This letter will list updated information about reserved hours for activities and info about reservations for show. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. 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. No, I bought it, mainly to cut the time I will spend on lines, for back and knees. Of course we didn't know the fruit was coming so by the time we got back it was pretty spent. 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. Being able to drop those off would be super-convenient. One of the nicest benefits of the Royal Caribbean Key Program is early access or reserved seating at these shows. 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. The Key includes Voom Surf and Stream access for each person, which arguably makes up the bulk of the daily cost. Guests need to purchase The Key before the cruise begins on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website. We never found this experience to be very a la carte, since a specific menu was given to us each time. Priority boarding either with or right after suite guests. But, be aware that all the following perks will not be available across the entire fleet. The program wont be available to buy once youre on board the ship. Great price, I'd likely jump on it at that price too! 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. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. Some of the updated information had changed, like the location of our welcome lunch, but other instructions were just flat out incorrect. It is way overpriced. Royal Caribbean's VIP-access program, The Key, is being offered again on cruise ships and you might be wondering if it's worth it. These extra benefits generally fall into the categories of saving money or time, exclusive access, or to create a sense of VIP status. I see that with The Key, the boarding time is between 11:30-12:30. 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The Key is a program that provides Royal Caribbean International guests with premier access to exclusive experiences during their cruise vacation. Royal Caribbean recommends arriving to the terminal no later than 11:30 AM for you to have enough time to enjoy lunch with us! Be sure to check out these resources when youre planning a Royal Caribbean cruise: Have you bought The Key on a Royal Caribbean cruise? The welcome lunch for Royal Caribbeans Key Program guests is served in the main dining room during limited hours on your embarkation day. I paid $28.99/day and it never got lower than that prior to sailing. 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. That is a very long time to wait for a show. While you may have to adjust your schedule around this, it will be worth it for the kids. Join Sean and S. Since space is limited on a cruise ship, the larger, more popular show are notorious for filling up fast. What we did find was that the meal was quite good. i always try to get the earliest boarding. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Rockaway NY,Sonoma County,Ca. But some Freedom Class ships that I've sailed on did just that. you would have to share a device throughout the cruise. Or the benefits are simply not as lucrative as it sounds. There is currently no special seating in nightclubs and other smaller gathering event spaces. I almost got shut out, as they do have a cap, and it sold out. Insider tip: Watch online for discount options to reduce the cost of the price per day for this add-on. 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. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. 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. 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. Priority departure at ports where a tender is required ship-to-shore, A la carte breakfast and choice departure time on debarkation day. 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! When planning your vacation at sea, you will see that there will be stops along the journey ports of call. If your Key says that then take screenshots. 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. Heres what The Key is (and why some cruisers like it), Royal Caribbean testing VIP guest access program. definitely. RCI actually claims that its six times faster than any other WiFi at sea! Professional freelance writer and published indie author. Arriving after 11:30 you would have priority in your scheduled arrival time window. 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. The Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas, which departed from Brisbane two weeks ago, halted its course after the incident. 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. Private time at some of our onboard activities such as rock climbing, FlowRider, etc. Internet access, early check-in, special times at signature attractions and more are included with The Key. Or is the only benefit: priority embarkation mean you have your own line to enter terminal as opposed to the masses. This benefit does not apply to smaller venues or activities like nightclubs or karaoke. One of the really nice benefits of the Key Program is that you dont have to do that. Royal Caribbean offered The Key for a few years, but then suspended it as cruise ships began restart in 2021. Or is the only benefit: priority embarkation mean you have your own line to enter terminal as opposed to the masses. You will get an email with instructions, usually anyone with the Key can arrive between 11:00-11:30 no matter what your boarding time is. RCI actually claims that it's six times faster than any other WiFi at sea! Our assigned boarding time is listed as 3:30, With the Key can we go earlier? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. A relaxed and carefree way to end a memorable vacation at sea. 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. Key guests are NOT exempt from general boarding requirements like Covid vaccinations or negative Covid tests. In addition to reading through the options for drink packages, specialty dining, shore excursions, professional onboard photos and videos, stateroom locations and other items, consider a hybrid program like Royal Caribbean The Key. Okay, thank you for that. While this may not occur during your particular cruise, everyone will be glad of this benefit if it does. Flying Wish Paper: How To Make Your Own With Things You Already Have! Price The cost of The Key can vary from ship to ship, as well as itinerary. It took several trips between floors to find the appropriate place to drop it off. 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. On the flip side, you should always keep in mind that these benefits are subject to change at any time, and frequently do for any number of reasons. What's "The Key? But if youre booking shore excursions directly through RCI, youll already have priority tendering for those excursions. Perk number five is also a continuous benefit throughout your whole itinerary special sections of reserved seating. Special lunch on embarkation day is off of Chops menu served in MDR. Think of it like a way to pay extra to get VIP treatment, faster access, or otherwise nice to have extras. Does this extra cost amenity make sense to get for your family? 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. What we did learn was that reserved hours for each activity were typically only offered once during a sailing, and usually during a day at sea. Thankfully, someone must have canceled, as I got a spot-- at full price. 