While you may have to adjust your schedule around this, it will be worth it for the kids. After you book a Royal Caribbean cruise and you can access your Cruise Planner, youll see a link to purchase The Key for your cruise. Read more, Copyright 2023 Chaotically Yours | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. How to Get a Free Casino Cruise on Royal Caribbean Plus Free Perks! Powered by Invision Community. Since the cruise line requires that this program be purchased ahead of time, this can be a real money saver. 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? 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. A full list of benefits will be given to you once you board the ship with ship-specific benefits. If so, what kind? #5. I don't want most of the "perks" but for some that sets their cruise at a new level . However, some recent passengers report up to 200 passes sold on their cruises. By *** Welcome lunch is open from 12:00 pm 1:30 pm. Dedicated seating at shows in the Main Theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B, and Two70.****. **** Reservations are required for shows on Quantum and Oasis class ships. 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. 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. With scheduled boarding times the key check in process is the same time wise as regular boarding. You can read more about me and about Should Be Cruising here. Planning to arrive at the cruise terminal a bit later in the day? Suites were told they have a one-hour leeway on either side of their schedule arrival time. This benefit only applied to the main theater and the ice show. Okay. Although the internet quality isnt fantastic, its super helpful for communicating with people at home and other people on board the ship. Passengers can drop off up to two pieces per person, and items cant weigh more than 25 pounds. Royal Caribbean ships (especially the Oasis-class ships, like the Wonder of the Seas) are so packed with activities, restaurants, and more. There are a number of posts from the past 6 months discussing benefits of The Key. You will each get one account. October 07, 2021. Arriving after 11:30 you would have priority in your scheduled arrival time window. We were surprised that Royal Caribbean didnt take the time to avoid this confusion by simply updating this letter for their Key guests. A good sit-down breakfast that starts early (6:30am) allowing for an early walk-off. Enchanted with cruising from my first voyage in the Bahamas on the SS Emerald Seas to Alaskas Inside Passage. Obviously, in these instances, the time it takes to leave the ship and begin your onshore adventures could be hours. If anyone knows, let me know. Apparently on ships that require reservations for show, guests are allowed access early to pick their seats. One thing I wonder about with The Key. Frankly, you will probably get through quicker in a regular line than the Key line. Welcome to Chaotically Yours. 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. When The Key program first launched, RCI limited the passes to 100 passengers per cruise. The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program - Cruise Critic But some Freedom Class ships that I've sailed on did just that. Probably not a terrific idea when traveling with children. 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. Weve always enjoyed this luncheon. Can we use whichever one is better? One thing I wonder about with The Key. If you are planning a standard cruise, rather than a luxe voyage on a premium line, selecting add-ons should be part of the planning process. 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! But our sailing wasnt taking reservations for shows at all, so there was lots of confusion among Key Guests about this. A couple reasons, first off, I needed the internet since unfortunately need to work a little bit during the week. Royal Caribbean recommends arriving to the terminal no later than11:30 AMfor you to have enough time to enjoy lunch with us! Erin103 Think of it like a way to pay extra to get VIP treatment, faster access, or otherwise nice to have extras. 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. However, this benefit has recently changed. So I cancelled the Voom and purchased The Key. This benefit does not apply to smaller venues or activities like nightclubs or karaoke. You may also like: Cruising with Kids: 19 Essential Tips. Skip The Key, and instead focus on how to get an early check-in time, buy a dining package, pre-purchase wifi, and I think you will find yourself still having a great time onboard. definitely. 20% off at all specialty restaurants, when you make the reservation on Day 1 of the sailing. Boarding Day ART Test Photo credits: Cruise the World/ Facebook It is not like the drinks package or an excursion where you can just add it once youre onboard. When I first heard about this service, I thought it was an odd perk to offer. What lines do you think it will cut time for? 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. Is it worth it to buy The Key on a RCI cruise? Before you can board a cruise ship, you have to enter a cruise terminal. 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. 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. What it actually means is that youll get to board the ship early. The food is scrumptious and included in the price of The Key. Carnival Cruise Line Explains Controversial Beverage Policy This benefit might not be as valuable to you. Benefits of The Key. It took several trips between floors to find the appropriate place to drop it off. During our most recent trip, it was just the two of us, so we were seated with other Key Program guests for the meal. What did you think of the perks? Why would someone want to drop their carry-on luggage off at The Key location? The Key advertises as offering guests that purchase special perks and access while onboard that would otherwise not be available to them. That brings your total for purchasing these benefits individually up to $182. Overall, we feel like Royal Caribbean The Key is worth the money, especially if you arent splurging on much else. Private time at some of our onboard activities such as rock climbing, FlowRider, etc. Kids in the 6-10 age range (despite how much they use their tablets at home) probably wont be online too much on a cruise. Was useless. Henderson Nv. Toward the end of your cruise, keep an eye out for a letter in your stateroom detailing the disembarkation process (it usually arrives with your daily Cruise Compass). I think with a little bit of footwork, you can get similar results on your own and save money on your cruise vacation. Ultimately, your wait will be shorter, and you will be one of the first passengers on the ship. Something that regular cruises don't purchase . That I can live with..certainly not $30+. This also means that you get to save on your Wi-Fi costs as well! An important point to know is that you must buy it prior to sailing. It is way overpriced. And, it is included in the price of The Key as follows: one online package per paying guest on one device. Im so glad youre here! This was very helpful! 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. Or is the only benefit: priority embarkation mean you have your own line to enter terminal as opposed to the masses. *, Carry-on bag drop off with delivery to your stateroom. 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. Another Overbooked Oasis-Class Royal Caribbean Ship, Royal Caribbean Changes Itinerary for First New Homeport Cruise, Refurbished Carnival Cruise Ship Completes Costa-Inspired Livery. 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. As always though, if it's something you want, book now and cancel/rebook later if you find it cheaper or decide it isn't for you! 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. 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. 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. With a lot of guests, the price tag for The Key could add up quickly. Can't forget the wine! 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One complaint we had about the program was that not all the information on this letter was accurate. Let me know in the comments below! What are the benefits of The Key program? The first stop you will make is to a designated drop-off room for your carry-on luggage (usually in the Main Dining Room). Agreed, I enjoyed it at $19.99, and now would only look if it was close to pricing for internet. During our second experience, Key guests were just asked to wait with everyone else. Brisbane man missing after falling overboard from Quantum of the Seas By Perk number seven! The Key program is controversial among some high-level Crown & Anchor members. 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. Carry on luggage can be left in the MDR and delivered to cabin. It can be purchased online or via the app when you book your cruise (or added later). The other benefit is that they give you lunch at chops on boarding day and deliver fruit to your room. 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. I had it a few weeks ago. or is it only 1 internet device? The VROOM Surf & Stream package and a meal at Chops Grille are the only two benefits that are eligible for purchase individually. New to Royal Caribbean. i4peaches 1 yr. ago I love the Key. Perk(s) number three! Is the Royal Caribbean Key Program a must-do or a hard pass for your next cruise? Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean The Key, with the different benefits and basics of the priority program. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Rockaway NY,Sonoma County,Ca. You can post now and register later. The letter said we had early access to reserved shows and to make a reservation for the shows wed like to see. 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. On 3/5/2022 at 10:58 PM, brillohead said: 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. I recommend selecting the earliest check in when it opens.
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