Since the program began in 2018, passengers have reported paying anywhere from $19.99 to over $35 per person per day. **** Reservations are required for shows on Quantum and Oasis class ships. Here is a list of the benefits you get with The Key: The early check-in isbetween 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM. We ended up having to confirm at the front desk that reservations for shows were not necessary for this sailing. 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. 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. 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. Perk number two! The Key program is Royal Caribbean's initiative to give guests access to premier and exclusive cruise services and activities while on board for a small additional fee. Lines for this mode of transport can get extremely long, and wait times can be extremely frustrating. Politics latest updates: NHS 'on the brink' says nursing union; 10% I have three cruises coming up from June to July next year. 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. Perk number five is also a continuous benefit throughout your whole itinerary special sections of reserved seating. While at first glance some of these benefits may not seem that great. It is suggested that you arrive approximately 30 minutes prior to curtain time to select from amongst the best seats in the house.. But our sailing wasnt taking reservations for shows at all, so there was lots of confusion among Key Guests about this. But some Freedom Class ships that I've sailed on did just that. 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. Be sure to check out these resources when youre planning a Royal Caribbean cruise: Have you bought The Key on a Royal Caribbean cruise? 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. We are headed out on the Oasis of the Seas from Miami on Sunday. 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. 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. I used the Key a few years ago and liked it. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. you would have to share a device throughout the cruise. Is Royal Caribbean's "priority access" package worth the price? TPG 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?). Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. 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? That is, you cannot cancel it, but the cruise line can. Although RCI advertises the cost of The Key on a per-day basis, cruisers must purchase the program for all days of a sailing. A premium section of each of the larger venues on each ship is reserved for The Key, loyalty club members and suite passengers. Some are ship or itinerary specific; and others are specific to the port of embarkation. There will be food options when you board. I paid $28.99/day and it never got lower than that prior to sailing. I had it a few weeks ago. Boarded Wonder of the Seas almost a year after our first sailing on her. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. 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. While your stateroom is receiving its final preparations, you can eat a leisurely meal with other Key holders in the main dining room. All rights reserved. No sense dropping off your carry on if you board after the rooms are available. The reason behind this benefit is to lessen the hassle baked right into every cruise standing in line. RCI cruisers who purchase The Key can enjoy expedited check-in, and are able to board the ship before the general boarding begins. Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring the Chops Grille menu (open from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM). My experience has mostly been the my luggage checked with The Key is already inside my room by the time the rooms are ready between 1pm & 1:30pm. 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. That I can live with..certainly not $30+. Royal Caribbean offered The Key for a few years, but then suspended it as cruise ships began restart in 2021. (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. When The Key program first launched, RCI limited the passes to 100 passengers per cruise. The Reality of Royal Caribbean and Carnival Marijuana Policies. You may also like: Cruising with Kids: 19 Essential Tips. Or is the only benefit: priority embarkation mean you have your own line to enter terminal as opposed to the masses. There's no point arriving at the cruise centre ahead of your boarding time, because you can't board until your official time slot. 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. Royal Caribbean recommends arriving to the terminal no later than11:30 AMfor you to have enough time to enjoy lunch with us! One thing I wonder about with The Key. We were surprised that Royal Caribbean didnt take the time to avoid this confusion by simply updating this letter for their Key guests. Secondly, if we're going to be able to board early, might as well get the Chops lunch, and lastly, I had a significant travel voucher with my TA, so somewhat forced to spend money. i always try to get the earliest boarding. 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. Of course your numbers can vary depending on the length of your cruise, but if youre planning to splurge on anything, we think this is a good one. Priority departure at ports where a tender is required ship-to-shore, A la carte breakfast and choice departure time on debarkation day. In addition, your SeaPass card will have a special sticker to easily identify yourself as having The Key. (Keep in mind that there will likely be another window of time to deposit your luggage. when I got it I wasnt thinking about capacity numbers. (Those who miss the window usually about 30 minutes on either side of check-in time may miss the benefit). If interested in the other perks such as the lunch, internet, and flowrider, or seating at ice rink or aqua show, I personally think its not worth unless it's less expensive then the Chops lunch plus internet. Is The Royal Caribbean Key Program Really Worth It? 