating in nightclubs and other smaller gathering event spaces. Royal Caribbean ships (especially the Oasis-class ships, like the Wonder of the Seas) are so packed with activities, restaurants, and more. Royal Caribbean's VIP-access program, The Key, is being offered again on cruise ships and you might be wondering if it's worth it. This Surf + Steam VOOM would be the other reason why you would get the Key for your next cruise. Since I'd purchase a one device internet package otherwise, it's really about the price differential. It is way overpriced. Since we arrived before 2 pm, we had to wait for boarding to commence at 2 pm. Be sure to check out these resources when youre planning a Royal Caribbean cruise: Have you bought The Key on a Royal Caribbean cruise? By Arriving after 11:30 you would have priority in your scheduled arrival time window. On disembarkation day, Key members can enjoy an exclusive breakfast in the main dining room before leaving the ship. In my experience, I found the benefits sound a lot better on the surface than they really are. The Key program was first introduced in 2018, and this package add-on must be purchased prior to boarding via Royal Caribbean. You should see signs and there will be attendants there to handle the luggage. Heres what The Key is (and why some cruisers like it), Royal Caribbean testing VIP guest access program. On my canceled October 2020 repositioning cruise aboard Brilliance of the Seas, RCI was running a 45% off sale. 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. That is, you cannot cancel it, but the cruise line can. So I cancelled the Voom and purchased The Key. Some of the terminals have dedicated suite entrances. Perk number five is also a continuous benefit throughout your whole itinerary special sections of reserved seating. Learn about these types of VIP benefits for your specific ship in the welcome letter, which you will receive when boarding. From his, Royal Caribbean's VIP guest experience, The Key, offers some perks and benefits not available to other guests onboard. An important point to know is that you must buy it prior to sailing. Everything else gets dropped off with the porters outside the terminal. If your Key says that then take screenshots. Look for signs in the cruise terminal on embarkation day and around the ship, or let a crew member know that you have The Key to take advantage of your benefits. The letter said we had early access to reserved shows and to make a reservation for the shows wed like to see. But, ever since RCI cut back on those times, the value of this perk is less than it used to be. Passengers can drop off up to two pieces per person, and items cant weigh more than 25 pounds. The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program - Cruise Critic November 15, 2022 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. Im a wife, a mom, a crafter, a Disney fan, and a french fry connoisseur. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Rockaway NY,Sonoma County,Ca. It changes just like everything else. Of course, this benefit lasts just 2 hours on the first day of the cruise, so the value is quite limited. All you need to know about Royal Caribbean Spectrum of the Seas Does this mean that it doesn't matter what our boarding time we get when we check in? 10 Rookie Cruise Mistakes to Avoid When Booking, Cruise Sweepstakes You Can Enter to Win a Free Cruise! Since you have carefully chosen your favorite vessel, you may already know the details. This was very helpful! We got really lucky on the Allure last fall where the Key was $16.99 pp so we got it. Hiya! Politics latest updates: NHS 'on the brink' says nursing union; 10% I thought "The Key" (now VIP Pass) was a nice option. In addition to reading through the options for drink packages, specialty dining, shore excursions, professional onboard photos and videos, stateroom locations and other items, consider a hybrid program like Royal Caribbean The Key. Can't forget the wine! Flying Wish Paper: How To Make Your Own With Things You Already Have! When you receive your SeaPass card, you should see a small decal on the front indicating that youre a Key member. I just don't think you're going to get the bang for your buck that you think you will. 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. The lunch is usually served through 1pm. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. This cruise lines optional add-on called The Key is a relatively new program. Although RCI advertises the cost of The Key on a per-day basis, cruisers must purchase the program for all days of a sailing. On our last two cruises with Royal Caribbean, we purchased the Key Program. A 9am Flowrider time and a 4pm rock wall session are both times of the day where competition for these venues is less to begin with. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! Is the Royal Caribbean Key Program a must-do or a hard pass for your next cruise? On the other hand, the only time I say its totally okay to arrive super early to port is if you have one of the first check-in times. Royal Caribbean does set some limits with this perk. The Reality of Royal Caribbean and Carnival Marijuana Policies. We much preferred this meal instead of fighting our way through the buffet along with every other passenger onboard the ship. is The Key worth it? : r/royalcaribbean - Reddit Held in a specialty venue for Key holders (usually the main dining room), you can either take your luggage with you or leave it safely to be picked up on your way off the ship. You can def check in later, though, whatever you prefer. 