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. Although RCI advertises the cost of The Key on a per-day basis, cruisers must purchase the program for all days of a sailing. I'm glad I saw your post. Key members can drop those bags off with less worry about damage from rough handling. A good sit-down breakfast that starts early (6:30am) allowing for an early walk-off. September 2, 2010. nj. This is so Key customers can take advantage of the Key lunch. But it was a one and done for us. When I first heard about this service, I thought it was an odd perk to offer. *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions, Priority access during The Key designated arrival time (to be communicated via email). What this means is that hundreds of passengers will be disembarking around the same time after the ship docks. We got really lucky on the Allure last fall where the Key was $16.99 pp so we got it. I just purchased The Key and am wondering if that will push my boarding time up. But, cruisers who buy The Key dont have access to lots of perks that elite loyalty members have. Some people just love the exclusive perks that the program includes, and the per-day cost is absolutely worth the money. Your link has been automatically embedded. Guests can choose boarding times in the afternoon or earlier times of 10:30 or 11:00. It is suggested that you arrive approximately 30 minutes prior to curtain time to select from amongst the best seats in the house.. This cruise lines optional add-on called The Key is a relatively new program. Guests in a suite, and those who are Diamond level or above also might not need to purchase The Key because many of the benefits are already included. After you book a Royal Caribbean cruise and you can access your Cruise Planner, youll see a link to purchase The Key for your cruise. One note about this perk: It only applies in one direction from the ship to the shore. Key guests still have to make their way to the port terminal and through security just like everyone else. 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. Yes, for $2/day more than Voom, it's worth it because you get the boarding day lunch and debarkation breakfast. EF Tours Review: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. I haven't seen the Key on sale in months for any of the sailings. Drop off your carry-on luggage in the Main Dining Room on Deck 3 by 2:00 PM - your carry-on luggage will be hand delivered to your stateroom. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Ultimately, the value of this program is subjective. I just bought is for $22.99. Boarded Wonder of the Seas almost a year after our first sailing on her. Much, much better value for 2 extra dollars per day! Just by flashing your SeaPass, Key members can take advantage of lots of benefits that the vast majority of RCI cruisers dont have. 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. . 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. *** Welcome lunch is open from 12:00 pm 1:30 pm. From his, Royal Caribbean's VIP guest experience, The Key, offers some perks and benefits not available to other guests onboard. We even had an entire Key Program booking canceled and our money refunded to us before sailing with no explanation. Youll be able to stream or download movies and music, or make FaceTime or Skype calls on the ship and on RCIs private island CocoCay. Hi! 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. Overall, we feel like Royal Caribbean The Key is worth the money, especially if you arent splurging on much else. While at first glance some of these benefits may not seem that great. 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! Reservations for shows can be made on your own via the Royal Caribbean app. Lunch on Day 2 for ships sailing from Seward or Vancouver. A couple reasons, first off, I needed the internet since unfortunately need to work a little bit during the week. On our first sailing with the Royal Caribbean Key Program, there was a designated area for Key guests to wait in the terminal for their turn to board. 1 hour ago, madoris said: I have a 4 day cruise booked for nov. , the price for the key $36.99 per day. Offerings usually include hot items like steak & eggs, crab Benedict, French toast, pancakes, and eggs made to order. It is only sold to a limited number of passengers ahead of time for reasons we will explore below. By Holding at $35.99 for our upcoming 6 night! For an extra price per day/per person, passengers can purchase The Key to enjoy nicer extras before, during and at the end of the cruise. The Key is an add-on program on Royal Caribbean cruises that allows any guest to obtain some VIP perks on board the ship. 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! Dining packages offer a good discount on how much lunch will cost. What are the benefits of The Key program? Key guests are asked to be at the terminal early, so as not to miss the embarkation lunch. As a Key Guest, you will enjoy your choice of the best seats. Passengers can drop off up to two pieces per person, and items cant weigh more than 25 pounds. VOOM Surf & Stream package, now including high speed internet, for one device (1 package per guest). 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 letter said we had early access to reserved shows and to make a reservation for the shows wed like to see. The food is scrumptious and included in the price of The Key. That said, it's not worth it to me at full price. Unfortunately, the private times at attractions were limited and at inconvenient times. That means taking tons of cruises with the same cruise line! 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. They may need something from it between porter drop off and Key drop off. The Key advertises as offering guests that purchase special perks and access while onboard that would otherwise not be available to them. i4peaches 1 yr. ago I love the Key. Booking of the Key Program is non-refundable if YOU want to cancel it. It changes just like everything else. But there are a few considerations you should make that can help justify the cost of the Royal Caribbean Key Program. An important point to know is that you must buy it prior to sailing. We then headed to The Key waiting area. Where to Get Coffee on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Priority Embarkation is one of the best Key perks. And that's not . By However, some RCI ships have started offering Fast Track boarding when returning to the ship, and Key members are eligible. Before you can board a cruise ship, you have to enter a cruise terminal. 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. Are Royal Caribbean Cruises All Inclusive? Royal Caribbean Cruise The Key Benefits Surf + Stream VOOM Connection. Thank you so much for taking the time to share. 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. When you receive your SeaPass card, you should see a small decal on the front indicating that youre a Key member. The Reality of Royal Caribbean and Carnival Marijuana Policies. Royal Caribbean recommends arriving to the terminal no later than11:30 AMfor you to have enough time to enjoy lunch with us! You will get an email with instructions, usually anyone with the Key can arrive between 11:00-11:30 no matter what your boarding time is. 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. 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. I know I carefully pack my embarkation day bag with exactly what Ill need for the day plus any valuables I need to keep an eye on. Agreed, I enjoyed it at $19.99, and now would only look if it was close to pricing for internet. 10 Rookie Cruise Mistakes to Avoid When Booking, Cruise Sweepstakes You Can Enter to Win a Free Cruise! You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. There is no priority queue in the ART test area, for Singapore. We are so excited . 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 priority for tendering is largely useless since Royal Caribbean ships rarely ever tender, thanks to more and more ports having piers. Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. The Key program is Royal Caribbean's initiative to give guests access to premier and exclusive cruise services and activities while on board for a small additional fee. If no one offers this service, be sure to ask! Free room service is indeed a very nice benefit, but I question how often anyone will order room service to truly take advantage of it. 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.
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