Key? Yes...

[deep1]

I would never have expected my response to having the Key. Normally something I wouldn't consider it popped up on my cruise planner for less than the Zoom Internet alone. Made no sense not to get it for my Oasis voyage.  Arriving "Port Liberty" there were lines around the building. Dropped off my sweetie while I parked the car. Got to the garage that was already full and asked the attendant where I should go and that I had the key.  He just said " Key? there's room in here". Walked back past thousands in line to my sweetie. Asked where "Key" goes. They escorted us past long lines to one roped off and nobody waiting. Right to and through security then to check in and escorted right to the ship with zero wait. Deck four MDR was waiting for us to set down our carry on bags and eat a really way good Chops lunch. 

Shows? Right in... treated royally. Anywhere we dropped the "Key" word we bypassed lines and were pampered, even the dinner lines... A special line at customer service even was open for suites, diamond and up and Key people. Getting off special breakfast of crab eggs benedict was had then walk past the crowds  and fast tracked back to the car. I didn't ever think I'd like being pampered but I did and my Fiance' really loved every bit of it. I will splurge any time it gets available at reasonable rate...

 

[Xaa]

13 minutes ago, deep1 said:

I would never have expected my response to having the Key. Normally something I wouldn't consider it popped up on my cruise planner for less than the Zoom Internet alone. Made no sense not to get it for my Oasis voyage.  Arriving "Port Liberty" there were lines around the building. Dropped off my sweetie while I parked the car. Got to the garage that was already full and asked the attendant where I should go and that I had the key.  He just said " Key? there's room in here". Walked back past thousands in line to my sweetie. Asked where "Key" goes. They escorted us past long lines to one roped off and nobody waiting. Right to and through security then to check in and escorted right to the ship with zero wait. Deck four MDR was waiting for us to set down our carry on bags and eat a really way good Chops lunch. 

Shows? Right in... treated royally. Anywhere we dropped the "Key" word we bypassed lines and were pampered, even the dinner lines... A special line at customer service even was open for suites, diamond and up and Key people. Getting off special breakfast of crab eggs benedict was had then walk past the crowds  and fast tracked back to the car. I didn't ever think I'd like being pampered but I did and my Fiance' really loved every bit of it. I will splurge any time it gets available at reasonable rate...

 

Leaving the ship, did they have a separate line for you or were you escorted from breakfast?  Can you expand on that piece?

[Cakemeister]

I was also interested in debarkation. On our last trip there was a long line waiting to leave the ship, and Mrs. Cake is not exactly spry. If The Key let us bypass that line, I'd be a buyer, since I buy a voom package anyway. The difference looks like only $7 pppd.

EDIT: In Matt's review of the Key, he mentioned free room service for breakfast. Is that still a thing?

[deep1]

50 minutes ago, Xaa said:

Leaving the ship, did they have a separate line for you or were you escorted from breakfast?  Can you expand on that piece?

We went to breakfast and went back to room for bags... Breakfast was deck four. Went back to deck 5 where there was a "Key" meeting place. We were escorted from there to the hall and customs window. 

[deep1]

13 minutes ago, Cakemeister said:

I was also interested in debarkation. On our last trip there was a long line waiting to leave the ship, and Mrs. Cake is not exactly spry. If The Key let us bypass that line, I'd be a buyer, since I buy a voom package anyway. The difference looks like only $7 pppd.

There was a meeting point on deck 5 promenade and they escorted us right out to customs window,  Lightning fast... 

 

[Xaa]

11 minutes ago, deep1 said:

We went to breakfast and went back to room for bags... Breakfast was deck four. Went back to deck 5 where there was a "Key" meeting place. We were escorted from there to the hall and customs window. 

Nice!  That part was spelled out in the papers or you just caught that through the week?

[deep1]

16 minutes ago, Xaa said:

Nice!  That part was spelled out in the papers or you just caught that through the week?

Each day they sent us notes about benefits. Two nights before departing they sent details for last breakfast and leaving.

 

[Cakemeister]

Also, when you mean dinner lines you mean My Time Dining? You could just drop the key and walk in?

[deep1]

12 minutes ago, Cakemeister said:

Also, when you mean dinner lines you mean My Time Dining? You could just drop the key and walk in?

We had reservations for my time and there was still pretty long lines. When we mentioned key we were walked past the 7:00 reservation line (where we would have normally been) right to the guy who gives the tickets to the staff to walk you to your table. 

