Hi! On debarkation day, enjoy a private la carte breakfast and choice departure. Crew delivers your bags to your stateroom and leaves them in the roomnot outside your door like regular checked luggage. * Carry-on bag drop off with delivery to your stateroom. Also, if you are booking a suite on any of the ships, many of The Key extras might be included during your itinerary. Your bags will be tagged and whisked away into your stateroom (rather than left in the hallway hours later). 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. Having the higher end internet package included with the Key program is one of our favorite benefits. #5. What is The Key Program? | Royal Caribbean Cruises At the end of the day, it becomes your decision if you find enough value in the amenities and services that The Key Program offers. 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. 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. 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. Boarding with The Key - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic November 15, 2022 in Royal Caribbean Discussion. So, it's important to know that Carnival won't serve any passenger more than 15 alcoholic drinks in a single day. 10:30am Boarding time : r/royalcaribbean - Reddit How to Get a Free Casino Cruise on Royal Caribbean Plus Free Perks! When planning your vacation at sea, you will see that there will be stops along the journey ports of call. 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? You will have priority departure from the ship to the shore at tender ports of call. Pricing for The Key varies by itinerary. (2023). Price The cost of The Key can vary from ship to ship, as well as itinerary. Im so glad youre here! 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. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Is Royal Caribbean's "priority access" package worth the price? TPG And that's not . 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? 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. One of the really nice benefits of the Key Program is that you dont have to do that. (Bring your receipt, just in case). Choice debarkation time with special debarkation breakfast. A full list of benefits will be given to you once you board the ship with ship-specific benefits. 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. 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. Some of the terminals have dedicated suite entrances. Some of the updated information had changed, like the location of our welcome lunch, but other instructions were just flat out incorrect. It made no difference in regards to my entry into the terminal as there was no lines. The Key Programme COMPLETE Review: Royal Caribbean Cruise's - 2bearbear Pasted as rich text. Royal Caribbean offered The Key for a few years, but then suspended it as cruise ships began restart in 2021. Pricing for the Key starts at $24.99 per guest per day, depending on the ship. I just bought is for $22.99. On our last two cruises with Royal Caribbean, we purchased the Key Program. But once guests are fully inside the terminal, there are special representatives that will check guests in quickly, avoiding some of the long lines that form for the average passenger. 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. Do you already have perks? 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. Select from chef-prepared VIP Key favorite dishes, egg and griddle creations, several sides, cereals or continental choices. 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. This was the only benefit of the program that we didnt experience, since all ports we visited had an appropriate sized dock for our ship, so we cant speak directly to this benefit. A much better value as I get 11:00am priority boarding. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_18',609,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');Royal Caribbean hasnt announced a current policy for how many passes theyre now offering on any given sailing. When you get to the port there will be plenty of signs and dedicated lines for the Key. 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 more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. It's important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. We also purchase. 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. Royal Caribbean's internet service, known as VOOM, is well-known for being very fast. You will each get one account. Internet that I'd otherwise pay for one device. The Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas, which departed from Brisbane two weeks ago, halted its course after the incident. Of course we didn't know the fruit was coming so by the time we got back it was pretty spent. Special lunch on embarkation day is off of Chops menu served in MDR. You should also know that the Royal Caribbean Key program can ONLY be booked BEFORE your cruise. What are the benefits of The Key program? 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. The Reality of Royal Caribbean and Carnival Marijuana Policies. It is built around the concept of VIP treatment with exclusive benefits for anyone sailing on all the ships across their fleet. Carry on luggage can be left in the MDR and delivered to cabin. Why would someone want to drop their carry-on luggage off at The Key location? Hiya! Looking for more travel content? The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program - Cruise Critic I sailed the first time with Royal Caribbean on the Oasis of the Seas this past March. If Royal Caribbean cancels it for any reason, of course you can expect to get your money back. The priority for tendering is largely useless since Royal Caribbean ships rarely ever tender, thanks to more and more ports having piers. 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. If not, just leave blank, watch the Royal Caribbean app for when check-in windows will become available to book. The first stop you will make is to a designated drop-off room for your carry-on luggage (usually in the Main Dining Room). 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. Up to 72-hours before your sail date, you can check-in online or with the Royal Caribbean International app* with the 6 items listed below. Other benefits may apply at specific ports. But there are a few considerations you should make that can help justify the cost of the Royal Caribbean Key Program. Keep in mind that this benefit usually only applies to larger venues and their productions. Okay, thank you for that. A premium section of each of the larger venues on each ship is reserved for The Key, loyalty club members and suite passengers. The welcome lunch for Royal Caribbeans Key Program guests is served in the main dining room during limited hours on your embarkation day. Just by flashing your SeaPass, Key members can take advantage of lots of benefits that the vast majority of RCI cruisers dont have. Join Sean and S. As for food, c'mon.its a cruise.you are not going to starve. Private time at some of our onboard activities such as rock climbing, FlowRider, etc. While all passengers must follow general boarding and security protocols at every port, Key Guests have a shortcut afterward. But I only paid an extra buck for it so no big. 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. 