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. The Key on Royal Caribbean is a for-a-fee program offering priority boarding, private hours at onboard activities, preferred theater seating, and more. I don't want most of the "perks" but for some that sets their cruise at a new level . Looking for more travel content? Elite loyalty members also board the ship before Key members, so they still have higher-priority access to the ship to get their vacation started early. The Key may be a good choice for someone who is going to buy internet access no matter what, and is sailing on a ship with a lot of shows they want to see. The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program - Cruise Critic Internet access, early check-in, special times at signature attractions and more are included with The Key. The Key program was first introduced in 2018, and this package add-on must be purchased prior to boarding via Royal Caribbean. 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. Join Sean and S. On our sailing, Key guests needed to show up no later than 15 minutes before the start of the show, where they were allowed to sit in a reserved section with great views of the action. I guess this falls under the different strokes for different folks. 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. Lets break the benefits down by order in which youll probably use them. A relaxed and carefree way to end a memorable vacation at sea. Guests need to purchase The Key before the cruise begins on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. It takes a lot of cruise days sailed to reach these high levels. It made no difference in regards to my entry into the terminal as there was no lines. Great price, I'd likely jump on it at that price too! 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. 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. An important point to know is that you must buy it prior to sailing. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Here you can sit and relax while the cruise ship employees attend to your final check-in procedures. Rock climbing was also at 9am. They may need something from it between porter drop off and Key drop off. 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. Lets take a look at what this program offers, and see if its worth booking for your next Royal Caribbean cruise. What it actually means is that youll get to board the ship early. I'd want to keep that stuff with me. If you notice that your card doesnt have the decal, visit the Guest Services desk on board and they can attach the sticker. It is only sold to a limited number of passengers ahead of time for reasons we will explore below. The search will resume at first light on Friday morning local time. If high-speed Internet access is important for you and your family, VOOM Surf & Stream will be the key to keeping everyone happy. If you buy the Key for both, each person gets internet. Paste as plain text instead, Recent RCI cruisers report that most sailings now only offer one private hour per week for each activity for Key members. Keep in mind that this benefit usually only applies to larger venues and their productions. Other benefits may apply at specific ports. Posted 1 hour ago. 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. 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. Royal Caribbean's The Key review | Royal Caribbean Blog Worked out to be about $80 more than what I had paid for a 2 device internet package. Erin103 Our assigned boarding time is listed as 3:30, With the Key can we go earlier? Your link has been automatically embedded. 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. It is way overpriced. That is why this is our first stop). I bought The Key for my upcoming sailing on Harmony 5/1. Apparently on ships that require reservations for show, guests are allowed access early to pick their seats. My family is headed out on Oasis in June 2023. A couple reasons, first off, I needed the internet since unfortunately need to work a little bit during the week. Planning to arrive at the cruise terminal a bit later in the day? 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. That means taking tons of cruises with the same cruise line! 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The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. is The Key worth it? : r/royalcaribbean - Reddit 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. This benefit only applied to the main theater and the ice show. What is The Key Program? | Royal Caribbean Cruises The menu features limited selections from Chops Grille. 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. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. 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. The steepest discounts come closer to sailing IF bookings are soft and they want to fill space. September 2, 2010. nj. The menus (ship specific, of course) are generous with options. This is just my own personal theory! Hiya! Also, if you are booking a suite on any of the ships, many of The Key extras might be included during your itinerary. Also, think about the cost of excursions. Everything else gets dropped off with the porters outside the terminal. If it seems too late in the morning, contact the cruise line to have it changed. Check out these, Priority access to the terminal upon arrival at the port, Welcome lunch in the main dining room with selections from Chops Grille, Access to VOOM Surf & Stream high speed internet for one device per paying guest, VIP seating to shows in the Main Theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B and Two70. That is alcoholic drinks and indeed sodas, coffee etc is unlimited. 