But, be aware that all the following perks will not be available across the entire fleet. As we shall see, this requirement will affect several aspects of your time, access to places and expenses on the ship. These extra benefits generally fall into the categories of saving money or time, exclusive access, or to create a sense of VIP status. **** Reservations are required for shows on Quantum and Oasis class ships. But I cannot recall as to the internet if there are 2 people in the room if each gets the use of one device, or it is one device per room. For a prepaid fee, guest can access benefits that are usually reserved for suite guests or member of Royal Caribbean's loyalty program. Agreed, I enjoyed it at $19.99, and now would only look if it was close to pricing for internet. Cruisers looking to skip the long lines, especially for tender ports, might get a lot of value out of the package. Once purchased, you will see a special image of a key on your SeaPass when you check-in for boarding. If a large group of Key members and suite passengers enter just before you, it might be quicker going through a regular security line. Why would someone want to drop their carry-on luggage off at The Key location? when I got it I wasnt thinking about capacity numbers. Private time at some of our onboard activities such as rock climbing, FlowRider, etc. If no one offers this service, be sure to ask! Welcome to Chaotically Yours. One note about this perk: It only applies in one direction from the ship to the shore. Hiya! 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. I just checked my cruise planner and The Key is only two dollars per day over the Voom Surf n Stream that I previously purchased. 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. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. But there are a few considerations you should make that can help justify the cost of the Royal Caribbean Key Program. you would have to share a device throughout the cruise. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. Matt recently did an updated review of The Key, in our post-Covid cruising world. This benefit might not be as valuable to you. Available for booking pre . We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. 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. 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. But, (and this is an important one!) 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. 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. If your a Key guest that ends up with a later boarding window, we recommend contacting Royal Caribbean to confirm what time Key guests should arrive. Im thrilled to share all my ideas with you and hope you like what you find here in my little home on the internet. Againcrowds, queues and waiting. One of the nicest benefits of the Royal Caribbean Key Program is early access or reserved seating at these shows. During our cruise, there was a reserved section for Royal Caribbean Key Program Guests. If you notice that your card doesnt have the decal, visit the Guest Services desk on board and they can attach the sticker. That I can live with..certainly not $30+. Price The cost of The Key can vary from ship to ship, as well as itinerary. Lets take a look at what this program offers, and see if its worth booking for your next Royal Caribbean cruise. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. Probably not a terrific idea when traveling with children. Yes, for $2/day more than Voom, it's worth it because you get the boarding day lunch and debarkation breakfast. This letter will list updated information about reserved hours for activities and info about reservations for show. . 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. Perk number two! Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. When I first heard about this service, I thought it was an odd perk to offer. That brings your total for purchasing these benefits individually up to $182. VOOM Surf & Stream package, now including high speed internet, for one device (1 package per guest). Key guests should keep a close eye on their schedules so that they dont miss out on the reserved hours for their favorite activities. When The Key program first launched, RCI limited the passes to 100 passengers per cruise. This is just my own personal theory! Worked out to be about $80 more than what I had paid for a 2 device internet package. When you get to the port there will be plenty of signs and dedicated lines for the Key. Erin103 How Long Does It Take to Get Off a Cruise Ship? The Key is an optional add-on anyone can purchase for their Royal Caribbean cruise that includes special access and perks. 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. There were no lines for the water slides during our reserved hours. For some activities, crew will give Key members a wristband once theyve shown the decal on their card. Key guests are NOT exempt from general boarding requirements like Covid vaccinations or negative Covid tests. Benefits of The Key. Or is the only benefit: priority embarkation mean you have your own line to enter terminal as opposed to the masses. I guess this falls under the different strokes for different folks. 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. ** The food is scrumptious and included in the price of The Key. The only Key perk thats not included with any of these programs is the reserved hours for select activities. Not sure if even the most vocal supporter of the VIP pass would say it makes sense financially at that price. Also, think about the cost of excursions. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. 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. 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. Then, you see rows and rows and rows of people However, if you bought Royal Caribbean The Key, welcome to your first VIP perk. For this reason, you should buy it early since they can sell out for any given itinerary. On most cruise lines, there are only two ways to get priority status that lets you skip all of those long lines, enjoy exclusive dining, and generally be treated like the VIP you know you are. 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. 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. 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. There will be food options when you board. No, I bought it, mainly to cut the time I will spend on lines, for back and knees. For a lunch at Chops Grille, you can expect to pay at least $19 per guest for a total of $38. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Rockaway NY,Sonoma County,Ca. How to Get Free Drinks in the Casino on Royal Caribbean And More! But some Freedom Class ships that I've sailed on did just that. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. If you want to get your vacation started ASAP, this is an amazing perk. 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. 