Some are ship or itinerary specific; and others are specific to the port of embarkation. **** Reservations are required for shows on Quantum and Oasis class ships. Voyager of the Seas - Jun 12, 2023 - Jun 17, 2023 (5 Night Western Tendering operations can often take hours to get all the passengers to shore, so this is a valuable benefit if your itinerary has multiple tender ports. 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. when I got it I wasnt thinking about capacity numbers. 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It is not like the drinks package or an excursion where you can just add it once youre onboard. The reserved seating area was in the center of first balcony in the main theater, and in the front of the balcony area in the ice rink theater. 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. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. Be sure to check out these resources when youre planning a Royal Caribbean cruise: Have you bought The Key on a Royal Caribbean cruise? You will each get one account. If youre cruising with kids age six and up, youll need to also buy a Key package for them at the same price charged for adults. Royal Caribbean's internet service, known as VOOM, is well-known for being very fast. As a Key Guest, you will enjoy the option of a block of reserved times at certain attractions. Youll be able to choose what time you disembark, which is nice if youd like to enjoy a leisurely private breakfast first, or if you need to hurry off the ship as soon as possible. What we did learn was that reserved hours for each activity were typically only offered once during a sailing, and usually during a day at sea. This benefit only applied to the main theater and the ice show. For a prepaid fee, guest can access benefits that are usually reserved for suite guests or member of Royal Caribbean's loyalty program. 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). You should also know that the Royal Caribbean Key program can ONLY be booked BEFORE your cruise. You get lots of great perks throughout your cruise for the cost of one, inexpensive excursion. I just don't think you're going to get the bang for your buck that you think you will. 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. Janespup, March 6, 2022 in Royal Caribbean International. You'll be able to stream or download movies and music, or make FaceTime or Skype calls on the ship and on RCI's private island CocoCay. On the day you arrive back at your departure point, Royal Caribbeans Key Program guests can eat an exclusivea la carte breakfast in the main dining room. I wouldn't pay that for unlimited dining. 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! *** Welcome lunch is open from 12:00 pm 1:30 pm. The experience is really all over the place. Complimentary room service for your entire cruise, along with 25% off all onboard dining purchases Private time at some of our onboard activities such as rock climbing, FlowRider, etc. All members of the party are checked in with a 10:30 check in time and covered party right across from the new Galveston terminal. Since 2018, when The Key was rolled out as a pilot program on select ships, some benefits have been modified. If youre thinking about purchasing the program, its a good idea to check around this time because it does tend to sell out. If anyone knows, let me know. Priority departure at ports where a tender is required ship-to-shore, A la carte breakfast and choice departure time on debarkation day. The Key is an optional add-on anyone can purchase for their Royal Caribbean cruise that includes special access and perks. We got really lucky on the Allure last fall where the Key was $16.99 pp so we got it. There will be food options when you board. Perk number two! Here are some examples: The only perk that is truly unobtainable on your own is the ability todrop off your carry-on luggage on embarkation day. I haven't seen the Key on sale in months for any of the sailings. For a lunch at Chops Grille, you can expect to pay at least $19 per guest for a total of $38. Pricing for The Key varies by itinerary. Before you can board a cruise ship, you have to enter a cruise terminal. EF Tours Review: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. With a lot of guests, the price tag for The Key could add up quickly. Key members dont have access to the Diamond or Concierge Clubs, exclusive events, and behind-the-scenes tours. Some of the updated information had changed, like the location of our welcome lunch, but other instructions were just flat out incorrect. Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean The Key, with the different benefits and basics of the priority program. Royal Caribbean's The Key review | Royal Caribbean Blog If no one offers this service, be sure to ask! Royal Caribbean The Key - What Are the Benefits? Some say priority boarding within your check in time. Access to the fast lane at onboard activities (activities vary by ship)and private time at the Flowrider. 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. Lets break it down to see what youd spend if purchased just some of the benefits of The Key individually: If both of your party are going to need access to the VOOM Surf & Stream Internet package, then youll already be spending roughly $18 per day per guest, for a total of $144. The VROOM Surf & Stream package and a meal at Chops Grille are the only two benefits that are eligible for purchase individually. RCI actually claims that its six times faster than any other WiFi at sea! The welcome lunch for Royal Caribbeans Key Program guests is served in the main dining room during limited hours on your embarkation day. Tip: Be sure to still make reservations for shows in advance and arrive at least 15 minutes before showtime. Clear editor. Key guests should keep a close eye on their schedules so that they dont miss out on the reserved hours for their favorite activities. Our next VIP perk is another time saver. 