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Sky Class benefits vs The Key


12thman

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Hello everyone!

I'm taking my first RCCL in September, have the Crown Loft. I've read what Matt said about the Sky class and The key. What I don't understand is do Sky class patrons get the carry on luggage sent to their room or do I have to lug it everywhere until my cabin is ready? I called RCCL and the very nice lady went over the "The Key" program but it seems the benefits versus the costs isn't worth it in Sky class.

 

Thank you for any advice!

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2 minutes ago, 12thman said:

What I don't understand is do Sky class patrons get the carry on luggage sent to their room or do I have to lug it everywhere until my cabin is ready?

When you arrive at the port you can drop off your checked luggage and carry on’s with the one of the porters at your ship’s terminal just outside the enterance to the cruise terminal.

When you drop off your luggage will be boarded on the ship by one of the porters and delivered to your cabin by the RCCL crew that attends to the staterooms. By dropping off your checked luggage and carry on, you will not have to lug the carry on and luggage around everywhere until your cabin is ready.

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54 minutes ago, Bakerette said:

The porter service is FREE. if you want you can tip the porter that takes your luggage.

Do note that it is customary to tip $1-2 per bag. There are more than a couple of stories of people who have refused to tip and found their luggage never made it onto the ship!

For sure, the guy you drop off with when embarking probably doesn’t need more than $1 per bag, given he’s tossing it on a cart with a bunch of other bags and wheeling it to the ship. But when you disembark, be ready to give at least a couple bucks per bag; the porters then are hauling your bags all the way from inside the terminal to where the taxis and shuttles are picking passengers up, and they also get you on an expedited line through customs.

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37 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

Do note that it is customary to tip $1-2 per bag. There are more than a couple of stories of people who have refused to tip and found their luggage never made it onto the ship!

For sure, the guy you drop off with when embarking probably doesn’t need more than $1 per bag, given he’s tossing it on a cart with a bunch of other bags and wheeling it to the ship. But when you disembark, be ready to give at least a couple bucks per bag; the porters then are hauling your bags all the way from inside the terminal to where the taxis and shuttles are picking passengers up, and they also get you on an expedited line through customs.

Thanks for the advice, usually give my servers or in this case porter a tip. Don't want my clothes left at the port!!!

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9 hours ago, 12thman said:

Hello everyone!

I'm taking my first RCCL in September, have the Crown Loft. I've read what Matt said about the Sky class and The key. What I don't understand is do Sky class patrons get the carry on luggage sent to their room or do I have to lug it everywhere until my cabin is ready? I called RCCL and the very nice lady went over the "The Key" program but it seems the benefits versus the costs isn't worth it in Sky class.

 

Thank you for any advice!

You're going to love the crown loft as well as the perks that come with Sky Class! FYI - you can take advantage of the luggage valet at the end of your cruise at no cost. Your luggage will be sent to the airport. We're currently sitting in the Suite Lounge on Harmony waiting to be escorted off by the concierge. 

Enjoy! ?

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11 hours ago, Bakerette said:

When you arrive at the port you can drop off your checked luggage and carry on’s with the one of the porters at your ship’s terminal just outside the enterance to the cruise terminal.

When you drop off your luggage will be boarded on the ship by one of the porters and delivered to your cabin by the RCCL crew that attends to the staterooms. By dropping off your checked luggage and carry on, you will not have to lug the carry on and luggage around everywhere until your cabin is ready.

You don't give your carry on to the porters.  If you do it isn't carry on then is it?

The big differences to me are exclusive hours at activities and lunch on day one that the key get.  However in a loft suite you will get Coastal Kitchen lunch on boarding day so it's really just the exclusive hours at activities that Sky Class doesn't get.  Sky Class does get several benefits that Key doesn't as outlined above.

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@Traveler thanks for sharing the grid.  My wife is already p%$$#d that after booking Sky class there is a program that is giving away many of the same benefits that we are receiving, so this has to be hidden from her until after we cruise!  I have seen this before but can’t remember if it is from the Official RCCL pages or was from somewhere else.  Quick follow up question about one of the sky perks.

It makes sense that Sky class will have access to the suite lounge BUT it also has a check for the Diamond lounge.  So double checking, if I happen to be walking past the Diamond lounge and decide to stop in to check it out, it would be allowed right?  It will probably not be necessary since there is enough to see and do (and drink) on the ship, but was wondering since we happen to be in a spot where it was convenient to stop in.

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3 minutes ago, ScooterScott22 said:

t makes sense that Sky class will have access to the suite lounge BUT it also has a check for the Diamond lounge.

