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. 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. Im a wife, a mom, a crafter, a Disney fan, and a french fry connoisseur. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. 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. 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. Lets take a look at what this program offers, and see if its worth booking for your next Royal Caribbean cruise. This can be quite a challenge in one particular circumstance tendering to shore. But our sailing wasnt taking reservations for shows at all, so there was lots of confusion among Key Guests about this. Royal Caribbean typically allows cruisers to choose arrival times in thirty-minute blocks as shown in the image below. But once guests are fully inside the terminal, there are special representatives that will check guests in quickly, avoiding some of the long lines that form for the average passenger. The VOOM family plans come with a significant discount if youre purchasing for three or more devices, so it may be cheaper to just buy the WiFi. Posted 1 hour ago. (2023). The Key includes Voom Surf and Stream access for each person, which arguably makes up the bulk of the daily cost. I've seen just a line with a sign for The Key but not a dedicated entrance. 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. Priority departure at tender ports of call from ship-to-shore. Being able to drop those off would be super-convenient. The priority for tendering is largely useless since Royal Caribbean ships rarely ever tender, thanks to more and more ports having piers. If youre thinking about purchasing the program, its a good idea to check around this time because it does tend to sell out. 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. 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. Offerings usually include hot items like steak & eggs, crab Benedict, French toast, pancakes, and eggs made to order. Why would someone want to drop their carry-on luggage off at The Key location? There is a wide variety of entertainment options to enjoy during your time at sea. That is alcoholic drinks and indeed sodas, coffee etc is unlimited. It is available on most of the ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet with the current exceptions of Majesty of the Seas, Voyager Class Ships and Quantum Class Ships. Ah, I see. The Key program is controversial among some high-level Crown & Anchor members. When you check your baggage in at the designated location, youll also be given a letter updating your Key Program benefits. The experience is really all over the place. Getting an early check-in time is easy (and free) if you just. 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. 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. Since 2018, when The Key was rolled out as a pilot program on select ships, some benefits have been modified. Does the price ever drop or does it stay the same? Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. It took several trips between floors to find the appropriate place to drop it off. I will be sailing on the Wonder on 2/25 and will keep an eye on the price for that cruise. Some say priority boarding within your check in time. definitely. I've seen it lower, and purchased once even lower than I've seen it. Unfortunately, the private times at attractions were limited and at inconvenient times. You can post now and register later. Check the specific adventures on your ship to see what and how many of these capture your interest. This Surf + Steam VOOM would be the other reason why you would get the Key for your next cruise. 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. 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. Much of the value of the program is in the unlimited internet. 20% off at all specialty restaurants, when you make the reservation on Day 1 of the sailing. 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. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 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. We always like to start our reviews by reminding you that we were not compensated in any way to write this piece. 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. While all passengers must follow general boarding and security protocols at every port, Key Guests have a shortcut afterward. Other benefits may apply at specific ports. A couple reasons, first off, I needed the internet since unfortunately need to work a little bit during the week. Tip: Be sure to still make reservations for shows in advance and arrive at least 15 minutes before showtime. 1 hour ago, madoris said: I have a 4 day cruise booked for nov. , the price for the key $36.99 per day. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. We also purchase. Final Notes on Royal Caribbean - The Key The Basics of Royal Caribbean - The Key This cruise line's optional add-on called The Key is a relatively new program. The package includes one device per person. No, I bought it, mainly to cut the time I will spend on lines, for back and knees. Perk number five is also a continuous benefit throughout your whole itinerary special sections of reserved seating. 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. 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. Although youll be able to bypass the long lines at check-in, youll be boarding the ship (and waiting for those notoriously slow embarkation day elevators) along with everyone else. That means taking tons of cruises with the same cruise line! In my experiencethe Key has always had a boarding time of 11:30 or earlier. Since the program began in 2018, passengers have reported paying anywhere from $19.99 to over $35 per person per day. At some ports of call, a small boat (or tender) will carry passengers to and from the port. 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. Okay. Powered by Invision Community. 