20% off at all specialty restaurants, when you make the reservation on Day 1 of the sailing. Choose to upgrade the complimentary continental breakfast; order a light lunch; and, have an entire dinner sent to your room. i4peaches 1 yr. ago I love the Key. The benefits package known as Royal Caribbean The Key is structured to address an element of each of these ideas. We are headed out on the Oasis of the Seas from Miami on Sunday. I think with a little bit of footwork, you can get similar results on your own and save money on your cruise vacation. But many kids wont use or appreciate most of the included perks. The menu features limited selections from Chops Grille. Playing the "waiting game" for a price drop can be dangerous if you really want The Key. 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. 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. Yes, you can select either time to enter I had The key for my Anthem sailing last week out of Bayonne. In addition to reading through the options for drink packages, specialty dining, shore excursions, professional onboard photos and videos, stateroom locations and other items, consider a hybrid program like Royal Caribbean The Key. 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. Every passenger can buy access to WiFi. The Voom Surf n Stream is included. 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. Embarkation day is here, and you arrived early at the terminal port, excited to set sail on your cruise vacation. Your link has been automatically embedded. 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. Lunch on Day 2 for ships sailing from Seward or Vancouver. The Key is an add-on program on Royal Caribbean cruises that allows any guest to obtain some VIP perks on board the ship. The welcome lunch for Royal Caribbeans Key Program guests is served in the main dining room during limited hours on your embarkation day. * Carry-on bag drop off with delivery to your stateroom. 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. The program wont be available to buy once youre on board the ship. 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. During our most recent trip, it was just the two of us, so we were seated with other Key Program guests for the meal. The Tories are also likely to struggle in key bellwether seats elsewhere in England - although the pollster did not expect quite so many Labour gains in key general election battlegrounds further . (asking about suite too because we may upgrade to a suite and drop the key). 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. To many passengers, one of the most popular perks included in Royal Caribbean The Key program is WiFi. In the past she said they had a line just . I could see the benefit of stuff arriving at room open rather than say 7 pm. Since 2018, when The Key was rolled out as a pilot program on select ships, some benefits have been modified. My assigned boarding time is 1:00. Some ports may have The Key folks enter the same place as the suites. 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. Passengers with The Key are able to sit in a VIP seating area for many shows, including those in the main theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B, and Two70. The Key holders will board after Royal Suite Class guests and Pinnacle guests. In my experience, I found the benefits sound a lot better on the surface than they really are. 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. Much, much better value for 2 extra dollars per day! Perk number eight! 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. Final Notes on Royal Caribbean - The Key The Basics of Royal Caribbean - The Key This cruise line's optional add-on called The Key is a relatively new program. 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. I sailed the first time with Royal Caribbean on the Oasis of the Seas this past March. There's no point arriving at the cruise centre ahead of your boarding time, because you can't board until your official time slot. 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. From his, Royal Caribbean's VIP guest experience, The Key, offers some perks and benefits not available to other guests onboard. Okay. Although RCI advertises the cost of The Key on a per-day basis, cruisers must purchase the program for all days of a sailing. 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. Pricing for the Key starts at $24.99 per guest per day, depending on the ship. Full suite guests already receive many of the benefits of The Key program as part of their booking. Brisbane man missing after falling overboard from Quantum of the Seas It is way overpriced. Although the internet quality isnt fantastic, its super helpful for communicating with people at home and other people on board the ship. 1 hour ago, madoris said: I have a 4 day cruise booked for nov. , the price for the key $36.99 per day. And that's not . If you dont see it, ask your Stateroom Attendant or go to Guest Services to apply the icon. No, I bought it, mainly to cut the time I will spend on lines, for back and knees. However, some recent passengers report up to 200 passes sold on their cruises. The Key Programme COMPLETE Review: Royal Caribbean Cruise's - 2bearbear We had it in January because it wasn't too much more expensive than the internet and we enjoyed having it. Carryon has the things I absolutely need to survive just in case my other portered luggage goes swimming, or on a different ship than me for some reason. I couldnt imagine why anyone would carry on a bag, only to check it soon after boarding! What to Know Before Your Cruise | Royal Caribbean Cruises BOARDING DAY! | Wonder of the Seas | GoPort & The Key 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. And, it is included in the price of The Key as follows: one online package per paying guest on one device. With a lot of guests, the price tag for The Key could add up quickly. 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. Boarding with The Key - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic That is alcoholic drinks and indeed sodas, coffee etc is unlimited. Internet that I'd otherwise pay for one device. Powered by Invision Community. 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. The first boarding slot is at 2 p.m, and it disappears before you know it. The cruise line has brought back The Key for sailings, albeit with some notable changes. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. You'll be able to stream or download movies and music, or make FaceTime or Skype calls on the ship and on RCI's private island CocoCay. I almost got shut out, as they do have a cap, and it sold out. At some ports of call, a small boat (or tender) will carry passengers to and from the port. Its quite subtle, but this tiny icon gets you all the benefits listed below. 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. As I read them at the time, some posts made me feel that my grandma was lecturing me on how I should or shouldn't spend my money! Priority departure from ship-to-shore at tender ports. Perk number seven! . 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. This is understandable, since limiting super-popular activities to a small number of guests during the busiest hours could anger a lot of cruisers. Even if you have an earlier time, still use the key lines. And wine. A good sit-down breakfast that starts early (6:30am) allowing for an early walk-off. Or, you could reach a high level in the companys loyalty program. What is The Key on Royal Caribbean? 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. The Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas, which departed from Brisbane two weeks ago, halted its course after the incident. Insider tip: Watch online for discount options to reduce the cost of the price per day for this add-on. Worked out to be about $80 more than what I had paid for a 2 device internet package. Initially, RCI set aside several one-hour blocks each cruise for VIP access to activities like FlowRider, rock wall climbing, ice skating, and the zip line. 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. While this may not occur during your particular cruise, everyone will be glad of this benefit if it does. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Since I'd purchase a one device internet package otherwise, it's really about the price differential. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. If not, just leave blank, watch the Royal Caribbean app for when check-in windows will become available to book. The Key - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic Community Also, its best to come early to take advantage of the carry on drop off service. Key guests are asked to be at the terminal early, so as not to miss the embarkation lunch. During our second experience, Key guests were just asked to wait with everyone else. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. Key guests are NOT exempt from general boarding requirements like Covid vaccinations or negative Covid tests. Or is the only benefit: priority embarkation mean you have your own line to enter terminal as opposed to the masses. At tender ports, where the ship ferries passengers to shore using smaller boats, Key members can take advantage of priority boarding when going ashore. We are so excited and can't wait to board. Internet access, early check-in, special times at signature attractions and more are included with The Key. What we did find was that the meal was quite good. Posted 1 hour ago. Since we were all going to purchase the surf + stream internet packages, my parents purchased everyone The Key. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. 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? Overall, we feel like Royal Caribbean The Key is worth the money, especially if you arent splurging on much else. Being able to drop those off would be super-convenient. Free room service is indeed a very nice benefit, but I question how often anyone will order room service to truly take advantage of it. It is only sold to a limited number of passengers ahead of time for reasons we will explore below. (2023). 4.4k. Key members dont have access to the Diamond or Concierge Clubs, exclusive events, and behind-the-scenes tours.