[FSUFAN]

@deep1, I am hoping for the same good use with The Key.  Bought it for Mrs Fan due to dealing with large lines/crowds at embarkation.  The ships are now seeing full bookings.  We too got it for about $5 or $6 more than Voom S+S.  We are both RCL newbies and we have done early boarding on other ships/lines.  It has always been a nice perk that I am willing to pay for.

[Pattycruise]

Wow. Just got off of Adventure and had a slightly different experience for a few things.
 We received an envelope on Day 1, when I went to drop off my carryon.  When asked if I had anything of value she said they stack the luggage for delivery. (This is not how I saw it to appear to be on oasis, a person took your bags immediately, maybe I just surmised it was a single drop off?)  So I kept my roll on carry on because it had my good camera which I did not need squished by other luggage.

I had to go back for the lunch since It didn’t start until after 12… I had embarked earlier. There was no line at embarkation so no need to mention the Key to bypass the line.
 

there were no reminders about anything-even to drop off the luggage, and when I received the envelope no “make sure to come back for lunch”.

I entered for the ice show and it was a free for all, no special seating set aside at all.  In the theater they did have the roped off section on the second level of the theater for suites, C&A status and the Key.

breakfast, no reminder other than the letter received on Day 1.  Glad I saved that letter to refer to so I knew where to go.

we did have free room service all day, per the letter. I never tried to use it.

I received a key luggage tag on the bed with a key letter to disembark whenever you wanted to.  I did not get any info at all regarding disembarkation times…..and our sailing was  delayed back to NJ due to the weather.  I chose to stay onboard til last call since I had overheard someone say the ship was disembarking through 10:15 and told hubby to pick me up at 10.  Turns out “last call” to disembark was about 9:40.
 

my luggage was in a separate area labeled “key” as opposed to the numbered section. 
 

I did pay only $1 more per day than the Voom package and felt it was worth it for the Surf snd Stream as well as the lunch.  On the last day the breakfast was more upscale than the regular MDR breakfast with 3 added items, steak n eggs, egg Benedict over crab cakes and a third I do not recall, and then the standard MDR breakfast.  Had I had a balcony room I might have taken advantage of the free room service for lunch.  I’m D+ so did not need the key for the special seating.  Had I been in a crowd upon arrival to the ship it would have been nice to bypass the lines.  I have found at NJ the special line/handicapped for  security tends to take longer to get through.  Even for this smaller ship sailing the woman told me I was better off on the regular security line….and she was 1000% correct. Over 10 people on the “special” security line and the others had 3.  

[Xaa]

Thanks @deep1.  Super helpful.  Sounds like mentioning it is advantageous for things not officially part of the program.  If the staff feels the treatment is in order, who am I to tell them that it is not? 

Bill

[deep1]

54 minutes ago, FSUFAN said:

@deep1, I am hoping for the same good use with The Key.  Bought it for Mrs Fan due to dealing with large lines/crowds at embarkation.  The ships are now seeing full bookings.  We too got it for about $5 or $6 more than Voom S+S.  We are both RCL newbies and we have done early boarding on other ships/lines.  It has always been a nice perk that I am willing to pay for.

It wasn't the "early " part of the boarding for us. We were walked right past countless long lines. I knew it would be easier, but not as easy as they made it for us... I had no idea how nice of a perk it would really be. I think I might enjoy it as much as I did because I remember some departures that were a little stressful instead of accomplishing what a vacation should be. 

 

 

[deep1]

Pattycruise you are correct that lunch itself was not til noon but we dropped our bags there just after boarding and it was promptly put on a luggage cart (gently) and wheeled off. On leaving , yes there are special "key" tags and place in the hall. We carried on and off. 

All the shows we attended we were directed to nice seating. At Aqua 80 we were seated one row directly behind "Star Class" .  Ice show right down front and center. We didn't do "Cats".  Only one venue, a bar, for adult comedy show, did we get no special treatment.  

The "differently abled " lines were a few deep They had one dedicated for key and we were directed to and walked through that one straight to the one for getting pics and checking docs which was also empty. All the lanes for general public were very long.  I don't have D+ or even D benefits so I don't have something to compare this to.

[Jack805]

6 hours ago, deep1 said:

I would never have expected my response to having the Key. Normally something I wouldn't consider it popped up on my cruise planner for less than the Zoom Internet alone. Made no sense not to get it for my Oasis voyage.  Arriving "Port Liberty" there were lines around the building. Dropped off my sweetie while I parked the car. Got to the garage that was already full and asked the attendant where I should go and that I had the key.  He just said " Key? there's room in here". Walked back past thousands in line to my sweetie. Asked where "Key" goes. They escorted us past long lines to one roped off and nobody waiting. Right to and through security then to check in and escorted right to the ship with zero wait. Deck four MDR was waiting for us to set down our carry on bags and eat a really way good Chops lunch. 

