If anyone knows, let me know. You may also like: Cruising with Kids: 19 Essential Tips. While they are doing that, you will be doing something different enjoying an exclusive la carte breakfast. Does the price ever drop or does it stay the same? But, cruisers who buy The Key dont have access to lots of perks that elite loyalty members have. What we did find was that the meal was quite good. The Key certainly sounds like a good investment for a lot of cruises, especially those new to Royal Caribbean, because it offers benefits and access that might not otherwise be available to them at all. As we shall see, this requirement will affect several aspects of your time, access to places and expenses on the ship. And, it is included in the price of The Key as follows: one online package per paying guest on one device. 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. Key members dont have access to the Diamond or Concierge Clubs, exclusive events, and behind-the-scenes tours. The Key advertises as offering guests that purchase special perks and access while onboard that would otherwise not be available to them. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. The Key is a program that provides Royal Caribbean International guests with premier access to exclusive experiences during their cruise vacation. GoPort Fly, Snooze, Cruise package from Orlando to Port Canaveral. September 2, 2010. nj. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! ** I know I carefully pack my embarkation day bag with exactly what Ill need for the day plus any valuables I need to keep an eye on. VOOM Surf & Stream 1 of Device high speed internet per person who purchases the package. 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. It is built around the concept of VIP treatment with exclusive benefits for anyone sailing on all the ships across their fleet. Agreed, I enjoyed it at $19.99, and now would only look if it was close to pricing for internet. 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. 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. Early seating at all entertainment venues. VOOM Surf & Stream package, now including high speed internet, for one device (1 package per guest). The Key - Boarding Time Question - Royal Caribbean Discussion - Royal With scheduled boarding times the key check in process is the same time wise as regular boarding. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions, Priority access during The Key designated arrival time (to be communicated via email). When The Key program first launched, RCI limited the passes to 100 passengers per cruise. The priority for tendering is largely useless since Royal Caribbean ships rarely ever tender, thanks to more and more ports having piers. Of course we didn't know the fruit was coming so by the time we got back it was pretty spent. Key guests are asked to be at the terminal early, so as not to miss the embarkation lunch. 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. Some ports may have The Key folks enter the same place as the suites. But information emailed to us just a few short days before instructed us to arrive early. 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. Royal Caribbean offered The Key for a few years, but then suspended it as cruise ships began restart in 2021. When you receive your SeaPass card, you should see a small decal on the front indicating that youre a Key member. when I got it I wasnt thinking about capacity numbers. Our next VIP perk is another time saver. Here you can sit and relax while the cruise ship employees attend to your final check-in procedures. Internet that I'd otherwise pay for one device. Planning to arrive at the cruise terminal a bit later in the day? The steepest discounts come closer to sailing IF bookings are soft and they want to fill space. Now, the welcome lunch is in a main dining room with a menu featuring items from Chops Grille. But some Freedom Class ships that I've sailed on did just that. If guests are not able to make the early access window, Royal Caribbean says they should arrive within their appointment time and will receive priority access into the terminal. Some of the terminals have dedicated suite entrances. 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. There is a wide variety of entertainment options to enjoy during your time at sea. 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. Think of it like a way to pay extra to get VIP treatment, faster access, or otherwise nice to have extras. Basically, it's your chance to get to the fun faster and receive VIP access to certain activities. Boarded Wonder of the Seas almost a year after our first sailing on her. 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). 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. The experience is really all over the place. Janespup, March 6, 2022 in Royal Caribbean International. Was useless. On the Cruise Critic boards, people have reported paying between $19.99 to $29.99 and even up to $37 per day for each. The Key holders will board after Royal Suite Class guests and Pinnacle guests. This can be confusing for guests, since Royal Caribbean indicates in several places that Key guests get priority access during their designated boarding window. These windows can range in start times from 10 am to 3 pm. The Key will usually show up as an option for purchase in your Cruise Planner about 90-100 days before your sailing. That brings your total for purchasing these benefits individually up to $182. I paid $28.99/day and it never got lower than that prior to sailing. We never found this experience to be very a la carte, since a specific menu was given to us