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 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. Swimsuit, acceptable dinner clothes for a few nights, acceptable day wear for a few days, and dop kit. Matt recently did an updated review of The Key, in our post-Covid cruising world. 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. The Key will usually show up as an option for purchase in your Cruise Planner about 90-100 days before your sailing. * Priority access will not be offered in Vancouver, Canada, or at any ports in Australia. 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. Rock climbing was also at 9am. * Carry-on bag drop off with delivery to your stateroom. 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. 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. Henderson Nv. The latter is the only circumstance where you will receive a full refund. All other benefits are either exclusive to the Key Program or only available to suite and loyalty program guests. Should Be Cruising is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Clear editor. My assigned boarding time is 1:00. What are the benefits of The Key program? Or the benefits are simply not as lucrative as it sounds. Ultimately, the value of this program is subjective. That brings your total for purchasing these benefits individually up to $182. To ensure that you receive this perk, arrive at the port during the special check-in time slot that you received with your Key purchase. 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. This can be quite a challenge in one particular circumstance tendering to shore. 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. This letter will list updated information about reserved hours for activities and info about reservations for show. While this may not occur during your particular cruise, everyone will be glad of this benefit if it does. If no one offers this service, be sure to ask! What did you think of the perks? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. My family is headed out on Oasis in June 2023. Your link has been automatically embedded. An important point to know is that you must buy it prior to sailing. I bought The Key for my upcoming sailing on Harmony 5/1. I just don't think you're going to get the bang for your buck that you think you will. Pasted as rich text. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. (3:46 p.m. EDT) -- Royal Caribbean is reportedly bringing back one of its most popular pre-cruise purchases: a priority access program known as The Key. The menus (ship specific, of course) are generous with options. 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 my experience, I found the benefits sound a lot better on the surface than they really are. We are headed out on the Oasis of the Seas from Miami on Sunday. 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. In order to be a Key Guest, anyone over the age of six in your stateroom must buy this benefits package. If it seems too late in the morning, contact the cruise line to have it changed. 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. Lets take a look at what this program offers, and see if its worth booking for your next Royal Caribbean cruise. Royal Caribbean offered The Key for a few years, but then suspended it as cruise ships began restart in 2021. 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. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! So, it's important to know that Carnival won't serve any passenger more than 15 alcoholic drinks in a single day. Other benefits may apply at specific ports. 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. You will have no priority boarding for transportation back to the ship. 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. New to Royal Caribbean. No, I bought it, mainly to cut the time I will spend on lines, for back and knees. I thought "The Key" (now VIP Pass) was a nice option. The first stop you will make is to a designated drop-off room for your carry-on luggage (usually in the Main Dining Room). 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. madoris, Thursday at 02:15 PM in Royal Caribbean International. One of the nicest benefits of the Royal Caribbean Key Program is early access or reserved seating at these shows. I don't want most of the "perks" but for some that sets their cruise at a new level . Guests need to purchase The Key before the cruise begins on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Royal Caribbean ; Roll Calls ; Voyager of the Seas Roll Calls ; Voyager of the Seas - Jun 12, 2023 - Jun 17, 2023 (5 Night Western Caribbean) . Some say priority boarding within your check in time. For a prepaid fee, guest can access benefits that are usually reserved for suite guests or member of Royal Caribbean's loyalty program. We are planning to purchase the key for our Allure cruise next year. If you notice that your card doesnt have the decal, visit the Guest Services desk on board and they can attach the sticker. Private time at onboard activities tends to be very few (just two times on our Odyssey of the Seas cruise), and at less than ideal times. 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.. Its best to scope out the entrance to see if there is a dedicated Key line. They can frequently run in the hundreds of dollars. 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. I used the Key a few years ago and liked it. Also, you should be able to see when and how often the locations are reserved for Key Guests. But it was a one and done for us. Crew often opens up the VIP seating area to all passengers a few minutes before the show begins. ** Can't forget the wine! 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? 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. When you get to the port there will be plenty of signs and dedicated lines for the Key. But many kids wont use or appreciate most of the included perks. Flying Wish Paper: How To Make Your Own With Things You Already Have! Unfortunately, on our cruise the information we were given prior to boarding as to the location of where to leave our luggage was incorrect. 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). 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. 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. The letter said we had early access to reserved shows and to make a reservation for the shows wed like to see. That is alcoholic drinks and indeed sodas, coffee etc is unlimited. Welcome to Chaotically Yours. 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. You cannot paste images directly. Frequently asked questions about The Key on RCI. They may need something from it between porter drop off and Key drop off. With a lot of guests, the price tag for The Key could add up quickly. 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. 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. All guests over the age of 6 in the same room must purchase The Key. 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. 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! This benefit might not be as valuable to you. They get more time to actually have fun on each attraction. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions, Priority access during The Key designated arrival time (to be communicated via email). Upload or insert images from URL. The Key allows you to board at that time, but only if you have a time that is before it. So you'll want to spend some time exploring the different things you can experience while onboard. (asking about suite too because we may upgrade to a suite and drop the key). Looking for more travel content? I thought it was a little pricey but for a first time experience I felt it was worth it. It had its pros For my next cruise in July I decided to cancel the key because I did not feel that it was worth that much money as we would not need to use priority boarding or disembarkation. When planning your vacation at sea, you will see that there will be stops along the journey ports of call. Some ports may have The Key folks enter the same place as the suites. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. 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. There's no point arriving at the cruise centre ahead of your boarding time, because you can't board until your official time slot. But, (and this is an important one!) 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. You get lots of great perks throughout your cruise for the cost of one, inexpensive excursion. All rights reserved. The Key is an optional add-on anyone can purchase for their Royal Caribbean cruise that includes special access and perks. The Key advertises as offering guests that purchase special perks and access while onboard that would otherwise not be available to them. Frankly, you will probably get through quicker in a regular line than the Key line. Keep in mind, though, that there will not be an option to get Royal Caribbean The Key when you board or at any time during your cruise. You should see signs and there will be attendants there to handle the luggage. These keys indicate where and when you have access to places and events. 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. On disembarkation day, Key members can enjoy an exclusive breakfast in the main dining room before leaving the ship. Although RCI advertises the cost of The Key on a per-day basis, cruisers must purchase the program for all days of a sailing. 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. 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. And, it is included in the price of The Key as follows: one online package per paying guest on one device. I think that price is bat-poo crazy. As you walk around the ship, it will be on posters and signs. Key guests should keep a close eye on their schedules so that they dont miss out on the reserved hours for their favorite activities. 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. When I first heard about this service, I thought it was an odd perk to offer. I had it a few weeks ago. Other times, it is notably higher. 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). 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. There is no priority queue in the ART test area, for Singapore. Ultimately, your wait will be shorter, and you will be one of the first passengers on the ship. Ah, I see. 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? No sense dropping off your carry on if you board after the rooms are available. 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.

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