Actually Sky class will not gain you access to diamond lounge , unless you are diamond. the only class that might gain access is the Star class as I guess if they will ask the Genie they will arrange them access (not sure why they will want it) this is why I marked it in the table for SC.   

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8 minutes ago, twangster said:

You don't give your carry on to the porters.  If you do it isn't carry on then is it?

The big differences to me are exclusive hours at activities and lunch on day one that the key get.  However in a loft suite you will get Coastal Kitchen lunch on boarding day so it's really just the exclusive hours at activities that Sky Class doesn't get.  Sky Class does get several benefits that Key doesn't as outlined above.

Thanks! I was concerned about giving my carry on to someone, especially since it'll have my wife's iPad and my laptop. 

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2 minutes ago, ScooterScott22 said:

@Traveler thanks for sharing the grid.  My wife is already p%$$#d that after booking Sky class there is a program that is giving away many of the same benefits that we are receiving, so this has to be hidden from her until after we cruise!  I have seen this before but can’t remember if it is from the Official RCCL pages or was from somewhere else.  Quick follow up question about one of the sky perks.

It makes sense that Sky class will have access to the suite lounge BUT it also has a check for the Diamond lounge.  So double checking, if I happen to be walking past the Diamond lounge and decide to stop in to check it out, it would be allowed right?  It will probably not be necessary since there is enough to see and do (and drink) on the ship, but was wondering since we happen to be in a spot where it was convenient to stop in.

You bought your Sky Class perks, Key guests bought their Key perks.  Key guests in no way infringe on or prevent you from enjoying Sky class perks.

Sky or Key do not have access to the Diamond Lounge unless they are Diamond or above.  Honestly though why would anyone with access to the suite lounge want access to the Diamond Lounge?  

Just now, 12thman said:

What's the Diamond lounge? Anyone have details and pictures?

A lounge dedicated to members of the Crown and Anchor Society who have achieved Diamond or higher status.  

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1 minute ago, Traveler said:

Actually Sky class will not gain you access to diamond lounge , unless you are diamond. the only class that might gain access is the Star class as I guess if they will ask the Genie they will arrange them access (not sure why they will want it) this is why I marked it in the table for SC.   

Even Star Class will not have access to the Diamond Lounge unless they are at least Diamond level.

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3 hours ago, bellemiche said:

You're going to love the crown loft as well as the perks that come with Sky Class! FYI - you can take advantage of the luggage valet at the end of your cruise at no cost. Your luggage will be sent to the airport. We're currently sitting in the Suite Lounge on Harmony waiting to be escorted off by the concierge. 

Enjoy! ?

Hope you had a wonderful time!!? Have to remember to use the luggage valet.

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12 minutes ago, ScooterScott22 said:

My wife is already p%$$#d that after booking Sky class there is a program that is giving away many of the same benefits that we are receiving,

Tell your wife that I would love to have Sky class benefits (including the suite , CK access , reserve seats , 2 * C&A points)  for 19$ per day , just let me know where I sign for it ?  

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Thanks all, I don’t really care about having access to the diamond lounge.  If it was possible, that just gave one more option for a refreshment pit stop.  @Twangster said it was something like one an a half billion steps to those suites and the suite lounge on the Quantuum class ships so I was just trying to locate places to take a break since I my last marathon was in January and I’m opt’ing out of the one I was considering for May.

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2 hours ago, 12thman said:

What's the difference between diamond lounge and suite lounge? Do diamond tier get something that no other guest get? 

The suite lounge is far better than the diamond lounge.  We are Diamond Plus and prefer the suite lounge as it is far less crowded than the Diamond lounge.  With so many Diamond  members it's rare to find a seat in the Diamond lounge after about 5:30PM.  The drink options and service is far better in the suite lounge as well -- Suite guests are not scrambling to get in as many drinks as they can before 8PM.

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1 hour ago, ScooterScott22 said:

  @Twangster said it was something like one an a half billion steps to those suites and the suite lounge on the Quantuum class ships so I was just trying to locate places to take a break since I my last marathon was in January and I’m opt’ing out of the one I was concerning for May.

The good news is you will burn off at least 5 calories walking back to the Concierge Club on deck 12.  Great room with wonderful sea views but it is a hike back there.   

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11 minutes ago, Wilmsta said:

Suite guests don’t get access to Sun deck? I thought it was Jnr Suites that didn’t get access? 

Grand Suites and higher do have access to sun lounging areas on most ships.  Not all ships have a separate suite sun deck.  They are only found on Oasis and Quantum class ships. 

Most other ships have suite areas with loungers dedicated to suite guests but not a totally isolated separate sun deck just for suites.  

It's difficult to quantify ship differences in the chart.  