each time. It can be purchased online or via the app when you book your cruise (or added later). I also agree that its best to eyeball the dedicated security lines as you enter the terminal. Our designated boarding window was at 1 pm, which definitely would have made us miss the embarkation lunch. Since I'd purchase a one device internet package otherwise, it's really about the price differential. Also, its best to come early to take advantage of the carry on drop off service. Playing the "waiting game" for a price drop can be dangerous if you really want The Key. Insider tip: Watch online for discount options to reduce the cost of the price per day for this add-on. Then, you see rows and rows and rows of people However, if you bought Royal Caribbean The Key, welcome to your first VIP perk. We are headed out on the Oasis of the Seas from Miami on Sunday. 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. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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? How to Get Free Drinks in the Casino on Royal Caribbean And More! These extra benefits generally fall into the categories of saving money or time, exclusive access, or to create a sense of VIP status. Pricing for The Key varies by itinerary. The program wont be available to buy once youre on board the ship. 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. 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. 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. This benefit might not be as valuable to you. EF Tours Review: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. With capacity limitations lately theres no lines. 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. This option which is available 24 hours a day, every day has been recently offered in lieu of the complimentary embarkation lunch. Other benefits may apply at specific ports. As you walk around the ship, it will be on posters and signs. Perk(s) number three! 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. All this and more. The only Key perk thats not included with any of these programs is the reserved hours for select activities. On the Cruise Critic boards, people have reported paying between $19.99 to $29.99 and even up to $37 per day for each. Before you can board a cruise ship, you have to enter a cruise terminal. There are a number of posts from the past 6 months discussing benefits of The Key. You cannot paste images directly. What are the benefits of The Key program? When The Key program was first rolled out, one of the perks was an exclusive embarkation day lunch at Chops Grille or Jamies Italian specialty restaurants. While all passengers must follow general boarding and security protocols at every port, Key Guests have a shortcut afterward. Hiya! Harmony of the Seas | Boarding the Ship & The Key Program | Royal 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. Not sure if even the most vocal supporters of the VIP pass would say it makes sense financially at that price. Cruise terminals, as we learned during the pandemic, are . 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. Okay, thank you for that. 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. But, given that many of the Key perks are also shared by suite and elite loyalty members, they might adjust the number of passes based on how many of those passengers plan on sailing. To help us break down the real cost of the Key, for simple math lets pretend youre a party of two going on a four day/three night cruise. We were surprised that Royal Caribbean didnt take the time to avoid this confusion by simply updating this letter for their Key guests. There is no priority queue in the ART test area, for Singapore. On this sailing, the price per person per day would have been a little over $12, the lowest price Ive ever heard of for the program! 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! Perk number two! Another perk that has recently changed for Key members is the availability of private hours for several of the onboard activities. Royal Caribbean Key Guests get to avoid the crowds and the waiting, and experience these attractions during hours reserved exclusively for the program. In this day and age, having access to the internet is pretty vital on a cruise. 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. 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. 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. What to Know Before Your Cruise | Royal Caribbean Cruises 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? Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. 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. Enjoy! Great price, I'd likely jump on it at that price too! So you'll want to spend some time exploring the different things you can experience while onboard. For this reason, you should buy it early since they can sell out for any given itinerary. The Reality of Royal Caribbean and Carnival Marijuana Policies. ", https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-key-program. 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. This is just my own personal theory! During our most recent trip, it was just the two of us, so we were seated with other Key Program guests for the meal. Royal Caribbean recommends arriving to the terminal no later than 11:30 AM for you to have enough time to enjoy lunch with us! 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. Politics latest updates: NHS 'on the brink' says nursing union; 10% Is The Royal Caribbean Key Program Really Worth It? 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. 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.