2K views, 27 likes, 7 loves, 18 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Dbstvstlucia: DBS MORNING SHOW & OBITUARIES 25TH APRIL 2023 APRIL 2023 No. Let me know in the comments below! If you buy the Key for both, each person gets internet. If youre thinking about purchasing the program, its a good idea to check around this time because it does tend to sell out. In this day and age, having access to the internet is pretty vital on a cruise. 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. As always though, if it's something you want, book now and cancel/rebook later if you find it cheaper or decide it isn't for you! We have a RoyalCaribbeanBlog video today, discussing the merits of if The Key program is worth the money!The Key offers, If you have a Royal Caribbean cruise booked, then you probably have logged into the Cruise Planner website to peruse, Guests sailing on Symphony of the Seas this week noticed a new option to allow select guests faster boarding back, Royal Caribbean is testing out a newlimited quantity VIP guest experience on select Liberty of the Seas and Oasis of, Is The Key worth it? No sense dropping off your carry on if you board after the rooms are available. Key members can drop those bags off with less worry about damage from rough handling. Select from a menu of (typically three) appetizers, entres, sides and desserts. During our cruise, there was a reserved section for Royal Caribbean Key Program Guests. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We never found this experience to be very a la carte, since a specific menu was given to us each time. Royal Caribbean Embarkation Tips for Your First Day Is Royal Caribbean's "priority access" package worth the price? TPG Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. 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. That said, it's not worth it to me at full price. definitely. Although the internet quality isnt fantastic, its super helpful for communicating with people at home and other people on board the ship. The menus (ship specific, of course) are generous with options. I couldnt imagine why anyone would carry on a bag, only to check it soon after boarding! For an extra price per day/per person, passengers can purchase The Key to enjoy nicer extras before, during and at the end of the cruise. don't know what your cabin category is but if in a suite, you really don't need key if you want to board early. Each of you can use however many devices you wish, but you can each only be logged into one device at a time (hopefully that makes sense). But information emailed to us just a few short days before instructed us to arrive early. Drop off your carry-on luggage in the Main Dining Room on Deck 3 by 2:00 PM - your carry-on luggage will be hand delivered to your stateroom. I think that price is bat-poo crazy. It is built around the concept of VIP treatment with exclusive benefits for anyone sailing on all the ships across their fleet. Royal Caribbean's internet service, known as VOOM, is well-known for being very fast. But, since RCI allows passengers to carry on limited amounts of non-alcoholic drinks and bottled wine (see my post about carrying on beverages for their current rules), you probably wont want to be carrying those around with you all day. I'm glad I saw your post. You will each get one account. My family is headed out on Oasis in June 2023. Having the higher end internet package included with the Key program is one of our favorite benefits. VOOM Surf & Stream package, now including high speed internet, for one device (1 package per guest). Every single night you have a wide range of choices for evening festivities from Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals, ice skating and aqua theater shows, and live concerts. Additionally, you will once again be the beneficiary of a reserved time to go ashore; also included with this final perk. Perk number seven! September 2, 2010. nj. Perk number two! 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. Priority departure from ship-to-shore at tender ports. I think with a little bit of footwork, you can get similar results on your own and save money on your cruise vacation. Attendants will deliver it directly to your stateroom. What to Know Before Your Cruise | Royal Caribbean Cruises How To Purchase Still need help? If . 