Shows? Right in... treated royally. Anywhere we dropped the "Key" word we bypassed lines and were pampered, even the dinner lines... A special line at customer service even was open for suites, diamond and up and Key people. Getting off special breakfast of crab eggs benedict was had then walk past the crowds  and fast tracked back to the car. I didn't ever think I'd like being pampered but I did and my Fiance' really loved every bit of it. I will splurge any time it gets available at reasonable rate...

 

I found use of the Key helpful for my last voyage, even if not using every benefit. I got it for just a couple dollars more than the internet package I planned to purchase anyway, so I figured it easily more than covered the embarkation lunch and debarkation breakfast since it was a 3-night cruise. I keep kicking myself for not just grabbing it on the CP the day my upcoming cruise was booked, saw it for $15/day and figured I'd "book it later with something else" and the price went up and hasn't come back down. Still nabbed it for just over the internet package so it fit my threshold for booking but keep checking every day for a drop in price (that likely won't happen I know). Priority terminal access in LA is great though, I went from parking my car to on the ship in 15-20 minutes, easily 45 minutes less than the regular line judging from the size. When getting off the ship I noticed the check in line for the upcoming cruise already looked to be 30+ minutes long, and they were still an hour away from starting check in! Didn't have priority access to Customs, but did get sent right to the shortest line for getting off the ship and was scanned off in about a minute. 

5 hours ago, Xaa said:

Leaving the ship, did they have a separate line for you or were you escorted from breakfast?  Can you expand on that piece?

I'd say it depends on the ship, on Navigator I asked where to go from Breakfast and was directed right to the shortest line (going toward the gangway instead of snaking away then back on the promenade deck).

[Xaa]

9 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

I had embarked earlier. There was no line at embarkation so no need to mention the Key to bypass the line.
 

 

That's one of those things where if you don't the benefit, great, but if you do need it, it's good to have.  Without being able to know when we need it or not, I think of a portion over the internet 4 device cost as an insurance policy.  Then either way, we'll get by.

it does sound like the implementation on Adventure was not what it was on Oasis for deep1.  Thanks for the insights Pattycruise.

Bill

[JohnK6404]

Hi @deep1! So glad to hear that they brought back the Key reserved seating sections! Was not a fan of the early access perk back in FEB on Odyssey. We've always enjoyed showing up to the show 10-15 minutes before it starts and getting the prime seating together.

[Carlos A.]

15 hours ago, deep1 said:

All the shows we attended we were directed to nice seating. At Aqua 80 we were seated one row directly behind "Star Class" .  Ice show right down front and center. We didn't do "Cats".  Only one venue, a bar, for adult comedy show, did we get no special treatment.  

How early did you arrived to the shows? Did you noticed at what time they released the reserved seating for everyone else? 

[deep1]

1 hour ago, Carlos A. said:

How early did you arrived to the shows? Did you noticed at what time they released the reserved seating for everyone else? 

Aqua 80... Maybe 15 minutes early. Ice show just a couple minutes... I didn't notice when or if they released seats. Aqua 80. There was a very long "no reservation line" and standing room only like under the rock climbing walls. 

 

 

[whitsmom]

Also if you set your bags out the night before (they give you tags for "key") then you bags are in a separate area from all the others making it easy to find your bags and be on your way without having to drag them all out on debarkation.  The key was definitely worth it for us.   

[JAB]

We also purchased The Key for our recent Oasis cruise, for less than the cost of internet alone. There was only one security line for Key guests when we arrived shortly after 10 am. It moved slowly due to an older passenger in a scooter, but once he  was through, it moved much quicker.

I believe we were on the ship around 10:30. After visiting our muster station, we dropped our carry-on bags at the main dining room. The crew member was very nice and told us to be sure to come back for lunch. We would usually go to the buffet for lunch, but the Chops Lunch in the main dining room made for the most pleasant embarkation day lunch ever! My wife was instantly won over. 

On arriving at our stateroom, our attendant made note that we were Key guests. I'm not sure it mattered, as we received the same great service that we always do.

We did take advantage of some of the special times for activities, for example, i rode the slide twice at 9:05am with no wait. We also used the seating in the main theater for Cats (The performers were great, but what the heck did we watch?}

We received the Key luggage tags on the next-to-last day. On debarkation morning, we went to the breakfast in the main dining room {so relaxed!} then collected our carry-on luggage from our room and left the ship at 8:30. There was almost no line so we just walked off ourselves. The luggage for Key guests was in one spot and it was there first, meaning we could have walked off immediately upon being cleared if we preferred. 