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. Crew delivers your bags to your stateroom and leaves them in the roomnot outside your door like regular checked luggage. Scoring an Early Boarding Time on Royal Caribbean Key members can drop those bags off with less worry about damage from rough handling. The lunch is usually served through 1pm. Frankly, you will probably get through quicker in a regular line than the Key line. The first stop you will make is to a designated drop-off room for your carry-on luggage (usually in the Main Dining Room). 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. This Key decal is how the ships crew knows that a guest is part of the program, so its important to have it on your SeaPass card. Is the Royal Caribbean Key Program a must-do or a hard pass for your next cruise? Agreed, I enjoyed it at $19.99, and now would only look if it was close to pricing for internet. No, I bought it, mainly to cut the time I will spend on lines, for back and knees. The menus (ship specific, of course) are generous with options. Looking for more travel content? However, some RCI ships have started offering Fast Track boarding when returning to the ship, and Key members are eligible. If youre already planning to buy WiFi, The Key might make sense depending on how many devices you want to activate. You still have to do online check in, I get that part, but if I wanted to arrive early and my check in time is later, does the key (or say suite access) allow me arrive early because of the benefit? Why would someone want to drop their carry-on luggage off at The Key location? Full suite guests already receive many of the benefits of The Key program as part of their booking. 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. RCI cruisers who purchase The Key can enjoy expedited check-in, and are able to board the ship before the general boarding begins. 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. November 15, 2022 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. Does this extra cost amenity make sense to get for your family? If youre in any of these elite clubs, youll have priority check-in and embarkation, reserved theater seating, priority disembarkation, and a private departure lounge with continental breakfast. 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. But I wouldn't pay any more than that the value just isn't there for me. Cruise boarding times: How early should you arrive for a cruise - The What are the benefits of The Key program? Most cruise ships require all passengers to be on board no fewer than one to two hours before the scheduled departure time, which is almost always in the late afternoon or evening. A relaxed and carefree way to end a memorable vacation at sea. You can def check in later, though, whatever you prefer. 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? But if youre already planning on purchasing the WiFi package for everyone in your stateroom, I think that upgrading to The Key is almost a no-brainerespecially if RCI is running a sale when you buy. But information emailed to us just a few short days before instructed us to arrive early. Cruise terminals, as we learned during the pandemic, are . But some Freedom Class ships that I've sailed on did just that. Price The cost of The Key can vary from ship to ship, as well as itinerary. Of course we didn't know the fruit was coming so by the time we got back it was pretty spent. 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. Matt recently did an updated review of The Key, in our post-Covid cruising world. With that in mind, if WiFi is the main and only reason for interest in this program, it would be more economical to buy one of the singly priced Internet option packages. This is just my own personal theory! An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. While your stateroom is receiving its final preparations, you can eat a leisurely meal with other Key holders in the main dining room. But our sailing wasnt taking reservations for shows at all, so there was lots of confusion among Key Guests about this. The steepest discounts come closer to sailing IF bookings are soft and they want to fill space. Other benefits may apply at specific ports. 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. In addition, with multi-device internet plans, the Key doesn't scale to families or larger groups if internet is always purchased. Ah, I see. Its best to scope out the entrance to see if there is a dedicated Key line. For example, you can surf the waves at FlowRider; race through The Perfect Storm waterslides; zip line; slide on Tidal Wave; climb a rock wall; and, more without waiting in line. Reservations for shows can be made on your own via the Royal Caribbean app. How Carnival and Royal Caribbean Handle Marijuana Onboard It changes just like everything else. If Royal Caribbean cancels it for any reason, of course you can expect to get your money back. The other benefit is that they give you lunch at chops on boarding day and deliver fruit to your room. Something that regular cruises don't purchase . I sailed the first time with Royal Caribbean on the Oasis of the Seas this past March. Priority departure at tender ports of call from ship-to-shore. There are several reasons cruise lines offer a list of add-ons to passengers. I'd want to keep that stuff with me. Guests in a suite, and those who are Diamond level or above also might not need to purchase The Key because many of the benefits are already included. What to Know Before Your Cruise | Royal Caribbean Cruises Today Sean and Stef drive to Port Canaveral where the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas waits to take them on their next Caribbean journey! Not sure if even the most vocal supporters of the VIP pass would say it makes sense financially at that price. 