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! #5. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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. 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! 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. However, some RCI ships have started offering Fast Track boarding when returning to the ship, and Key members are eligible. Reserved private hours at onboard activities including the FlowRider, Rock Climbing and more. Guests need to purchase The Key before the cruise begins on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website. Whether or not The Key is worth the money really depends on your situation. madoris, Thursday at 02:15 PM in Royal Caribbean International. Everything else gets dropped off with the porters outside the terminal. Can anyone tell me if I purchase The Key for both myself and my wife, do we get two internet devices, 1 per person? Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean The Key, with the different benefits and basics of the priority program. Royal Caribbean Key Guests get to avoid the crowds and the waiting, and experience these attractions during hours reserved exclusively for the program. And wine. There will be food options when you board. 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. Special lunch on embarkation day is off of Chops menu served in MDR. This benefit came in SUPER handy with the kids. Can you help me understand suite and key program priority embarkation? 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. Rock climbing was also at 9am. *** Welcome lunch is open from 12:00 pm 1:30 pm. The steepest discounts come closer to sailing IF bookings are soft and they want to fill space. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring the Chops Grille menu (open from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM). We never found this experience to be very a la carte, since a specific menu was given to us each time. But if youre booking shore excursions directly through RCI, youll already have priority tendering for those excursions. On the Cruise Critic boards, people have reported paying between $19.99 to $29.99 and even up to $37 per day for each. You should see signs and there will be attendants there to handle the luggage. (3:46 p.m. EDT) -- Royal Caribbean is reportedly bringing back one of its most popular pre-cruise purchases: a priority access program known as The Key. You'll be able to stream or download movies and music, or make FaceTime or Skype calls on the ship and on RCI's private island CocoCay. ** or is it only 1 internet device? Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. How Long Does It Take to Get Off a Cruise Ship? My assigned boarding time is 1:00. That brings your total for purchasing these benefits individually up to $182. Additionally, you will once again be the beneficiary of a reserved time to go ashore; also included with this final perk. The VROOM Surf & Stream package and a meal at Chops Grille are the only two benefits that are eligible for purchase individually. Now, the welcome lunch is in a main dining room with a menu featuring items from Chops Grille. Also, its best to come early to take advantage of the carry on drop off service. 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! That is, you cannot cancel it, but the cruise line can. Perk(s) number three! 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. Breakfast room service is likely the most beneficial time to use room service, but there are so many easy grab and go breakfast options that I think in general, the idea of having room service is better than the actual thing. *, Carry-on bag drop off with delivery to your stateroom. Royal Caribbean recommends arriving to the terminal no later than11:30 AMfor you to have enough time to enjoy lunch with us! Benefits of The Key. This benefit only applied to the main theater and the ice show. It made no difference in regards to my entry into the terminal as there was no lines. While offerings can change at any time, and usually vary slightly between ships, benefits of the Key Program usually include: As soon as youve boarded the ship, you can proceed to a designated location (usually one of the main dining rooms) and drop off your carry on luggage. If a large group of Key members and suite passengers enter just before you, it might be quicker going through a regular security line. While you may have to adjust your schedule around this, it will be worth it for the kids. Can we use whichever one is better? Members who have a high-status level in Royal Caribbeans Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program automatically enjoy many VIP benefits. 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. Royal Caribbean ships (especially the Oasis-class ships, like the Wonder of the Seas) are so packed with activities, restaurants, and more. 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. This benefit allows Key Guests to skip the long lines for the dinghys that ferry cruisers from ship to shore in ports that dont have docks appropriate for cruise ships. Whether you need to communicate with home or you just want to use social media while youre onboard, its pretty likely that youre going to purchase an internet package during your cruise. 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? The only Key perk thats not included with any of these programs is the reserved hours for select activities. If not, just leave blank, watch the Royal Caribbean app for when check-in windows will become available to book. Your bags will be tagged and whisked away into your stateroom (rather than left in the hallway hours later). Some ports may have The Key folks enter the same place as the suites. 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/.
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