Bottom line, we will absolutely purchase the key again if it is $5 -$10 more than Voom itself.

[Coda_Sarah]

On 9/26/2022 at 4:27 PM, deep1 said:

I would never have expected my response to having the Key. Normally something I wouldn't consider it popped up on my cruise planner for less than the Zoom Internet alone. Made no sense not to get it for my Oasis voyage.  Arriving "Port Liberty" there were lines around the building. Dropped off my sweetie while I parked the car. Got to the garage that was already full and asked the attendant where I should go and that I had the key.  He just said " Key? there's room in here". Walked back past thousands in line to my sweetie. Asked where "Key" goes. They escorted us past long lines to one roped off and nobody waiting. Right to and through security then to check in and escorted right to the ship with zero wait. Deck four MDR was waiting for us to set down our carry on bags and eat a really way good Chops lunch. 

Shows? Right in... treated royally. Anywhere we dropped the "Key" word we bypassed lines and were pampered, even the dinner lines... A special line at customer service even was open for suites, diamond and up and Key people. Getting off special breakfast of crab eggs benedict was had then walk past the crowds  and fast tracked back to the car. I didn't ever think I'd like being pampered but I did and my Fiance' really loved every bit of it. I will splurge any time it gets available at reasonable rate...

 

What ship was this on?

[Michael A. Jr.]

On 9/26/2022 at 4:27 PM, deep1 said:

I would never have expected my response to having the Key. Normally something I wouldn't consider it popped up on my cruise planner for less than the Zoom Internet alone. Made no sense not to get it for my Oasis voyage.  Arriving "Port Liberty" there were lines around the building. Dropped off my sweetie while I parked the car. Got to the garage that was already full and asked the attendant where I should go and that I had the key.  He just said " Key? there's room in here". Walked back past thousands in line to my sweetie. Asked where "Key" goes. They escorted us past long lines to one roped off and nobody waiting. Right to and through security then to check in and escorted right to the ship with zero wait. Deck four MDR was waiting for us to set down our carry on bags and eat a really way good Chops lunch. 

Shows? Right in... treated royally. Anywhere we dropped the "Key" word we bypassed lines and were pampered, even the dinner lines... A special line at customer service even was open for suites, diamond and up and Key people. Getting off special breakfast of crab eggs benedict was had then walk past the crowds  and fast tracked back to the car. I didn't ever think I'd like being pampered but I did and my Fiance' really loved every bit of it. I will splurge any time it gets available at reasonable rate...

 

Worked for us perfectly. Family of 4 with the early embarkation at Cape Liberty in August was great. Internet packages were fast and never was slow. Key lunch was good as well.

[deep1]

4 hours ago, Coda_Sarah said:

What ship was this on?

Oasis...

[Coda_Sarah]

18 hours ago, deep1 said:

Oasis...

I never considered the Key but we are going on Allure and I felt in this case, it's worth it.  Thanks!

[Mike n Ky]

The Key on our January Odyssey 8 day cruise was 495 for two people...today it went up to 559. Our 7 day on Wonder and on Allure next year are also currently listed @ 559.

[Xaa]

Yeah the Key moves a bit.  Four our Dec Cruise, it has been as high as 34.99 PP/day and as low as 20.99 PP/day (this is where I grabbed it).  It has been for most of the time between 28.99 and 30.99 PP/day.  I wouldn't take it where it is now, and I had internal struggle at the 28.99 deciding against and was glad to see the valley price a few weeks back when it seemed to drop on a lot of cruises.

[deep1]

17 hours ago, Mike n Ky said:

The Key on our January Odyssey 8 day cruise was 495 for two people...today it went up to 559. Our 7 day on Wonder and on Allure next year are also currently listed @ 559.

Ours was all over the place price wise. I was only looking from corner of eye as I was focused on internet. Few weeks before cruise I noticed it was less than the internet alone and grabbed it. Glad I did.  Worked out to like $340 for the two of us for the 7 day sailing.

 

[Mike n Ky]

Today they dropped the key a bit on our January cruise on Odyssey. There is a 240 dollar difference between it and the two device internet. So, the question is, if I already have a JS which gets me priority boarding...is it worth it and why?

[Xaa]

12 minutes ago, Mike n Ky said:

Today they dropped the key a bit on our January cruise on Odyssey. There is a 240 dollar difference between it and the two device internet. So, the question is, if I already have a JS which gets me priority boarding...is it worth it and why?

Depends @Mike n Kybut probably not.