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. This letter will list updated information about reserved hours for activities and info about reservations for show. Insider tip: Watch online for discount options to reduce the cost of the price per day for this add-on. The Key - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic Community The system will time out after 30 minutes, so double check that you have everything below for each guest in your group before starting. The other benefit is that they give you lunch at chops on boarding day and deliver fruit to your room. While not quite on par with a dining experience youll get in one of the specialty restaurants on board the ship, the food was definitely better than anything we found at the buffet or in the main dining room during our cruise. I used the Key a few years ago and liked it. The search will resume at first light on Friday morning local time. The Key is an add-on program on Royal Caribbean cruises that allows any guest to obtain some VIP perks on board the ship. Internet access on Royal Caribbean is not cheap, and if you were already going to buy a wifi package, sometimes the additional cost to get The Key is not much more. Read Also: How Long Does It Take to Get Off a Cruise Ship? Please Note: The Key may not be available during all sailings, and some amenities/benefits may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Lunch on Day 2 for ships sailing from Seward or Vancouver. Since we were all going to purchase the surf + stream internet packages, my parents purchased everyone The Key. I had it a few weeks ago. One of the perks is lunch but if we go that late, we would miss that. A premium section of each of the larger venues on each ship is reserved for The Key, loyalty club members and suite passengers. Recent RCI cruisers report that most sailings now only offer one private hour per week for each activity for Key members. Great price, I'd likely jump on it at that price too! I've seen it lower, and purchased once even lower than I've seen it. Posted 1 hour ago. Since the program began in 2018, passengers have reported paying anywhere from $19.99 to over $35 per person per day. Other benefits may apply at specific ports. madoris, Thursday at 02:15 PM in Royal Caribbean International. I can see where theyre coming from! * Carry-on bag drop off with delivery to your stateroom. This benefit allows Key Guests to skip the long lines for the dinghys that ferry cruisers from ship to shore in ports that dont have docks appropriate for cruise ships. Skip The Key, and instead focus on how to get an early check-in time, buy a dining package, pre-purchase wifi, and I think you will find yourself still having a great time onboard. Lets break the benefits down by order in which youll probably use them. Its best to scope out the entrance to see if there is a dedicated Key line. Video: Is Royal Caribbean's The Key worth it? This benefit came in SUPER handy with the kids. This is usually balcony seating, so if you want seats right up front youll need to arrive very early to beat the crowds in the general-access seating. In addition, with multi-device internet plans, the Key doesn't scale to families or larger groups if internet is always purchased. What it actually means is that youll get to board the ship early. Okay, thank you for that. 1 hour ago, madoris said: I have a 4 day cruise booked for nov. , the price for the key $36.99 per day. The Key program is controversial among some high-level Crown & Anchor members. Our designated boarding window was at 1 pm, which definitely would have made us miss the embarkation lunch. GoPort Fly, Snooze, Cruise package from Orlando to Port Canaveral. 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. Yes, you can select either time to enter I had The key for my Anthem sailing last week out of Bayonne. I will say The Key has had the same security check point as the Suite guests and handicapped (and Pinnacle) and that line always seems to be super slow moving so eyeball the other lines before deciding which one to stand on. Are Royal Caribbean Cruises All Inclusive? If not, just leave blank, watch the Royal Caribbean app for when check-in windows will become available to book. Can you help me understand suite and key program priority embarkation? 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. It took several trips between floors to find the appropriate place to drop it off. The Key Programme COMPLETE Review: Royal Caribbean Cruise's - 2bearbear This terminology was super vague to us when we first came across it in the description of the Key Program. Carnival Cruise Line Explains Controversial Beverage Policy Probably not a terrific idea when traveling with children. I sailed the first time with Royal Caribbean on the Oasis of the Seas this past March. If you decide that Royal Caribbean The Key is something you would like to add to your next cruise vacation, keep in mind that it is non-refundable. The Voom Surf n Stream is included. 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. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. Join Sean and S. 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. Royal Caribbean's The Key: Should You Buy It? What did you think of the perks? Insider tip: Be sure that your time slot is early enough to take advantage of our next benefit embarkation day lunch. Guests need to purchase The Key before the cruise begins on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website. Were giving you our detail, unbiased feedback about what the program is and how it works for the average traveler. Priority departure at ports where a tender is required ship-to-shore, A la carte breakfast and choice departure time on debarkation day. Basically, it's your chance to get to the fun faster and receive VIP access to certain activities.
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