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. Paste as plain text instead, Hi! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I thought "The Key" (now VIP Pass) was a nice option. I don't want most of the "perks" but for some that sets their cruise at a new level . The menu features limited selections from Chops Grille. Everyone is packing and trying to figure out how to disembark in the quickest way possible. But if youre an average cruiser who wants to feel a little bit like a VIP during your cruise, the Royal Caribbeans Key Program is definitely for you. One thing I wonder about with The Key. In this day and age, having access to the internet is pretty vital on a cruise. By 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. You can post now and register later. The Key program is controversial among some high-level Crown & Anchor members. Can't forget the wine! Although the internet quality isnt fantastic, its super helpful for communicating with people at home and other people on board the ship. 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. 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. We definitely feel like the other benefits of reserved hours at attractions, reserved seating for shows, and the priority access at the terminal are without a doubt worth the additional $18. The menus (ship specific, of course) are generous with options. I just purchased The Key and am wondering if that will push my boarding time up. I think with a little bit of footwork, you can get similar results on your own and save money on your cruise vacation. 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. The only Key perk thats not included with any of these programs is the reserved hours for select activities. This terminology was super vague to us when we first came across it in the description of the Key Program. We are sailing out of Galveston so I wonder if anyone knows how they do it there. Obviously, in these instances, the time it takes to leave the ship and begin your onshore adventures could be hours. I just don't think you're going to get the bang for your buck that you think you will. All opinions are our own, and all costs were paid out of our pocket for this experience. By Jodi Grundig ", https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-key-program. This letter will list updated information about reserved hours for activities and info about reservations for show. Not speaking from experience, but according to Royal's website, it gives you "priority access to the terminal within booked arrival time". Cruisers who have booked any suite category (except Junior Suites) will already enjoy priority check-in, embarkation and tendering, private breakfast and lunch seating, reserved theater seating, and priority disembarkation. 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. It is way overpriced. Are Royal Caribbean Cruises All Inclusive? The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program - Cruise Critic Royal Caribbean Brings Back Priority Program, The Key - Cruise Critic 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. 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. Your previous content has been restored. Overall, we feel like Royal Caribbean The Key is worth the money, especially if you arent splurging on much else. Then, you see rows and rows and rows of people However, if you bought Royal Caribbean The Key, welcome to your first VIP perk. What is The Key on Royal Caribbean? At some ports of call, a small boat (or tender) will carry passengers to and from the port. For example, if VOOM by itself is around $20/day (for one device for one person) and The Key is $25/day (for the same) and you definitely need WiFi, then you are getting all the other Key perks for only $5/day in our example. For a lunch at Chops Grille, you can expect to pay at least $19 per guest for a total of $38. 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. 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. Much, much better value for 2 extra dollars per day! 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. Againcrowds, queues and waiting. Cruise boarding times: How early should you arrive for a cruise - The 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. One note about this perk: It only applies in one direction from the ship to the shore. Insider tip: Watch online for discount options to reduce the cost of the price per day for this add-on. It is a straight breeze through the whole process. I will be sailing on the Wonder on 2/25 and will keep an eye on the price for that cruise. Professional freelance writer and published indie author. Here is a list of the benefits you get with The Key: The early check-in isbetween 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM. You could book the cheapest inside guarantee stateroom, but have access to lots of the benefits that suite and high-level loyalty members enjoy. This benefit might not be as valuable to you. As a Key Guest, you will enjoy your choice of the best seats. Lines for this mode of transport can get extremely long, and wait times can be extremely frustrating. Boarding Day ART Test Photo credits: Cruise the World/ Facebook Janespup, March 6, 2022 in Royal Caribbean International. The package includes one device per person. Okay. Ultimate Guide To The Key on Royal Caribbean - Should Be Cruising 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 Key worth it? : r/royalcaribbean - Reddit We had it in January because it wasn't too much more expensive than the internet and we enjoyed having it. Display as a link instead, I could see the benefit of stuff arriving at room open rather than say 7 pm. 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. Or, you could reach a high level in the companys loyalty program. Select from a menu of (typically three) appetizers, entres, sides and desserts. 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. Available for booking pre . But if youre booking shore excursions directly through RCI, youll already have priority tendering for those excursions. Full suite guests already receive many of the benefits of The Key program as part of their booking. Its best to scope out the entrance to see if there is a dedicated Key line. 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. 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.. 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 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. All other benefits are either exclusive to the Key Program or only available to suite and loyalty program guests. Other benefits may apply at specific ports. The Key will usually show up as an option for purchase in your Cruise Planner about 90-100 days before your sailing. You still need to select a boarding time and arrive at that time. 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. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! I think that price is bat-poo crazy. I also agree that its best to eyeball the dedicated security lines as you enter the terminal. I have a 4 day cruise booked for nov. , the price for the key $36.99 per day. I tried it for my last cruise which was a 4 day cruise. 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. 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. I'm glad I saw your post. Since we arrived before 2 pm, we had to wait for boarding to commence at 2 pm.