I'm going to assume 2 people so $120 PP and a 7 day cruise so $17 PP/Day.  For that you'll get a lunch, Reserved Seating at Shows, Priority Tendering, Dedicated times on Flowrider, Rock Climbing and a disembarkation breakfast.  If the lunch is worth about 20 bucks to you, then you have $100 in value to recoup on the shows, tendering, dedicated times and extra breakfast items.  If none of your ports are tendering then just the 3.  I doubt you'll feel the value there.

I think the sweet spot for the Key is at about $9-$10/day above multi-person Internet, on short cruises where you may have either kids that will take advantage of the dedicated times or a tendering port that you really want to visit.

I say short cruises because much of it is a fixed benefit yet the cost is per day.  Someone on a 4 day cruise pays a similar per day, but get essentially the same benefits of the Chops Lunch, the Priority Embarkation (I understand you don't even need this), the Reserved Show Seating, Dedicated times and extra breakfast items, yet they pay less when extended out to their number of days.  Also, with a shorter cruise the Reserved Seating and Dedicated times have more value as the overall cruise time is less making those things more urgent to those of interest.

I think it will be hard for you to get $120 of value per person from the Key.  Someone taking a 4-day with a $9-$10/day difference over the internet would be looking to recoup only 40 bucks of value and that's much more realistic, especially if they have value in the embarkation piece.

All of that of course assumes they were getting internet either way.

Hope that helps.

Bill

[Matt]

New review of The Key from the other week: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/10/06/i-tried-the-key-again-see-if-its-worth-it

[Xaa]

I think Jenna hits it on the head.  Difference in cost of Key vs your Internet extended out your number of days is your fixed cost over Internet.  That then is a good way to evaluate the other benefits that are also fixed in nature.  I'm with her on $30-$50 total over Internet to get the value of the lunch and breakfast along with assurance that if needed you will have smooth passage on/off the ship, to good seats at the venues and to the attractions.  

As with most things, Key evaluation has a lot of variables and the benefits are different for every person and sometimes different for the same person on different trips.  I love that this blog continues to evaluate things like this from many points of view and perspectives.  It gives your readers a chance to consume all of the information and see how the experiences of others speak to their own decision.

[Mike n Ky]

Since we are in a JS and already paid for the internet, which I know I can cancel, I think I might try a Royalup on this one for a GS or above. I am thinking that it might be of greater value to us in April as we have a ovb on Wonder.

[KANSAS CITY CRUISER]

Does purchasing THE KEY allow for each person to have a device with internet zoom access since you paying for both guests?  If it is only for one device, how do you add a second device?  Thanks!  

[Xaa]

Each person in the cabin has to buy the Key so each person gets their own Voom Surf and Stream.

[CruisinMikeD]

On 9/26/2022 at 4:58 PM, Pattycruise said:

we did have free room service all day, per the letter. I never tried to use it.

Is free all-day room service still included with The Key?  I haven't seen this advertised, but if free all-day room service is included, that would be a really nice benefit, and might make it worth the extra cost.  Has anyone used The Key for free room service, and if so, what ship?

[Ampurp85]

1 hour ago, Bankai said:

Is free all-day room service still included with The Key?  I haven't seen this advertised, but if free all-day room service is included, that would be a really nice benefit, and might make it worth the extra cost.  Has anyone used The Key for free room service, and if so, what ship?

This was on offer during the restart in 2021 because the Key was being cancelled. Some people brought it for sailings that departed in 2022 and on. So Royal agreed to honor those even when the Key became a normal thing. The original Key does not include free room service, which is why it is currently not be offered or advertised.

[Pattycruise]

2 hours ago, Bankai said:

Is free all-day room service still included with The Key?  I haven't seen this advertised, but if free all-day room service is included, that would be a really nice benefit, and might make it worth the extra cost.  Has anyone used The Key for free room service, and if so, what ship?

I had made this purchase about 1 month before my Sept sailing.  I did not notice it said free room service in the list of included items, I had purchased it because it came to $9 over the cost of my Voom surf package and includes surf/stream, chops lunch. .  I just checked my upcoming cruises that offer The Key and none mention room service.  I wonder if it was just the ship (Adventure) or if their letter was outdated and should not have mentioned room service.

[Coda_Sarah]

On 10/26/2022 at 5:54 PM, Bankai said:

Is free all-day room service still included with The Key?  I haven't seen this advertised, but if free all-day room service is included, that would be a really nice benefit, and might make it worth the extra cost.  Has anyone used The Key for free room service, and if so, what ship?

No free room service is no longer being offered under the Key Program.  It was a perk during COVID, but it stopped a few months ago or even longer.