Unfortunately, on our cruise the information we were given prior to boarding as to the location of where to leave our luggage was incorrect. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. Other times, it is notably higher. Was useless. I haven't seen the Key on sale in months for any of the sailings. On the final day of the cruise, you will notice folks demonstrating some of the same hectic and hurried behaviors that you saw on day one. When you get to the port there will be plenty of signs and dedicated lines for the Key. Once you've done these things, sit back and enjoy your cruise! RCI actually claims that its six times faster than any other WiFi at sea! It had its pros For my next cruise in July I decided to cancel the key because I did not feel that it was worth that much money as we would not need to use priority boarding or disembarkation. It took several trips between floors to find the appropriate place to drop it off. The Royal Caribbean Key Program guests each have a special key icon on their SeaPass card, indicating participation in the program. It changes just like everything else. 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.. Video: Is Royal Caribbean's The Key worth it? While your stateroom is receiving its final preparations, you can eat a leisurely meal with other Key holders in the main dining room. I've seen just a line with a sign for The Key but not a dedicated entrance. Or, you might have small bags that could be damaged by the porters (have you ever watched them load up those big carts with suitcases?). Here is a list of the benefits you get with The Key: The early check-in isbetween 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM. Can we use whichever one is better? When you check your baggage in at the designated location, youll also be given a letter updating your Key Program benefits. I can see where theyre coming from! There is one final question to consider when deciding whether this optional add-on is right for your next cruise. A couple reasons, first off, I needed the internet since unfortunately need to work a little bit during the week. The only Key perk thats not included with any of these programs is the reserved hours for select activities. I have a 4 day cruise booked for nov. , the price for the key $36.99 per day. 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. The Key allows you to board at that time, but only if you have a time that is before it. This cruise lines optional add-on called The Key is a relatively new program. Its quite subtle, but this tiny icon gets you all the benefits listed below. They may need something from it between porter drop off and Key drop off. . Although the internet quality isnt fantastic, its super helpful for communicating with people at home and other people on board the ship. What lines do you think it will cut time for? Great price, I'd likely jump on it at that price too! I paid $28.99/day and it never got lower than that prior to sailing. Weve always enjoyed this luncheon. Priority Access could mean a multitude of things. A somewhat Chop's-like lunch (the lunch menu was cut and reduced from last year) where most times the announcement that cabins are ready comes near the conclusion of lunch. GoPort Fly, Snooze, Cruise package from Orlando to Port Canaveral. 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. You could book a full suite, which is way out of the price range of the average cruiser. We then headed to The Key waiting area. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. We even had an entire Key Program booking canceled and our money refunded to us before sailing with no explanation. This benefit came in SUPER handy with the kids. My assigned boarding time is 1:00. Lets take a look at what this program offers, and see if its worth booking for your next Royal Caribbean cruise. Basically, it's your chance to get to the fun faster and receive VIP access to certain activities. There are several reasons cruise lines offer a list of add-ons to passengers. 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. Some people just love the exclusive perks that the program includes, and the per-day cost is absolutely worth the money. An attendant will place a special luggage tag with your stateroom number on it to make sure it gets placed in your room. Pricing for the Key starts at $24.99 per guest per day, depending on the ship. This was the only benefit of the program that we didnt experience, since all ports we visited had an appropriate sized dock for our ship, so we cant speak directly to this benefit. 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. I'm glad I saw your post. However, some RCI ships have started offering Fast Track boarding when returning to the ship, and Key members are eligible. Priority Embarkation is one of the best Key perks. As a Key Guest, you will enjoy the option of a block of reserved times at certain attractions. While at first glance some of these benefits may not seem that great. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. 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. Why would someone want to drop their carry-on luggage off at The Key location? What's "The Key? A relaxed and carefree way to end a memorable vacation at sea. The first stop you will make is to a designated drop-off room for your carry-on luggage (usually in the Main Dining Room). (Be aware that some of the most popular spots may only be reserved for Key Guests a couple of times during your itinerary). Since we arrived before 2 pm, we had to wait for boarding to commence at 2 pm. This Surf + Steam VOOM would be the other reason why you would get the Key for your next cruise. Insider tip: Watch online for discount options to reduce the cost of the price per day for this add-on. If you are Diamond or higher in Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society and/or a suite guest, some benefits overlap with The Key, further reducing The Key's value. 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. I thought it was a little pricey but for a first time experience I felt it was worth it. For a prepaid fee, guest can access benefits that are usually reserved for suite guests or member of Royal Caribbean's loyalty program. 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/. Yes, you can select either time to enter I had The key for my Anthem sailing last week out of Bayonne. 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. yes, it's 1 device per key so yes, your wife will get to access 1 internet device and you will be able access 1 internet device. Not speaking from experience, but according to Royal's website, it gives you "priority access to the terminal within booked arrival time". Yes, if you get an earlier time, you can use that time. We are sailing out of Galveston so I wonder if anyone knows how they do it there. Crew delivers your bags to your stateroom and leaves them in the roomnot outside your door like regular checked luggage. Offerings usually include hot items like steak & eggs, crab Benedict, French toast, pancakes, and eggs made to order. 