The Key

[Mathew Jones 29]

I had commented this on Matt's post, "My wife and I are going to be on Liberty of the Seas in May. They are offering this on our sailing. So right now they are offering Voom Surf & Stream one device and the deluxe drink package for $59 per person/per day. The deluxe drink package alone is $50 per person/per day. Since I am getting the drink package for my wife and I the Voom package is only valued at $9 per person/per day. So the Voom is valued at $126. A Chops Grille lunch can be purchased for $21.99 per person on my Cruise Planner. So that is valued at $43.98. So those two items are a total value of $169.98. The cost of The Key in total is $349.86. So is carry on drop off service, private access to the attractions, priority tendering, and VIP seating worth $179.88? I will pass for now and wait to see if the price drops a bit. If I miss out from it selling out I won't be too disappointed."  

 

Today I saw that they had dropped the price to $19.95 per person per day for our sailing.  Not sure if the price is right to pull the trigger.  The cost in total is now $279.86 for the two of us.  So the $109.98 is still on the steep side for me.  I am personally hoping for a BOGO on Black Friday/Cyber Monday.  If they do that I will definitely pull the trigger.  What are everyone elses thoughts.

[averbeck 24]

Not worth it to me.  Although, being Diamond Plus, we typically get 2, 2 day internet passes (depending on the sailing, sometimes it's just 2, 1 day internet passes),  and then several free drinks in the evening.  The things that I carry on, are things I think I might need during the day, so dropping them off isn't really a value to me.  I can carry my backpack and diaper bag around the ship for 2-3 hours.

[Mathew Jones 29]

@averbeck  As you are a Diamond Plus I can understand that you wouldn't find value in this.  My wife and I are newbies to cruising so we do not have these perks built in.  And we are in a 2D category balcony room.  We do not receive any of these perks without The Key.  

[spiralqueen 538]

@Mathew Jones where does this show up for you on the cruise planner? I’m trying to figure out if it’s available for my cruise I have next May.This is something that has seriously piqued my interest because I’m a lowly Gold member. I was actually surprised to hear so many people talk about how they have no interest in it. 

 

ETA: I just found Matt’s article about it again and realized it’s only for Liberty and Oasis for now. Boo for me. But I’d still love to know where it’s showing up so I can stalk that section in case they widen release. 

[Mathew Jones 29]

Under the Internet and More Tab. Also splashed on the Front of the Cruise Planner after I log in. 

[melski94 737]

I think I agree with your math.  That isn't worth it to me.  All I would really use is the priority seating at shows and I don't mind getting there a bit early as I don't need the best seats.  

Now $50 for the drink package is pretty good and I would purchase now and cancel and rebuy if it goes lower over Black Friday.

[spiralqueen 538]

I was poking around the cruise planner for my Allure May 2019 trip and noticed that RCI is now offering The Key for this sailing, so maybe they are expanding the program.

 

Seeing as how we are all gold members staying in a JS, this is a great way for us to get close to full suite benefits for much cheaper. Especially since we are 3 adults who had already decided that we wanted to do lunch at Chops and that we were going to all have internet access. I'm snagging it at the full price for now ($25 pp per day) but made sure to confirm in the fine print that this is also something I can reprice if it goes on sale (it is). This has currently made my day and I think I will save it as a surprise treat for my parents who I'm going with! 

[cruiselife 264]

Here is a random tip that can save you another $70 if you don't need two internet packages...

If you call Royal Caribbean you can book 1 surf and stream package and then 1 regular drink package. It won't allow you to do this online but they will do it for you no questions asked over the phone. My wife and I usually share an internet package because we only want it to keep track of what is going on at home and we can always log in or out when the other person wants to use it. 

 

[Mathew Jones 29]

I pulled the trigger on it.  I read the review on it posted on this site and am happy I did. 

[WAAAYTOOO 5,265]

I think this is going to be a popular program.  The inclusion of Voom makes it very attractive and you get a few of the most popular suites amenities, too.  I read somewhere that the O class ships were going to offer Giovanni's/Jaimie's for lunch on embark day in addition to Chops, b/c Chops would be exclusively for the Key folks.  I think that's wonderful. As long as I still have somewhere to go on embark day (either with the dining package or as a Star Class guest), I'm happy !

