Price The cost of The Key can vary from ship to ship, as well as itinerary. Much of the value of the program is in the unlimited internet. Not to worry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. I sailed the first time with Royal Caribbean on the Oasis of the Seas this past March. 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. I will be sailing on the Wonder on 2/25 and will keep an eye on the price for that cruise. This can be quite a challenge in one particular circumstance tendering to shore. Traditional continental breakfast items are also on the menu, like cereal, yogurt, pastries and fruit. (Be aware that some of the most popular spots may only be reserved for Key Guests a couple of times during your itinerary). VOOM Surf & Stream package, now including high speed internet, for one device (1 package per guest). Perk number five is also a continuous benefit throughout your whole itinerary special sections of reserved seating. 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. Your link has been automatically embedded. That brings your total for purchasing these benefits individually up to $182. 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. From his, Royal Caribbean's VIP guest experience, The Key, offers some perks and benefits not available to other guests onboard. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. This Key decal is how the ships crew knows that a guest is part of the program, so its important to have it on your SeaPass card. 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. All opinions are our own, and all costs were paid out of our pocket for this experience. Since we arrived before 2 pm, we had to wait for boarding to commence at 2 pm. I'd want to keep that stuff with me. Perk number eight! Is the Royal Caribbean Key Program a must-do or a hard pass for your next cruise? Royal Caribbean does set some limits with this perk. Upload or insert images from URL. Were giving you our detail, unbiased feedback about what the program is and how it works for the average traveler. For example, if VOOM by itself is around $20/day (for one device for one person) and The Key is $25/day (for the same) and you definitely need WiFi, then you are getting all the other Key perks for only $5/day in our example. when I got it I wasnt thinking about capacity numbers. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. Worked out to be about $80 more than what I had paid for a 2 device internet package. Can anyone tell me if I purchase The Key for both myself and my wife, do we get two internet devices, 1 per person? While all passengers must follow general boarding and security protocols at every port, Key Guests have a shortcut afterward. This option which is available 24 hours a day, every day has been recently offered in lieu of the complimentary embarkation lunch. If one person in a stateroom buys The Key, all other passengers in that stateroom age six and over need to also purchase the program. But our sailing wasnt taking reservations for shows at all, so there was lots of confusion among Key Guests about this. There is no priority queue in the ART test area, for Singapore. Carry on luggage can be left in the MDR and delivered to cabin. This is how you can get priority access to the cruise terminal on boarding day, priority access to the theatre shows, private time slots for rock-climbing or Flowrider , VOOM Surf & Stream 1 device and more benefits. The menu featured everything from an Express Breakfast for those in a hurry to Steak and Eggs for those who want to take a leisurely approach to their last meal onboard. Display as a link instead, This cruise lines optional add-on called The Key is a relatively new program. 1 hour ago, madoris said: I have a 4 day cruise booked for nov. , the price for the key $36.99 per day. Suites were told they have a one-hour leeway on either side of their schedule arrival time. Welcome to Chaotically Yours. I just bought is for $22.99. We always like to start our reviews by reminding you that we were not compensated in any way to write this piece. But Carnival Cruise Line, whose Faster To The Fun program is very similar, determines how many passes they sell per cruise based on those figures. 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. 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. Insider tip: Be sure that your time slot is early enough to take advantage of our next benefit embarkation day lunch. Arguably the most valuable perk included with the program, unlimited VOOM packages normally go for $17.99 per day for one device when purchased separately. Looking for more travel content? The Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas, which departed from Brisbane two weeks ago, halted its course after the incident. I don't want most of the "perks" but for some that sets their cruise at a new level . Tip: Be sure to still make reservations for shows in advance and arrive at least 15 minutes before showtime. Some of the updated information had changed, like the location of our welcome lunch, but other instructions were just flat out incorrect. Read Also: Are Royal Caribbean Cruises All Inclusive? There are only a certain number of days and many fun things to do on board the ship and, standing in line is certainly not one of them! It took several trips between floors to find the appropriate place to drop it off. you would have to share a device throughout the cruise. There is a wide variety of entertainment options to enjoy during your time at sea. In my experience, I found the benefits sound a lot better on the surface than they really are. 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? Flying Wish Paper: How To Make Your Own With Things You Already Have! 