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. So, it's important to know that Carnival won't serve any passenger more than 15 alcoholic drinks in a single day. Hiya! The Key allows you to board at that time, but only if you have a time that is before it. How likely can I board if I arrive before my check-in time? - Royal Royal Caribbean recommends arriving to the terminal no later than 11:30 AM for you to have enough time to enjoy lunch with us! We were surprised that Royal Caribbean didnt take the time to avoid this confusion by simply updating this letter for their Key guests. It made no difference in regards to my entry into the terminal as there was no lines. 4.4k. But having tried The Key before and after the cruise industry shutdown of 2020/2021, I do not think it is worthwhile for most people simply because the benefits look better on paper than they are in practice. Can you help me understand suite and key program priority embarkation? . Royal Caribbeans internet service, known as VOOM, is well-known for being very fast. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Playing the "waiting game" for a price drop can be dangerous if you really want The Key. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. 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. It is built around the concept of VIP treatment with exclusive benefits for anyone sailing on all the ships across their fleet. The Key program was first introduced in 2018, and this package add-on must be purchased prior to boarding via Royal Caribbean. Carnival Cruise Line Explains Controversial Beverage Policy This benefit does not apply to smaller venues or activities like nightclubs or karaoke. Traditional continental breakfast items are also on the menu, like cereal, yogurt, pastries and fruit. Think of it like a way to pay extra to get VIP treatment, faster access, or otherwise nice to have extras. My family is headed out on Oasis in June 2023. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Some feel that offering many perks (that used to be exclusive to them) to anyone willing to pay a bit extra is essentially selling loyalty status. 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. Ultimate Guide To The Key on Royal Caribbean - Should Be Cruising My GF purchased the "key" for each of us. Have you ever wished you could have many of the perks that suite guests enjoy on Royal Caribbean without having to pay for a suite? It is a straight breeze through the whole process. Welcome lunch with Chops Grille menu can be bought separately at the restaurant or at a different restaurant. By 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. You can remove the wristband when you finish the activity, and get a new one latertheres no need to keep the wristband on for your entire cruise. That is, you cannot cancel it, but the cruise line can. To help us break down the real cost of the Key, for simple math lets pretend youre a party of two going on a four day/three night cruise. We much preferred this meal instead of fighting our way through the buffet along with every other passenger onboard the ship. The Key was emailing a letter prior to the cruise stating the Key would allow you to arrive early and up to 11:30 you would have priority boarding. They may need something from it between porter drop off and Key drop off. Great price, I'd likely jump on it at that price too! Your previous content has been restored. Also, you should be able to see when and how often the locations are reserved for Key Guests. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Manage Settings While offerings can change at any time, and usually vary slightly between ships, benefits of the Key Program usually include: As soon as youve boarded the ship, you can proceed to a designated location (usually one of the main dining rooms) and drop off your carry on luggage. At tender ports, where the ship ferries passengers to shore using smaller boats, Key members can take advantage of priority boarding when going ashore. The priority for tendering is largely useless since Royal Caribbean ships rarely ever tender, thanks to more and more ports having piers. Dining packages offer a good discount on how much lunch will cost. The search will resume at first light on Friday morning local time. Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society What You Need to Know. I just purchased The Key and am wondering if that will push my boarding time up. This benefit might not be as valuable to you. Private hours vary by ship and sailing, and the schedule is delivered to your stateroom on embarkation day. No sense dropping off your carry on if you board after the rooms are available. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_19',676,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');Boarding for Key members usually begins around 10:30 AM, so if you want to be among the first to get on board the ship, plan to arrive a bit before this time to check in. Probably not a terrific idea when traveling with children. If you notice that your card doesnt have the decal, visit the Guest Services desk on board and they can attach the sticker. Henderson Nv. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. To many passengers, one of the most popular perks included in Royal Caribbean The Key program is WiFi. The Key Programme COMPLETE Review: Royal Caribbean Cruise's - 2bearbear 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. This letter will list updated information about reserved hours for activities and info about reservations for show. The Tories are also likely to struggle in key bellwether seats elsewhere in England - although the pollster did not expect quite so many Labour gains in key general election battlegrounds further . 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.