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. The Key is a program that provides Royal Caribbean International guests with premier access to exclusive experiences during their cruise vacation. If you want to get your vacation started ASAP, this is an amazing perk. 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. 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. This benefit might not be as valuable to you. During our cruise, there was a reserved section for Royal Caribbean Key Program Guests. The lunch is usually served through 1pm. 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! #5. Some say priority boarding within your check in time. October 07, 2021. 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 is a super beneficial perk when traveling with children. There is currently no special seating in nightclubs and other smaller gathering event spaces. Does the price ever drop or does it stay the same? Royal Caribbean ships (especially the Oasis-class ships, like the Wonder of the Seas) are so packed with activities, restaurants, and more. Since you have carefully chosen your favorite vessel, you may already know the details. 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. Private time at some of our onboard activities such as rock climbing, FlowRider, etc. Boarding Day ART Test Photo credits: Cruise the World/ Facebook We then headed to The Key waiting area. Reservations for shows can be made on your own via the Royal Caribbean app. The Key will usually show up as an option for purchase in your Cruise Planner about 90-100 days before your sailing. 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. Every passenger can buy access to WiFi. 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. With capacity limitations lately theres no lines. We much preferred this meal instead of fighting our way through the buffet along with every other passenger onboard the ship. While they are doing that, you will be doing something different enjoying an exclusive la carte breakfast. 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. It is a straight breeze through the whole process. On our latest sailing, we were asked to arrive at the terminal no later than 11:00 am. One complaint we had about the program was that not all the information on this letter was accurate. During our most recent trip, it was just the two of us, so we were seated with other Key Program guests for the meal. 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. Its quite subtle, but this tiny icon gets you all the benefits listed below. By On our last two cruises with Royal Caribbean, we purchased the Key Program. 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. Im Louise. Our designated boarding window was at 1 pm, which definitely would have made us miss the embarkation lunch. Benefits of The Key. The first boarding slot is at 2 p.m, and it disappears before you know it. I sailed the first time with Royal Caribbean on the Oasis of the Seas this past March. 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. This is so Key customers can take advantage of the Key lunch. You can read more about me and about Should Be Cruising here. Key guests are NOT exempt from general boarding requirements like Covid vaccinations or negative Covid tests. Complimentary room service for your entire cruise, along with 25% off all onboard dining purchases. I wouldn't pay that for unlimited dining. Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean The Key, with the different benefits and basics of the priority program. Royal Caribbean Embarkation Tips for Your First Day For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. What lines do you think it will cut time for? 'The Key' laminated pass will allow you to use the special queue to access the check-in area. Key members dont have access to the Diamond or Concierge Clubs, exclusive events, and behind-the-scenes tours. Lunch on Day 2 for ships sailing from Seward or Vancouver. You can def check in later, though, whatever you prefer. Display as a link instead, 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. 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. What did you think of the perks? Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Special lunch on embarkation day is off of Chops menu served in MDR. That said, it's not worth it to me at full price. . 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. There is one final question to consider when deciding whether this optional add-on is right for your next cruise. The latter is the only circumstance where you will receive a full refund. Why would someone want to drop their carry-on luggage off at The Key location? Although the internet quality isnt fantastic, its super helpful for communicating with people at home and other people on board the ship. If not, just leave blank, watch the Royal Caribbean app for when check-in windows will become available to book. Okay, thank you for that. The price of The Key varies, and starts at $25.99 per day, per person, although there can be discounts available to bring that price down. Brisbane man missing after falling overboard from Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society What You Need to Know. The welcome lunch for Royal Caribbeans Key Program guests is served in the main dining room during limited hours on your embarkation day. It is $42.99/pp/day for my 5 day cruise. 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. 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. 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. But it was a one and done for us. How To Purchase Still need help? I did not find that the time was convenient and I do not know how many people showed up. If guests are not able to make the early access window, Royal Caribbean says they should arrive within their appointment time and will receive priority access into the terminal.

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