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. If youre thinking about purchasing the program, its a good idea to check around this time because it does tend to sell out. 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. The price of The Key varies, and starts at $25.99 per day, per person, although there can be discounts available to bring that price down. If you decide that Royal Caribbean The Key is something you would like to add to your next cruise vacation, keep in mind that it is non-refundable. 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. Priority Embarkation is one of the best Key perks. My GF purchased the "key" for each of us. Priority departure at ports where a tender is required ship-to-shore, A la carte breakfast and choice departure time on debarkation day. The search will resume at first light on Friday morning local time. I thought it was a little pricey but for a first time experience I felt it was worth it. **** Reservations are required for shows on Quantum and Oasis class ships. Boarded Wonder of the Seas almost a year after our first sailing on her. 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. Also, its best to come early to take advantage of the carry on drop off service. However, some recent passengers report up to 200 passes sold on their cruises. Erin103 Also, look for the signature key image that matches the one on your SeaPass. There is currently no special seating in nightclubs and other smaller gathering event spaces. I bought The Key for my upcoming sailing on Harmony 5/1. How to Get Free Drinks in the Casino on Royal Caribbean And More! They get more time to actually have fun on each attraction. (Those who miss the window usually about 30 minutes on either side of check-in time may miss the benefit). Ah, I see. We were surprised that Royal Caribbean didnt take the time to avoid this confusion by simply updating this letter for their Key guests. We then headed to The Key waiting area. Like what you see? Check the specific adventures on your ship to see what and how many of these capture your interest. A relaxed and carefree way to end a memorable vacation at sea. Passengers can drop off up to two pieces per person, and items cant weigh more than 25 pounds. I also agree that its best to eyeball the dedicated security lines as you enter the terminal. Or the benefits are simply not as lucrative as it sounds. Crew often opens up the VIP seating area to all passengers a few minutes before the show begins. Was useless. It is built around the. I would also argue both attractions on Odyssey of the Seas with special times for guests with The Key have a limited appeal than other activities where it would be far more useful. There are several reasons cruise lines offer a list of add-ons to passengers. You wont even have to hunt it down in the hallway like you usually have to do with your checked baggage. I thought "The Key" (now VIP Pass) was a nice option. 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. If youre already planning to buy WiFi, The Key might make sense depending on how many devices you want to activate. But I wouldn't pay any more than that the value just isn't there for me. Yes, for $2/day more than Voom, it's worth it because you get the boarding day lunch and debarkation breakfast. This is a super beneficial perk when traveling with children. 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. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 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. Lunch on Day 2 for ships sailing from Seward or Vancouver. Full suite guests already receive many of the benefits of The Key program as part of their booking. 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). The Key is an optional add-on anyone can purchase for their Royal Caribbean cruise that includes special access and perks. It's important to note that these times that you choose during online check-in are only port arrival times. Dining packages offer a good discount on how much lunch will cost. Choice debarkation time with special debarkation breakfast. The Key allows you to board at that time, but only if you have a time that is before it. (Bring your receipt, just in case). Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! You can post now and register later. No, I bought it, mainly to cut the time I will spend on lines, for back and knees. Select from a menu of (typically three) appetizers, entres, sides and desserts. 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. We much preferred this meal instead of fighting our way through the buffet along with every other passenger onboard the ship. What lines do you think it will cut time for? Additionally, priority check-in and boarding are not available in Vancouver or at any ports in Australia, so keep this in mind if youre cruising from these locations. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',199,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4-0');Booked guests on most Royal Caribbean sailings have the choice to upgrade to The Key, a program that offers enhanced benefits. 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. 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. 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. If you do choose to have the exclusive breakfast, a crew member should be available to escort you and your bags off the ship right from the restaurant when youre done. Without The Key, if youre late reserving tender tickets, the earlier times will probably be gone. But information emailed to us just a few short days before instructed us to arrive early.
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