Special lunch on embarkation day is off of Chops menu served in MDR. Access to the fast lane at onboard activities (activities vary by ship)and private time at the Flowrider. They can frequently run in the hundreds of dollars. When you get to the port there will be plenty of signs and dedicated lines for the Key. ", https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-key-program. How to Get Free Drinks in the Casino on Royal Caribbean And More! However, some recent passengers report up to 200 passes sold on their cruises. Video: Is Royal Caribbean's The Key worth it? Now, the welcome lunch is in a main dining room with a menu featuring items from Chops Grille. The latter is the only circumstance where you will receive a full refund. It is only sold to a limited number of passengers ahead of time for reasons we will explore below. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. When planning your vacation at sea, you will see that there will be stops along the journey ports of call. Benefits of The Key. Basically, it's your chance to get to the fun faster and receive VIP access to certain activities. 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? All guests over the age of 6 in the same room must purchase The Key. Perk number seven! Some say priority boarding within your check in time. But, ever since RCI cut back on those times, the value of this perk is less than it used to be. 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! 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. Crew often opens up the VIP seating area to all passengers a few minutes before the show begins. The priority for tendering is largely useless since Royal Caribbean ships rarely ever tender, thanks to more and more ports having piers. You will each get one account. The program wont be available to buy once youre on board the ship. Not sure if even the most vocal supporters of the VIP pass would say it makes sense financially at that price. By If . 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! Hi! To many passengers, one of the most popular perks included in Royal Caribbean The Key program is WiFi. This terminology was super vague to us when we first came across it in the description of the Key Program. I think with a little bit of footwork, you can get similar results on your own and save money on your cruise vacation. Think of it like a way to pay extra to get VIP treatment, faster access, or otherwise nice to have extras. They also dont get upgraded amenities, exclusive gifts, or priority waitlist seating in the main dining rooms. Can we use whichever one is better? 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. 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. Elite loyalty members also board the ship before Key members, so they still have higher-priority access to the ship to get their vacation started early. 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. I guess this falls under the different strokes for different folks. Choice debarkation time with special debarkation breakfast. If no one offers this service, be sure to ask! 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. But it was a one and done for us. 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. i always try to get the earliest boarding. 1 hour ago, madoris said: I have a 4 day cruise booked for nov. , the price for the key $36.99 per day. What's "The Key? The Key is a program that provides Royal Caribbean International guests with premier access to exclusive experiences during their cruise vacation. 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. My assigned boarding time is 1:00. Crew delivers your bags to your stateroom and leaves them in the roomnot outside your door like regular checked luggage. you would have to share a device throughout the cruise. While you may have to adjust your schedule around this, it will be worth it for the kids. It is satellite-based and works throughout the ship. 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. Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring the Chops Grille menu (open from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM). Royal Caribbeans internet service, known as VOOM, is well-known for being very fast. You could book a full suite, which is way out of the price range of the average cruiser. 2K views, 27 likes, 7 loves, 18 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Dbstvstlucia: DBS MORNING SHOW & OBITUARIES 25TH APRIL 2023 APRIL 2023 No. Pricing for The Key varies by itinerary. **, Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring The Key signature menu.***. Where to Get Coffee on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. From his, Royal Caribbean's VIP guest experience, The Key, offers some perks and benefits not available to other guests onboard. 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. Hi! The 19 Best Cruise Accessories You Need to Pack in 2023, 12 Amazing Cruise Line Private Islands to Visit in 2023 and Beyond, Royal Caribbean Caf Latte-tudes Full Menu (With Prices), Carnival Firenze Inaugural Season Opens For Bookings, Princess Cruises Announces Lavazza as Official Coffee Partner, Disney Cruise Line Announces Inaugural Sailings to Lighthouse Point, Norwegian Cruise Line Will Debut Beetlejuice The Musical Aboard Norwegian Viva, Cunard Sea Views Photo Exhibition Captures 100 Years of Cruising, https://shouldbecruising.com/privacy-policy/. 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. Enchanted with cruising from my first voyage in the Bahamas on the SS Emerald Seas to Alaskas Inside Passage. 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. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Although the menu offerings for the new exclusive lunch are elevated compared to complimentary lunch menus, RCI no longer offers the chance for Key members to enjoy the ambiance of lunch at Chops (a benefit that normally costs $22.95 per person). The package includes one device per person. However, some RCI ships have started offering Fast Track boarding when returning to the ship, and Key members are eligible. 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. Royal Caribbean offered The Key for a few years, but then suspended it as cruise ships began restart in 2021. The Reality of Royal Caribbean and Carnival Marijuana Policies. 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. While not quite on par with a dining experience youll get in one of the specialty restaurants on board the ship, the food was definitely better than anything we found at the buffet or in the main dining room during our cruise. That is a very long time to wait for a show. Is it worth it to buy The Key on a RCI cruise? In order to be a Key Guest, anyone over the age of six in your stateroom must buy this benefits package. Does the price ever drop or does it stay the same? This cruise lines optional add-on called The Key is a relatively new program. You wont even have to hunt it down in the hallway like you usually have to do with your checked baggage. The Key will usually show up as an option for purchase in your Cruise Planner about 90-100 days before your sailing. It is suggested that you arrive approximately 30 minutes prior to curtain time to select from amongst the best seats in the house.. Since I'd purchase a one device internet package otherwise, it's really about the price differential. I bought The Key for my upcoming sailing on Harmony 5/1. There is currently no special seating in nightclubs and other smaller gathering event spaces. It made no difference in regards to my entry into the terminal as there was no lines. 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. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Insider tip: Watch online for discount options to reduce the cost of the price per day for this add-on. Can't forget the wine! Do you already have perks? 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. That is why this is our first stop). This is understandable, since limiting super-popular activities to a small number of guests during the busiest hours could anger a lot of cruisers. So if we get an earlier check-in time through the app we can opt to use that or we can use the key if it's the earlier of the two? VOOM Surf & Stream package, now including high speed internet, for one device (1 package per guest). Members who have a high-status level in Royal Caribbeans Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program automatically enjoy many VIP benefits. Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean The Key, with the different benefits and basics of the priority program. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! you still select a boarding time at check in but a couple weeks before the cruise you will get an email that tells you you can board with the Key at (usually 11:30 after suite guests) or keep your scheduled time. The menus (ship specific, of course) are generous with options. (Be aware that some of the most popular spots may only be reserved for Key Guests a couple of times during your itinerary). 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. 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. We much preferred this meal instead of fighting our way through the buffet along with every other passenger onboard the ship. But keep this in mind if youre looking forward to enjoying this perk. Priority departure at ports where a tender is required ship-to-shore, A la carte breakfast and choice departure time on debarkation day. Boarded Wonder of the Seas almost a year after our first sailing on her. You should also know that the Royal Caribbean Key program can ONLY be booked BEFORE your cruise. Not speaking from experience, but according to Royal's website, it gives you "priority access to the terminal within booked arrival time". ill try it again when things get full again. Royal Caribbean Key Guests get to avoid the crowds and the waiting, and experience these attractions during hours reserved exclusively for the program. There are a number of posts from the past 6 months discussing benefits of The Key. I just purchased The Key and am wondering if that will push my boarding time up. What did you think of the perks? Lets break the benefits down by order in which youll probably use them. While at first glance some of these benefits may not seem that great. 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. 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 . 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. The Key was emailing a letter prior to the cruise stating the Key would allow you to arrive early and up to 11:30 you would have priority boarding. 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.

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