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. But keep this in mind if youre looking forward to enjoying this perk. Your link has been automatically embedded. Getting an early check-in time is easy (and free) if you just. The program wont be available to buy once youre on board the ship. 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. Special lunch on embarkation day is off of Chops menu served in MDR. Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. It is $42.99/pp/day for my 5 day cruise. So, it's important to know that Carnival won't serve any passenger more than 15 alcoholic drinks in a single day. For the FloRider, only about five or six Key Guests were taking advantage of the reserved hours, our son got to experience it over and over again with very little wait time. 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. My GF purchased the "key" for each of us. So for a 4 day cruise, to purchase the Key Package for two people, you can expect to spend around $200. Traditional continental breakfast items are also on the menu, like cereal, yogurt, pastries and fruit. But, ever since RCI cut back on those times, the value of this perk is less than it used to be. Purchasing the extras that come with this program can be added to any number of other add-ons to create just the right cruising experience for you and your family. Royal Caribbean recommends arriving to the terminal no later than11:30 AMfor you to have enough time to enjoy lunch with us! It made no difference in regards to my entry into the terminal as there was no lines. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. My experience has mostly been the my luggage checked with The Key is already inside my room by the time the rooms are ready between 1pm & 1:30pm. 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. Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society What You Need to Know. Some say priority boarding within your check in time. 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. The other benefit is that they give you lunch at chops on boarding day and deliver fruit to your room. But on an RCI cruise, theres a way to get these perks without spending lots of cash on a suite or waiting years to build up your loyalty status: The Key! Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. There's no point arriving at the cruise centre ahead of your boarding time, because you can't board until your official time slot. #5. You will have priority departure from the ship to the shore at tender ports of call. 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. 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. On the Cruise Critic boards, people have reported paying between $19.99 to $29.99 and even up to $37 per day for each. Royal Caribbean Key Guests get to avoid the crowds and the waiting, and experience these attractions during hours reserved exclusively for the program. The Key includes Voom Surf and Stream access for each person, which arguably makes up the bulk of the daily cost. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. I couldnt imagine why anyone would carry on a bag, only to check it soon after boarding! Perhaps they weren't so strict in the past, but due to COVID-19 safe distancing measures, this is religiously enforced now. As a Key Guest, you will enjoy your choice of the best seats. How To Purchase Still need help? VOOM Surf & Stream package, now including high speed internet, for one device (1 package per guest). Also, if you are booking a suite on any of the ships, many of The Key extras might be included during your itinerary. When The Key program first launched, RCI limited the passes to 100 passengers per cruise. Paste as plain text instead, 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. 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. The menus (ship specific, of course) are generous with options. You still need to select a boarding time and arrive at that time. One thing I wonder about with The Key. And wine. Timing is everything. Enchanted with cruising from my first voyage in the Bahamas on the SS Emerald Seas to Alaskas Inside Passage. Other benefits may apply at specific ports. (2023). VOOM Surf & Stream 1 of Device high speed internet per person who purchases the package. Ultimately, the value of this program is subjective. This is a super beneficial perk when traveling with children. There are a number of posts from the past 6 months discussing benefits of The Key. This benefit doesnt apply to docked ports, or for tendering back to the ship. For this reason, you should buy it early since they can sell out for any given itinerary. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Tendering operations can often take hours to get all the passengers to shore, so this is a valuable benefit if your itinerary has multiple tender ports. Thankfully, someone must have canceled, as I got a spot-- at full price. 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. Welcome lunch with Chops Grille menu can be bought separately at the restaurant or at a different restaurant. I see that with The Key, the boarding time is between 11:30-12:30. Members who have a high-status level in Royal Caribbeans Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program automatically enjoy many VIP benefits. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! So I cancelled the Voom and purchased The Key. October 07, 2021. What is The Key on Royal Caribbean? On the other hand, the only time I say its totally okay to arrive super early to port is if you have one of the first check-in times. When I first heard about this service, I thought it was an odd perk to offer. This option which is available 24 hours a day, every day has been recently offered in lieu of the complimentary embarkation lunch. This terminology was super vague to us when we first came across it in the description of the Key Program. Lastly, Ive found that sometimes there are frazzled port workers who may not be familiar with the Key and just wave you into the regular line. You may also like: Cruising with Kids: 19 Essential Tips. All guests over the age of 6 in the same room must purchase The Key. Be sure to check out these resources when youre planning a Royal Caribbean cruise: Have you bought The Key on a Royal Caribbean cruise? They also dont get upgraded amenities, exclusive gifts, or priority waitlist seating in the main dining rooms. **, Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring The Key signature menu.***. 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 menu features limited selections from Chops Grille. Hiya! Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, the lunch by Chops during embarkation day (this way underwhelming), luggage drop off at main dining room during embarkation day, Room service (according to the letter this was free), Priority Time at activities- these were at 9am, which is not a time that I normally wear a bathing suit to ride some waves. We got really lucky on the Allure last fall where the Key was $16.99 pp so we got it. 