[jjbescher 20]

I am in a Grand Suite for my first sailing with RC on the Adventure of the Seas.  It looks like the added benefit to the suite perks, is baggage checkin, and priority for Flowrider, and other things on board.  The addition of Voom, for 3 devices and Chops Lunch.  Right now it is $25 pp, and so with 3 people it is $600.  At this point, not worth it. 

However, if it goes down in price, I may consider it.

 

[princevaliantus 613]

1 minute ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I think this is going to be a popular program.  The inclusion of Voom makes it very attractive

Ok.....let's sort this part out. True Voom is only available in Oasis & Quantum Class ships which would make this attractive. Any other ships will remain under old internet speeds, not as attractive. RCCL states that all of their ships have VOOM which is misleading and this was brought to their attention.

[WAAAYTOOO 5,265]

Just now, princevaliantus said:

Ok.....let's sort this part out. True Voom is only available in Oasis & Quantum Class ships which would make this attractive. Any other ships will remain under old internet speeds, not as attractive. RCCL states that all of their ships have VOOM which is misleading and this was brought to their attention.

True statement that not all Voom's are equal.  But if you are getting the internet (regardless of its functionality), you're getting the internet.  I should have said "internet" instead of "Voom".  

[FlowBro Ty 340]

I Wish They Rolled It Out To Mariner Or Navigator And Add Laser Tag On Those Ships. 

[Ogalthorpe Haywood 108]

It says you have to purchase for anyone over 6 years old. Kinda ridiculous they want to charge kids for this. They don’t really get much value for the price of $25 a day. 

[SpeedNoodles 1,273]

40 minutes ago, FlowBro Ty said:

I Wish They Rolled It Out To Mariner Or Navigator And Add Laser Tag On Those Ships. 

I thought they had laser tag on Mariner.  I've seen blogs of people mentioning it, and read it somewhere else.

[WAAAYTOOO 5,265]

The Key is being offered on all of my sailings except for my upcoming Grandeur Christmas/NY sailing.  That's 2 Anthem sailings in Feb 2019, 1 Freedom sailing in April 2019 and 1 Grandeur sailing in Sept. 2019.  It isn't showing up for my Feb 2020 Anthem sailing but I suspect that they are not posting that yet as none of the beverage or food packages are available for that sailing yet either.

In all cases, The Key is being offered at $24.99/PP.  Since it is being offered on Grandeur in Sept. of next year, I am assuming that it will be fleet-wide by then.  Grandeur is always near the last to get anything new.

[SpeedNoodles 1,273]

It's offered on my Mariner cruise, Feb 4. I purchased a deluxe drink package with internet during the Black Friday sale, so if I did The Key, I could just rebook the drink package (at a higher rate, lol).

[Thetechie 164]

8 hours ago, FlowBro Ty said:

I Wish They Rolled It Out To Mariner Or Navigator And Add Laser Tag On Those Ships. 

It just showed up for our Navigator Cruise in March. And when it goes into drydock next month, they are adding Laser Tag! So there you go, wish granted!

[Relaxationislife 1]

We're going on the Harmony in April 19. We already had internet for two so it was worth canceling and upgrading for the added cost. 

One thing I read was it states reserved priority seating with no reservations required. I believe I'm reading this correctly. Everything I've found posted stated reservations we're still required. Maybe they changed it, but if this is true that is a huge benefit not having to plan out shows and go more "on the fly"

[Lovetocruise2002 7,551]

Silly question but where does it show up on the Cruise Planner?  What tab?

[Matt 7,647]

Just now, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Silly question but where does it show up on the Cruise Planner?  What tab?

Internet tab

[mworkman 1,464]

@Matt Doesn't this program slightly devalue the C&A program?

[Matt 7,647]

Just now, mworkman said:

@Matt Doesn't this program slightly devalue the C&A program?

No, because to quote @twangster, the single benefit that is shared with suites and Diamond Plus or higher is the seating at shows. No other feature of The Key is offered to any one else. 

[mworkman 1,464]

6 minutes ago, Matt said:

No, because to quote @twangster, the single benefit that is shared with suites and Diamond Plus or higher is the seating at shows. No other feature of The Key is offered to any one else. 

• Priority disembarkation on select ships and ports and tender service ship to shore...Not that it matters because Shore Excursions take priority over all.