If you're going on a Royal Caribbean cruise and want to buy you way into special perks, The Key is an attractive option.
The premise is simple: pay a daily fee and get special benefits that you probably wouldn't otherwise get.
The Key is a popular add-on, especially among new cruisers because it's an instant shortcut for useful extras, faster access, and even a few discounts.
I tried it out on a 4-night Utopia of the Seas cruise to evaluate how well it works and why someone might want to get it.
What is The Key on Royal Caribbean?
The Key is a paid add-on for a cruise that must be pre-purchased before the voyage begins.
The price varies depending on the sailing (and which sale is running), but you can expect to pay between $25 to over $50 per person, per day.
If you choose to buy it, everyone above the age of 6 in the cabin must buy it too. That means you cannot buy the perks for just select people in your cabin.
What's included
It includes a lot of benefits that you can use once on the ship:
- Early check-in time and priority boarding at the cruise terminal
- Drop off your carry-on luggage on Deck 4 at the Main Dining Room until 1:30 pm and it'll be delivered to your stateroom.
- Exclusive welcome lunch on boarding day on Deck 4 in the Main Dining Room featuring the Key Signature menu with seating from 12:00 pm (noon) until 1:30 pm.
- 20% off dining offers when you book on Day 1.
- 50% off select Onboard Sports activities. Activities include Flowrider lessons.
- $60 off Spa Services with a minimum spend of $250 at the Spa (excluding gratuities and taxes).
- Fast Lane at select onboard activities. Activities include Abyss, Zip Line, and Rock Climbing during opening hours.
- Priority departure at tender ports of call from ship-to-shore only. Note: there is no priority from shore-to-ship.
- Stay connected with VOOM using your 1-device SURF+STREAM code
- Dedicated seating section at shows in the Main Theater, Aqua Theater, Studio B, and Two70.
- End your adventure with à la carte breakfast on Deck 4 in the Main Dining Room from 6:00 am – 8:00 am to enjoy before departing the ship.
- Priority luggage tags at the conclusion of the cruise for an earlier disembarkation time
There is a limit to how many passengers can buy The Key, so it can sell out and sometimes does many weeks before the cruise begins.
My experience trying everything
I paid $38.99 per day for The Key, bringing the cost to $155.96 for a 4-night cruise for one person.
Royal Caribbean sends an email before the cruise begins to alert you to the important benefits, such as the special boarding time that supersedes whatever boarding time you get on your own in the app.
In the past I've seen a dedicated line for Key guests to enter the terminal, but I couldn't locate it in Port Canaveral. Royal Caribbean's boarding process is so efficient for all guests that it hardly matters, so it wasn't a problem.
There's also a reserved area in the cruise terminal for people that bought The Key if boarding hasn't commenced yet. When they start the embarkation process, The Key guests usually board after suite guests, but before everyone else.
Even though I arrived at the cruise terminal at 10am, boarding had begun already so I didn't need to use it.
Onboard the ship, you can drop carry-on bags off and check-in for The Key.
I love the option to drop off carry-on bags so I don't have to lug around extras that I didn't leave with the porters. The fact it gets delivered to your cabin afterwards is a nice touch.
I believe the top two reasons to book The Key (after the early check-in time) is the included internet package and welcome aboard lunch.
Given the cost of an onboard internet package, the fact it's included with The Key adds a tremendous amount of value. Plus, I think a lot of people will want to buy internet anyway.
The lunch is essentially the Chops Grille lunch menu, with choice of filet mignon steak, burger, or branzino.
Similar to the internet package, there's an easy value you can derive from this perk. Plus, it's nice to start the cruise with a relaxing sit down meal rather than competing with everyone in the buffet.
The next most useful benefit is reserved seating in shows.
You still need to make reservations for shows (reservations only needed on big ships), but then there's a special section that's shared between The Key, top tier loyalty members, and suite guests.
It's not front row seating, and usually is off to the side or closer to the entrance to the theater for convenience.
Depending if you care how close to the stage you sit, this may or may not be the ideal seating location.
If your ship tenders in any port, anyone with The Key will get priority departure preference when going from the ship to the port.
The front of the line access to things like Ultimate Abyss, Zip Line, and rock wall is something I think families will enjoy. I'm sure the kids will especially like it.
I feel the rest of the benefits have limited benefit that depend on how you like to cruise.
Royal Caribbean recently increased the activities discount and added the spa discount, but I have a feeling that has limited appeal overall.
Who is the Key best for?
I believe the cruiser that can benefit the most by buying the Key is someone that can say "yes" to these three questions:
- Do you have a Crown and Anchor status below Diamond level?
- Are you staying in a cabin that is below a suite?
- Were you planning to buy the Internet package anyway?
I think it also greatly benefits a couple over larger families because of the daily cost for everyone.
If you answered "no" to any of those questions, I just don't see the benefit overall given the overlap of benefits you may already have.
Is The Key worth it?
Royal Caribbean has positioned The Key as the "easy button" for planning a cruise. Buy it, forget it, and set yourself up for a great start.
However, its price can make the decision to buy far from a slam dunk.
Ideally, if you can find The Key for a price just over the daily cost of an internet package, it can be a compelling option. But paying $10 or more per person, per day over the cost of an internet device package is a steep increase for what you're getting.
I believe you can get very similar results on your own without buying The Key. It just requires more advanced planning on your part.
My recommendation is to skip The Key and do this instead:
- Download the Royal Caribbean app and check-in to your cruise exactly 45 days before the cruise to get an early check-in time
- Monitor the Cruise Planner for sales and discounts on internet packages and a Chops Grille lunch for embarkation day
- Book a Royal Caribbean excursion for any ports you are tendering
- Make complimentary reservations for shows in the Cruise Planner about 30 days before your cruise
If you do those things, you'll get very similar (if not identical) results to The Key without a daily cost.
But if you can find The Key for a great price that's barely more than an Internet package, book The Key and kick your feet up with an easy solution.
