**, Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring The Key signature menu.***. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Unfortunately, the private times at attractions were limited and at inconvenient times. or is it only 1 internet device? 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. This benefit came in SUPER handy with the kids. There's no point arriving at the cruise centre ahead of your boarding time, because you can't board until your official time slot. 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. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. In my experiencethe Key has always had a boarding time of 11:30 or earlier. Read Also: Are Royal Caribbean Cruises All Inclusive? Lunch on Day 2 for ships sailing from Seward or Vancouver. We ended up having to confirm at the front desk that reservations for shows were not necessary for this sailing. This inclusion also offers us the opportunity to do a bit of price comparison with some simple math. 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. If you dont see it, ask your Stateroom Attendant or go to Guest Services to apply the icon. And, it is included in the price of The Key as follows: one online package per paying guest on one device. Key members dont have access to the Diamond or Concierge Clubs, exclusive events, and behind-the-scenes tours. An attendant will place a special luggage tag with your stateroom number on it to make sure it gets placed in your room. 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. I thought "The Key" (now VIP Pass) was a nice option. Powered by Invision Community. The Key could be better in certain situations, such as when sailing on Oasis or Quantum Class ships, which havemore entertainment venues where the Key can help with seating. Since space is limited on a cruise ship, the larger, more popular show are notorious for filling up fast. If youre in any of these elite clubs, youll have priority check-in and embarkation, reserved theater seating, priority disembarkation, and a private departure lounge with continental breakfast. Harmony of the Seas | Boarding the Ship & The Key Program | Royal 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. If youre cruising with kids age six and up, youll need to also buy a Key package for them at the same price charged for adults. When you get to the port there will be plenty of signs and dedicated lines for the Key. Does this extra cost amenity make sense to get for your family? Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society What You Need to Know. The Key, Royal Caribbean's Priority Program - Cruise Critic Perk number five is also a continuous benefit throughout your whole itinerary special sections of reserved seating. 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. We found they were never more than a handful of other guests participating in these reserved hours, and our kids got to spend a ton of time doing their favorite activities with little or no wait time in between. Why would someone want to drop their carry-on luggage off at The Key location? Royal Caribbean Cruise The Key Benefits Surf + Stream VOOM Connection. Perk number eight! Whether or not The Key is worth the money really depends on your situation. That means taking tons of cruises with the same cruise line! This benefit might not be as valuable to you. Key guests still have to make their way to the port terminal and through security just like everyone else. Internet access, early check-in, special times at signature attractions and more are included with The Key. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. The Key program was first introduced in 2018, and this package add-on must be purchased prior to boarding via Royal Caribbean. But if youre booking shore excursions directly through RCI, youll already have priority tendering for those excursions. You could book a full suite, which is way out of the price range of the average cruiser. What lines do you think it will cut time for? If you want to get your vacation started ASAP, this is an amazing perk. This benefit does not apply to smaller venues or activities like nightclubs or karaoke. Special lunch on embarkation day is off of Chops menu served in MDR. 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! If no one offers this service, be sure to ask! If you buy the Key for both, each person gets internet. 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. I also agree that its best to eyeball the dedicated security lines as you enter the terminal. Early access at shows in the Main Theater on Deck 4, however a reservation is needed so don't forget to book once you're onboard. Hiya! I really hope you didn't buy The Key just for the. While you may have to adjust your schedule around this, it will be worth it for the kids. Royal Caribbeans internet service, known as VOOM, is well-known for being very fast. I don't think it means you can show up at 10:30 am. 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. Also, its best to come early to take advantage of the carry on drop off service. Before you can board a cruise ship, you have to enter a cruise terminal. There will be food options when you board. Now, the welcome lunch is in a main dining room with a menu featuring items from Chops Grille. Secondly, if we're going to be able to board early, might as well get the Chops lunch, and lastly, I had a significant travel voucher with my TA, so somewhat forced to spend money. Also, think about the cost of excursions. 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. 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. For some activities, crew will give Key members a wristband once theyve shown the decal on their card. Can we use whichever one is better? In addition, with multi-device internet plans, the Key doesn't scale to families or larger groups if internet is always purchased. This benefit only applied to the main theater and the ice show. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-3','ezslot_15',606,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-3-0');This letter also contains your Key luggage tags, ensuring that any bags you put outside your door on the last night arrive in the designated Key section in the terminal for pickup. 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. We even had an entire Key Program booking canceled and our money refunded to us before sailing with no explanation. 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. As for food, c'mon.its a cruise.you are not going to starve. I just don't think you're going to get the bang for your buck that you think you will. 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. We are so excited and can't wait to board. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. We then headed to The Key waiting area. The menu features limited selections from Chops Grille. Our designated boarding window was at 1 pm, which definitely would have made us miss the embarkation lunch. Not sure if even the most vocal supporter of the VIP pass would say it makes sense financially at that price. Was useless. Worked out to be about $80 more than what I had paid for a 2 device internet package. 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. (Those who miss the window usually about 30 minutes on either side of check-in time may miss the benefit). 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. 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? 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. Enchanted with cruising from my first voyage in the Bahamas on the SS Emerald Seas to Alaskas Inside Passage. 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. 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. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Posted on Last updated: September 25, 2022. But some Freedom Class ships that I've sailed on did just that. 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.. Can't forget the wine! Choose to upgrade the complimentary continental breakfast; order a light lunch; and, have an entire dinner sent to your room. Another Overbooked Oasis-Class Royal Caribbean Ship, Royal Caribbean Changes Itinerary for First New Homeport Cruise, Refurbished Carnival Cruise Ship Completes Costa-Inspired Livery.
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