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19 minutes ago, twangster said:

Grand Suites and higher do have access to sun lounging areas on most ships.  Not all ships have a separate suite sun deck.  They are only found on Oasis and Quantum class ships. 

Most other ships have suite areas with loungers dedicated to suite guests but not a totally isolated separate sun deck just for suites.  

It's difficult to quantify ship differences in the chart.  

Thanks Twangster, very helpful as always 

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44 minutes ago, twangster said:

The good news is you will burn off at least 5 calories walking back to the Concierge Club on deck 12.  Great room with wonderful sea views but it is a hike back there.   

With the suite lounge being directly above our room that means double the distance.  One trip from the room at the A$$ end of the ship to the stairs to go up to twelve and then another trip all the way back to the lounge.   So I’ll get two trips, for 10 calories total, and then back to the room for a grand total of 20, which means seafood tower every night!  

Or the other option could be to make our own shortcut.  We could cut through the ceiling of the bedroom to have instant access or bring some climbing gear and a glass cutter to acces the lounge from the veranda.

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3 hours ago, ScooterScott22 said:

@Traveler thanks for sharing the grid.  My wife is already p%$$#d that after booking Sky class there is a program that is giving away many of the same benefits that we are receiving, so this has to be hidden from her until after we cruise!  I have seen this before but can’t remember if it is from the Official RCCL pages or was from somewhere else.  Quick follow up question about one of the sky perks.

It makes sense that Sky class will have access to the suite lounge BUT it also has a check for the Diamond lounge.  So double checking, if I happen to be walking past the Diamond lounge and decide to stop in to check it out, it would be allowed right?  It will probably not be necessary since there is enough to see and do (and drink) on the ship, but was wondering since we happen to be in a spot where it was convenient to stop in.

The two carry some different and some similar benefits and depending on use case you may need neither, either, or both. We’re booked into a junior suite on Navigator in May and even without that would get priority embark/debark (MGM Mlife status) but still found the key benefits to be worth the cost for us on that sailing. Between Specialty lunch, WiFi, and priority flowrider times, the math worked out. It won’t be for everyone but isn’t taking away from others. Just as I don’t think that a genie holding seats in a show for @Lovetocruise2002 takes anything from others either. Stern class is really the closest anyone will get to an all inclusive sailing, but even with out Sky class sailing on Oasis next year, we’re still considering adding the key to that sailing as well. 

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Regarding the carry on delivery to your stateroom benefit for The Key, I did have a carry on (actually it was all I had) and it was nice to be able to have that delivered directly to the room and to not have to drag it around for 2 hours and into Chops. I kept anything very valuable to me (credit card, cash, passport, phone) with me, but everything else was off my hands, which was great.  It may have been one of my favorite things about The Key and I'll definitely miss having it on Ovation in June.

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2 hours ago, Wilmsta said:

Suite guests don’t get access to Sun deck? I thought it was Jnr Suites that didn’t get access? 

In @Traveler‘s chart, when they say “suite” they mean a suite on a non Oasis or Quantum class ship. Since Oasis and Quantum classes have their own suite program with the Sea/Sky/Star classes, it’s broken out separately. As far as I know the private sun decks aren’t found on the other ship classes so it wouldn’t apply.  

 

oops! That’s what I get for not seeing that there’s a second page on this topic!!

Edited by spiralqueen
I’m blind
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1 hour ago, Andrew72681 said:

The two carry some different and some similar benefits and depending on use case you may need neither, either, or both. We’re booked into a junior suite on Navigator in May and even without that would get priority embark/debark (MGM Mlife status) but still found the key benefits to be worth the cost for us on that sailing. Between Specialty lunch, WiFi, and priority flowrider times, the math worked out. It won’t be for everyone but isn’t taking away from others. Just as I don’t think that a genie holding seats in a show for @Lovetocruise2002 takes anything from others either. Stern class is really the closest anyone will get to an all inclusive sailing, but even with out Sky class sailing on Oasis next year, we’re still considering adding the key to that sailing as well. 

IMO, I have always said from the start of this program, the Key is most beneficial when sailing JS or lower on O and Q class ships. And the longer the sailing or the more people in the cabin, the more it loses its value.

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27 minutes ago, spiralqueen said:

In @Traveler‘s chart, when they say “suite” they mean a suite on a non Oasis or Quantum class ship. Since Oasis and Quantum classes have their own suite program with the Sea/Sky/Star classes, it’s broken out separately. As far as I know the private sun decks aren’t found on the other ship classes so it wouldn’t apply.  

 

oops! That’s what I get for not seeing that there’s a second page on this topic!!

Lol - thanks tho Spiralqueen - least I know for definite now! 

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