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. Many cruise terminals have a special waiting area for Key members, and staff will call you for boarding just after suite and high-level loyalty members. Priority departure from ship-to-shore at tender ports. All opinions are our own, and all costs were paid out of our pocket for this experience. (asking about suite too because we may upgrade to a suite and drop the key). The Key is an optional add-on anyone can purchase for their Royal Caribbean cruise that includes special access and perks. Swimsuit, acceptable dinner clothes for a few nights, acceptable day wear for a few days, and dop kit. Reservations for shows can be made on your own via the Royal Caribbean app. 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. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. * Priority access will not be offered in Vancouver, Canada, or at any ports in Australia. Since the cruise line requires that this program be purchased ahead of time, this can be a real money saver. Let me know in the comments below! Clear editor. With capacity limitations lately theres no lines. I don't think it means you can show up at 10:30 am. Much, much better value for 2 extra dollars per day! Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. I just bought is for $22.99. The Key program is controversial among some high-level Crown & Anchor members. Recent RCI cruisers report that most sailings now only offer one private hour per week for each activity for Key members. That is a very long time to wait for a show. 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. I guess this falls under the different strokes for different folks. Since 2018, when The Key was rolled out as a pilot program on select ships, some benefits have been modified. 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. Agreed, I enjoyed it at $19.99, and now would only look if it was close to pricing for internet. On debarkation day, enjoy a private la carte breakfast and choice departure. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. Some are ship or itinerary specific; and others are specific to the port of embarkation. Now, the welcome lunch is in a main dining room with a menu featuring items from Chops Grille. Booking of the Key Program is non-refundable if YOU want to cancel it. Apparently on ships that require reservations for show, guests are allowed access early to pick their seats. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. 1 hour ago, madoris said: I have a 4 day cruise booked for nov. , the price for the key $36.99 per day. I did not find that the time was convenient and I do not know how many people showed up. There is currently no special seating in nightclubs and other smaller gathering event spaces. 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? 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. But information emailed to us just a few short days before instructed us to arrive early. Do you already have perks? Price The cost of The Key can vary from ship to ship, as well as itinerary. But our sailing wasnt taking reservations for shows at all, so there was lots of confusion among Key Guests about this. We are so excited . You can! However, this benefit has recently changed. That I can live with..certainly not $30+. 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. Your bags will be tagged and whisked away into your stateroom (rather than left in the hallway hours later). 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? Hi! But when youre actually on the ship, they all really do make a difference. Lets break the benefits down by order in which youll probably use them. Looking for more travel content? I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. September 2, 2010. nj. I just checked my cruise planner and The Key is only two dollars per day over the Voom Surf n Stream that I previously purchased. If not, just leave blank, watch the Royal Caribbean app for when check-in windows will become available to book. The Key is a program that provides Royal Caribbean International guests with premier access to exclusive experiences during their cruise vacation. Priority boarding either with or right after suite guests. If so, what kind? 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! 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. 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. Thank you so much for taking the time to share. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. Then, you see rows and rows and rows of people However, if you bought Royal Caribbean The Key, welcome to your first VIP perk. Againcrowds, queues and waiting. I bought The Key for my upcoming sailing on Harmony 5/1. 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. Im thrilled to share all my ideas with you and hope you like what you find here in my little home on the internet. 10 Rookie Cruise Mistakes to Avoid When Booking, Cruise Sweepstakes You Can Enter to Win a Free Cruise! We also purchase. Yes, for $2/day more than Voom, it's worth it because you get the boarding day lunch and debarkation breakfast. Upload or insert images from URL. Manage Settings I will be sailing on the Wonder on 2/25 and will keep an eye on the price for that cruise. One of the nicest benefits of the Royal Caribbean Key Program is early access or reserved seating at these shows. All rights reserved. Powered by Invision Community. 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 Key holders will board after Royal Suite Class guests and Pinnacle guests. The Key was something I've always purchased because I highly value these benefits: Either The Key used to include a 25% discount for specialty dining reservations --or maybe it was just some ships would add that as a benefit to boost dining sales-- but I haven't seen that in awhile. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Posted on Last updated: September 25, 2022. Is it worth it to buy The Key on a RCI cruise? During our first experience with the Key program, we were with a large group and had a table to ourselves. Or, you could reach a high level in the companys loyalty program. Being able to drop those off would be super-convenient. In addition, your SeaPass card will have a special sticker to easily identify yourself as having The Key. Internet that I'd otherwise pay for one device. Internet access, early check-in, special times at signature attractions and more are included with The Key. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? This benefit only applied to the main theater and the ice show. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Reserved private hours at onboard activities including the FlowRider, Rock Climbing and more. 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! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. There is no priority queue in the ART test area, for Singapore. I think with a little bit of footwork, you can get similar results on your own and save money on your cruise vacation. 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. 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.
royal caribbean the key boarding time
royal caribbean the key boarding time
royal caribbean the key boarding time