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. Also, if you are booking a suite on any of the ships, many of The Key extras might be included during your itinerary. Some are ship or itinerary specific; and others are specific to the port of embarkation. 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. Key members can drop those bags off with less worry about damage from rough handling. Royal Caribbean offered The Key for a few years, but then suspended it as cruise ships began restart in 2021. I paid $28.99/day and it never got lower than that prior to sailing. This is a super beneficial perk when traveling with children. To many passengers, one of the most popular perks included in Royal Caribbean The Key program is WiFi. You cannot paste images directly. 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. But many kids wont use or appreciate most of the included perks. So, check for overlaps to ensure you are not buying a perk twice! An interesting perk with The Key program is the ability to drop off carry on luggage (usually in the theater until 1:30 PM). You can! This benefit came in SUPER handy with the kids. 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. Embarkation day is here, and you arrived early at the terminal port, excited to set sail on your cruise vacation. The Key Guests will enjoy the following exclusive benefits during their cruise vacation: When you receive your SeaPass card, it will have an icon confirming your purchase of The Key. This inclusion also offers us the opportunity to do a bit of price comparison with some simple math. *, Carry-on bag drop off with delivery to your stateroom. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Powered by Invision Community. So for a 4 day cruise, to purchase the Key Package for two people, you can expect to spend around $200. However, this benefit has recently changed. We had it in January because it wasn't too much more expensive than the internet and we enjoyed having it. You will each get one account. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Since 2018, when The Key was rolled out as a pilot program on select ships, some benefits have been modified. While you may have to adjust your schedule around this, it will be worth it for the kids. RCI actually claims that its six times faster than any other WiFi at sea! 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. If youre already planning to buy WiFi, The Key might make sense depending on how many devices you want to activate. This also means that you get to save on your Wi-Fi costs as well! Weve always enjoyed this luncheon. Since I'd purchase a one device internet package otherwise, it's really about the price differential. Where to Get Coffee on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. While at first glance some of these benefits may not seem that great. I used the Key a few years ago and liked it. Dining packages offer a good discount on how much lunch will cost. Key members dont have access to the Diamond or Concierge Clubs, exclusive events, and behind-the-scenes tours. Why would someone want to drop their carry-on luggage off at The Key location? Much, much better value for 2 extra dollars per day! 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). You wont even have to hunt it down in the hallway like you usually have to do with your checked baggage. 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Keep in mind that this benefit usually only applies to larger venues and their productions. An important point to know is that you must buy it prior to sailing. The reason behind this benefit is to lessen the hassle baked right into every cruise standing in line. When you receive your SeaPass card, you should see a small decal on the front indicating that youre a Key member. Some ports may have The Key folks enter the same place as the suites. But, ever since RCI cut back on those times, the value of this perk is less than it used to be. If . The Key includes Voom Surf and Stream access for each person, which arguably makes up the bulk of the daily cost. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. 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. Lets break the benefits down by order in which youll probably use them. This is how you can get priority access to the cruise terminal on boarding day, priority access to the theatre shows, private time slots for rock-climbing or Flowrider , VOOM Surf & Stream 1 device and more benefits. 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. Also, you should be able to see when and how often the locations are reserved for Key Guests. RCI actually claims that it's six times faster than any other WiFi at sea! Another perk that has recently changed for Key members is the availability of private hours for several of the onboard activities. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I almost got shut out, as they do have a cap, and it sold out. Booking of the Key Program is non-refundable if YOU want to cancel it. definitely. 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. 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? Can't forget the wine! Lets go through the individual perks and see how they might translate into saving time and money, opening access and increasing your enjoyment during your cruise vacation. At some ports of call, a small boat (or tender) will carry passengers to and from the port. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. It takes a lot of cruise days sailed to reach these high levels. The latter is the only circumstance where you will receive a full refund. I had it a few weeks ago. Its best to scope out the entrance to see if there is a dedicated Key line. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! We also purchase. This benefit does not apply to smaller venues or activities like nightclubs or karaoke. This Surf + Steam VOOM would be the other reason why you would get the Key for your next cruise. 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. 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. Carry on luggage can be left in the MDR and delivered to cabin. If your Key says that then take screenshots. 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. I have three cruises coming up from June to July next year. Book with Klook Here: Set Sail with Royal Caribbean Cruise => We value this benefit at $20USD, simply because it costs the equivalent if you were to try FlowRider at Sentosa. 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. Not speaking from experience, but according to Royal's website, it gives you "priority access to the terminal within booked arrival time". There is one final question to consider when deciding whether this optional add-on is right for your next cruise. (Be aware that some of the most popular spots may only be reserved for Key Guests a couple of times during your itinerary). Since the program began in 2018, passengers have reported paying anywhere from $19.99 to over $35 per person per day.
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